Elysian Acoustic Labs Pilgrim Review – Distinguished Everyman

Comparisons –

Moondrop Blessing 3 ($319): The Blessing 3 is the all-rounder to beat around this asking price. The Pilgrim’s tuning is actually very similar but more relaxed in the upper-midrange and mid-treble. A common complaint with the Blessing 3 is that some found it lean and intense making the Pilgrim a sensible alternative. The bass tuning is almost identical with the Pilgrim having just a few more dB of emphasis at the very bottom. The Pilgrim hits harder and has better dynamics and weight. It has thicker notes and is also a little more textured than the Blessing 3. The Blessing 3 is a bit more balanced and quicker decaying. It sounds slightly more defined and separated but not quite as visceral. Both earphones have a leaner, more neutrally toned midrange above.

The chief difference is emphasis with the Blessing 3 having notably more upper-mid presence. This gives it a more balanced overall sound, bringing its midrange up to par with its bass and treble. It has even higher transparency and subjectively, the Blessing 3 has a slightly more natural voicing. The Pilgrim is slightly more laid-back but also slightly more articulate. The Blessing 3 has higher resolving power and better layering. The Pilgrim boasts similarly strong separation and almost matches it for definition while offering lower intensity for midrange-sensitive listeners. The lower treble is equally present on both earphones but stands out more on the Pilgrim due to its mellower midrange.

The Pilgrim also has a more isolated hump while the Blessing 3 has a linear shelf that extends further into the mid-treble. The Blessing 3 comes across as brighter as a result. However, it is also notably more detailed. Most notably, it offers a better balance between foreground and background detail and retrieves fine detail better. The Pilgrim has the crispness but lacks the same sense of air and clarity. Once again, it is the more forgiving earphone, being more damped and contrasted in its presentation. The Blessing 3 strikes as the more spacious and complex earphone when it comes to sound staging.  

DITA Project M ($325): By contrast to the above, the Project M is another earphone that is mostly comparable but swings in the opposite direction, delivering a more coherent bass and midrange with an airier, more energetic treble. The Pilgrim has a more dynamic, pressurised, and powerful low-end while the Project M is mellower and a bit warmer. Though well extended, the Project M lacks the same impact and weight of the Pilgrim in return for greater control and speed that give it the detail retrieval advantage and a slightly more natural timbre. The midrange tells a similar story. The Project M is slightly more balanced but also slightly warmer and fuller.

The Pilgrim is more tonally transparent, slightly lean, and more extended. The Project M is denser and has a smoother articulation giving it a more coherent, forgiving character.  The Pilgrim offers a cleaner, more defined voicing. It is more articulate and has better separation, however, the Project M does come across as more naturally voiced to me. The treble tuning is inverted on both. The Pilgrim has a crisp, focused lower treble and a dark, smooth mid-treble. The Project M has a smoother lower treble paired to an airy, extended mid and upper treble.

As such, the Project M draws out the fine details a lot more. It has a lot more air, sparkle and micro-details are more apparent. However, it is also thinner and less textured, less realistic but also more vibrant. The Pilgrim has more authentic note weight and texture but less of the fine nuances at the very top. The Pilgrim has a wider stage, but the airier Project M offers more holographic and involving imaging.

Verdict –

Respect where it’s due, Elysian is an absolute powerhouse for a one-man shop. Their renowned high-end designs temper trust in the ability of the brand to deliver a quality product. The Pilgrim is an important next step, effectively bringing that quality to the broader market with its more digestible price point. Despite coming in at a tenth of their flagship, a lot of the same DNA has been retained. The Pilgrim sports a premium, attractive, and comfortable design, a solid cable, and a likable tonality. That is not to say that it is perfect. Clearly, the technical chops don’t hold a candle to the flagship models and some may want for greater air and fine detail or a warmer mid-bass to balance out its sub-bass focus. Similarly, the Pentaconn cable connectors are well-performing but niche. With that said, the Pilgrim caters delightfully to those wanting awesome bass depth and power set to a Harman-style tuning that gently tones down intensity; an earphone that is forgiving but still transparent and engaging.

The Pilgrim is available from Elysian, HiFiGO and Minidisc (AU) for $399 USD at the time of writing. I am not affiliated with any of these companies and receive no earnings from purchases made through these links.

Track List – 

Billie Eilish – dont smile at me

Bob Seger – Night Moves

Courtney Barnett – Rae Street

Cream – Wheels of Fire

Dire Straits – Communique

Dirty Loops – Next To You

Eagles – Hotel California

Elton John – Honky Chateau

Fleetwood Mac – Rumours

H.E.R – I Used To Know Her

Jasen – BYE

John Mayer – Continuum

Kanye West – Ye

Missy Higgins – The Sound of White

Radiohead – OK Computer

TALA – ain’t leavin` without you

The Beatles – Abbey Road

The weeknd – After Hours

Vampire Weekend – Father of the Bride