Elysian Annihilator 2021 VS Softears RSV MK II

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Brushed titanium Elysian Annihilator (2021) comes dressed to impress: a slick presentation with SpinFit tips, a plush micro-suede case, and a flashy gold cube 4.4 cable termination. The shells are crystal clear, showing off a 7-driver tribrid layout (1 Foster dynamic, 4 BA, 2 EST) in a four-way crossover, rated at 22Ω. The cable is beefy and terminated in Pentaconn Ear at the IEM side—sturdier than MMCX, but not the most convenient for aftermarket swaps. Price is a gut-punch: $3,000 (plus a little extra for the titanium finish), which sets expectations sky-high before a single note plays.

Sonically, this thing is an information firehose. Micro-details, ambient cues, and the “stuff between the notes” pop into focus with an airy, ultra-resolved presentation that separates elements like they’re each in their own display case. It’s engaging and never boring, pushing “one more track” syndrome hard. Bass is tight and competent but not a sub-bass thunder god, and it’s not the undisputed champ of every category; instead, the signature leans on clarity, layering, and treble finesse to deliver a different, highly technical flavor that stands apart from more “natural” single-DD favorites.

Value talk gets spicier. Price-to-performance keeps it from “perfect score” territory, even though overall quality screams top-tier. Think halo car logic: breathtaking in its lane, not a universal daily driver. The takeaway: a fantastic, fun, high-end tribrid that excels at resolution and air, memorable for how it sculpts space and detail—just don’t expect it to demolish every rival on bass slam or justify its cost purely on rational math. Call it a deserved 9/10 on enjoyment and execution, with the sticker price as the only real annihilator.

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Elysian Annihilator 2021 arrives as a boutique flagship from Malaysia with a clear resin shell, gold faceplate, and uncommon Pentaconn Ear connectors. Inside sits a Foster dynamic for bass, four BAs for mids, and dual Sonion ESTs for treble. The tuning skews bright V-shaped: engaging yet potentially intense for treble-sensitive listeners. Bass is mid-bass tilted with punch but comes off dry and compressed, and persistent driver flex detracts at this price bracket.

The midrange is where the technical muscle shows—exceptional resolution and clarity with a slightly digital edge to timbre. Treble is the headline: a rare, proper EST implementation that’s blazing fast, captures microdetail effortlessly, and uses a subtle ~6 kHz dip to make upper harmonics materialize with immediacy. Extension feels remarkably linear into the air region, delivering space and sheen without veering harsh, provided one isn’t hypersensitive up top.

On technicalities, this set plays in the top echelon: detail retrieval rivaling (and in midrange, surpassing) usual benchmarks like U12t, impressive width and openness, and uncompressed macrodynamics. Trade-offs exist—note weight and transient density are lighter, hurting coherency and lending a slightly raw character. Value is tough at multi-kilobuck, but as a showcase of speed, extension, and treble mastery, Annihilator 2021 earns a spot among the few IEMs that genuinely feel world-class.

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Elysian Annihilator 2021 presents a highly balanced yet distinctly treble-forward tuning: energetic upper mids paired with world-class treble that delivers striking clarity, microdetail, and separation without veering into fatigue. Elements in the mix stay cleanly delineated, producing a “technical monster” character that prioritizes transparency and precision. Bass is good—tasteful and supportive—but clearly not the centerpiece.

Against the 2023 revision, the 2021 model keeps its edge in midrange clarity, while the newer set adds bass texture and physicality with essentially the same excellent treble. The choice is preference: pursue the 2021 for its crystalline definition and speed, or lean 2023 for a touch more realism down low. Given the small delta in overall quality and strong demand for the 2021, sticking with it remains a very safe and arguably more “reference-leaning” play for those who prize resolution above all else.

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Softears RSV MK II brings back the all-BA ethos at $700 with five armatures and a promise of “re-engineered BA bass.” Build and accessories feel premium (sleek shells, plush case), while the cable choice is quirky—4.4 mm only with a 3.5 mm pigtail. Fit is outstandingly secure and custom-like but on the larger side with a longer nozzle, so comfort depends on ear size. Softears’ Ultra Clear tips work well; the new metal-ring variant adds little beyond novelty.

On the graph, bass looks like gigabass, yet in ear it settles into a warm, weighty foundation without steamrolling the mids. The midrange follows a “new-meta neutral” tilt—fuller than Harman with forward upper-mids—while treble lands clean and sparkly without fatigue. Imaging is tidy rather than cavernous; separation and delineation are convincing, with the top end executed better than the bottom. BA bass here is among the more physical and satisfying of its kind, though tactility can be track-dependent and turn a bit tubby on very bass-heavy mixes.

Against peers, Symphonium Meteor sounds warmer and more “special” but less all-round; DUNU SA6 MK2 is more colored with janglier treble and the least convincing bass; 7th Acoustics Supernova trades warmth for vivid, bright-tilted imaging; Softears Studio 4 is lighter on bass and airier; and the old Moondrop S8 stays the lively, vocal-centric counterpoint. Net take: a supremely competent, character-light all-rounder that favors bass weight over panoramic staging. Verdict: 4/5 stars—a welcome throwback done right, and notably cheaper than the original RSV launch price.

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Softears RSV MK2 shifts from the OG’s vocal-centric tilt into a bass-forward all-rounder. The sub-bass and mid-bass hit with real slam and weight, giving drums and bass guitars a satisfying, dynamic punch. Upper mids (3–6 kHz) are tamed to avoid shout, while a gentle 1–2 kHz rise keeps vocals open and natural—slightly less pushed than the original but still clear. Treble is smooth with decent air; not super sparkly and there’s no EST “sauce,” but it stays clean and non-fatiguing.

As a package, MK2’s standout is the low-end texture—thunderous yet controlled—making it one of the more engaging bassy sets under four figures. Technical performance is solid for the tier, though some rivals at lower prices bring more raw detail and EST extension. Build and accessories get a tasteful, modern refresh. For best balance, the stock tips work well; bass-boosting or treble-opening tips can shift it toward a more V-shape at the expense of overall smoothness.

On genre fit, MK2 shines with hip-hop, pop, EDM, and R&B, where its punch and warmth bring rhythms to life; for orchestral or leaner acoustic picks, the bass can edge forward depending on the mix. It scales to mid–high volumes nicely (around the 70–80 dB zone) without turning sharp. Compared with the OG RSV—now likely affected by a silent retune in recent units—the MK2 is the safer buy: less shout, more authority down low, and a broader all-rounder appeal. Recommended, especially if found below full MSRP, for listeners craving tasteful bass with natural mids and relaxed, smooth treble.