Elysian Annihilator 2021 VS Ziigaat Odyssey

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Ziigaat Odyssey takes the new Meta tuning and gives it a more V-shaped, exciting twist. It keeps the beautiful mid-range intact while adding extra energy to both bass and treble, landing closer in spirit to Moondrop x Crinacle Dust (DSP) and Kiwi Ears K4—but with more swagger. It’s not as strictly on-target as those sets, yet the result is more engaging and solves the “too safe, sometimes boring” side effect of many Meta-tuned IEMs.

Beyond tuning, Odyssey brings real upgrades in technical performance for the price. Bass dynamics are punchier and more well-defined than K4, and treble nuances come through with greater clarity while preserving that natural vocal center. At $229, it undercuts many competitors and still feels like a step up—an easy pick for listeners who want Meta’s mid clarity with extra excitement and better slam without sacrificing coherence or comfort.

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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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Single-DD + 3BA hybrid with a clean, confident look: thick shell, metal nozzle that grips tips well, visible rear vent, and the preferable flat 2-pin connector. The standard Ziigaat case feels premium if a bit unexciting. Sonically, Odyssey lands a balanced, tastefully energetic tuning—ample bass for most listeners, elevated upper mids for presence, and a smooth, clean upper-treble. Out of the box it sounds immediately right and counts among the better-tuned sub-$300 IEMs. The catch: macro/micro detail and imaging are good, not mind-blowing, keeping overall technical performance at “appropriate for the price.”

Within Ziigaat’s lineup, Arcadia skews darker with less treble reach, Xeno/Ceno feels a bit treble-shy, and Dinko is the more V-shaped, poppier pick with extra sub-bass. Explorer overlaps in tonality but Odyssey adds more upper-mids energy and refinement—albeit at a higher price. Among peers, AFUL’s P7 brings the stronger technicals and a slightly more neutral sheen, K4 trades blows, and “Quattro” may edge tuning purity. As an all-rounder, though, Odyssey hits a sweet spot: rich mids, fun but controlled bass, convincing note weight, and a natural stage, even if the far-upper air can temper ultimate sparkle.

Verdict: a fantastic mid-tier set with high price-to-performance, gorgeous faceplates, and a crowd-pleasing tonality; accessories are a bit underwhelming, and the top-end “air” won’t wow technicality chasers. Scored around 8.8/10 and easily recommended as a safe, musical choice—especially when discounts bring the sticker down.

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Ziigaat Odyssey comes in at $230 with a four-driver hybrid (1DD + 3 BAs) that’s very easy to drive. Build is the usual Ziigaat: full 3D-printed resin shells with metal nozzles and filters; sturdy and comfortable for average-to-larger ears, while tiny ears get a technical pass. The weak spot is the accessories: a basic cable (3.5mm or 4.4 option), one set of soft silicone tips plus foams, and a leatherette case that feels flimsy—underwhelming at this price. Aesthetics score well with a sparkly faceplate that the “Council of Ladies” mostly favors, even if it doesn’t always trigger compliments.

Sonically, Odyssey aims for warm-neutral with a tasteful bass boost. Sub-bass texture can run a touch soft, but mid-bass punch is addicting, giving kick drums and bass guitars real drive without boom. Lower mids are warm and slightly veiled in a pleasant, retro-leaning way; female vocals sit a bit back yet remain clean. Treble is safe but present—enough sparkle and clarity to balance the bass without sting, though true treble-heads may want more air. Technicals are solid for the bracket: good resolution, excellent separation, precise imaging, and an average-sized but convincing stage. With a 15–30Ω adapter, the FR tilts more V-shaped (more bass/upper-mids/treble), a fun twist for occasional variety.

Against peers, Odyssey is the relaxed, safer listen: warmer and less contrasty than EPZ P50 (brighter, more vocal-forward) and Kiwi Ears K4 (more V-shaped excitement), and a middle ground between AFUL Explorer (darker, bassier) and AFUL Performer 5+2 (airier, more resolving with stronger female vocals). Not the pick for bass-heads, treble-heads, or libraries packed with K-/J-pop divas, but a killer one-and-done all-rounder for mixed libraries that value warmth, balance, and zero fatigue. Despite the skimpy pack-ins, the tuning and performance earn a spot in “this is brilliant.”

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Ziigaat Odyssey lands as a mid-range focused set with a slight treble lift that really scales with volume. At relaxed levels it’s clean, calm, and easygoing; turn it up and the presentation becomes wide, airy, and immersive with a surprisingly punchy, rumbly low end for its graph. The new topology DD hits a sweet balance—neither sluggish nor hyper-snappy—delivering well-balanced bass that serves the tuning, even if ultimate slam/texture trails sets like Hype 4 or Xenns Tea Pros. Tip rolling toward slightly brighter tips adds a touch of treble energy and liveliness without pushing fatigue.

The star here is the midrange: instruments layer neatly with comfortable separation, and vocals sit clean and natural—not shouty, not veiled—though they can feel a bit too relaxed at mid volume. Treble is smooth yet detailed, revealing cymbal micro-info and air without harshness, and it’s noticeably cleaner than Explorer while avoiding metallic timbre. Technicals are solid for the price—a step up from Explorer and just behind “contet” in raw resolving power—yet more natural in timbre and notably more musical when driven louder. The tuning flatters slow rock, acoustic, indie, alternative, and ballads, where the Odyssey’s “turn-it-up” character shines.

For alternatives: those wanting warmer, bassier impact for hip-hop, rock, or metal may prefer Kiwi Ears K4, HBB Arcadia, or the Deuce for true bass-head needs. For mid-volume all-rounders with more instant engagement and technical pop, consider Supermix 4, Nova, Quintet, or Chopin; for airier, brighter takes with sweeter female vocals, look at Cadenza 4 or CKLVX. As a package, Odyssey feels like a future classic—gorgeous plating, a cable that could use an upgrade, and a uniquely immersive, high-volume experience that invites shutting out the world and sinking into the music.

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Ziigaat’s 2024 lineup lands three distinct flavors: the R (1DD+4BA), Arcadia (1DD+2BA), and Odyssey (1DD+3BA)—all sharing the same case, tips, and cable, but with very different tunings and striking faceplates. Pricing lives in the approachable range (roughly $200–$250), and the shells are well-built 3D-printed resin. The Odyssey’s nozzle appears slightly wider than the R’s, and its cloudy pink/silver faceplate looks clean and premium without the flashiness of Arcadia’s green/yellow sparkle.

For competitive play, title-by-title differences matter. In Valorant, Arcadia’s extra warmth and bass impact feel immersive but a touch boomy/bloomy under heavy ability spam—solid, around a B. The R and Odyssey perform on par with high marks; the R’s 1–3 kHz lift sharpens clarity and verticality, while Odyssey is more neutral and less bright. In Apex Legends, Arcadia struggles as bass bloom masks micro-cues (B–/C+). Odyssey delivers great separation/layering with slightly softer overhead cues (B+/B), and handles gunfire more comfortably than the R. In CS2, Odyssey takes the lead for its imaging, depth perception, and non-fatiguing balance; in Warzone, the order shifts to R > Arcadia > Odyssey, with Arcadia’s warmth helping vertical reads and impact.

As a music set, the Odyssey is a standout: potent, tight bass with clean transients, balanced mids that aren’t smothered, and a clean, non-sibilant treble that avoids fatigue while letting micro-detail through. It lands as a favorite in its price bracket—an easy recommendation for listeners who want a neutral-leaning all-rounder that still punches hard, splits cues well, and won’t scorch ears with gunfire or treble glare.