Elysian Pilgrim Noir VS Eminent Ears Emarald

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Elysian x Effect Audio Pilgrim Noir takes the original Pilgrim’s 1DD + 3BA foundation and dials it up with an upgraded 4-way crossover, a stealthy all-black finish, and Effect Audio’s cable. There’s a switch to the micro-Pentaconn connector that feels more secure than on the OG, plus a suede case (smells like vintage sneakers) and a bigger-than-necessary box. Accessories are sparse for the price—some tips and a cloth, but no pile of extras or modular plug kit in the package—so the appeal leans hard on build and tuning rather than trinkets.

Sonically, Noir comes across as warmer, fuller, and smoother than the standard Pilgrim, with instrument placement that clicks into a “just right” stage—not hyper-wide, not cramped, simply balanced. Bass has satisfying body without bloat, mids are enhanced and buttery, and treble stays tasteful, giving the set clear character—a deliberate flavor rather than sterile perfection. Track after track hits the “ooh” button, delivering a genuinely flagship experience under $1k and feeling like a refined take on sets in the “Nanna” vein. Score wise, it gets the headline 10, with a “heart says 9.5” caveat only for the light accessory load; in pure sound, it’s a clear step beyond the original Pilgrim and absolutely the one to keep in ears.

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Effect Audio x Elysian Acoustic Labs Pilgrim Noir takes everything that was fun on the original Pilgrim and turns it into a much more mature, refined hybrid. The familiar dynamic driver still delivers a hard slamming low end, but the bass shelf is rebalanced so that the image sits further back in the head and stage, giving a deeper and more natural presentation at this price. Sub bass weight, mid bass punch and timbre are all improved, and the set now keeps the full slam while better supporting the rest of the tuning instead of overwhelming it.

A key change is the move to an undampened tubeless Knowles balanced armature, which pushes resolution, speed and detail far beyond what the graph suggests. Mids have a richer, more resolving character that blends the smooth sonion style tone with a sharper edge that locks in with the dynamic driver, so vocals and instruments sit more confidently in the mix without sounding flat or veiled. Treble is clearly more extended and forward, matching the marketing talk of a more sophisticated and mature tuning, adding in the room transparency, air and bite that the original Pilgrim never quite managed. Layering, separation, dynamics and micro detail are all on a different level, especially when driven from a higher quality source.

With the rebalance between bass and treble, Pilgrim Noir now projects a proper three dimensional stage with sharp imaging and a convincing sense of space, making it comfortable across genres from R&B and hip hop to classical. The combination of a powerful dynamic driver and lively balanced armatures gives a very engaging, musical yet controlled presentation that can easily serve as a single all rounder set in a collection. Fit and tip selection can still be a little fussy and the price is undeniably high, but for listeners who value a hard hitting low end, strong technical performance and an all genre capable tuning in one hybrid, Pilgrim Noir delivers on what the original was expected to do and feels very well executed for its bracket.

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Elysian Pilgrim Noir arrives as a premium evolution of the original Pilgrim, pairing the matte black shells with a customized Effect Audio Ares S cable and SpinFit W1 tips for a sleek, cohesive package. Sonically it keeps the familiar house sound, riding the line between neutral and V-shape, but with a more refined, relaxed upper mid and lower treble that removes the touch of brightness found on the original.

The bass is sub-bass focused with just enough lift to stay fun without reaching basshead levels, delivering punch, physicality and impressive control with no bass bleed and very good separation. Lower mids gain extra warmth and weight, giving instruments and vocals a richer, fuller body while still maintaining strong detail, and the upper mids and treble come across as smoother and more natural, adding a little extra resolution without introducing sharpness or fatigue. Overall the tuning feels more balanced than the original, with a tactile low end, rich midrange and smooth yet energetic top that many listeners will find close to a neutral-fun sweet spot.

Technical performance is also excellent, with improved detail retrieval over the Pilgrim and stage, imaging and layering that remain competitive with heavy hitters like the IE600 and Shuan Gate around the 600-700 dollar range. Within that bracket Noir stands out as a favorite thanks to its combination of resolving ability and easygoing tonality, even if it does not quite feel like an 800 dollar leap over the original. For listeners shopping in the mid-to-upper tier who value refined tuning and strong all-round technicalities over raw price-to-performance, the Pilgrim Noir comes across as a polished, highly satisfying take on the Elysian house sound.

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The Elysian Pilgrim Noir arrives in a huge, over the top box, but the actual unboxing experience is simple and familiar to anyone who knows the original Pilgrim. The same compact case, SpinFit tips, cleaning brush and paperwork are here, but wrapped in a stealthy matte black aesthetic with gold highlights that makes the shells look like a blacked out BMW. The collaboration with Effect Audio brings a very high quality cable that feels premium in hand, is non microphonic and supports the TermX modular plug system and ConX swappable connectors, so this cable can be used with many other IEMs while keeping things secure with a screw in design.

On the tuning side the Noir keeps the sub bass of the original Pilgrim almost identical, with a very low reaching rumble that is clean, detailed and easily one of the strongest sub bass presentations in this range. The real change is in the mid bass, where a few extra decibels give kicks and drum solos a proper weight so that hits feel punchy and satisfying across pop, hip hop, rock and soundtracks. Lower mids gain some body, making male voices and instruments sound thicker and more podcast like, while the upper mids and treble shift into a more relaxed tuning: male vocals sit a bit further back in the mix, female vocals and some instruments like electric guitars and jazz trumpets step slightly forward, and cymbals and hi hats move a little into the background compared to the airy, sizzling presentation of the original Pilgrim.

In terms of technical performance the Noir stands shoulder to shoulder with the original, offering very high detail retrieval, solid instrument separation and a wide, well defined soundstage that does not really change even when swapping the cables between both pairs. Resolution feels essentially the same, so the real difference is the shift from the original Pilgrim focus on clarity, air and forward midrange to a Noir presentation that is smoother, bassier and more laid back in the mids and treble. For listeners who want more weight in the low end, a mellow tonality for long sessions and a premium modular cable that can serve multiple IEMs, the Pilgrim Noir is a very attractive package, but for pure sound per money and an open, sparkling character the original Pilgrim still comes across as the stronger overall deal.

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The Pilgrim Noir is a collaboration tweak on Elysian’s $400 Pilgrim, now at $800 with a darker aesthetic and an Effect Audio cable. The cable feels premium but, with very low impedance, has a negligible impact on sound; IPX connectors remain and hardware styling is a bit blingy. Driver layout stays the same—1DD + 3BA—and while marketing calls out crossover changes, the practical differences show up more subtly.

On the mic, graphs tell the story: when the resonance peak is aligned properly, Pilgrim and Noir measure very similarly, with only a small shift in the upper mids/treble. In listening, Noir presents a touch more relaxed vocal region and a hair more warmth, while bass quantity stays about the same. The original Pilgrim still projects a slightly wider, brighter sense of space, but the Noir pushes ahead on texture—voices and guitars feel a bit more guttural and satisfying.

As a package, this is still a safe tuning with no sharp treble or boomy bass, just a more opinionated flavor than the regular Pilgrim. Preference leans Noir for that added texture and nuance, but the value case is harder at 2× the price. Verdict: a solid 3-star set at $800—worth it for those chasing the Pilgrim’s core sound with a touch more character, not for anyone expecting a wholesale upgrade.

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Elysian Pilgrim Noir pairs a 3BA + 1DD hybrid setup with the Effect Audio Eros S cable, whose interchangeable terminations and connector modules keep it versatile without coloring the sound. The tuning comes across as reference-leaning bright: crisp and detailed, but with a treble edge that can flirt with harshness on certain material. At around $800, it targets clarity and speed over warmth or heft, positioning itself more for precision than for cinematic thump.

In competitive play, that profile is a mixed bag. In Valorant, the elevated upper range pulls out light cues—footsteps, surface taps, metal pings—with excellent imaging and depth perception, making it a solid B+. Shift to Apex Legends and the brighter gunfire, grenades, and wideband chaos create occlusion; despite a larger stage, separation suffers, settling around a B–. In Call of Duty, imaging and verticality remain competent, but bass-weighted effects can mask detail, putting performance near a B to B–.

Overall, for pure competitive gaming the Pilgrim Noir isn’t the most compelling value at its price; several cheaper sets deliver cleaner separation and easier cue extraction. It still earns “wall-hack certified” status, yet the Tigerism Sunflower generally scores higher across titles and offers a warmer, more intimate presentation for music. The Noir suits listeners who favor a lighter, brighter, reference tilt and prioritize micro detail—just be mindful of the treble bite and genre- or game-dependent occlusion trade-offs.

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Eminent Ears Emerald delivers a bone conduction implementation that prioritizes control and balance over sheer bass quantity, with a sub bass focused shelf that feels deep and satisfying yet avoids mid bass bloat or muddiness. Bass notes hit tight and punchy with fast decay and excellent elasticity, contributing to a relatively wide soundstage and clean separation from the midrange, while the overall tonality remains more even handed than the typical bass head bone conduction tuning. The lower mids are slightly attenuated, but an upper mid emphasis around the vocal region keeps singers upfront and intimate without sounding shouty, creating a vocal centered yet balanced presentation that works across many genres.

The midrange is a clear highlight, offering polished and slightly bright but natural vocals that have full body, strong verticality, and a three dimensional feel, avoiding any sense of hollowness. Instruments in the midrange are rendered with clean layering, a touch of creaminess to strings, and convincing timbral richness, allowing them to blend coherently while still maintaining realistic separation. Treble has been refined compared with earlier prototypes, now sounding smooth, transparent, and articulate with respectable extension and an airy character that keeps sibilance in check while still adding sparkle and openness to the stage.

Technically, Emerald offers solid resolution, a relatively wide stage, and clear separation, though ultra fine spatial detail and ultimate air still favor the more expensive Audio Origin comparison partner. Compared with that more V shaped, bass heavier set, Emerald comes across as more balanced, vocal focused, and genre flexible, making it an appealing gateway into bone conduction for listeners who usually prefer neutral leaning tunings but want to sample this driver technology. At around 600 USD, the combination of controlled low end, natural and detailed vocals, and well integrated treble justifies a solid 8 out of 10 rating within its price class, especially for listeners who prioritize vocal clarity and balance over sheer slam.