Moondrop Variations VS Elysian Pilgrim Noir

IEM Comparison: Expert & Community Scores Side-by-Side

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Moondrop Variations and Elysian Pilgrim Noir use 1DD+2BA+2EST and 1DD+3BA driver setups respectively. Moondrop Variations costs $550 while Elysian Pilgrim Noir costs $800. Elysian Pilgrim Noir is $250 more expensive. Moondrop Variations holds a slight 0.1-point edge in reviewer scores (7.5 vs 7.4). Moondrop Variations carries a user score of 7.8. Moondrop Variations has slightly better bass with a 0.3-point edge, Moondrop Variations has significantly better treble with a 1-point edge, Elysian Pilgrim Noir has better dynamics with a 0.6-point edge, Moondrop Variations has better soundstage with a 0.8-point edge and Moondrop Variations has better details with a 0.8-point edge.

Insights

Metric Moondrop Variations Elysian Pilgrim Noir
Bass 7.3 7
Mids 7.1 7
Treble 7.5 6.5
Details 7.3 6.5
Soundstage 7.8 7
Imaging 7 7
Dynamics 6.2 6.8
Tonality 7.4 7.5
Technicalities 7.5 7.3

Moondrop Variations Aggregated Review Score

Average Reviewer Scores

Nymz
Audionotions Jays Audio Tim Tuned Shuwa-T Smirk Audio Precogvision
Super* Review Jaytiss Gizaudio Axel Crin

Average Reviewer Score:

7.5

Strongly Favorable


Elysian Pilgrim Noir Aggregated Review Score

Average Reviewer Scores

Fresh Reviews
Super* Review
Jays Audio Jaytiss Smirk Audio
Z-Reviews Gizaudio Axel

Average Reviewer Score:

7.4

Generally Favorable


Reviews Comparison

Moondrop Variations reviewed by Jaytiss

Jaytiss 8 Reviewer Score
A- Tuning
A+ Tech
I like it, but don't love the lower mids.

Jaytiss original ranking

Jaytiss Youtube Channel
Mids: A- Treble: A+ Dynamics: C+ Soundstage: A+

Elysian Pilgrim Noir reviewed by Jaytiss

Jaytiss 7.5 Reviewer Score
B+ Tuning
B Tech
Way different than Pilgrim OG, less bright. Smoothe.

Jaytiss original ranking

Jaytiss Youtube Channel
Mids: A- Treble: B Dynamics: B Soundstage: A-

Moondrop Variations reviewed by Gizaudio Axel

Gizaudio Axel 8 Reviewer Score
A+ Tuning
A Tech
A solid benchmark. Great sub-bass, Harman tuning, and excellent detail. Can sound thin.

Gizaudio Axel original ranking

Gizaudio Axel Youtube Channel

Elysian Pilgrim Noir reviewed by Gizaudio Axel

Gizaudio Axel 8 Reviewer Score
A+ Tuning
A+ Tech
Sound is similar to the original Pilgrim. Bassier than the original Pilgrim with similar resolution.

Gizaudio Axel original ranking

Gizaudio Axel Youtube Channel

Moondrop Variations reviewed by Jays Audio

Jays Audio 7.5 Reviewer Score
A Tuning
A+ Tech
Very clear with lots of detail. Sub-bass has a nice rumble and texture. Amazing treble extension and stage air. Female vocals are vibrant and shines. Mid-bass cut is real, affecting some genres and male vocals. Note-weight can be light.

Jays Audio original ranking

Jays Audio Youtube Channel

Elysian Pilgrim Noir reviewed by Jays Audio

Jays Audio 7.5 Reviewer Score
S- Tuning
A+ Tech
Good but expensive. Recommended if you can find it for around $500. Direct upgrade to the AFUL Explorer. Scales great. Reminds me of the EJ07M but a bit smoother and less dynamic. Prefer it more than the OG pilgrim, but definitely not worth $400 more lol.

Jays Audio original ranking

Jays Audio Youtube Channel

Moondrop Variations reviewed by Smirk Audio

Smirk Audio 7 Reviewer Score
A- Tuning
B+ Tech
Great tuning, neutral timbre, and a satisfying bass with a sub-bass focus. Solid all-rounder.

Smirk Audio original ranking

Smirk Audio Head-Fi Profile

Bass: A- Mids: A Treble: A- Dynamics: B+ Details: A- Imaging: A-

Elysian Pilgrim Noir reviewed by Smirk Audio

Smirk Audio 7 Reviewer Score
A- Tuning
A- Tech
Cons: Similar to Pilgrim OG at twice the price.

Smirk Audio original ranking

Smirk Audio Head-Fi Profile

Bass: A- Mids: A- Treble: A- Dynamics: A Details: B+ Imaging: A-

Moondrop Variations (more reviews)

Moondrop Variations reviewed by Crin

Crin 8 Reviewer Score
S Tuning
A Tech
Sub-bass-focused signature with Moondrop's clean tuning makes this one of the best $500 tribrids.

Crin original ranking

Crin Youtube Channel

Moondrop Variations reviewed by Audionotions

Audionotions 7.5 Reviewer Score
Very resolving with good sub-bass and good treble. A bit thin and clinical sounding and lacks a bit of note weight. Could use a bit more mid-bass. Otherwise, the resolution is top-notch. Treble extension is decent. Might be a little shouty for some, but not for me! Previously Owned

Audionotions original ranking

Website (Audionotions)

Moondrop Variations reviewed by Tim Tuned

Tim Tuned 7.5 Reviewer Score
A Tuning
A+ Tech
Great separation and details Thin lower midrange

Tim Tuned original ranking

Tim Tuned Youtube Channel
Bass: A+ Mids: A+ Treble: S

Moondrop Variations reviewed by Shuwa-T

Shuwa-T 7.3 Reviewer Score
B+ Tuning
A Tech
Comment: Too much subbass, dry sounding lower mids. Clarity Subbass overpowers lower mids

Shuwa-T original ranking

Shuwa-T Website

Bass: A Mids: B Treble: A- Soundstage: A Details: A+ Imaging: A+

Moondrop Variations reviewed by Precogvision

Precogvision 7 Reviewer Score
A- Tuning
B+ Tech
A more refined B2 Dusk with better bass texture and treble extension.

Precogvision original ranking

Precogvision Youtube Channel
Bass: A+ Mids: A- Treble: A- Dynamics: A- Details: A- Imaging: B

Moondrop Variations reviewed by Nymz

Nymz 6.7 Reviewer Score
B+ Tuning
A- Tech
Resolution king for the price point with a fun tuning. Great sub-bass and treble. Lack of mid-bass bass and somewhat thin mids murdered it for my library. Can see the appeal for others tho.

Nymz original ranking

Nymz Website

Bass: B Mids: A- Treble: A- Details: A- Imaging: A-

Elysian Pilgrim Noir (more reviews)

Elysian Pilgrim Noir reviewed by Z-Reviews

Z-Reviews 8.5 * score normalized

Elysian Pilgrim Noir reviewed by Fresh Reviews

Fresh Reviews 5.5* * The score of this reviewer influences only the Gaming Score

Moondrop Variations User Review Score

Average User Scores

Average User Score:

Based on 1 user reviews

7.8

Strongly Favorable

Elysian Pilgrim Noir User Review Score

Average User Scores

Average User Score: n/a

Based on 0 user reviews

No user reviews yet. Be the first one who writes a review!

Moondrop Variations Gaming Score

Gaming Score & Grade

  • The gaming score is prioritizing technical capabilities of the IEM (Separation, Layering, Soundstage) and good value.

Gaming Score

7

Gaming Grade

A-

Elysian Pilgrim Noir Gaming Score

Gaming Score & Grade

  • The gaming score is prioritizing technical capabilities of the IEM (Separation, Layering, Soundstage) and good value.

Gaming Score

6.8

Gaming Grade

B+

Moondrop Variations Scorings

Average Technical & Tuning Grades

Average Tunign Grade

A-
  • Pleasing tonal balance with good technical control. Minor quirks present but not distracting. Demonstrates decent genre versatility.

Average Technical Grade

A
  • Competent technical presentation. Handles separation and detail well in most tracks, with modest soundstage and acceptable imaging capabilities.
Bass A-
Strong, well-defined bass with good texture. Delivers satisfying punch and rumble without overwhelming other frequencies.
Mids A-
Excellent midrange with natural timbre and great detail retrieval. Vocals are forward and emotive with lifelike instrument reproduction.
Treble A
Excellent treble: airy, extended and well-controlled. Great micro-detail retrieval without sibilance or harshness.
Dynamics B
Good dynamic expression with solid impact. Handles volume contrasts well while maintaining good transient snap.
Soundstage A
Excellent spatial presentation - wide, deep and tall. Precise instrument placement with clear separation in all dimensions.
Details A-
Excellent detail retrieval: highly resolving without being clinical. Effortlessly reveals micro-details and textural subtleties.
Imaging A-
Excellent imaging: precise and stable placement. Instruments occupy specific points in space with tangible positions.
Gaming A-
Good fundamental spatial awareness for most gaming scenarios. Handles basic positioning well but may lack nuance in complex situations. Bad value-to-cost for gaming purpose - not recommended

Elysian Pilgrim Noir Scorings

Average Technical & Tuning Grades

Average Tunign Grade

A
  • Well-executed tonal character. No major flaws with good technical control. Smooth presentation works with multiple genres.

Average Technical Grade

A-
  • Competent technical presentation. Handles separation and detail well in most tracks, with modest soundstage and acceptable imaging capabilities.
Bass A-
Strong, well-defined bass with good texture. Delivers satisfying punch and rumble without overwhelming other frequencies.
Mids A-
Excellent midrange with natural timbre and great detail retrieval. Vocals are forward and emotive with lifelike instrument reproduction.
Treble B+
Good treble response - clear and detailed without fatigue. Well-extended with proper air and sparkle.
Dynamics B+
Good dynamic expression with solid impact. Handles volume contrasts well while maintaining good transient snap.
Soundstage A-
Excellent spatial presentation - wide, deep and tall. Precise instrument placement with clear separation in all dimensions.
Details B+
Good resolution with clear articulation of nuances. Reveals recording nuances and maintains clarity in complex passages.
Imaging A-
Excellent imaging: precise and stable placement. Instruments occupy specific points in space with tangible positions.
Gaming B+
Respectable environmental presentation favors atmosphere over precision. Detects obvious directional cues while conveying game world ambiance. Bad value-to-cost for gaming purpose - not recommended

Moondrop Variations User Reviews

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Endoki
7.8

This was one of my first IEMs. I loved it and hated it. It is still the cleanest sounding IEM I own - also compared to something much more expensive.

Pros
Very clean sound signature combined with a satisfying amount of sub-bass. Sounds great with the right songs
Cons
Thin mids and poor note weight in some songs

Elysian Pilgrim Noir User Reviews

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