Elysian Pilgrim Noir VS Shanling Regal

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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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Shanling Regal is a tri-brid in ear monitor with a shimmering faceplate, smoky transparent shell and visible drivers, backed by a solid fit that stays comfortable for four to five hour sessions. The stock package feels premium for a 699 USD set, with a refined silver plated cable, multiple tuning ear tips, SpinFit extras and a dark brown case that underlines the brand focus on small details.

In its raw tuning with switch 2 off, Regal measures and sounds very V shaped, with solid but somewhat blended bass and mids that sit a little behind the mix while upper mids stay bright, plus a dipped 7 kHz region and lifted 8 to 10 kHz band for air. Engaging switch 2 brings a clear shift: bass quantity drops slightly but keeps punch and slam, vocals move forward, separation improves and the midrange becomes cleaner, smoother and more airy, while imaging becomes very clear and treble transitions feel more natural and controlled.

Compared with a cheaper Dunu DK tribrid around 499 USD, Regal keeps a similar bass shelf but has a different presentation, with slightly more blended bass and less forward vocals, so the Dunu comes across as more vivid and stylistic while the Regal feels more balanced with switch 2 engaged. Detail retrieval, resolution and extension in the upper treble are strong, giving instruments bright but not harsh overtones and a clean, precise character that suits listeners who care more about instrument performance than lush vocals. With switch 2 on, Shanling Regal earns a solid 7.0 out of 10 as a well built, technically capable set that rewards those willing to engage its tuning options rather than use it strictly in stock form.