Effect Audio X Elysian Acoustic Labs Pilgrim:Noir

The Pilgrim Noir sounds great. No IEM is perfect. The question for any IEM is whether it is perfect for a specific listener. I have a two TOTLs and the differences between them and the PN are require highly analytical listening. For me, the differences require very analytical listening. I just don't hear anything detrimental to my ability to enjoy the music, no missteps or compromises versus my TOTLs. I'm not in this hobby to listen like I'm an analytical instrument. These are wonderfully musical, revealing and enjoyable.

Elysian Acoustics is where you go for the best treble in the IEM game. Pilgrim Noire lives up to and surpasses the tall expectations I had for it. Was I expecting such fantastic low end ? When called upon Pilgrim Noire digs and slams in a VERY satisfying way. Mids are well detailed without being overly energetic. Make and female vocals are natural and organic sounding. Fabulous build and great great cable.

Such a great looking set too! Pilgrim Noire outperforms many IEMs in the $1000-$1500 range. Highly recommended!

So if you haven’t read the title, beware this review will have a some sensual overtones.

So I’ve had the Noir for nearly a month. It’s like have a partner that just slumming it…with you, in this case me. The sound is classy, and I get a bit self conscious of the music I’m listening to with it. However this set did willingly pair well with nearly every genre of music, besides Rap and some Hip hop.

How does this compare to the Silver Pilgrim, well I own that set as well. Having an auditory ménage à trois with both. They each stand on their own feet. While the Noir has a warmer bass shelf overall. The midrange is the most noticeable trait, while the Silver Bullet has more sub bass and treble extension.

Like it’s good sorority sister it loves powerful sources, most of my 200mw DAC’s are only sufficient at best. Using the Cayin RU7, ifi GoBar Kensei, Questyle M15 & FiiO BTR7 have opened up this sets full potential. The Noir will not require, but will make you feel that you that you need better equipment and better quality music files.

The sound stage, separation, imaging is dependent on your music and source it can be great or your 80’s music will sound like 80’s mastered recordings. I actually have found that some remastered music actually sounds pretty good at times with sultry vixen. The Noir can be that partner who gets you out of that curated content comfort zone.

I have found my self listening to more 60’s & 70’s soul music and 80’s rock hairbands lately. The group Cinderella has a an album that has wonderful blues rock with 80’s rock music. The guitars and piano in that album just pop out. Even 90’s grunge sibilance is subdued in my opinion, making you wonder if your EQ is on.

Genres I have most enjoyed are NuMetal, Modern Rock and nearly everything with female vocals. This dynamic driver feels fast which may affect bass decay to the low end. However that jut means she keeps up with musical chaos that is Rammstein, Metallica, Linkin Park, Green Day and Manson.

The oh so clear midrange really brings out that country twang. I have come to appreciate the mandolin more. The husk vocals of Randy Travis just hits the bones and then the lively mood comes back when listening to George Strait.

Pop music is clean, but some modern artists do have a sub bass melody that can playback thin. Example would be Blinding Lights by The Weeknd, but the bass melody is full in his duet with Post Malone singing One Right Now. So it can vary from track to track.

Boomer Pop artist such as Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole and Sam Cooke. Yes this is pop music of your generation, the each have full meaty vocals that harmonize with their stings and brass sections. Gentle on my mind be Dino just makes you wanna go outside for a brisk stroll.

The treble although taking a loss of a single BA in this model configuration , doesn’t mean it’s not absent of detail and air. So K-Pop does pop the vocal highs are achieved and most multi singer groups don’t come across congested or a musical blob of sound. Each vocalist can be identified and placed on your stage in your mind’s imagination. Just keep it tasteful in their wardrobe please.

Jazz is where it’s at. Melody Gardot track from Paris with Love that lower midrange and dynamic driver shows their synergy. The Cello pulls are clean and full as her voice is clear. The track Don’t Worry by Leon Bridges has a wonderful duet with female singer Ink both never crowd the head stage. The organic guitar melody is clearly present even with synthesized deep boomy bass melody playing in parallel.

So is she worth twice the cost of the Silver Sorority Sister. Yes, likely you would upgrade the cable anyway. I did on the sorority sister to….guess it…..an Eros cable. They just took the initiative to curate one for you. The internal wiring is also upgraded with effect audio wires. She has a 4-way crossover from the silvers 3-way crossover. So the silver sister ended up costing just shy of the same asking price of the Noir.

So yeah…. I Love her. At times I forget how long my listening sessions go. One time I was gonna go out on the weekend for lunch. I ended up having to get dinner instead.

I purchased the Noir about a month ago here at Musictek. The service was excellent and Andrew is a gent and a pleasure to deal with. My impressions are my own and I’m not under any obligation to say anything positive.

I previously owned the OG Pilgrim and thought it was a wonderful iem for the price, with the only really negative being it could sound a little dry. Prior to owning the Noir, I never really saw the appeal, it seems like a substantial increase in price for a minor tuning change, black finish and a more expensive cable.

Anyway, I attended CanJam in London and was curious to try the Noir, amongst other iem’s on my ‘must listen to’ list.

As soon as I tried the Noir, I knew I needed to purchase it to replace my OG set. It’s not worlds apart, but it just sounded so much more natural, with a bit more body and weight giving a sense of overall more refinement, correcting the only real weakness I felt the OG had.

Anyway, since the Noir has arrived, I’ve enjoyed it very much every day. Not only does it look great, but sounds wonderful. Whilst the treble presentation is on the relaxing side, it’s still detailed and resolving with good extension.

It has really good imaging, lovely impactful bass, that never bleeds into the mids -but also manages to sound natural and never dry or analytical.

A/b’ing it to my Mega5est it’s not too disimilar with both going for a warm-neutral sound/presentation, however the Noir is more detailed with better resolution and imaging. So for me it’s easily worth the price increase vs the Mega5est.

Versus the Dunu Mirai which I’ve had for about six months now and isn’t too far above it in price, I’d say they’re comparable with the Mirai being a bit more laid back with the stage being a bit wider and pushed back stage. Whilst the Noir having more forward mids and vocals in particular. The Mirai also has more elevated upper treble, whilst exciting and creating a sense of more air and detail, also sounds a little
artificial. The Noir still has really solid treble extension but comes across more natural in comparison.

They’ve both wonderful iem’s, that achieve a relaxing sound presentation that are so resolving with good technicalities. I can’t really pick between them.

Some people have had issues with the fit, and with the OG I did too, until I used keyboard o-rings to extend how far out the eartips will extend.

However, I’ve since purchased some eletech baroque ear tips, and I’ve found that with the Noir, they fit me great, giving a good seal, without the need for the o-rings. They also suit the Noir aesthetically really well too.

The biggest competitor and issue with the Noir is the OG exists for half the price. Is the Noir better than the OG? For me, yes undoubtedly. Although some people will prefer the OG and I respect that. However is it worth twice the cost of the OG, the simple answer is no, no it’s not.

However, anyone who’s been in the hobby long enough and tried various iem’s across various price ranges know that diminishing returns exist. So whilst it’s not twice as good, for me at least, it is worth the price increase (over the OG).

The best way to fairly assess the Noir is in isolation, and for me it’s absolutely worth its price compared to what I’ve heard around it's price. It also benefits from coming included with a quality cable and looks great in all black with gold

So what I would say for anyone interested in this set, give it a try and don’t be put off by the fact that the OG is half the price, the Noir is a wonderful iem, and one of my favourite sets that I’ve owned

TL;DR — I found the Effect Audio X Elysian Acoustic Labs Pilgrim:Noir to make a very good first foray into the sub-1k range while punching above their price point. For this price you will get a cable with swappable terminations — on both ends if you please. While the cable is on the thick side, it still is well made and many will appreciate it a great deal though, for me, it was a tad overbuilt. The nozzles are unfortunately on the very thick side so beware should it have been an issue for you in the past. Last but not least, it is a very coherent hybrid making good use of all its drivers and respective strengths which are character traits I believe to be under-appreciated in the hobby. Recommended for those looking for a well-manufactured, well-balanced, IEM which will steer clear of glaring issues.