Intro
If you’ve been in this hobby long enough, you have likely heard whispers of Elysian Acoustic Labs. This boutique IEM company, founded by Lee Quan Min in Malaysia, has time and time again released dazzling IEMs into the world that have captured the fascination of the most discerning hobbyists [with the deepest wallets]. Elysian IEMs top the ranking lists of nearly everyone who has had the fortune of hearing them (myself included). And equally dazzling is the price of these coveted IEMs. Previously, entry level for Elysian was the Diva which clocks in at a not-so-modest $1.7k. Most other models (like the Annihilator and the X) break the $3k USD mark (rumor has it the newest prototype revealed at CanJam this year will top $5k). Beyond the steep prices, there is an added elusiveness to Elysian IEMs stemming from the fact that there is a lead time for their handmade IEMs that currently exceeds six months and growing.
Enter the Gaea – this 1 DD 4BA IEM was created in collaboration with Singapore’s Effect Audio, a reputable and reliable manufacturer of high-quality IEM and headphone cables. With Effect Audio handling the production and distribution of the Gaea and injecting a bit of good old fashioned large scale production into the mix, pricing for the Gaea comes in a bit lower than the typical Elysian IEM, at $1299. This partnership has brought the magic of Elysian’s IEMs one step out of the territory of unobtainium into the realm of expensive-but-achievable.
Many, many, many thanks go out to Huck for sending this over for me to demo (and also, shame on him for sending it over and making me realize I need one)!
Pros
– Incredibly transparent sound
– First in class detail-retrieval and resolution that rivals or exceeds other TOTL IEMs
– Large stage with very distinct instrument and voice separation
– While bright, this is a very versatile tuning that doesn’t struggle with any genre
– Incredibly analytical sound signature that is in no way clinical
Cons
– Pentaconn connector – while solid and very sturdy, most likely your current cables will not fit without an adapter
– Bass, while it does slam, it lacks a little punch and texture – it is very clean though
– Potentially too bright for some – upper-mids can be a bit forward and treble can be a little intense
Build
The Effect Audio x Elysian Acoustic Labs Gaea is among the most well built IEMs I’ve handled and certainly is among the most beautiful, if not the most beautiful. The stabilized wood faceplates are finished in a captivating blue with splashes of orange, with the Elysian logo on one earpiece and the Effect Audio logo on the other, both in gold. The shell is on the larger size but it is ergonomic and most should not have fit issues with them. My wife has very small ears and was able to wear them just fine with the right tips. The Pentaconn connectors are very secure and sturdy. The nozzle is on the larger size and while I don’t have them on hand at this time, I believe they are similar in size (but better in fit) compared to the nozzles you’ll find on the semi-custom resin shells you’ll find on some Moondrop IEMs like the Blessing 2 or the Variations. As you can possibly expect from a collaboration with a high end cable maker, the cable is quite phenomenal – thick, but not too heavy, the cable is very sturdy and yet well behaved. The blue and copper braid matches the aesthetic of the IEMs perfectly and the hardware on the cable uses what seems to be the same stabilized wood finish of the faceplate. Needless to say, I have very little qualms with build or finish here.
Overall Sound
Gaea is breathtaking. If I were to describe the sound with one word, it would be vibrant – quite fitting given its namesake. This is a bright IEM in the sense that the upper mids and treble are tuned a bit more forward – however, to my ear, they never get sibilant or harsh. Overall, it is a balanced sound signature that leans a little bit on the thinner side but even as someone who prefers a more lush and thick noteweight, I never found them to be lacking any meat on the bones and it handled everything I listened to with flying colors – pop, classical, jazz, blues, folk, rock, and more. The Gaea has an analytical incisiveness and crispness that lays the music bare but at the same time, it is engaging and captivating, never sounding clinical.
Bass
From what I’ve written so far, you might ask, what’s the catch? While I can unequivocally say that Gaea is among my favorite transducers to date, I have to admit it is not perfect. Bass response is my least favorite part of the Gaea – where the rest of the tuning and technical aspects of the IEM come close to the level of perfection for me, the bass response falls short of that. Granted, the bass quality is still quite good, it just doesn’t match the level of the mids or treble. Where the Gaea, in general, has a very crisp character to it, the bass seems less so. It’s nicely detailed and extends very low. But it lacks a bit of texture and punch to match the incisiveness of the mids and treble. Nonetheless, by itself, the bass is objectively good – but it is not the best quality of the Gaea. That said, I’d still give this a solid 7.5 or 8 out of 10.
Mids
Mids are clean and precise. The instruments and vocals are clear and very well separated. In terms of tuning, this is a neutral sounding IEM that pushes vocals forward, especially female vocals, but it is not shouty. The texture here is astonishing and the layering is phenomenal. This saying is a bit of a cliché in this hobby by now but I’ll say it here because it applies – I’m hearing things in songs I’ve listened to hundreds of times before!
Treble
Gaea can be a bit spicy for some, and this will likely have a lot to do with fit. Those particularly sensitive to treble may wish to look elsewhere. The treble response is elevated and is very well extended. To my ear it is not particularly harsh – if anything, I’d say it is more surprising than strident, coming from a more typically tuned IEMs. Sparkle, and air is present in copious amounts, and like the mids, it is incredibly well textured.
Techs
First-in-class detail retrieval – the Gaea is among the most resolving transducers I’ve heard. It plays ball in the kilobuck league and even there, it is a standout. When listening to a good recording of a string quartet, the breaths the performers take to cue each other is crystal clear as is the moment a violinist places their finger on the fingerboard before a note which adds a sense of hyperrealism that is really quite amazing. The soundstage is wide and deep, and the imaging and separation are pin point accurate. Dynamics are top-notch and transients are super well defined. Timbre is interesting. Being that the Gaea can seem thinner and drier than I’d typically associate with great timbre, it’s not what I’d call the most natural. However, it doesn’t sound wrong, and in fact, I’d say it’s actually quite good. Did I mention that Gaea is absurdly resolving?
Closing Thoughts
The Gaea is quite special. In an ever-expanding sea of IEMs that seem to follow the same tuning principles, the Gaea is a breath of fresh air. Throwing out all notions of what is correct, Gaea asserts its own correctness in a way that, quite frankly, has me wondering if the tonal preferences I’ve developed over the past couple years were even my true preferences. $1299 is not a small amount of money by any means – but for the money, I’d venture to say that you won’t find many things better if at all, even extending that budget up past $2k. When Huck sent me the Gaea, I tried to temper my expectations, given that the frequency response wasn’t even close to my target. And here I am now, wondering how I can make room in my collection to own my own set. This is a set I’d be happy to end game on (if end game exists).
