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Galactic Superstar - Elysian Acoustic Labs Diva 2023
If I didn't hear it with my own ears right now, I wouldn't believe it! We're talking about the new Elysian Acoustic Labs Diva 2023 IEMs, or rather the sound that comes out of these little things.
Does anyone happen to remember the movie "The Fifth Element" with Bruce Willis? There's a scene with a blue alien lady who is the best opera singer/diva in the galaxy and can do almost impossible things with her voice.
This is exactly the impression I have right now while listening to music with the Diva 2023!😱🤩😍
But before I indulge in further superlatives Regarding the sound, as always, I'll do a little unboxing photo session...
Just by looking at the packaging, it's clear that Elysian Acoustic Labs doesn't do things by halves: It's large, heavy, and very high-quality – making unpacking a real pleasure!
The two drawers contain the new Ares S Premium Cable from Effect Audio and accessories such as cleaning cloth, various earplugs and a few other little things.
The IEMs themselves are hidden under the top lid, and you have to remove the foam insert to find them. There's also a small carrying case included.
The Diva IEMs themselves are a true feast for the eyes and, of course, feature very high-quality workmanship. (They are available in blue, red, and black.)
In general, the overall package exudes a premium feeling that is otherwise reserved for much more expensive products.
Clearly visible on the sides of the IEMs are adjustment screws with which the bass of the Diva can be individually tuned.
When connecting the cable, Elysian relies on Pentaconn's proprietary ear connector, which provides a rotatable connection similar to MMCX. Thanks to the ConX system, the connector is interchangeable, meaning the cable can theoretically be used with other in-ears.
Listening session
As I write these lines, I'm listening to the diva's sounds and reveling in the music. But first things first...
As a partner of the diva I used the new and excellent Hiby R6 Pro II DAP, which, just like the Diva itself, plays way above its own league and price range. I am sure that in terms of sound, a player in the category Cayin N7, Cayin N8II or Hiby RS8 even more out of the diva and also a Cable upgrade should bring even more here.
Still, what I'm hearing right now is simply wonderful - and the divas aren't even rehearsed!
Details & Treble
The first thing that strikes me when listening is the incredible clarity of the Diva IEMs – unusual in this price range. The only other IEMs in this category that sound similarly clear and high-resolution are the UM MEST II, another great value for money!
The Diva's reach high with a decent amount of sparkle, and the details are excellent. Here, the MEST IIs might just slightly outperform the Diva, as they're perhaps a bit more natural. The difference, however, isn't that significant.
bass
I had completely misconceived the Diva's bass capabilities beforehand. I thought the bass range would be somewhat underrepresented—in other words, thin... Far from it!
The first songs already convince me of the opposite and at the latest with Ana Tijoux's "1977" or Ice Cube's "Gangsta Rap Made Me Do It" makes my jaw drop - these things pump bass and sub-bass into my ears, it's a real joy, and even the mid-bass, although less emphasized, doesn't miss out.
The bass quality is also good: none of the other frequencies are drowned out but rather carried as if on a solid foundation.
Space (stage) & channel separation
Johnny Cash's "Ring of Fire" and Nine Inch Nails' "Hurt" are two good songs to test these two aspects, and Diva owners won't be disappointed. Channel separation is very good. Individual instruments and vocals are clearly audible and localizable.
If you listen to Korn's "Freak on a Leash" (MTV unplugged), which was recorded in an intimate atmosphere, against "Feel Alive" by Anneke van Giersbergen, the differences Immediately noticeable from club to concert hall - good job, Diva!
Of course, channel separation and stage representation are not on the same level as a Oriolus Traillii or UM Multiverse Mentor, but they cost several times more than the Diva and so the price/performance ratio is right here too.
Voices & Middle
But now let's get to the real highlight of the diva. That is, As the name (and my intro) suggests, the voice reproduction.
A YouTube reviewer has called the Diva 2023 the IEMs with the best vocal reproduction ever, and although that might seem a bit exaggerated compared to some flagship IEMs, I think he's not entirely wrong.
Let me rephrase it a little: The Diva 2023 has one of the best vocal reproduction qualities on the market, regardless of the price.
Singers are slightly highlighted and emphasized from the ensemble, without the whole suffers. Voices sound very natural, haunting and intense. This gives the listener goosebumps on many occasions. Great!
Conclusion
After reading various forum reviews, I considered the Diva 2023 to be a one-trick pony—great for voices and selected music, but certainly not an all-rounder. Incorrect!
The Diva 2023 are veritable all-round IEMs that, in addition to their outstanding vocal reproduction, have many other qualities and are great with most music styles. achieve results.
All in all, the overall package you get for your money is excellent – the DIVA (like the UM MEST II) performs well above its price range. Here's why:
Be sure to listen!
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Flagship without a flagship price - Cayin N7
The new naturalness - Hiby RS8 Flagship DAP
Into the Multiverse - UM Multiverse Mentor