Elysian Acoustics Annihilator is one of the most well-regarded flagship IEMs in history. The original version, released in 2021, created the template that many IEMs that came after would follow: a tribrid design that delivered deep, physical bass, paired with crisp, sparkling treble. Annihilator 2026 is Elysian’s latest refinement of that formula, but do they execute on a level that stands out in the crowd of flagship IEMs innovating on Annihilator’s foundation?

Build and Design

Priced at $3299, Annihilator 2026 features a clear resin shell with a gold faceplate in design that looks and feels great: I’m especially a fan of how well you can see the internal and driver layout and how much more coherently laid out the whole thing is compared to the majority of clear IEMs. Internally, Annihilator is an 7-driver tribrid, with 1 dynamic driver, 4 balanced armatures, and 2 electrostatic drivers. While the build is really nice visually, the materials don’t have the same wow factor as the gold or titanium builds of many other flagship IEMs.

Annihilator is on the larger end of IEMs, but is generally ergonomic and comfortable. People with small very ears may have problems, and another possible fit concern comes from the very large nozzles. Overall, I personally found them to be an easier fit and more comfortable than the majority of 10+ driver IEMs out there. The materials and general ergonomics are solid, and I had several longer listening sessions without feeling any kind of physical fatigue or pressure points in my ears.

The package includes the Effect Audio Wrath cable, which features pure silver and gold-plated silver strands. The connection on the IEM (and the cable) is Pentaconn Ear, rather than 2-pin or MMCX. Elysian also includes a set of Divinus Velvet in XS, S, M, L, and XL sizes to pair with Annihilator. The tips are a bit of a challenge to get on the aforementioned large nozzles, but they ended up being among my favorites for both comfort and sound.

Sound

Annihilator 2026 follows in the footsteps of previous generations of Annihilators offering a sound that’s defined by the interplay between soaring, airy highs, and deep, rumbling lows. The tuning has a strong V-shaped contour, but it’s one of the most tasteful Vs that I’ve heard. There’s just enough midrange, and the bass is tilted just far enough towards the subbass over the midbass that Annihilator maintains strong clarity and good instrumental balance in a tuning that otherwise fits into the “bass, vocals, and sparkle” style.

Annihilator provides highly impressive subbass extension and physicality for a single dynamic driver. The texture and detail in the low-end is a major highlight, with Annihilator delivering bass that’s physical and deep without feeling bloated or muddy.

While the midrange is fairly recessed, Annihilator still provides strong vocal presence, and an instrumental presentation that feels natural and full. Vocals are another highlight here, with really nice presentation across the range of genres and voice types. Listening through Spotify’s Editors choice 2025 playlist, Annihilator delivered lifelike male and female vocals in everything from hip hop to folk to metal to pop.

Annihilator’s treble is what really brings it all together. Offering clarity and definition with a lively aggressive upper extension, the treble offers the perfect complement to the hard hitting bass. For all of the energy and extension, I never found the treble to be fatiguing, instead it demonstrates an exceptional tuning that flawlessly balances energy and impact.

The combination of an emphasis on deep subbass and strong upper extension results in a massive soundstage. Annihilator 2026 feels huge in every direction, offering a very three-dimensional stereo image. Individual instruments and voices feel clean and well separated, with vocals in particular standing out in the mix. There’s a moderate sense of weight to instruments in the mix, but midrange instruments like guitar don’t necessarily feel as tactile as vocals and low-end elements.

On the Beatles’ classic “Come Together,” Annihilator 2026 puts the band on a wide, open stage, cleanly and clearly separating each element, and then delivers a masterclass in detail and texture with each instrument and voice across the frequency spectrum. The drums punch, the guitar bites, and bass has just the right touch of deep rumble to fill in the low bass under the drums. In spite of what might look like an exaggerated tuning, what Annihilator 2026 actually provides is excellent balance.

Miles Davis “Decoy” integrates elements of funk with Davis’s classic jazz and fusion elements, creating a complicated groove with an intense instrumental arrangement. Annihilator captures the energy and punch in the groove from the drum and bass, along with the various polyrhythmic elements from other percussion and electronic elements. The horns are a definitely a highlight hear, and Annihilator gives you perfect clarity on smooth legato runs and attacks that stab at your ears.

Fiona Apple created a totally different blend of jazz and pop on “Extraordinary Machine,” but Annihilator proves to be just as capable at capturing the Apple’s often sardonic vocals, and the band accompanying her that’s quite a bit closer to Benny Goodman than your average pop backing band. The various horns and woodwinds of the band are nicely layered with a warmth to the texture. The vocals cut through with an honest intimacy, while the band’s whimsical delivery feels perfectly delivered by Annihilator.

Comparison: FATfreq Grand Maestro

For an alternative option for a v-shaped, flagship IEM, FATfreq Grand Maestro was one of the first to come to mind. Both combine a premium design and exciting sound signature for an energetic, dynamic flagship experience, but both also offer some different ideas on how to achieve that. Grand Maestro is a 13-driver tribrid, but also manages impressive bass with a single dynamic driver handling the bass.

In terms of build and design, Annihilator has a little more in common visually with the Grand Maestro Anniversary Edition than the standard model, but the construction is definitely more in line with the standard version. Whichever Grand Maestro version you’re comparing it to though, I found Annihilator to have a more comfortable, secure fit. One edge Grand Maestro has over Annihilator is its use of modules and switches the sound to offer a couple different tuning options – though I tended to strongly prefer the “Power” modules with the vocal switch off over any of Grand Maestro’s other options.

In terms of sound, Grand Maestro takes the same core idea of a technically strong IEM that combines hard hitting bass with strong treble, and comes in with even deeper bass. With my preferred tuning option for Grand Maestro, it has stronger subbass, with similar vocals and treble extension, but lacks some of the body and weight of Annihilator. The midrange being pulled further back can make the treble come across a bit more strident on Grand Maestro in spite of being very similar in character to Annihilator.

Between the two, that extra bit of subbass and the option to adjust your tuning might be enough to pull some people over into the Grand Maestro camp, but I found Annihilator 2026’s tuning to be better balanced for a wider range of music than any combo that I could coax out of Grand Maestro, and Annihilator’s fit was more comfortable for long listening sessions.

The Bottom Line

Annihilator 2026 carries on Annihilator’s legacy of dynamic, energetic flagship IEMs, delivering hard hitting bass, great detail, a massive soundstage, and strong dynamics.The build and accompanying cable come together with the tuning and technical aspects of the sound to provide a complete flagship experience.