Closer Examination

The included cable certainly matches the aesthetics of the set courtesy the shiny brown sleeve. But you hopefully are fine with a single-ended source connector since a 3.5 mm TRS plug is the only option available at this time. It comes with a protective cover and is paired to a brushed gray aluminium housing with "ThieAudio" etched in. Two strands lead from the housing, with the cable 26 AWG wiring in a Litz configuration. This is a hybrid conductor configuration with 92 wires of 60 µm thick single-crystal copper and another 24 wires of 60 µm thick silver-plated copper. The rest of the hardware on the cable matches the design language seen before, including with the splitter and functional cable/chin cinch. A clear plastic sheath on top at the other end forms the ear hooks which terminate in standard 0.78 mm 2-pin connectors on an extended housing for IEMs that have a recessed connector, which the ThieAudio Elixir does not. Only a single dot on the side identifies the channels—good L/R markings would have been nice, too. Otherwise, the cable is plenty effective with no microphonics, and it does not tangle easily, although I have used cables in this price range that are easier to shape. Overall, it's a fine cable, but not a unique selling point for the Elixir.


What is a USP is the aesthetic of the Elixir, which I admittedly like very much. The shells are composed of CNC-machined aluminium given a smooth yet matte black anodized finish that breaks up the monotonous "stealth" approach thus far with an aluminium bezel in the same brown finish as the cable. This is more a trim than a bezel and reminds me of the 64 Audio U18t in that regard. But then it gets flashier with the stabilized burl wood insert that acts as the de-facto face plate on the Elixir. Given the nature of stabilized wood and sourcing of the raw materials, no two face plates will be identical. ThieAudio says it aims to match the patterns of a set if possible, but the photos show that is not always the case. Based on other sets I have seen online, my set is still quite gorgeous. You could end up with a more muted variant that will still mostly be stealthy, and the smooth finish over the wood keeps it clean similar to closed-pore wood used in cars.


Here's a closer look at one of the face plates with the aluminium trim—this insert is also a wall of the acoustic chamber inside, so the wood may affect the sound signature akin to different woods on headphone ear cups. ThieAudio has picked a shell design that is somewhere between a generic UIEM and more ergonomic CIEM, and it is about average in size. Visible branding is on the side, and L/R markings indicate the left and right channels. We also have two vents for airflow and some pressure relief, and a look from the side shows the inset 2-pin connectors that are flush with the shell. It also shows that the aluminium bezel is glued over the wooden insert to hold it in place, and the glue job is not very uniform throughout. The nozzle is part of the shell, fairly thick and short, and the inner side slopes quite early but isn't aggressively angled inward, which could affect fit, which we will discuss more on the next page. A retaining lip at the end of the nozzle keeps the ear tips in place once installed, and this is the widest the nozzle gets at ~6 mm in diameter. A pre-installed metal mesh filter prevents contaminants, including ear wax and dust, from entering the acoustic chamber.


Fitting the different ear tips is trivial, and that notch on the nozzle holds them securely. Seen above are one each of the included size M silicone and foam ear tips installed on the Elixir. Just make sure to go around the tips to ensure they are not in at an angle. Given the relatively wide nozzle, I had to stretch the ear tips slightly to get the bore around it, which is not tedious, and fitting the silicone tips was much simpler than the foam ones. Try out the various tips and sizes, and keep in mind that both ear canals don't need to have the best seal with the same size or set, either. Regardless of which tips you pick, the next step is to re-connect the cable by carefully identifying the matching channels and orienting the ear hooks around your ear when connecting the IEMs. Doing so is simple as you just push the pins on the cable into the receptacle on the IEMs, but notice the unnecessary extension on the cables as there is no recess to fit into. Thankfully, the black on black color scheme hides it somewhat. Once done, use the 3.5 mm TRS single-ended plug with the source of your choice. I know there are many who prefer using IEMs throughout, but I like to use over-ear headphones when sitting down and IEMs on the go. I paired the ThieAudio Elixir with many of the tested portable DAC/amps to date and personally like the cleaner profile and handy EQ options of the Qudelix-5K.