Thieaudio Valhalla VS Symphonium x Elise Audio Europa
IEM Comparison: Expert & Community Scores Side-by-Side
Thieaudio Valhalla and Symphonium x Elise Audio Europa use 19BA and 4BA driver setups respectively. Thieaudio Valhalla costs $2,000 while Symphonium x Elise Audio Europa costs $1,550. Thieaudio Valhalla is $450 more expensive. Thieaudio Valhalla holds a slight 0.2-point edge in reviewer scores (9.6 vs 9.4). Thieaudio Valhalla has significantly better mids with a 1-point edge, Symphonium x Elise Audio Europa has significantly better treble with a 1-point edge and Thieaudio Valhalla has better soundstage with a 0.5-point edge.
Insights
| Metric | Thieaudio Valhalla | Symphonium x Elise Audio Europa |
|---|---|---|
| Mids | 9 | 8 |
| Treble | 8 | 9 |
| Soundstage | 9 | 8.5 |
| Dynamics | 8 | 8 |
| Tonality | 8.6 | 8.4 |
| Technicalities | 8 | 9 |
Jaytiss Reviews Comparison
Thieaudio Valhalla reviewed by
9.6
Reviewer Score
Youtube Video Summary
Thieaudio Valhalla lands as a 19-BA flagship around $2,000 that doubles down on build and ergonomics. The titanium shell is chunky but beautifully machined, skin-friendly, and the nozzle grips tips securely; faceplates are swappable for a premium if the stock look isn’t it. Accessories are basic—tips, foams, brush, the usual case—and the stock cable is comfy with a working chin slider, but the modular 3.5/4.4 plugs don’t lock and can pop off too easily. The slightly recessed 2-pin is fine, yet the ear-side barrel leaves a small gap that doesn’t sit flush; a simple aftermarket cable fixes the vibe. Taken as an object, this is world-class industrial design with a couple cable quirks.
On the ear, Valhalla hits a clean, incisive neutrality with just enough flavor. Sub-bass is surprisingly firm for BA, mid-bass stays tidy, and the mids are pristine—no glaze, no haze. There’s a tasteful dip through ~3–6 kHz that keeps the upper-mids from shouting, while a touch of 8 kHz sparkle adds air; treble extends smoothly without turning edgy. It’s a highly technical, high-resolution listen that can read “almost boring” if a colored signature is the goal—but for detail, separation, and coherence, it delivers. Unit variation appears minor (another sample showed a bit more 4–6 k energy), yet the core tuning stays intact.
Versus housemates: Origin swings bassier and “fun”; Valhalla feels cleaner, clearer, more resolute. Hype 2/4 don’t match the air and microdetail; Hype 10 gets closer up top but raises value questions. Oracle MK3 has more 4–5 k zing and lighter sub-bass; Fatfreq Grand Maestro hits similarly rich lows but brings fit hassles and module faff. Against the Elysian Annihilator, pick Annihilator for extra sub-bass and spectacle; pick Valhalla for comfort, longevity, and easy cable-swapping. Not perfect—the stock cable system is flimsy and the “air” isn’t the most crystalline—but this is a top-tier contender with a refined, broadly pleasing tuning and a shell that feels built to outlast the hype.
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Symphonium x Elise Audio Europa reviewed by
9.4
Reviewer Score
Youtube Video Summary
Europa comes as a 4-BA flagship at around $1,600, dressed in a beautifully machined metallic shell with a flat 2-pin, swappable-plug cable that feels supple and well-made. The faceplate is gorgeous and the nozzle is tidy, but the shell is slippery and hard to handle, with no lip or tactile anchors, making fit the biggest wild card here. Packaging on this loaner wasn’t complete, but the cable’s chin slider holds position nicely. Small note for U.S. buyers: there’s an import tax to account for.
Tuning is the draw. Europa tracks J’s target closely with smooth bass, clean mids, and a smart 4–5 kHz dip to keep shout in check, followed by tasteful energy around 5–6 kHz for detail. Versus Symphonium’s Crimson, the retune trims a touch of bass and dials back upper-air brightness for a more refined top end; it reads less fatiguing while staying lively. Compared with other Symphonium sets, Titan pushes too much low-end and can feel muffled, and Meteor skews boomy with not enough treble sparkle—Europa simply measures and sounds more balanced. On the broader field, it trades blows with Monarch (that set comes off a hair cleaner/pristiner, while Europa carries a bit more thump). Even beside the Annihilator—a pricier favorite—there’s a case for Europa’s tonality, which some will find easier and less fatiguing.
Technical chops are strong: plenty of detail, a spacious stage, and bass that feels authoritative without bloat. Imaging is generally good, if occasionally a touch blunted, and the mids, while very solid, don’t pull unique imaging tricks. Overall score sits at about 95/100—a special listen for the right ears. The caveats are the fit and the price; if the shell geometry works for you, Europa can be a top-tier all-rounder. As always, demo if possible—comfort can swing this from “great” to “endgame-adjacent.”
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Thieaudio Valhalla Details
Driver Configuration: 19BA
Tuning Type: V-Shaped
Brand: ThieAudio Top ThieAudio IEMs
Price (Msrp): $2,000
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Symphonium x Elise Audio Europa Details
Driver Configuration: 4BA
Tuning Type: Neutral with Bass Boost
Brand: Symphonium Top Symphonium IEMs
Price (Msrp): $1,550
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Thieaudio Valhalla Scorings
Average Technical & Tuning Grades
Average Tunign Grade
S-- The response feels meticulously dialed in, combining neutrality with inviting warmth. Dynamic swings remain tonally accurate.
Average Technical Grade
A+- It sounds refined and controlled, keeping instruments neatly separated with immersive staging. Busy arrangements remain neatly organized.
Symphonium x Elise Audio Europa Scorings
Average Technical & Tuning Grades
Average Tunign Grade
A+- It delivers a coherent, natural timbre that remains captivating across genres. Acoustic instruments sound lifelike and textured.
Average Technical Grade
S- Expect an effortlessly clean presentation that keeps complex mixes perfectly organized. There is zero sense of congestion even at high volume.
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