ÉTOILE
Born from over a decade of vision, ÉTOILE converges Jack Vang’s signature IEM design with the mastering precision of five-time GRAMMY-winning engineer Michael Graves — realized through a bespoke 10-driver quadbrid architecture.
“it began as an obsession
Not with specs but with soul. I wanted to craft something uncompromising, where form and emotion move as one. Every contour, every detail, every note… it all had to mean something. This isn’t engineering. It’s identity."
Jack Vang, Founder
a star forged in silence
A near-field reference monitor, engineered for mastering-grade scrutiny in the most demanding environments.
The objective was absolute: Resolution. Accuracy. Truth.
But at VOLK, fidelity alone is never enough. Performance is merely the starting point. Beyond precision lies a deeper ambition to evoke something more profound. It’s about feedback. The pure sensation of sound. Above all, it’s about connection: the moment playback vanishes, leaving only you and the music.
With ÉTOILE, this connection defined every decision.
Bass anchored in substantial, controlled authority. A midrange presented with inviting intimacy. Highs articulated with nuance, texture, and air. A soundstage rendered with authentic, studio-grade dimension.
Engineered to reveal truth. Crafted to ignite emotion.
Built exclusively for those who listen beyond measure.
This is ÉTOILE, the first VOLK.
volk x michael graves
To shape the extraordinary, you align with those who define it.
Michael Graves doesn't set benchmarks. He embodies them. A five-time GRAMMY® winner and fourteen-time nominee, his ear has defined reference standards for decades. At Osiris Studio, he restores nuance, reveals hidden detail, and elevates sound to something profoundly human.
ÉTOILE began as our vision. Graves validated its neutrality. His precision delivered truth; our intuition delivered emotion. Together, we crafted an in-ear monitor seamlessly bridging analytical clarity and musical soul.
This wasn’t collaboration through compromise. It was confirmation through mastery.
Truth preserved. Sound realized.
overview
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SYSTEM
• 10-Driver Quadbrid System
• 6-Way Crossover
• 5 Precision-Cut Sound BoresDRIVER ARRAY
• 1× M10 10mm Subwoofer – Sub-Bass, Bass
• 4× Balanced Armatures – Mid, Mid-High
• 4× Electrostatic Drivers – High, Ultra-High
• 1× M8 8mm Magnetostatic Driver – High, Ultra-HighPERFORMANCE
• Impedance: 8.8Ω @ 1kHz
• Sensitivity: 110.6dB @ 1kHz
• Frequency Response: 10Hz – 50kHz -
24K Gold-Plated 6061-T6 Aluminum
Italian imported, Midnight Saffiano Leather
German imported Dreve medical-grade resin panel
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Gloss Black
German imported Dreve medical-grade resin
Dual, Tri-port acoustic vents
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TERMINATION
• 4.4mm AEC Balanced
• .78mm 2-PinHARDWARE
• CNC-machined 6061-T6 aluminum
• Anodized black, with 24K gold-plated accents on the Y-split and 4.4mm barrelCONDUCTORS
• Solid Core 5N OCC Silver
• Solid Core 4N Silver
• Silver-Plated over 6N OCC Copper
• Gold-Plated over 4N Silver
• Palladium-Plated over 4N Silver
power. precision. intent.
Ten drivers. Four technologies. Six crossover bands. Five acoustic paths.
M10 SUBWOOFER
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Bass is anchored by the M10, VOLK’s proprietary 10mm dynamic driver, specifically tuned to reproduce frequencies from 20Hz to 350Hz.
The M10 utilizes an N52-grade neodymium magnet paired with a high-purity Japanese OFC voice coil. This precise configuration ensures rapid driver response, tight control, and clearly defined bass structure.
Dual tri-port vents integrated into the shell regulate internal air pressure, effectively reducing unwanted resonance and distortion.
Additionally, a strategically positioned layer of Saffiano leather within the acoustic chamber naturally damps bloom and governs decay, resulting in impactful, controlled, and articulate bass reproduction.
QUAD ARMATURES
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Midrange is reproduced by four Sonion balanced armature drivers, arranged into two dedicated dual-driver modules to precisely cover frequencies from 350Hz to 8kHz.
The first module utilizes a dual-diaphragm architecture optimized specifically for core midrange frequencies. This design provides tonal richness, clarity, and controlled definition, ensuring instruments and vocals possess natural weight and realism.
The second module features a single-diaphragm structure tailored specifically to upper mids. This approach enhances clarity, articulation, and presence, naturally lifting critical frequencies without compromising harmonic integrity or coherence.
Together, these dual-driver modules deliver controlled and detailed midrange reproduction, presenting music with accurate tonal balance, emotional realism, and precise definition.
QUAD ESTS
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High frequencies are reproduced by a quad set of Sonion electrostatic drivers, specifically implemented from 8kHz up to 45kHz to deliver clarity, finesse, and exceptional detail.
Each driver features an ultra-thin, charged diaphragm evenly suspended between two conductive electrodes. Driven by dedicated transformers, these diaphragms respond uniformly and instantly to audio signals, surpassing traditional drivers in transient speed and accuracy.
Compared to conventional dynamic or balanced armature designs, electrostatic drivers produce sharper transients, extended bandwidth, and superior micro-detail retrieval. This translates into greater spatial realism, air, and nuanced texture in high-frequency reproduction.
M8 MAGNETOSTATIC
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The M8 is VOLK’s proprietary 8mm magnetostatic tweeter, specifically engineered to reproduce upper frequencies with natural timbre, precise tonal control, and lifelike detail.
Rather than relying on conventional pistonic motion, the M8 utilizes planar diaphragm movement. At its core is an ultra-thin diaphragm evenly suspended between two symmetrical arrays of permanent magnets, enabling uniform vibration, immediate response, and minimal distortion.
Compared to dynamic or balanced armature drivers, this planar diaphragm delivers faster transient response, lower distortion, and greater harmonic accuracy. Unlike electrostatic drivers, the M8 requires no external transformer or bias voltage, ensuring simplified, reliable operation and faithful, natural presentation of sound.
Within ÉTOILE, the M8 is specifically crossed over from 8kHz to 12kHz, integrating seamlessly with the electrostatic drivers. Its inherent frequency capability extends smoothly up to 50kHz, peaking around 45kHz, naturally enhancing spatial realism, harmonic richness, and openness.
Together with the electrostatic drivers, the M8 forms an integrated high-frequency system delivering exceptional clarity, precision, and musical realism.
6-WAY CROSSOVER
ÉTOILE’s crossover is implemented on a custom-engineered PCB, utilizing resistor-capacitor networks to achieve precise six-way frequency division and seamless driver integration. Signals are routed directly into five dedicated sound bores, with specific frequency bands further refined through acoustic filters. This topology ensures exact electrical and acoustic alignment, faithfully reproducing ÉTOILE’s intended sound signature.
ENGINEERED ART
Structural integrity meets acoustic precision.
It begins with a precision-formed acoustic panel. More than structural, it defines the internal chamber, sealing a controlled space where geometry, pressure, and timing align.
Above it rests full-grain Italian Saffiano leather. Naturally damping, it suppresses micro-resonance and refines low-end behavior. Bass definition sharpens. Backgrounds darken. Texture emerges.
Crowning the assembly is a CNC-machined, 24K gold-plated frame crafted from 6061-T6 aluminum. Mounted at three staggered suspension points, it disperses resonance, secures each layer, and anchors the assembly into one rigid structure.
At VOLK, structure is sound.
airflow
ÉTOILE houses all drivers within a shared acoustic volume, utilizing a dual tri-port vent system to regulate airflow and equalize internal pressure across the driver array. This stabilizes diaphragm motion, eliminates unwanted resonance, and preserves clarity and tonal balance. Even a 0.1 mm shift in vent size or placement noticeably alters bass response and overall coherence, underscoring the meticulous precision behind its design.
ARC
We didn’t design a cable. We engineered a signal path.
ARC is crafted from a curated matrix of high-purity conductors: solid-core 5N OCC silver, 4N silver, silver-plated copper, gold-plated silver, and palladium-plated silver. Each selected specifically for how it shapes current, controls impedance, and preserves absolute signal integrity.
Internal geometry is meticulously matched. Every strand, every cut, every length aligned for symmetry, phase coherence, and electrical consistency.
Hardware is CNC-machined from 6061-T6 aluminum, precision-brushed and anodized black, with the Y-split and 4.4mm AEC plug accented by engraved 24K gold rings.
Sheathed in medical-grade PVC. Supple in hand. Silent in motion. No microphonics. No coloration. No interference.
ARC is the final link in ÉTOILE’s signal chain.
THE FOUNDER’S RESERVE
The ÉTOILE Founder’s Reserve is the first embodiment of the VOLK creed: conviction, refinement, relentless execution.
Each pair features a 24K gold-plated faceplate presented within a bespoke carrying case, handcrafted from Italian Saffiano leather and Goya Red Alcantara. Selected for their storied heritage and meticulous refinement, these materials flow seamlessly from ÉTOILE’s faceplate to its companion case, representing an unbroken thread of artistry and precision.
Individually serialized and sealed with the Reserve insignia, this edition honors those whose conviction carried our vision forward.
Our believers. Our compass. Our ÉTOILE.
Limited to 350 units worldwide
MSRP $3,999
inside the box
ÉTOILE IEMs – Founder’s Reserve Edition, Individually Serialized XXX / 350
ARC Cable – Limited ÉTOILE Edition
VOLK Leather Cable Tie
IEM Carrying Case – Saffiano Leather × Goya Red Alcantara
Velvet Box Dustbag - Founder’s Reserve Edition
VOLK Silicone Eartips, Black – S / M / L
Symbio F Foam Eartips, Orange – S / M / L
VOLK Microfiber Cleaning Cloth – Black
Founder’s Letter – Personally by founder, Jack Vang
VOLK Collector Pins – Gold Edition + Black / White
VOLK Decal – Gold Metallic Finish