Astell & Kern
Expected Feb 13, 2026
STELLA In-Ear Monitors by VOLK Audio (Collaboration IEMs)
$3,900.00 USDFeatures
VOLK LF-H low-frequency hybrid system with M9-R 9mm subwoofer and dual balanced armatures (20–600 Hz)
VOLK HF-H high-frequency hybrid system with dual MP-2 planar drivers and quad electrostatic tweeters (9–45 kHz)
Proprietary 6-way crossover network with multi-stage internal damping and phase alignment
Aerospace-grade 6061-T6 aluminum shell with satin black anodization and precision vent architecture
Sapphire crystal glass faceplate with diamond-polished 9H optical-grade finish
Tuned in collaboration with 5-time GRAMMY Award-winning mastering engineer Michael Graves at Osiris Studio
Premium hybrid conductor cable: 5N LCOFC copper, 4N silver, and 24K gold in 4-core litz configuration
Tri-armature midrange array tuned for natural vocal presence and tonal balance (600 Hz–15 kHz)
Engineered for mastering-grade accuracy with engaging musicality for critical and personal listening
What's in the Box?
VOLK Audio X Astell&Kern
A CONSTELLATION OF PURPOSE
STELLA is the result of three disciplines guided by a single pursuit of truth in sound.
Astell&Kern represents the precision of modern engineering. VOLK Audio defines the architecture of design and acoustic form. Michael Graves brings the mastery of a five-time GRAMMY Award-winning engineer who understands the line between control and emotion. Led by VOLK founder Jack Vang, whose decade of experience helped shape a generation of in-ear design, the project evolved through exchange and refinement. Each discipline strengthened the others, creating an instrument defined by proportion, balance, and restraint. Throughout development, the VOLK engineering team worked closely with Astell&Kern to advance both process and performance. New acoustic architectures and driver assemblies were created specifically for STELLA to achieve the precision and tonal balance defined in its target response. These innovations were refined and calibrated through extensive sessions with Michael Graves at Osiris Studio in Los Angeles. Each evaluation focused on tonal accuracy, phase alignment, and spatial coherence, ensuring that every decision served the music itself.
“ This collaboration was both an honor and a challenge that demanded absolute precision. Both Astell&Kern’s and Michael Graves’ standards for excellence mirror our own, and that alignment pushed every part of the process to its limits. The goal was to create something focused, balanced, and precise, an IEM accurate enough for the most demanding mastering environments yet engaging enough for personal listening.
STELLA carries that philosophy forward, a reflection of what’s possible when precision meets purpose. ”
Jack Vang, Founder of VOLK Audio
STELLA is built on a 12-driver quadbrid architecture that unites four transducer technologies within a single, coherent system.
Each element was developed for its distinct role and tuned through precise control of phase, pressure, and motion.
Its design reflects the same discipline that governs its form. Every contour, cavity, and circuit exists to serve acoustic integrity. The structure is shaped by performance, the performance defined by structure. Nothing is decorative, nothing is redundant.
Every driver operates within its natural range, contributing its character without interference. No forced equalization. No artificial enhancement. Only precision through purpose.
Technical Version
1. LF-H System | VOLK M9-R 9mm Subwoofer + Dual Sonion Armatures
2. Tri-Armature Array | Sonion
3. HF-H System | VOLK MP-2 Dual Planars + Quad Sonion Electrostatics
4. 0.78 2-pin Connector
5. 6061-T6 Aluminum Shell | Satin Black Anodized
6. Faceplate Assembly | 6061-T6 Central Plate, Sapphire Glass and Stainless-Steel Frame
WHERE ART MEETS ENGINEERING
- Low Frequency Hybrid System (LF-H): VOLK M9-R Dynamic Driver + Sonion Dual Balanced Armatures
- Tri-Armature Midrange
- High Frequency Hybrid System (HF-H): Dual Planar Magnetic VOLK MP-2 Drivers + Sonion Quad Electrostatic Tweeters
- 6-Way Crossover Network with multi-stage internal damping and tuned chassis venting
LF-H – VOLK Low Frequency Hybrid System
The VOLK Low-Frequency Hybrid System (LF-H) serves as the starting point of STELLA’s multi-stage architecture, combining VOLK’s M9-R 9 mm subwoofer and dual balanced armatures within a dual-stage chamber designed to regulate phase and resonance.
The chamber’s geometry, alignment, and crossover were co-developed to maintain phase accuracy and pressure balance between both stages. This coordination allows the dynamic driver to deliver depth and force while the armatures add speed, texture, and tonal structure across the lower band.
Operating from 20 to 600 Hz, the LF-H establishes a foundation of weight and control that defines STELLA’s composure and balance.
MID-RANGE ARCHITECTURE
STELLA’s midrange is formed around a tri-armature array tuned for tonal balance and natural presence.
The dual balanced-armature drivers operate from 600 Hz to 7 kHz, voiced for energy and density in the 1–5 kHz range. They deliver warmth, articulation, and a vocal character that connects the low and high ranges with quiet precision.
Above them, a single armature extends from 6 to 15 kHz, overlapping to reinforce upper-mid harmonics and refine vocal and instrumental overtones. Its lightweight diaphragm and quick transient response preserve clarity and texture while integrating precisely with the planar and electrostatic systems above, maintaining linearity across the spectrum.
HF-H – High Frequency Hybrid System
The VOLK High-Frequency Hybrid System (HF-H) defines the upper range of STELLA’s architecture, combining VOLK’s MP-2 dual planar magnetic drivers with four electrostatic tweeters in a unified system.
The crossover and acoustic topology were co-engineered to preserve phase accuracy and tonal stability across the transition between the planar and electrostatic assemblies. This balance allows the planars to shape upper harmonics with precision and control, while the electrostatics extend bandwidth and atmosphere with speed and composure.
Operating from 9 to 45 kHz, the HF-H maintains coherence and clarity at the limits of extension, completing STELLA’s spectrum with authority and refinement.
SHELL
Machined from aerospace-grade 6061-T6 aluminum and anodized in satin black, the shell forms the structural core of STELLA. It holds every acoustic element in precise alignment, maintaining stability between the driver assemblies and the enclosure. Its geometry is engineered for stiffness and resonance control. Internal mass and surface continuity stabilize the structure, reducing vibration and preserving acoustic accuracy. The alloy’s low density provides comfort while preserving strength and balance.
CENTRAL PLATE
Machined from 6061-T6 aluminum and finished in satin black, the central plate forms the visual and structural centerpiece of STELLA. Positioned between the shell and the frame, it maintains geometric balance across the assembly. The VOLK and Astell&Kern insignias rest in opposition, each centered within its own field. The constellations surrounding them trace independent paths yet follow the same proportion and order. It is both ornament and structure — the expression of balance and craftsmanship that defines STELLA.
SAPPHIRE CRYSTAL GLASS
Cut from a single block of optical-grade 9H sapphire crystal glass, the panel completes STELLA’s faceplate assembly, uniting the stainless-steel frame and central plate into a single, sealed structure. The surface is then diamond-polished to eliminate micro-distortion, achieving complete transparency and visual purity. The result is a structural lens of pure sapphire, engineered for rigidity, precision, and continuity of form.
FACEPLATE FRAME
The frame defines the structural boundary between the sapphire glass and the aluminum chassis, machined to micron precision from stainless steel. Each surface is polished to a mirror finish, reflecting the precision of its form and the materials it unites. Beyond structure, it regulates the interface between air and material. The venting architecture built into the frame equalizes internal pressure and suppresses resonance, maintaining balance across the entire acoustic system. Every edge, radius, and transition was modeled to direct light and form as one continuous surface.
VENT ARCHITECTURE
Machined into the aluminum shell and stainless-steel frame, the vent system regulates airflow throughout the enclosure. Its geometry equalizes internal pressure, stabilizing diaphragm motion and maintaining linear driver response. Each aperture is defined by depth, diameter, and damping profile to balance pressure relief and isolation. This prevents standing waves and suppresses low-frequency bloom while preserving the integrity of the acoustic chamber. The vents function as a unified pressure-control system, ensuring consistency between both channels and completing STELLA’s structural and acoustic equilibrium.
CROSSOVER DESIGN
Stella features a proprietary six-way network that preserves phase integrity and synergy across all driver groups. Each acoustic path is filtered and time-aligned to maintain spatial coherence and tonal stability through the full frequency spectrum.
Crafted Cable for Perfection
Designed as an integral part of STELLA’s acoustic system, the cable preserves signal integrity and linearity across the full range, maintaining equilibrium between structure and sound.
- 23.7 AWG, 4 Core Configuration
- Hybrid Conductor Array: 5N LCOFC Copper, 4N Silver, and 24K Gold
- 12-Strand Litz Type 4S Geometry
- 500D Macro-Molecular Fiber Reinforcement Core
- SoftFlex PVC Insulation
- Midnight Black Braided Nylon Outer Jacket
- 6061-T6 Anodized Black Hardware with 316 Stainless Steel Mirror Polished Accents
- 4.4 AEC Balanced Termination
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Physical Specifications | |
| Model | STELLA |
| Materials & Finish | 6061-T6 Aluminum Chassis, Bead-Blasted and Anodized Satin Black 6061-T6 Aluminum Central Plate, Anodized Satin Black with a Diamond-Cut Mirror Finish Face Sapphire Crystal Glass Panel, 9H 316 Stainless-Steel Faceplate Frame, Mirror Polished |
| Technical Specifications | |
| Driver Configuration | 1 × VOLK M9-R 9mm Dynamic Driver 5 × Sonion Balanced Armature Drivers 2 × VOLK MP-2 Planar Magnetic Drivers 4 × Sonion Electrostatic Tweeters |
| Crossover Design | Six-Way |
| Components | TBC |
| Audio Specifications | |
| Frequency Response | 10 Hz – 45 kHz |
| Sensitivity | 103.8 dB @ 1 kHz |
| Impedance | 7.17 Ω @ 1 kHz |
| Cable Specifications | |
| Cable Gauge | 23.7 AWG, 4 Core Configuration |
| Conductor Material | Hybrid Conductor Array: 5N LCOFC Copper, 4N Silver and 24K Gold |
| Termination | 4.4 AEC Balanced Termination |