Volk Audio
Expected Sep 1, 2025
Etoile IEMs - Founder's Reserve Edition
$3,999.00 USDFeatures
Meister Architecture platform with proprietary driver technology
M8 magnetostatic tweeter for speed and extension without fragility
M10 subwoofer with Japan-made N52 coil system for visceral bass
10-driver per side tri-hybrid configuration with six-way crossover
Developed with 5-time Grammy winner Michael Graves of Osiris Studios
Handcrafted carrying case with Goya Red Alcantara lining
Founder's Reserve Edition limited to 350 units worldwide
Tuned for reference-grade tonal accuracy and spatial control
Holographic soundstage with intimate midrange presentation
Video
What's in the Box?
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.
Power. Precision. Intent.
Ten drivers. Four technologies. Six crossover bands. Five acoustic paths.
M10 Subwoofer: 20Hz - 350Hz
Quad Armetures: 350Hz - 8kHz
Quad Ests: 8kHz - 45kHz
M8 Magnetostatic: 8kHz - 50kHz
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 is 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.
Features
- 24K gold-plated frame with Italian midnight Saffiano leather construction
- Meister Architecture platform with proprietary driver technology
- M8 magnetostatic tweeter for speed and extension without fragility
- M10 subwoofer with Japan-made N52 coil system for visceral bass
- 10-driver per side tri-hybrid configuration with six-way crossover
- Developed with 5-time Grammy winner Michael Graves of Osiris Studios
- Handcrafted carrying case with Goya Red Alcantara lining
- Founder's Reserve Edition limited to 350 units worldwide
- Tuned for reference-grade tonal accuracy and spatial control
- Holographic soundstage with intimate midrange presentation
What's in the Box?
- Volk Audio Etoile IEMs (pair)
- Handcrafted carrying case with Italian Saffiano leather exterior
- Goya Red Alcantara-lined case interior
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Technical Specifications | |
| Driver Configuration | 10 Driver Quadbrid |
| Balanced Armature Drivers | 4 Drivers |
| Electrostatic Drivers | 4 Drivers |
| Dynamic Driver (Subwoofer) | M10 Subwoofer |
| Magnetostatic Driver (Tweeter) | M8 Tweeter |
| Crossover System | 6-way Crossover, 5 Sound Bores |
| Audio Specifications | |
| Impedance | 8.8 ohms @ 1 kHz |
| Sensitivity | 110.6 dB @ 1 kHz |