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Available for pre-order. Delivery approximately mid-August
The result of over a decade of vision, ÉTOILE combines Jack Vang's signature IEM design with the masterful precision of five-time GRAMMY winner Michael Graves – realized through a custom-designed 10-driver quad-bridge architecture.
"It started as an obsession."
"Not with specifications, but with soul. I wanted to create something uncompromising, where form and emotion become one. Every contour, every detail, every note... everything had to have meaning. This isn't technique. This is identity." - Jack Vang, Founder
A star forged in silence
A near-field reference monitor designed for mastering-grade precision in the most demanding environments.
The goal was clear: resolution. Accuracy. Truth.
But with VOLK, fidelity alone isn't enough. Performance is just the starting point. Behind the precision lies a deeper purpose—to evoke something more profound. It's about feedback. It's about the pure sonic experience. Above all, it's about connection: that moment when the playback disappears, leaving only you and the music.
At ÉTOILE, this connection determined every decision.
Bass anchored in substantial, controlled authority. Mids presented with inviting intimacy. Highs articulated with nuance, texture, and air. A soundstage rendered with authentic, studio-grade dimension.
Designed to reveal the truth. Crafted to evoke emotions. Built exclusively for those who hear beyond the call of duty. This is ÉTOILE, the first PEOPLE.
Volk x Michael Graves
To create the extraordinary, you join those who define it.
Michael Graves doesn't set standards. He embodies them. As a five-time GRAMMY® winner and fourteen-time nominee, his ear has defined reference standards for decades. At Osiris Studio, he restores nuances, reveals hidden details, and elevates sound to something deeply human.
ÉTOILE began as our vision. Graves confirmed its neutrality. His precision delivered the truth, our intuition provided the emotion. Together, we developed an in-ear monitor that seamlessly blends analytical clarity and musical soul.
This wasn't a collaboration through compromise. It was a validation through mastery. The truth was preserved. The sound was realized.
Technical data
SYSTEM
• 10-driver quad-bridge system
• 6-way crossover
• 5 precision-engineered sound channels
DRIVER ARRANGEMENT
• 1× M10 10mm subwoofer – sub bass, bass
• 4× Balanced Armatures – Mids, Mid-Treble
• 4× electrostatic drivers – high frequency, ultra-high frequency
• 1× M8 8 mm magnetostat driver – high frequency, ultra-high frequency
PERFOMANCE
• Impedance: 8.8 Ω at 1 kHz
• Sensitivity: 110.6 dB at 1 kHz
• Frequency response: 10 Hz – 50 kHz
design
FACEPLATE
• 24-carat gold-plated 6061-T6 aluminum
• Midnight Saffiano leather imported from Italy
• Dreve plate made of medical plastic imported from Germany
SHELL
• Glossy black
• Medical-grade Dreve resin imported from Germany
• Double, triple acoustic vents
CABLE
CONNECTION
• 4.4 mm AEC symmetrical
• 0.78 mm 2-pin
HARDWARE
• CNC machined 6061-T6 aluminum
• Black anodized, with 24-carat gold-plated accents on the Y-splitter and 4.4 mm plug
DIRECTOR
• Solid core made of 5N OCC silver
• Solid core made of 4N silver
• Silver-plated 6N OCC copper
• Gold-plated 4N silver
• Palladium-plated 4N silver
Performance. Precision. Determination.
Ten drivers. Four technologies. Six crossover bands. Five acoustic paths.
M10 SUBWOOFER - 20Hz – 350Hz
QUAD-BALANCED ARMATURES - 350 Hz – 8 kHz
QUAD ELECTROSTATS - 8 kHz – 45 kHz
M8 MAGNETOSTATIC - 8 kHz – 50 kHz
6-WAY CROSSOVER
ÉTOILE's crossover is implemented on a custom-designed circuit board and utilizes resistor-capacitor networks to achieve precise six-way frequency distribution and seamless driver integration.
The signals are routed directly into five dedicated sound channels, with specific frequency bands further refined by acoustic filters. This topology ensures precise electrical and acoustic tuning and faithfully reproduces the sonic character intended by ÉTOILE.
ENGINEERED ART
Structural integrity meets acoustic precision.
It starts with a precision-engineered acoustic panel. More than just a structural element, it defines the internal chamber and seals a controlled space where geometry, pressure, and timing are coordinated.
Full-grain Italian Saffiano leather sits on top. It provides natural dampening, suppresses micro-resonances, and refines the low-frequency response. Bass definition becomes sharper. The background darkens. The texture becomes more prominent.
The crowning glory of the construction is a CNC-machined, 24-carat gold-plated 6061-T6 aluminum frame. It is mounted on three offset suspension points, distributing resonance, securing each layer, and anchoring the construction into a rigid structure.
At VOLK the structure is solid.
Airflow
ÉTOILE combines all drivers into a common acoustic volume and uses a dual tri-port ventilation system to regulate airflow and equalize internal pressure across the entire driver array.
This stabilizes the diaphragm movement, eliminates unwanted resonances, and preserves clarity and tonal balance. Even a vent shift of just 0.1 mm noticeably alters the bass response and overall coherence, underscoring the meticulous precision behind the design.
ARC
We didn't develop a cable. We constructed a signal path.
ARC is constructed from a carefully selected matrix of high-purity conductors: solid 5N OCC silver, 4N silver, silver-plated copper, gold-plated silver, and palladium-plated silver. Each of these conductors was specifically selected for its current-carrying, impedance-control, and absolute signal integrity properties.
The internal geometry is carefully coordinated. Every strand, every cut, every length is aligned for symmetry, phase coherence, and electrical consistency.
The hardware is CNC-machined from 6061-T6 aluminum, precision brushed, and black anodized, with the Y-splitter and 4.4mm AEC connector accented by engraved 24-karat gold rings.
Coated with medical-grade PVC. Smooth in the hand. Silent in movement. No microphonics. No discoloration. No interference.
ARC is the final link in ÉTOILE’s signal chain.
