ÉTOILE

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Volk Audio

Volk Audio's acoustic philosophy pursues authenticity and precision in sound through advanced engineering, patented driver architectures, and carefully selected materials. The brand’s mission emphasizes independence, craftsmanship, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. By integrating cutting-edge technology with meticulous artistry, Volk Audio creates products like Étoile to meet the demands of listeners who refuse to compromise on sound quality. As founder Jack Vang states: “Before establishing Volk Audio, I spent over a decade in the personal audio industry, witnessing technological advancements and market shifts. Yet, I have always believed that true sound should not be overshadowed by commercial compromises. Volk Audio’s acoustic philosophy stems from an unwavering pursuit of pure sound quality—each product is designed with sound at its core, not merely as a flashy market gimmick. We do not develop technology for the sake of patents; everything we do is to refine every detail, from the choice of drivers to the structural design of the housing, ensuring the final sound aligns precisely with our creative vision. The creation of Étoile embodies this philosophy: it is not just an earphone, but a declaration of sound precision, craftsmanship, and individuality. Each pair is meticulously designed and assembled in Atlanta, Georgia, further ensuring the utmost purity of sound. To me, Volk Audio is not just a brand—it is a standard, an uncompromising benchmark centered on sound.”

ÉTOILE is equipped with a proprietary "Meister" acoustic architecture, redefining the performance limits of in-ear headphones with a 10-driver quad-hybrid configuration. This powerful driver combination consists of one 10mm "M10" dynamic driver for bass, four custom balanced armature drivers, four Sonion electrostatic drivers for high frequencies, and one 8mm "M8" static magnetic driver. To achieve precise crossover control and prevent frequency overlap during high-intensity operation, a dedicated six-way crossover system is employed. This system seamlessly integrates the ultra-low, low, mid, high, and ultra-high frequency bands through a "five-fold acoustic conduit design," minimizing distortion to deliver exceptionally clean, transparent, and detailed sound.

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"M10" 10mm Subwoofer Dynamic Driver

The "M10" Dynamic bass driver, specifically designed for ultra-low and low frequencies, features an integrated modular design combining the motor, suspension system, and diaphragm. Compared to conventional dynamic drivers, it delivers a faster low-frequency response. Its internal volume, airflow, and three-hole ventilation structure are precisely calculated to effectively manage pressure fluctuations, suppress low-frequency diffusion, and maintain natural decay. Under high-intensity operation, it ensures excellent low-frequency clarity while providing a sense of weight, precise positioning, and controlled depth and quantity. Simultaneously, it preserves a clean background space for mid and high-frequency details.

"M8" Magnetostatic Tweeter Driver

The proprietary "M8" magnetostatic tweeter driver, exclusively developed by the brand, represents another pinnacle of innovation in in-ear headphone technology. This static magnetic driver technology ingeniously blends magnetic field technology with planar diaphragm characteristics. Through a specially arranged neodymium magnet array, it maximizes magnetic flux density to precisely control diaphragm displacement, retaining advantages such as high resolution, ease of drive, and durability. In the 8-12 kHz high-frequency range, it delivers superior control, precision, and clarity, while enhancing smoothness and subtle detail at the high-frequency extension, ensuring the reproduction of vivid, authentic instrument outlines and vocal textures.

24K gold & Saffiano Leather Faceplate

To embody Volk Audio’s timeless craftsmanship, the ÉTOILE features a “24K gold-plated leather panel” design, incorporating “Saffiano cross-hatched leather” sourced from a premier tannery in Florence, Italy. This leather showcases a classic cross-hatch texture with a subtle sheen, water resistance, and durability. The iconic cross-hatch pattern complements the three-dimensional gold-plated contour, exuding an understated yet refined luxurious aesthetic. The base layer, a specialized polymer acoustic panel, guides sound waves to minimize reflection interference, simulating a wide soundstage. The middle leather layer reduces low-frequency decay, ensuring tight bass, while the outer 24K gold-plated 6061-T6 aluminum alloy frame enhances rigidity, balancing high-frequency transparency with low-frequency depth. Combining water-resistant and durable properties with exquisite craftsmanship, this design delivers a clear, detailed, and spatially immersive audio experience, perfectly embodying timeless acoustic artistry.

Five-time Grammy Award-winning mastering engineer Michael Graves collaborates on tuning

ÉTOILE was conceived with a bold vision to redefine the essence of in-ear headphones as a precise, flawless audio instrument that blends artistry with a profound emotional connection to the listener. To deliver the pinnacle of sonic artistry, Volk Audio founder Jack Vang collaborated with five-time Grammy Award winner Michael Graves. Leveraging decades of professional recording studio experience, Graves meticulously infused his expertise into every facet of ÉTOILE’s development, ensuring each note conveys emotion and intent with exceptional clarity.

Masterful Collaboration: Crafting the Purest Listening Experience
Guided by the principle that “technology serves narrative,” ÉTOILE’s development rejected conventional parametric tuning. Instead, it focused on three core pillars: constructing an expansive soundstage, ensuring consistent frequency response, and achieving authentic music reproduction. Drawing on the near-field monitoring environment of his Osiris Studio, Michael Graves conducted extensive listening tests against original master recordings, employing Head-Related Transfer Function (HRTF) technology to recreate the width and depth of a studio soundstage, transcending the spatial limitations of in-ear headphones. For the M10 dynamic driver, he engineered a rapid decay curve that preserves the impact of low frequencies while maintaining clarity in mid and high-frequency details. In the 8-12 kHz range, he optimized the synergy between the M8 static magnetic driver and Sonion electrostatic drivers, delivering warm resolution and seamless balance across frequency bands.

Premium Hybrid Custom Cable

To unleash the ultimate sound quality of the headphones, the brand meticulously crafted a bespoke cable for ÉTOILE. The cable structure integrates five premium conductor cores: 5N OCC silver, 4N pure silver, 6N OCC copper-plated silver, 4N gold-plated silver, and 4N palladium-plated silver. Through extensive tuning, the insulation layer utilizes medical-grade ultra-soft PVC from the USA, significantly reducing internal resistance and expanding bandwidth to perfectly deliver flagship-level sound quality with immersive stereo imaging, multi-layered depth, and nuanced light-to-dark transitions. The components are precision-crafted from 6061-T6 aluminum alloy using CNC machining, with AEC balanced connectors, accented by black anodization and 24K gold plating, exuding exceptional quality and showcasing the brand’s pinnacle craftsmanship.