IO Audio VOLARE Review – My Endgame IEM
The new VOLARE provides a full 1DD+4BA+4EST driver configuration, a new four-way frequency crossover with one dynamic driver, four balanced armatures, and four electrostatic drivers, each dedicated to specific frequency ranges.
The IO Audio VOLARE has one dynamic driver for low-frequency vocals, four balanced armature drivers for consistent timbre, and four electrostatic drivers for high-frequency reinforcement. This combination creates a bright and smooth timbre at high frequency. The drivers cover the entire human hearing range, resulting in a smooth and integrated sound.
Frequency Crossover
The VOLARE introduces a new physical frequency crossover system. The sound nozzle design and precise physical frequency crossover technology prioritize I/O Audio’s acoustic structure. Thanks to advanced micron-scale manufacturing technology, reliance on electronic frequency crossover is minimized.
The VOLARE electronic frequency crossover utilizes a top-notch PCB design. It incorporates high-precision resistors and capacitors to minimize sound quality degradation caused by the frequency crossover structure.
The VOLARE has four high-voltage electrostatic drivers and a brand-new balanced armature driver for a unique sound structure with a 40KHz upper high frequency and wide bandwidth beyond the hearing range. It aims to reduce dependence on electronic frequency dividers and optimize system engineering.
A unique 8mm silica gel suspension birch dome dynamic driver was created after 1,000 hours of development. This driver greatly reduced bass distortion, resulting in exceptional low-frequency quality. Additionally, it improved the connection between middle and low frequencies, making the overall sound more natural and smooth.
Multi-Plug Cable
The VOLARE comes with a high-end cable with interchangeable adapters and provides 4.4mm, 2.5mm, and 3.5mm plugs.
The cable consists of 8 strands of a combination of braided 6N OFC oxygen-free copper that is silver-plated. It is designed with a highly flexible antioxidant-modified ABS skin and has a fiber core made of tensile aramid fiber.
Unboxing
1. VOLARE IEM
2. Stock Cable (3.5mm Plug, 4.4mm Plug, 2.5mm Plug)
3. 3.5mm to 6.35mm Adapter
4. Leather Case
5. Five Kind of Ear-tips (S, M, L)
6. Certificate
7. User Manual
8. Cleaning Cloth
9. VIP Card
Specs
- Driver Unit: lx 8mm Customized Dynamic Driver + 4x Customized Full Range Balanced Driver + 4x Imported Denmark SONIC EST Driver
- Diaphragm Material (DD): Silicon Rubber + Wood Dome
- Frequency-crossover Structure: 4Way Electronic (3Way Physical)
- THD: THD@1k_Hz<1% (94dB)
- Sensitivity: 121dB/Vrms (@1kHz)
- Impedance: 4.80±10% (@1kHz)
- FR Range: 10Hz – 40kHz (IEC61094, Free Field)
- Effective FR Range: 20Hz – 20kHz (IEC60318-4, -3dB)
- Cable Material: 8-Strand Oxygen-free Copper Silver-plated
- Price: $599
I would like to thank Shenzhenaudio for providing me with the review sample of IO Audio VOLARE IEM.
Sound
The VOLARE has a fun and lively sound. Its tuning emphasizes strong and punchy bass with clear details. The overall sound is rich and dense, with a focus on the lower frequencies.
There is a lot of fun finding matching sources for the VOLARE which is very responsive to power as well as decoding quality.
The vocals are clear, with good extension and micro-details, creating a balanced tone. It becomes engaging when paired correctly.
I have ensured that the IEM and cable are in optimal working condition by running them for over 100 hours before providing detailed feedback. I have primarily used dongles and the latest FiiO Q15 DAC-AMP for the impressions mentioned below.
Lows
IO Audio successfully incorporates a 10mm liquid silicone dynamic driver along with 8 other drivers in the VOLARE. This combination enables the VOLARE to produce a powerful impact and airy sound that is particularly pleasing for metal music and anything with deep bass.
When tested with the FiiO Q15, the VOLARE demonstrates a decent speed in the lower frequencies and features a gentle but clear decay.
The bass sounds great when playing live jazz recordings, capturing the vibes perfectly. It also stands out when more energetic bass instruments are added.
Certain BA drivers help with the bass speed without making it sound too boomy. The switch from dynamic driver to BA is smooth and doesn’t affect the mid-range clarity.
Similarly, string plucking and double bass texture sound great even on compact devices. The woody, shimmering qualities are reproduced very well, making them quite captivating.
Mids
The midrange isn’t as prominent as the lower tones, but it still has a full sound and strong projection. It stands out thanks to the enhanced high vocal frequencies, yet it’s balanced enough to avoid any harshness.
The VOLARE has a calm and slightly monitoring style, thanks to the slightly recessed midrange colors. I prefer the sweet spot at a slightly higher volume because of the bass being slightly more forward.
When there’s enough power in the lower range, it performs great with male singers and rhythmic music, seamlessly blending with the deep bass. It excels with male voices and rhythmic tunes when there’s ample energy in the lower frequencies, effortlessly merging with the strong bass line.
The VOLARE offers exceptional clarity and improved balance, even at extremely loud levels. Deeper voices can have a rich and strong texture with plenty of air, and you can experience a distinct impact in your chest when listening to clean vocals.
The VOLARE is versatile with various music genres and streaming content, providing powerful dynamics and clear definition even at lower sampling rates.
Highs
The VOLARE is equipped with 4 EST drivers that handle high-pitched sounds, providing intricate and detailed treble.
Many treble drivers do not produce piercing highs of high intensity. Instead, they have a well-controlled quantity of treble that blends harmoniously with the lower frequencies. It smoothly extends the higher frequencies and harmonics without overheating.
Increasing the volume will make these characteristics more noticeable, allowing you to hear many small details and a concentrated image.
Woodwind instruments, strings, and high-pitched vocals create harmonics that spread out on the stage clearly and subtly.
The VOLARE has achieved successful EST implementation, ensuring accurate results without compromising sharpness. It creates a peaceful and focused atmosphere that complements new-age music and working background music.
Technicalities
The VOLARE offers excellent density and detail retrieval, providing a detailed headroom. The polite upper mids reduce spaciousness slightly, while the full-bodied low frequencies enhance the presence of bass instruments like drums and bass guitars, filling up the space with subs. It maintains decent control even with multiple instruments in the mix.
The mid-range vocals and instruments are delivered smoothly, but they are not as prominent as the bass.
The VOLARE has a good definition in the mids, allowing different voices to be heard clearly and distinctly. It gives the impression of sitting in the middle rows of a small lecture hall.
The staging performance varies depending on the source. If you pair it with a strong, bass-heavy source, the midrange might sound a bit muffled. In simpler terms, using the right DAPs/dongles will enhance the output, making it more pleasant and well-balanced, resulting in a more lifelike stage experience.
Sum-Up
To sum up, the IO Audio VOLARE is an excellent option for music lovers. It provides an engaging and lively sound experience across different music styles, with its powerful bass, vibrant midrange, and clear treble.
As the first model from a brand new brand, the VOLARE is not only technically impressive, but it also offers a fun and captivating listening journey that keeps you engaged with every song. Plus the rich and amazing unboxing experience alongside the sound performance easily justifies the asking price.