Preface:
I borrowed this unit from a dear friend to audition.
Also, I’m not a seasoned reviewer, so whatever I say is purely my observation and your results may vary.
I’m not the one to usually focus on specifications and numbers. I focus more on how happy I am with the equipment’s sound and that’s it.
Disclaimer: All impressions and opinions in this review are my own. I have not been paid or compensated by I/O or any other entity for this review. My assessment is based solely on my personal experience with the product.
Sources used:
I/O is a relatively new name in the audiophile world, but they've certainly made a splash with their debut offering, the Volare. It's a bold move to enter the high-end IEM market with a flagship model, but I/O seems to be confident in their creation. Let's see if they've managed to pull it off.
Design and Build: A Blend of Luxury and Functionality
The first thing that strikes you about the Volare is their exquisite design. The faceplate is a work of art in itself - a shimmering, dark canvas with delicate silver veins that catch the light in mesmerizing ways. It's like a miniature galaxy swirling on your ears. The rest of the shell is equally well-crafted, with smooth curves and a comfortable fit. I've worn them for hours without any discomfort, a testament to their ergonomic design.
The included cable is a high-quality 8-core OFC affair with interchangeable plugs. It's supple, tangle-resistant, and adds to the overall premium feel. The carry case is a sturdy, faux-leather affair that keeps the IEMs safe and sound. I do wish it were a bit smaller, though.
Sound Analysis:
The Volare's hybrid driver configuration, consisting of 1 dynamic driver, 4 balanced armatures, and 4 electrostatic drivers, is a testament to I/O's ambition. They've aimed for a rich and nuanced sound, and for the most part, they've hit the mark.
Tonality:
The Volare's overall presentation isn't strictly neutral, but it's far from being colored or skewed. It has a subtle emphasis on the lower frequencies, providing a satisfying warmth and body to the music without sacrificing clarity or detail. It strikes a fine balance between being analytical and musical, making it suitable for a wide range of genres.
Sub Bass:
The dynamic driver truly shines in the sub-bass region. It delivers a deep, rumbling presence that adds a physical dimension to the music. Listening to "Limitless" by James Blake, the sub-bass notes reverberate through your skull, creating a visceral experience that's both thrilling and immersive. It's not just about quantity, though; the sub-bass is also well-controlled and textured, avoiding any sense of bloat or muddiness.
Mid Bass:
The mid-bass maintains the same level of excellence. It's punchy and impactful, with a satisfying slam that gives drums and bass guitars a realistic weight and presence. In "Bad Guy" by Billie Eilish, the bassline is taut and rhythmic, driving the song forward without overwhelming the vocals. The Volare's ability to handle both subtle and dynamic bass notes with equal finesse is truly commendable.
Lower Mid Range:
The slight elevation in the lower midrange adds warmth and richness to vocals and instruments. Male vocals, in particular, benefit from this, sounding full-bodied and resonant. However, this emphasis can occasionally lead to congestion in complex tracks with multiple instruments vying for attention in the same frequency range. It's a minor drawback, but one worth noting.
Upper Mid Range:
The upper midrange is where the Volare showcases its balanced armature prowess. It's smooth, natural, and detailed, allowing vocals and instruments to shine through with clarity and presence. Female vocals, like Adele's in "Hello," are rendered with a delicate touch, capturing both the power and vulnerability in her voice. There's no hint of harshness or sibilance, even at higher volumes.
Lower Treble:
The lower treble is where the electrostatic drivers start to make their presence felt. It's crisp and airy, adding sparkle and detail to the music without becoming fatiguing. Cymbals shimmer and decay naturally, while guitars have a pleasing bite. However, there's a slight dip in the presence region, which can make some instruments sound a bit recessed in the mix.
Upper Treble:
The upper treble extends effortlessly, contributing to a sense of air and openness. It's not the most emphasized part of the frequency spectrum, but it provides enough detail and sparkle to keep the music from sounding dull or closed-in. The Volare's treble performance is a testament to the careful tuning of the electrostatic drivers.
Staging:
The soundstage is another highlight of the Volare. It's wide and spacious, with good depth and layering. Instruments are precisely placed within the soundstage, creating a holographic image that's both immersive and realistic. The sense of width is particularly impressive, making you feel like you're surrounded by the music. However, the height could be a bit more pronounced to create a truly three-dimensional experience.
Layering and Separation:
Even with complex orchestral pieces, the Volare manages to keep everything organized and well-separated. Each instrument has its own distinct space within the mix, allowing you to appreciate the subtle interplay between different elements. The layering is exceptional, revealing the depth and complexity of the music.
Timbre:
The Volare generally does a good job of reproducing the natural timbre of instruments and vocals. However, the slight emphasis on the lower mids can sometimes make the timbre sound a bit thick or syrupy. It's not a deal-breaker, but it's something to be aware of.
Detail Retrieval:
The Volare's detail retrieval is exceptional, thanks in part to the electrostatic drivers. It uncovers subtle nuances in the music that you might miss with other IEMs. Listening to "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen, you can hear the intricate vocal harmonies, the delicate piano notes, and the subtle reverb in the guitar solos.
Comparisons
Conclusion:
The I/O Volare is an impressive debut from a new brand. It offers a captivating sound signature, excellent build quality, and a luxurious design. It's not perfect - the slight dip in the presence region and the occasional congestion in the lower mids are minor flaws - but it's a fantastic all-rounder that will appeal to a wide range of listeners. If you're looking for an IEM that combines technical prowess with musicality, the Volare is definitely worth considering.
I borrowed this unit from a dear friend to audition.
Also, I’m not a seasoned reviewer, so whatever I say is purely my observation and your results may vary.
I’m not the one to usually focus on specifications and numbers. I focus more on how happy I am with the equipment’s sound and that’s it.
Disclaimer: All impressions and opinions in this review are my own. I have not been paid or compensated by I/O or any other entity for this review. My assessment is based solely on my personal experience with the product.
Sources used:
- Dita Navigator
- iBasso DC07 Pro
- L&P W2 Ultra
- D16 Taipan
- RME ADI-2 Pro FS R
- XI Audio Broadway S
I/O is a relatively new name in the audiophile world, but they've certainly made a splash with their debut offering, the Volare. It's a bold move to enter the high-end IEM market with a flagship model, but I/O seems to be confident in their creation. Let's see if they've managed to pull it off.
Design and Build: A Blend of Luxury and Functionality
The first thing that strikes you about the Volare is their exquisite design. The faceplate is a work of art in itself - a shimmering, dark canvas with delicate silver veins that catch the light in mesmerizing ways. It's like a miniature galaxy swirling on your ears. The rest of the shell is equally well-crafted, with smooth curves and a comfortable fit. I've worn them for hours without any discomfort, a testament to their ergonomic design.
The included cable is a high-quality 8-core OFC affair with interchangeable plugs. It's supple, tangle-resistant, and adds to the overall premium feel. The carry case is a sturdy, faux-leather affair that keeps the IEMs safe and sound. I do wish it were a bit smaller, though.
Sound Analysis:
The Volare's hybrid driver configuration, consisting of 1 dynamic driver, 4 balanced armatures, and 4 electrostatic drivers, is a testament to I/O's ambition. They've aimed for a rich and nuanced sound, and for the most part, they've hit the mark.
Tonality:
The Volare's overall presentation isn't strictly neutral, but it's far from being colored or skewed. It has a subtle emphasis on the lower frequencies, providing a satisfying warmth and body to the music without sacrificing clarity or detail. It strikes a fine balance between being analytical and musical, making it suitable for a wide range of genres.
Sub Bass:
The dynamic driver truly shines in the sub-bass region. It delivers a deep, rumbling presence that adds a physical dimension to the music. Listening to "Limitless" by James Blake, the sub-bass notes reverberate through your skull, creating a visceral experience that's both thrilling and immersive. It's not just about quantity, though; the sub-bass is also well-controlled and textured, avoiding any sense of bloat or muddiness.
Mid Bass:
The mid-bass maintains the same level of excellence. It's punchy and impactful, with a satisfying slam that gives drums and bass guitars a realistic weight and presence. In "Bad Guy" by Billie Eilish, the bassline is taut and rhythmic, driving the song forward without overwhelming the vocals. The Volare's ability to handle both subtle and dynamic bass notes with equal finesse is truly commendable.
Lower Mid Range:
The slight elevation in the lower midrange adds warmth and richness to vocals and instruments. Male vocals, in particular, benefit from this, sounding full-bodied and resonant. However, this emphasis can occasionally lead to congestion in complex tracks with multiple instruments vying for attention in the same frequency range. It's a minor drawback, but one worth noting.
Upper Mid Range:
The upper midrange is where the Volare showcases its balanced armature prowess. It's smooth, natural, and detailed, allowing vocals and instruments to shine through with clarity and presence. Female vocals, like Adele's in "Hello," are rendered with a delicate touch, capturing both the power and vulnerability in her voice. There's no hint of harshness or sibilance, even at higher volumes.
Lower Treble:
The lower treble is where the electrostatic drivers start to make their presence felt. It's crisp and airy, adding sparkle and detail to the music without becoming fatiguing. Cymbals shimmer and decay naturally, while guitars have a pleasing bite. However, there's a slight dip in the presence region, which can make some instruments sound a bit recessed in the mix.
Upper Treble:
The upper treble extends effortlessly, contributing to a sense of air and openness. It's not the most emphasized part of the frequency spectrum, but it provides enough detail and sparkle to keep the music from sounding dull or closed-in. The Volare's treble performance is a testament to the careful tuning of the electrostatic drivers.
Staging:
The soundstage is another highlight of the Volare. It's wide and spacious, with good depth and layering. Instruments are precisely placed within the soundstage, creating a holographic image that's both immersive and realistic. The sense of width is particularly impressive, making you feel like you're surrounded by the music. However, the height could be a bit more pronounced to create a truly three-dimensional experience.
Layering and Separation:
Even with complex orchestral pieces, the Volare manages to keep everything organized and well-separated. Each instrument has its own distinct space within the mix, allowing you to appreciate the subtle interplay between different elements. The layering is exceptional, revealing the depth and complexity of the music.
Timbre:
The Volare generally does a good job of reproducing the natural timbre of instruments and vocals. However, the slight emphasis on the lower mids can sometimes make the timbre sound a bit thick or syrupy. It's not a deal-breaker, but it's something to be aware of.
Detail Retrieval:
The Volare's detail retrieval is exceptional, thanks in part to the electrostatic drivers. It uncovers subtle nuances in the music that you might miss with other IEMs. Listening to "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen, you can hear the intricate vocal harmonies, the delicate piano notes, and the subtle reverb in the guitar solos.
Comparisons
- Volare vs Moondrop Variations: The Moondrop Variations, often hailed as a benchmark in its price range, presents a more neutral and balanced sound signature compared to the Volare's subtle warmth. While both IEMs offer excellent technical performance, the Variations boasts a wider and more holographic soundstage, creating a greater sense of space and immersion. The imaging on the Variations is also slightly more precise, allowing for easier pinpointing of instruments within the mix. However, the Volare's slightly emphasized bass and lower mids can make it a more engaging and fun listen, especially for genres that benefit from a bit more warmth and impact.
- Volare vs Alpha Omega RA: The RA, known for its intimate and smooth presentation, offers a distinct contrast to the Volare's more open and airy sound. The RA's treble is notably smoother and more forgiving, making it a great choice for those sensitive to high frequencies. It also excels in delivering a cohesive and emotionally resonant listening experience, particularly with vocal-centric music. On the other hand, the Volare's wider soundstage and greater detail retrieval give it an edge in terms of technical performance and overall versatility.
- Volare vs Sennheiser IE600: The Sennheiser IE600, a highly regarded single-dynamic driver IEM, leans towards a more analytical and revealing sound signature. It excels in detail retrieval, micro-dynamics, and imaging precision, making it a favorite among audiophiles who crave accuracy and transparency. The Volare, in comparison, offers a more musical and forgiving presentation. Its slightly elevated bass and lower mids add a touch of warmth and body to the music, making it a more enjoyable listen for extended periods. While the IE600 may have a slight edge in technicalities, the Volare's engaging sound signature and comfortable fit make it a strong contender.
Conclusion:
The I/O Volare is an impressive debut from a new brand. It offers a captivating sound signature, excellent build quality, and a luxurious design. It's not perfect - the slight dip in the presence region and the occasional congestion in the lower mids are minor flaws - but it's a fantastic all-rounder that will appeal to a wide range of listeners. If you're looking for an IEM that combines technical prowess with musicality, the Volare is definitely worth considering.
Attachments
General/Packaging/Build/Comfort
I/O Audio is a new brand that came out of nowhere early this year. It is quite a daring debut because Volare is a flagship model from the brand. Priced at 599$, Volare has the following configuration 1DD+4BA+4EST.
The packaging is very premium overall, I had a very good unboxing experience. The IEM itself is stored in a faux leather storage case, the accessories such as cable, eartips are housed in the box in a “drawer” kind of style. It screams premium overall. The cable is a 8 core OFC SPC with interchangeable plugs (modular), it comes with 2.5,3.5,and 4.4 plugs.
You will find 5 types of ear tips in the box, wide bore and narrow bore and foam.
The whole iem is very smooth and there aren't any sharp edges, the face plate is really very pretty. In terms of comfort,the Volare’s shell is slightly big, but it fits very well and also the seal, to me, feels very custom-like. I have no discomfort even wearing them for long listening sessions,do take into consideration that everyone’s ear is different and if it fits well for me doesn’t mean it will fit well for you,but fortunately, I/O Audio does throw in plenty of ear tips choices,so i’m sure there will be one that fits eventually.
Gears used for this review
- DITA Navigator
- Earmen ST-AMP
- I/O Audio Volare Stock Cable and Eartips
- Fiio M23
Foreword
My review is solely based on what I hear via my equipment and I never consider my reviews to be objective in any way rather a subjective approach. Do take into consideration that everyone’s ear anatomy is not the same, so the psychoacoustics perception might be different as well, but i believe it will not stray too far
Sound
The Volare has a tonality of neutral and slight warmish sounding to my ears, although sporting 4 BAs, I don't hear any hint of BA timbre, the Volare’s timbre sounds very natural to my ears. If I had to nitpick, yes, there is a slight BA timbre, but only if you pay real hard attention to it. The tuning sounds slightly V-shaped to my ears and you can clearly tell it is sub bass focused rather than mid bass.
Bass
- The sub bass is rumbly and has good extension, but i wouldn’t say it is anywhere near basshead kind of rumble, it does rumble when the track calls for it
- Mid bass has good body and it doesn’t sound thin, double bass pedal doesn’t sound bloated or lacking in terms of texture, Slipknot’s People = crap, during the fast drumming, every hit can be heard clearly
- Bass from the Volare is tight and clean, it exhibits no
- Transition between the sub and mid bass is quite balanced without sounding incoherent
- I personally find the tuning of bass is done right to my preference,somewhere between fun and audiophile but not venturing into the basshead category
- The mid range has plenty of details and they don’t sound recessed at all
- Vocal doesn’t sound recessed nor too forward, just right to my ears
- Male vocal in my opinion sounds a little bit lacking in terms of texture and the fullness, but female vocal on the other hand has very good energy level to it, even when you crank the volume higher, it doesn’t sound “shouty”
- The upper mids are generally quite safe sounding, but again, it depends on your tolerance and sensitivity, and most importantly, the fit
Treble
- Now, the treble, is also another strong point of the Volare, it has plenty of energy and air, yet it is not harsh sounding
- Detail retrieval is very good and actually for the asking price, i personally think that it is punching above its price point
- The Volare’s soundstage is not that “big” sounding, a good width and height perception, separation is also top class
- Imaging is very good,the instruments can be pinpointed easily in busy track like Slipknot’s Duality
- The technicalities of Volare is very good overall
- The Volare is not hard to drive and it does sound decently loud even from weaker source like Apple’s Lightning Dongle, what i want to stress is that, sounding loud is not equivalent to driving power
- Switching over to my desktop setup , the Volare becomes a different beast, very controlled bass and the highs are very well extended and it is somehow “bigger” sounding now in terms of soundstage
- Switching over to the EJ09 for the purpose of comparison,i would say the tonality between the EJ09 and Volare is vastly different
- Priced at 899$ for the EJ09 vs Volare at 599$, in terms of value, Volare is definitely running circles around the EJ09
- The tonality of the EJ09 is leaning towards neutral bright-ish, not everyone is into this kind of sound signature
- In terms of bass, the sub bass does have a bit more quantity compared to Volare, but the mid bass is slightly thinner than Volare
- Mids are very clean sounding, the male vocal especially, can be a little thin at times, female vocal however is very sweet and full of energy
- Treble is very energetic, at times it can be a little fatiguing for those who are sensitive to treble, on the positive side, it is very airy and contributed to a very big soundstage
- Technicalities is definitely way ahead of Volare, which make sense because costing 300$ more, but Volare is not too far off, i would say it does have probably 70-80% of EJ09 in terms of technicalities
- Shell size, both are more or less quite similar
Final Thoughts
Having tested the Volare for almost a month, it is safe to say that it offers a very good and high price performance ratio. For a debut model, it does almost everything right, of course there are some cons if I were to nitpick. The Volare has been my daily driver since i received them, i have even put it up for comparison with the TOTL model from Letshuoer, and Volare definitely isn’t too far from and costs way less. This is definitely an outstanding release from I/O and I am definitely looking forward to their upcoming releases. It deserves a 5 out of 5 stars. Highly recommended!
*The Volare is sent over by ShenzhenAudio for the purpose of this review. I thank them for the support and opportunity as always
Head over to the official store if you are interested in getting one, it is currently being priced at 599$
I/O Audio Volare’s Store Link - Non Affiliated
I/O Audio Volare : Outstanding Performance!
Summary:
Launched in April'2024, Volare is the newly launched IEM from the brand I/O Audio. They are tri-brids with 4x Imported Denmark SONIC EST Driver + 4x Customized Full Range Balanced Driver + 8mm Customized Dynamic Driver. They are indeed very promising in terms of price to performance ratio and delivers outstanding sound quality for the price.
Introduction:
Let's quickly dive into the details without making the introduction very lengthy. The Volare is tri-brids with with 4x Imported Denmark SONIC EST Driver + 4x Customized Full Range Balanced Driver + 8mm Customized Dynamic Driver. They come with great cable and interchangeable plugs ( 2.5mm, 3.5mm and 4.4mm).
The I/O Audio Volare is priced at $599.
Design & Build:
The shells look very ergonomic & premium and are 3D printed based on their research to ensure a good and comfortable fit. the face-plates are hand-painted and look awesome. below are some extracts from their website on the design & build details:
Specifications:
The I/O Audio Volare comes at $599 price tag and the specifications are as below:
https://shenzhenaudio.com/products/ioaudio-volare-1dd-4ba-4est-in-ear-headphone
The Box & Accessories:
The Accessories:
The Volare package includes…
The Cable:
Volare comes with a great cable. It has the following properties:
NOW LET'S TALK ABOUT THE SOUND....
Items Used for this Review:
DAC/AMP & Dongles: @Questyle M15i Dongle, CMA18P DAC/AMP, @MOONDROP DAWN
Portable Players / Sources : @Questyle QP2R, Cayin N30LE, Astell & Kern SE300
Streaming Source: QOBUZ
Pairing Performance with different sources:
Dongle DAC/AMPs:
Volare had the best pairing with @Questyle M15/M15i & @Cayin RU7 dongles. But, I have found that it pairs well with other dongles also. It's pairing with the @Questyle CMA18P is just outstandingly awesome! and takes it to a whole different level.
Portable Players:
Obviously the Volare had the best pairing with the Cayin N30LE, A&K SE300 and @Questyle QP2R since they come with very transparent Class-A amplification and outstanding DAC performance! The BEST pairing however came with Cayin N30LE which took the performance of the Volare to the next level.
Ear Tips:
I've tried tip-rolling with a variety of tips such as: @Final Audio E series red & black ones, JVC Spiral dots, Spiral Dots+, @SpinFit Eartip CP500, CP155. Out of all of these I have found the Azla Sednafit to be the best fit for my ears in terms of overall fit, isolation & comfort.
Tracks Used:
The tracks I have used can be found from the below playlist that I have used and generally use for most reviews...
Volare Sound Impressions in Short:
The BASS:
The Volare has a good overall bass performance. The little nuances and details of the sub-bass region is clearly audible and the mid-bass comes with good amount of body & texture. In fact, I'm quite surprised at the refined bass experience this has been able to pull off. Not that kind of hard slamming in the mid-bass but more of the details. tracks like: "Hotel California (Live on MTV 1994) – Eagles" and "Fluid - Yosi Horikawa" you will likely get immersed into the bass finesse.
The MIDS:
The midrange of the Volare is quite open and clear with ample amount of details. There's no bass bleed and the midrange is quite textured and feels very natural. Vocals are very immersive and both male and female vocals come with good texture and feel very real. Instruments felt very natural and real with high accuracy and the separation between them is also great. In tracks like: "Anchor - Trace Bundy", "A dog named Freedom – Kinky Friedman" and "Ruby Tuesday – Franco Battiato" it’s really easy to get lost into the music as it comes with ample detailed transients, texture, excellent vocals and details.
The TREBLE:
The Treble is quite energetic & airy coming from the ESTs of the Volare but doesn't at any point feel peaky or uncomfortable. It has the right amount of details and texture also and the overall treble performance is therefore very enjoyable.
Treble in tracks like: "Paradise Circus – Massive Attack", "Mambo for Roy – Roy Hargrove” and "Saints and Angels – Sharon Shannon" feel very immersive and enjoyable from the treble perspective.
The SOUNDSTAGE:
The Staging capabilities of the Volare is surprisingly good. In fact, it might be amongst the best in the price range. It comes with the right amount of width, height, depth and is well defined and just as much as the track requires. Tracks like: “The Secret Drawer – Bela Fleck and the Flecktones” or “She Don’t know – Melody Gardot” or “Bohemian Rhapsody (live aid) – Queen” sound amazing & enjoyable. This is amongst the strongest trait of this IEM.
Imaging & Timbre:
The Imaging & instrument separation performance on the Volare is stellar and sense of location is spot on with high accuracy. The Timbre also feels very life-like and real. Tracks like: “Rotterdam (Or Anywhere) - The Beautiful South “or “Hello Again - Howard Carpendale & The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra” just shine through.
Conclusion:
By now I can confidently say that the Volare is an outstanding performer for the price. This is a BIG surprise coming from the house of I/O Audio, and this Volare goes far beyond many of the IEMs I have come across in this price range(such as: Noble Audio DXII, Dunu SA6, etc).
Given the above facts, people looking to buy within the $500 - 600 range should definitely consider getting this as this hits way beyond it's price and becomes an easy recommendation therefore.
Summary:
Launched in April'2024, Volare is the newly launched IEM from the brand I/O Audio. They are tri-brids with 4x Imported Denmark SONIC EST Driver + 4x Customized Full Range Balanced Driver + 8mm Customized Dynamic Driver. They are indeed very promising in terms of price to performance ratio and delivers outstanding sound quality for the price.
Introduction:
Let's quickly dive into the details without making the introduction very lengthy. The Volare is tri-brids with with 4x Imported Denmark SONIC EST Driver + 4x Customized Full Range Balanced Driver + 8mm Customized Dynamic Driver. They come with great cable and interchangeable plugs ( 2.5mm, 3.5mm and 4.4mm).
The I/O Audio Volare is priced at $599.
Design & Build:
The shells look very ergonomic & premium and are 3D printed based on their research to ensure a good and comfortable fit. the face-plates are hand-painted and look awesome. below are some extracts from their website on the design & build details:
Specifications:
The I/O Audio Volare comes at $599 price tag and the specifications are as below:
https://shenzhenaudio.com/products/ioaudio-volare-1dd-4ba-4est-in-ear-headphone
The Box & Accessories:
The Accessories:
The Volare package includes…
The Cable:
Volare comes with a great cable. It has the following properties:
NOW LET'S TALK ABOUT THE SOUND....
Items Used for this Review:
DAC/AMP & Dongles: @Questyle M15i Dongle, CMA18P DAC/AMP, @MOONDROP DAWN
Portable Players / Sources : @Questyle QP2R, Cayin N30LE, Astell & Kern SE300
Streaming Source: QOBUZ
Pairing Performance with different sources:
Dongle DAC/AMPs:
Volare had the best pairing with @Questyle M15/M15i & @Cayin RU7 dongles. But, I have found that it pairs well with other dongles also. It's pairing with the @Questyle CMA18P is just outstandingly awesome! and takes it to a whole different level.
Portable Players:
Obviously the Volare had the best pairing with the Cayin N30LE, A&K SE300 and @Questyle QP2R since they come with very transparent Class-A amplification and outstanding DAC performance! The BEST pairing however came with Cayin N30LE which took the performance of the Volare to the next level.
Ear Tips:
I've tried tip-rolling with a variety of tips such as: @Final Audio E series red & black ones, JVC Spiral dots, Spiral Dots+, @SpinFit Eartip CP500, CP155. Out of all of these I have found the Azla Sednafit to be the best fit for my ears in terms of overall fit, isolation & comfort.
Tracks Used:
The tracks I have used can be found from the below playlist that I have used and generally use for most reviews...
Volare Sound Impressions in Short:
The BASS:
The Volare has a good overall bass performance. The little nuances and details of the sub-bass region is clearly audible and the mid-bass comes with good amount of body & texture. In fact, I'm quite surprised at the refined bass experience this has been able to pull off. Not that kind of hard slamming in the mid-bass but more of the details. tracks like: "Hotel California (Live on MTV 1994) – Eagles" and "Fluid - Yosi Horikawa" you will likely get immersed into the bass finesse.
The MIDS:
The midrange of the Volare is quite open and clear with ample amount of details. There's no bass bleed and the midrange is quite textured and feels very natural. Vocals are very immersive and both male and female vocals come with good texture and feel very real. Instruments felt very natural and real with high accuracy and the separation between them is also great. In tracks like: "Anchor - Trace Bundy", "A dog named Freedom – Kinky Friedman" and "Ruby Tuesday – Franco Battiato" it’s really easy to get lost into the music as it comes with ample detailed transients, texture, excellent vocals and details.
The TREBLE:
The Treble is quite energetic & airy coming from the ESTs of the Volare but doesn't at any point feel peaky or uncomfortable. It has the right amount of details and texture also and the overall treble performance is therefore very enjoyable.
Treble in tracks like: "Paradise Circus – Massive Attack", "Mambo for Roy – Roy Hargrove” and "Saints and Angels – Sharon Shannon" feel very immersive and enjoyable from the treble perspective.
The SOUNDSTAGE:
The Staging capabilities of the Volare is surprisingly good. In fact, it might be amongst the best in the price range. It comes with the right amount of width, height, depth and is well defined and just as much as the track requires. Tracks like: “The Secret Drawer – Bela Fleck and the Flecktones” or “She Don’t know – Melody Gardot” or “Bohemian Rhapsody (live aid) – Queen” sound amazing & enjoyable. This is amongst the strongest trait of this IEM.
Imaging & Timbre:
The Imaging & instrument separation performance on the Volare is stellar and sense of location is spot on with high accuracy. The Timbre also feels very life-like and real. Tracks like: “Rotterdam (Or Anywhere) - The Beautiful South “or “Hello Again - Howard Carpendale & The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra” just shine through.
Conclusion:
By now I can confidently say that the Volare is an outstanding performer for the price. This is a BIG surprise coming from the house of I/O Audio, and this Volare goes far beyond many of the IEMs I have come across in this price range(such as: Noble Audio DXII, Dunu SA6, etc).
Given the above facts, people looking to buy within the $500 - 600 range should definitely consider getting this as this hits way beyond it's price and becomes an easy recommendation therefore.
Attachments
malira
These iems do perform above their price - good price to performance ratio
I/O VOLARE
A Good Start!
Pros:
- Balanced and pleasant tonality.
- Warm-ish bassline.
- Well articulated vocal rendition.
- Good treble definition. Refine and define.
- Good Air-extension.
- Great layering & separation level.
- Expansive head-staging.
- Natural tone and timbre.
- Minimal timbre contrast.
- An all-rounder.
- TOLT unboxing experience.
- Generously accessorised.
- Comfortable and beautifully moulded resin.
- A good benchmark for a 600USD tribrids.
Cons:
- Sub-bass texture isn’t the best.
- The attack on some instruments is smoothed-out.
- Chesty male vocal can sound a tad further back in the mix.
- Can exhibit a hint of micro-grain or haze on some tracks.
- A hint of bearable sibilance issue [YMMV]
- The tuning can be abit boring after a while.
- Not the most engaging sound.
[MY PERSONAL HEAD-FI GRADING]
1 ★ - Appalling! please avoid this!
2 ★★ Subpar offering, there are better options out there!
3 ★★★ Decent with some caveats! Not a bad pick!
4 ★★★★ Not perfect but solid choice ! This should be in your shortlist. A nice addition to your collection.
5 ★★★★★ One the best in class! You should go right ahead & buy one! A must have!
▓▒░ SOUND-SIGNATURE ░▒▓
The sound it makes is the sort of tune you’d get from a mildly, well-balance V-shaped. The bass is slightly emphasised. The treble is enhanced while the mid-range is somewhat pushed-back a little.
There is a hint of warmish tonality carries from the lows with a tasteful level brilliance ascending from the highs. All of that adds up, creating a natural replay that is laid-back, smooth and pleasant to the ears.
▓▒░ BASS/LOW-END░▒▓
- The low-end of the Volare has this genteel demeanour to it. The elevated bass is done without overpowering the upper-reach, quite a bit less than most measurements would suggest. It has a gentle, warmish tonality which spilled ever so slightly onto the lower-mid-range, giving an organic touch on vocal and instrument replay.
- The sub-bass extension is adequate for most genres. It’s rumbling sensation could use with better texture and higher pressure. Meanwhile, kick-drum delivery is quite soft which detract some of the engagement that you’d normally get from a proper tactile boom.
- Mid to upper bass presence is brought to a lesser degree. Like the sub-bass, the mid-bass too carry the very same behaviour which is soft on the attack with neutral (longish) decay. But it’s got enough thickness which helps with its mid-upper bass sturdiness. Having said that, it doesn’t leave you with a satisfying punch, slam or thump. A hardcore bass-head will definitely be yearning for more oomph.
- Alas, the bass performance on the Volare is far from terrible. It should be good enough for most listeners.
▓▒░ MID-RANGE /VOCAL ░▒▓
- The Volare is not meant for an intimate vocal lover. Yes, as the tuning suggest, the mid-range is slightly pushed back and no lesser.
- Worry not, the vocal does not come across sounding too thin or dry or overly recessed. Most vocal lovers can still appreciate its mid-range presentation.
- It does sacrifice a bit of that transparency and clarity for musicality. The extra warmth reaching from the lows makes the vocals sounded smooth, rich, sweet and pleasing to the ears. They will never sound harsh regardless of tracks.
- The female vocals have proper energy without sounding shouty.
- As for the downside, chesty vocals (baritones), cellos, brass instrument, organ that lives on the lower region of the mids. can sound abit further back/thinner side.
- Depending on tracks, there is a smidge of micro-grain or haze on vocal transient which can smear some of the vocal clarity.
- Sibilance control is borderline acceptable as there is hint of bearable sibilance on both male and female vocals.
- When it comes to instrument like piano, guitar, violin or strings, the attack can sound abit smooth-out. They don’t sound as crispy or as impactful as I’d like. On instrumental tracks, that is not welcome.
▓▒░ TREBLE/HIGHS ░▒▓
- The treble is very well extended without overbearing brightness. It rolls off nicely with plentiful amount of air presence. It is a well-filled out treble.
- It response fairly smooth without any unwanted resonance such ay peaky-ness, hotness or sharpness.
- The ESTs driver on the Volare is nothing short of potent. It manages to define its treble elements naturally without forced. As a result, listeners are rewarded slightly above average level of treble detail.
- However it does not perform without a flaw. Firstly, the treble layout isn’t the cleanest. On some tracks It, it can exhibit this subtle layer of micro-grain or haze.
- When it comes to instrument like hi-hats and cymbals, again, the attack has a more rounded edge to them, though the decay is precise and smooth. Meanwhile, electronics may lack abit of bite upon zinging, buzzing or shimmering which takes away some of the excitement.
- Having said that, most of nit-picks are minor. It does not bring detriment to your experience. In fact, majority of the people will definitely rejoice of what the treble has to offer.
✧ ════ •TECHNICAL PERFORMANCE• ════ ✧
- The overall STAGE-PRESENTATION is above par. It sounds open and spacious. It gives off more width than height with generous depth to the stage.
- IMAGING PROWESS is superb. Instrument & vocal placement is accurate and well-focused. There is no jittering or stuttering. Everything just flows between channel with grace.
- LAYERING AND SEPARATION is spot-on. Regardless of tracks, separated elements remains in its borders of sound consistently without any sign of congestion or compression. Everything has their own little spot.
- It's got great RESOLUTION with excellent MICRO-DETAIL. Definitely one of the tops among its peers on its price-point.
- TONE AND TIMBRE wise, it does a good job in staying natural. If I were to nit-pick, the overall transient could use with greater attack amplitude. The smoothing effect on note-hits takes-away some of the realism on replay. There are times when you’ll hear it but you don’t necessarily feel it.
- For a safe well-balance tuning, the DYNAMIC-RANGE of the Volare is solid. The elements of loud and soft is well discerned within the mix which makes it more engaging to listen to than some of its competitors that follows similar sort of tuning.
- VOLUME SCALING. The Volare is not great for a low-volume listening. It can sound too smooth and the micro-detail is not that prominent. It is best to listen to mid-volume loudness for optimum performance. If it is too loud, the peaks will start to appears.
- Speaking of DRIVER/SETUP, it is definitely one of the best. They use good quality driver with proper implementation from lows to highs. For a 9 driver setups, the coherency level is exceptional.
Yes, there is a hint of timbre-contrast when transitioning from the bass to mid-range and treble. The upper-registry just sound a tad faster and lighter while the lows sound a tad slower. Still, it is very minimal. At the very least, it is free from driver-flex or pressure-build up issue.
- BUILD/COMFORT, the resin shell is well built. The silvery metallic accentuation makes it such a beautiful shell. The shell is not that big. It should fit most people ears like glove.
- PRICE: PERFORMANCE is great. From unboxing experience to sound-quality, it is top-tier. Not many CHIFI-products does as well as this.
So far It performs quite well for what it's trying to be. But how does it stacks against some of the well-known tribrids?
Here's a simplified HEAD-2-HEAD
LETSHUOER EJ07M x HAKUGEI SKYRIM x TANGZU SANCAI BALANCE (M) vs
IO VOLARE x TANGZU SANCAI BALANCE (M) vs
ALPHA OMEGA x KBEAR WIDE 8C GRAPHENE x TANGZU SANCAI BALANCE (S)
<BASS>
● Bass-Shelf : RA > V > EJ
● Tonality (Warm-Neutral-Dry) : V (WN) > RA (WM) > EJ (N)
● Subs Extension/Quantity: RA > EJ > V
● Subs Attack : RA > EJ > V
- RA has the highest pressure, EJ is close behind. V softest abit loose abit a muffle.
● Sub-bass kick: RA = dung-dung > EJ = thung-thung > V = bhung-bhung.
● Sub-bass detail/texture: EJ > RA > V
- Although, the EJ don’t have the same volume as the RA, EJ subs have better clarity and detail. V rumbling detail & texture is the weakest.
● Ghetto Bass (elasticity/decay rate): EJ > RA > V
- The EJ is bounciest.
● Bass Distortion: EJ > RA > V
- The EJ’s has the clearest bass distortion.
● Bass Drop: EJ > RA > EJ.
● Mid-bass Presence: RA > V > EJ
● Mid-bass Attack (Punch/Slam/Thud): V > EJ > RA,
- The EJ hit faster and slightly deeper than RA but RA hits bigger, thicker and heavier. Meanwhile V is a mixture of the 2, it carries similar width and depth in terms of impact of the RA but slightly slower than EJ and RA.
● Mid-bass detail/clarity: EJ > V > RA
- The EJ mid-bass is cleaner and clearer than RA but RA has greater substance. V sits in between EJ and RA with a hint of more warmth than the other 2.
<MID-RANGE/VOCAL>
● Mid-Range/Vocal Intimacy = EJ > V > RA.
- The EJ has the most forward, biggest image resolution of the 3.
● Male Vocal: RA > EJ > V
- The RA just hits the right balance in terms of note-weight, clarity and energy. The EJ lacks abit of that density and overtone. On V, it can sound push-back or thinner at times.
● Female Vocal: EJ > V > RA
- The EJ performs at higher octave while the RA is better for lower-harmonic female. V is in between. Overall, EJ performs better since it has no sibilance issue, greatest clarity with decent timbre.
● Voice Range: V > RA > EJ
- The V & RA seems to have slightly higher extension. The EJ can sound a tad too safe and boring lacking that of crescendo on transient.
● Transparency: EJ > V > RA
- Nuances like breath, instruments hits can be heard a hair clearer on EJ.
● Clarity: EJ > RA > V
- Sometimes V vocals have a hint of haze/grain and the background is not as pitch-black vs the EJ or RA. The EJ is super clean by comparison.
● Tonality (Warm>Neural>Bright): V(W-N) >RA(W-N) >EJ (N)
- The V has more apparent warmth to the voice/instrument. The RA slightly less. The EJ is almost uncoloured.
● Tone & Timbre: RA = V > EJ.
- Depending on tracks the RA and V can out-performed each other, their mid-range somewhat sounds more natural and whereas EJ can sound too clean and neutral.
● Transient/Attack: RA > EJ > V
- The RA seems to have heftier note-weight. The EJ is fast but less impactful. The attack on V is the softest. These traits will become most apparent on instrumental replay such as pianos/guitars/violins/strings.
● Airiness: V > EJ > RA.
- The V sounds abit more airy-er thanks to its treble extension.
● Reverb Level: V > RA = EJ.
- Due to longer decay, elements of overtone are better on The V. While EJ and RA are night equal.
● Sibilance Control: EJ > RA > V.
- The EJ had 0 sibilance issue. The V is the least forgiving here. V has higher tendencies to get sibilance on male than female.
● Shout Control: E J> V > RA.
- The EJ the most anti-shout set of the 3. The V comes in 2nd with borderline control. While with the RA, it can get abit hot on some female vocal but it is never too shouty.
<TREBLE/HIGHS>
● Tonality (Dark->Neutral->Bright): RA (D) > EJ (DN) > V (NB)
- RA treble region is the most veiled here with V is being the brightest, the most sparkling here.
● Air-Extension: V > EJ > RA
- V have the most air presence among the 3. The EJ and RA are closer to each other.
● Evenness: EJ > V > RA
- All of them doesn't sound peaky on low-vol. but once you listen to them louder, the peaks will start to show up. Hence, the result.
● Transparency: V > EJ > RA.
- V has the best transparency here. You do hear abit more twinkly-sparkling detail with the V. But the EJ is close behind while the RA seems to have the lowest-RES here.
● Clarity: EJ > RA > V
- Quite consistently, there is a layer of haze or micro-grain somewhere around the treble region with the V and it sounds busier, RA is seemingly cleaner. While the EJ is simply the clearest and the cleanest.
● Timbre: EJ > < V > RA
- Sometimes the longer decay on V makes constant hi-hats/cymbals to linger longer than it should. RA consistently has the more natural decay with EJ being 2nd. E-guitar replay on V is the most satisfying here with its wider attack and energy it carries. The EJ’s E-guitar is abit muffle by comparison due to softer attack and less weighty. The RA does abit better due to its heftier E-guitar tone. The EJ doesn’t like rock/metal music. But with Saxophones as well as synthetic noise such as electronics zing, shimmer, twinkling, distortion etc, the EJ takes it.
< TECHNICALITIES >
STAGE-DIMENSIONS
● Width: V > EJ > RA
● Height: RA > V > > EJ
● Depth: V > RA > EJ
● Background Darkness: EJ > RA > V
● Imaging (Accuracy + Sharpness): EJ > V > RA
● Separation & Layering (Effortlessness & Consistency): EJ > V > RA
● Detail & Resolve: V > EJ > RA
● Instrument Replay/Timbre: V = RA > EJ
● Dynamic-Range/Transient: V > RA > EJ
● Ambience Level: V > EJ > RA
● Clarity: EJ > V > RA
● Build/Comfort: V > EJ > RA
● Value (As Tested): V > RA > EJ
● Personal Enjoyment: > EJ > V > RA
"If you're after for smooth bassy sound, the RA is the best choice here. Despite it's short-coming in technicalities, it is such a pleasant set to listen to. The VOLARE is the most well-balanced here, the better all-rounder and probably the safest pick of the 3, but it is kind of boring, The EJ07 on the other hand sounds the most special here. It has that X-factor that makes audiophiles long after this set. That immersive staging and high level of clarity is truly something else. though, It is not going to be for everybody. But it will my personal pick which is why I owned one."
CHECK OUT MY FULL REVIEW ON
(1) LETSHUOER EJ07 : https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/letshuoer-ej07.26368/review/34530/
(2) ALPHA OMEGA RA : https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/alpha-omega-ra.27104/review/34522/
◤FINAL THOUGHTS◢
Being their very 1st product, the IO has achieved an incredible feat with the Volare. The price performance it offers is nothing short of competent. It can compete very well with older-generation of “trinity tribrid” A.K.A the Moondrop Variation, the Thieaudio Oracles and the Letshuoer EJ07M variant (let alone the original EJ07) which is no easy feat. Even after many years has passed, those trinity-tribrids are highly regards in its price-point even till this day. With the appearance of the IO Volare, you might want to check it out because from a technical stand-point, the Volare can really do a number on those 3. Depending on your preference, you might actually prefer the Volare as well. To me, the Volare is not going be your “END-GAME” set but it can definitely be a “PAUSE-GAME” set for many audiophiles out there.
[IEM-SCORING-BOARD]
RATING
1: Trash (F)
2: Horrible (E)
3: Bad (D)
4: Subpar (C)
5: Decent/Average (B)
6: Good (A-)
7: Great (A)
8: Superb. (A+)
9: Masterclass/Top-Drawer (S)
10: Perfection (P)
LETSHUOER EJ07 [1DD-2BA-4EST] [3-WC]
MSRP : 699$ USD
Tuning : Diffused-Field Like.
= Quality =
Bass: 7.0/10 Mids: 7.5/10 Treble: 7.0/10
Male/Female: 6.5/7.5
= Technicalities =
Detail & Resolve: 7.0/7.0
Instrument Replay/Timbre : 6/10
Dynamic-Range/Transient : 6/10
Head-stage [W-H-D]: 6-5.5-5.5
Layering & Separation: 8.0/10
Stereo Imaging 7.0/10
Ambience : 6.5/10
Clarity : 9.0/10
Build/Comfort: 7/5
Value: 4/10 [AS TESTED]
Personal Enjoyment: 7.0/10
SETUP (As tested)
Hakugei Skyrim 4.4 PLUG
Tangzu Sancai Balanced (M)
Tanchjim SPACE
ALPHA OMEGA RA [1DD-4BA-2EST] [3-WC]
MSRP : 563$ USD
Tuning : Mild V-shaped (Sub-bass boost)
= Quality =
Bass: 7.0/10 Mids: 6.0/10 Treble: 6.5/10
Male/Female: 7.0/6.0
= Technicalities =
Detail & Resolve: 6.0/6.0
Instrument Replay/Timbre : 6.5/10
Dynamic-Range/Transient : 6.5/10
Head-stage [W-H-D]: 5.5-7-6
Layering & Separation: 6.5/10
Stereo Imaging 6/10
Ambience : 6/10
Clarity : 6.5/10
Build/Comfort: 8/3
Value: 3/10 [AS TESTED]
Personal Enjoyment: 6/10
SETUP (As tested)
KBEAR Wide 8C Graphene 4.4 PLUG
Tangzu Sancai Balanced (S)
Tanchjim SPACE
IO VOLARE [1DD-4BA-4EST] [3-WC]
MSRP : 599$ USD
Tuning : Balanced Mild V-shaped.
= Quality =
Bass: 6.5/10 Mids: 7.0/10 Treble: 7.5/10
Male/Female: 6.0/6.5
= Technicalities =
Detail & Resolve: 7.5/7.5
Instrument Replay/Timbre : 7/10
Dynamic-Range/Transient : 7/10
Head-stage [W-H-D]: 6.5-6.5-7
Layering & Separation: 7.0/10
Stereo Imaging 6.5/10
Ambience : 7/10
Clarity : 7.5/10
Build/Comfort: 7/9
Value: 3/10 [AS TESTED]
Personal Enjoyment: 6.5/10
SETUP (As tested)
Stock 6N SPC 4.4 PLUG
Tangzu Sancai Balanced (M)
Tanchjim SPACE
========================================================================
【SOURCE & GEARS】
● Huawei P20 PRO [Phone][ App- Foobar2000]
========================================================================
1982 Chicago – Hard to say I'm sorry. ★
2003 NARUTO Original Soundtrack I – Wakiagaru Toushi ★
2008 K.will (케이윌) – 소원 (Great King Sejong OST Part.1)
2009 Maksim – Exodus
2010 Ichiban Ushiro no Daimaou (OST) – Kokoro no Oku De Ha
2014 Grabbitz – Here with you now. ★
2014 BoA – MASAYUME CHASING
2014 Hyolyn – 안녕 Good bye ★
2015 KOKIA – I Found You ★
2015 K MISSING KINGS (OST) - New Kings
2016 K RETURN OF KINGS (OST) - Return of Kings
2016 K RETURN OF KINGS (OST) - If you die.
2017 Berry Goodman – Zutto (ずっと) ★
2017 SawanoHiroyuki[nZk]:mizuki – ViEW
2017 Namie Amuro – Hope
2019 K SEVEN STORIES (OST) - In Pursuit Of
2019 K SEVEN STORIES (OST) - Lost Small World
2019 Blade & Soul (OST) – Half-Moon Lake
2019 CAROLE & TUESDAY VOCAL COLLECTION Vol.1 – Light a Fire ★
2020 Paradox Live Opening Show (1st E.P) – BAE – BaNG!!! ★
2020 Paradox Live Opening Show (1st E.P) – cozmez – Where They At ★
2020 倖田來未 (Kumi Koda) – GET NAKED (Kiyoshi Sugo Remix)
2020 倖田來未 (Kumi Koda) – again (MATZ Remix)
2020 premiere fleurs – プリンシパル
2020 Love Live! Nijigasaki – 朝香果林 (Karin Asaka) – VIVID WORLD ★
2020 Fujii Kaze – へでもねーよ”／Hedemo Ne-YoSeishun Sick
2020 King Gnu – 三文小説 ／Sanmon Shosetsu ★
2021 OWV – Fifth Season ★
2021 加藤 ミリヤ (Miliyah) feat. Yoshida Brothers – この夢が醒めるまで ★
2021 Aoi Teshima – ただいま★
2021 Official髭男dism – Cry Baby
2021 Chanmin BIJIN 美人 – Morning Mood
2021 門脇更紗 (Sarasa Kadowaki) – きれいだ
2021 Mirei Touyama – 美忘録
2021 SELECTION PROJECT Vol.1 – Only one yell -天沢灯ソロver.- ★
2022 Belle (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) – Million Miles Away (ENG vers.)
2022 rei (E-girls) – Dark Hero.
2022 rei (E-girls) – IDNY
2022 I can fly (Special Edition) – Bleecker Chrome - You will shine ★
2022 I can fly (Special Edition) – YOSHIKI EZAKI x Bleecker Chrome - UP ★
2022 BEAST TAMER (OST) – じんわり感じている幸せ
2022 Ado – 会いたくて
2022 Ado – 踊
2023 La prière – Sweet Dreams ★
2023 Bungou Stray Dogs 4th Season ED – Luck Life – しるし★
2023 UMAMUSUME PRETTY DERBY - Hat on your Head!
2023 Anna – 花のように (Hana no You ni)
2023 riria. – 貴方の側に (Anata no Soba ni)
2024 Dungeon Meshi OP – BUMP OF CHICKEN – Sleep Walking Orchestra
2024 Ernie Zakri, Ade Govinda - Masing Masing ★
2024 Paradox Live THE ANIMATION OST – 25 幻影武雷管 - Trauma ★
2024 Bartender Kami no Glass OP – Takaya Kawasaki – Stardust Memory ★
2024 Maou no Ore ga Dorei Elf ED – Sayaka Yamamoto – Blue Star
2024 Spice and Wolf Merchant Meets the Wise Wolf OP – Hana Hope – Tabi no Yukue/ Destination of the journey
2024 Tonari no Youkai-san ED – Aoi Kubo – Iro no Naka (風媒花)
★ Main-Test-Tracks/ A glimpse of what listen to 90% of the of time.
Do take my words for what it’s worth. Afterall, I am just one man. ╮(╯▽╰)╭
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR READING! HAVE A GOOD DAY WHEREVER YOU ARE! TAKE CARE!
Disclaimer:
- This is a loaner unit. Big thanks to Andy Audio Vault and Edmund King (Facebook) for making this possible!
EXTRA PHOTOS
A Good Start!
Pros:
- Balanced and pleasant tonality.
- Warm-ish bassline.
- Well articulated vocal rendition.
- Good treble definition. Refine and define.
- Good Air-extension.
- Great layering & separation level.
- Expansive head-staging.
- Natural tone and timbre.
- Minimal timbre contrast.
- An all-rounder.
- TOLT unboxing experience.
- Generously accessorised.
- Comfortable and beautifully moulded resin.
- A good benchmark for a 600USD tribrids.
Cons:
- Sub-bass texture isn’t the best.
- The attack on some instruments is smoothed-out.
- Chesty male vocal can sound a tad further back in the mix.
- Can exhibit a hint of micro-grain or haze on some tracks.
- A hint of bearable sibilance issue [YMMV]
- The tuning can be abit boring after a while.
- Not the most engaging sound.
[MY PERSONAL HEAD-FI GRADING]
1 ★ - Appalling! please avoid this!
2 ★★ Subpar offering, there are better options out there!
3 ★★★ Decent with some caveats! Not a bad pick!
4 ★★★★ Not perfect but solid choice ! This should be in your shortlist. A nice addition to your collection.
5 ★★★★★ One the best in class! You should go right ahead & buy one! A must have!
I/O VOLARE 4 ★★★★
▓▒░ SOUND-SIGNATURE ░▒▓
The sound it makes is the sort of tune you’d get from a mildly, well-balance V-shaped. The bass is slightly emphasised. The treble is enhanced while the mid-range is somewhat pushed-back a little.
There is a hint of warmish tonality carries from the lows with a tasteful level brilliance ascending from the highs. All of that adds up, creating a natural replay that is laid-back, smooth and pleasant to the ears.
▓▒░ BASS/LOW-END░▒▓
- The low-end of the Volare has this genteel demeanour to it. The elevated bass is done without overpowering the upper-reach, quite a bit less than most measurements would suggest. It has a gentle, warmish tonality which spilled ever so slightly onto the lower-mid-range, giving an organic touch on vocal and instrument replay.
- The sub-bass extension is adequate for most genres. It’s rumbling sensation could use with better texture and higher pressure. Meanwhile, kick-drum delivery is quite soft which detract some of the engagement that you’d normally get from a proper tactile boom.
- Mid to upper bass presence is brought to a lesser degree. Like the sub-bass, the mid-bass too carry the very same behaviour which is soft on the attack with neutral (longish) decay. But it’s got enough thickness which helps with its mid-upper bass sturdiness. Having said that, it doesn’t leave you with a satisfying punch, slam or thump. A hardcore bass-head will definitely be yearning for more oomph.
- Alas, the bass performance on the Volare is far from terrible. It should be good enough for most listeners.
▓▒░ MID-RANGE /VOCAL ░▒▓
- The Volare is not meant for an intimate vocal lover. Yes, as the tuning suggest, the mid-range is slightly pushed back and no lesser.
- Worry not, the vocal does not come across sounding too thin or dry or overly recessed. Most vocal lovers can still appreciate its mid-range presentation.
- It does sacrifice a bit of that transparency and clarity for musicality. The extra warmth reaching from the lows makes the vocals sounded smooth, rich, sweet and pleasing to the ears. They will never sound harsh regardless of tracks.
- The female vocals have proper energy without sounding shouty.
- As for the downside, chesty vocals (baritones), cellos, brass instrument, organ that lives on the lower region of the mids. can sound abit further back/thinner side.
- Depending on tracks, there is a smidge of micro-grain or haze on vocal transient which can smear some of the vocal clarity.
- Sibilance control is borderline acceptable as there is hint of bearable sibilance on both male and female vocals.
- When it comes to instrument like piano, guitar, violin or strings, the attack can sound abit smooth-out. They don’t sound as crispy or as impactful as I’d like. On instrumental tracks, that is not welcome.
▓▒░ TREBLE/HIGHS ░▒▓
- The treble is very well extended without overbearing brightness. It rolls off nicely with plentiful amount of air presence. It is a well-filled out treble.
- It response fairly smooth without any unwanted resonance such ay peaky-ness, hotness or sharpness.
- The ESTs driver on the Volare is nothing short of potent. It manages to define its treble elements naturally without forced. As a result, listeners are rewarded slightly above average level of treble detail.
- However it does not perform without a flaw. Firstly, the treble layout isn’t the cleanest. On some tracks It, it can exhibit this subtle layer of micro-grain or haze.
- When it comes to instrument like hi-hats and cymbals, again, the attack has a more rounded edge to them, though the decay is precise and smooth. Meanwhile, electronics may lack abit of bite upon zinging, buzzing or shimmering which takes away some of the excitement.
- Having said that, most of nit-picks are minor. It does not bring detriment to your experience. In fact, majority of the people will definitely rejoice of what the treble has to offer.
✧ ════ •TECHNICAL PERFORMANCE• ════ ✧
- The overall STAGE-PRESENTATION is above par. It sounds open and spacious. It gives off more width than height with generous depth to the stage.
- IMAGING PROWESS is superb. Instrument & vocal placement is accurate and well-focused. There is no jittering or stuttering. Everything just flows between channel with grace.
- LAYERING AND SEPARATION is spot-on. Regardless of tracks, separated elements remains in its borders of sound consistently without any sign of congestion or compression. Everything has their own little spot.
- It's got great RESOLUTION with excellent MICRO-DETAIL. Definitely one of the tops among its peers on its price-point.
- TONE AND TIMBRE wise, it does a good job in staying natural. If I were to nit-pick, the overall transient could use with greater attack amplitude. The smoothing effect on note-hits takes-away some of the realism on replay. There are times when you’ll hear it but you don’t necessarily feel it.
- For a safe well-balance tuning, the DYNAMIC-RANGE of the Volare is solid. The elements of loud and soft is well discerned within the mix which makes it more engaging to listen to than some of its competitors that follows similar sort of tuning.
- VOLUME SCALING. The Volare is not great for a low-volume listening. It can sound too smooth and the micro-detail is not that prominent. It is best to listen to mid-volume loudness for optimum performance. If it is too loud, the peaks will start to appears.
- Speaking of DRIVER/SETUP, it is definitely one of the best. They use good quality driver with proper implementation from lows to highs. For a 9 driver setups, the coherency level is exceptional.
Yes, there is a hint of timbre-contrast when transitioning from the bass to mid-range and treble. The upper-registry just sound a tad faster and lighter while the lows sound a tad slower. Still, it is very minimal. At the very least, it is free from driver-flex or pressure-build up issue.
- BUILD/COMFORT, the resin shell is well built. The silvery metallic accentuation makes it such a beautiful shell. The shell is not that big. It should fit most people ears like glove.
- PRICE: PERFORMANCE is great. From unboxing experience to sound-quality, it is top-tier. Not many CHIFI-products does as well as this.
So far It performs quite well for what it's trying to be. But how does it stacks against some of the well-known tribrids?
Here's a simplified HEAD-2-HEAD
LETSHUOER EJ07M x HAKUGEI SKYRIM x TANGZU SANCAI BALANCE (M) vs
IO VOLARE x TANGZU SANCAI BALANCE (M) vs
ALPHA OMEGA x KBEAR WIDE 8C GRAPHENE x TANGZU SANCAI BALANCE (S)
<BASS>
● Bass-Shelf : RA > V > EJ
● Tonality (Warm-Neutral-Dry) : V (WN) > RA (WM) > EJ (N)
● Subs Extension/Quantity: RA > EJ > V
● Subs Attack : RA > EJ > V
- RA has the highest pressure, EJ is close behind. V softest abit loose abit a muffle.
● Sub-bass kick: RA = dung-dung > EJ = thung-thung > V = bhung-bhung.
● Sub-bass detail/texture: EJ > RA > V
- Although, the EJ don’t have the same volume as the RA, EJ subs have better clarity and detail. V rumbling detail & texture is the weakest.
● Ghetto Bass (elasticity/decay rate): EJ > RA > V
- The EJ is bounciest.
● Bass Distortion: EJ > RA > V
- The EJ’s has the clearest bass distortion.
● Bass Drop: EJ > RA > EJ.
● Mid-bass Presence: RA > V > EJ
● Mid-bass Attack (Punch/Slam/Thud): V > EJ > RA,
- The EJ hit faster and slightly deeper than RA but RA hits bigger, thicker and heavier. Meanwhile V is a mixture of the 2, it carries similar width and depth in terms of impact of the RA but slightly slower than EJ and RA.
● Mid-bass detail/clarity: EJ > V > RA
- The EJ mid-bass is cleaner and clearer than RA but RA has greater substance. V sits in between EJ and RA with a hint of more warmth than the other 2.
<MID-RANGE/VOCAL>
● Mid-Range/Vocal Intimacy = EJ > V > RA.
- The EJ has the most forward, biggest image resolution of the 3.
● Male Vocal: RA > EJ > V
- The RA just hits the right balance in terms of note-weight, clarity and energy. The EJ lacks abit of that density and overtone. On V, it can sound push-back or thinner at times.
● Female Vocal: EJ > V > RA
- The EJ performs at higher octave while the RA is better for lower-harmonic female. V is in between. Overall, EJ performs better since it has no sibilance issue, greatest clarity with decent timbre.
● Voice Range: V > RA > EJ
- The V & RA seems to have slightly higher extension. The EJ can sound a tad too safe and boring lacking that of crescendo on transient.
● Transparency: EJ > V > RA
- Nuances like breath, instruments hits can be heard a hair clearer on EJ.
● Clarity: EJ > RA > V
- Sometimes V vocals have a hint of haze/grain and the background is not as pitch-black vs the EJ or RA. The EJ is super clean by comparison.
● Tonality (Warm>Neural>Bright): V(W-N) >RA(W-N) >EJ (N)
- The V has more apparent warmth to the voice/instrument. The RA slightly less. The EJ is almost uncoloured.
● Tone & Timbre: RA = V > EJ.
- Depending on tracks the RA and V can out-performed each other, their mid-range somewhat sounds more natural and whereas EJ can sound too clean and neutral.
● Transient/Attack: RA > EJ > V
- The RA seems to have heftier note-weight. The EJ is fast but less impactful. The attack on V is the softest. These traits will become most apparent on instrumental replay such as pianos/guitars/violins/strings.
● Airiness: V > EJ > RA.
- The V sounds abit more airy-er thanks to its treble extension.
● Reverb Level: V > RA = EJ.
- Due to longer decay, elements of overtone are better on The V. While EJ and RA are night equal.
● Sibilance Control: EJ > RA > V.
- The EJ had 0 sibilance issue. The V is the least forgiving here. V has higher tendencies to get sibilance on male than female.
● Shout Control: E J> V > RA.
- The EJ the most anti-shout set of the 3. The V comes in 2nd with borderline control. While with the RA, it can get abit hot on some female vocal but it is never too shouty.
<TREBLE/HIGHS>
● Tonality (Dark->Neutral->Bright): RA (D) > EJ (DN) > V (NB)
- RA treble region is the most veiled here with V is being the brightest, the most sparkling here.
● Air-Extension: V > EJ > RA
- V have the most air presence among the 3. The EJ and RA are closer to each other.
● Evenness: EJ > V > RA
- All of them doesn't sound peaky on low-vol. but once you listen to them louder, the peaks will start to show up. Hence, the result.
● Transparency: V > EJ > RA.
- V has the best transparency here. You do hear abit more twinkly-sparkling detail with the V. But the EJ is close behind while the RA seems to have the lowest-RES here.
● Clarity: EJ > RA > V
- Quite consistently, there is a layer of haze or micro-grain somewhere around the treble region with the V and it sounds busier, RA is seemingly cleaner. While the EJ is simply the clearest and the cleanest.
● Timbre: EJ > < V > RA
- Sometimes the longer decay on V makes constant hi-hats/cymbals to linger longer than it should. RA consistently has the more natural decay with EJ being 2nd. E-guitar replay on V is the most satisfying here with its wider attack and energy it carries. The EJ’s E-guitar is abit muffle by comparison due to softer attack and less weighty. The RA does abit better due to its heftier E-guitar tone. The EJ doesn’t like rock/metal music. But with Saxophones as well as synthetic noise such as electronics zing, shimmer, twinkling, distortion etc, the EJ takes it.
< TECHNICALITIES >
STAGE-DIMENSIONS
● Width: V > EJ > RA
● Height: RA > V > > EJ
● Depth: V > RA > EJ
● Background Darkness: EJ > RA > V
● Imaging (Accuracy + Sharpness): EJ > V > RA
● Separation & Layering (Effortlessness & Consistency): EJ > V > RA
● Detail & Resolve: V > EJ > RA
● Instrument Replay/Timbre: V = RA > EJ
● Dynamic-Range/Transient: V > RA > EJ
● Ambience Level: V > EJ > RA
● Clarity: EJ > V > RA
● Build/Comfort: V > EJ > RA
● Value (As Tested): V > RA > EJ
● Personal Enjoyment: > EJ > V > RA
"If you're after for smooth bassy sound, the RA is the best choice here. Despite it's short-coming in technicalities, it is such a pleasant set to listen to. The VOLARE is the most well-balanced here, the better all-rounder and probably the safest pick of the 3, but it is kind of boring, The EJ07 on the other hand sounds the most special here. It has that X-factor that makes audiophiles long after this set. That immersive staging and high level of clarity is truly something else. though, It is not going to be for everybody. But it will my personal pick which is why I owned one."
CHECK OUT MY FULL REVIEW ON
(1) LETSHUOER EJ07 : https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/letshuoer-ej07.26368/review/34530/
(2) ALPHA OMEGA RA : https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/alpha-omega-ra.27104/review/34522/
◤FINAL THOUGHTS◢
Being their very 1st product, the IO has achieved an incredible feat with the Volare. The price performance it offers is nothing short of competent. It can compete very well with older-generation of “trinity tribrid” A.K.A the Moondrop Variation, the Thieaudio Oracles and the Letshuoer EJ07M variant (let alone the original EJ07) which is no easy feat. Even after many years has passed, those trinity-tribrids are highly regards in its price-point even till this day. With the appearance of the IO Volare, you might want to check it out because from a technical stand-point, the Volare can really do a number on those 3. Depending on your preference, you might actually prefer the Volare as well. To me, the Volare is not going be your “END-GAME” set but it can definitely be a “PAUSE-GAME” set for many audiophiles out there.
[IEM-SCORING-BOARD]
RATING
1: Trash (F)
2: Horrible (E)
3: Bad (D)
4: Subpar (C)
5: Decent/Average (B)
6: Good (A-)
7: Great (A)
8: Superb. (A+)
9: Masterclass/Top-Drawer (S)
10: Perfection (P)
LETSHUOER EJ07 [1DD-2BA-4EST] [3-WC]
MSRP : 699$ USD
Tuning : Diffused-Field Like.
= Quality =
Bass: 7.0/10 Mids: 7.5/10 Treble: 7.0/10
Male/Female: 6.5/7.5
= Technicalities =
Detail & Resolve: 7.0/7.0
Instrument Replay/Timbre : 6/10
Dynamic-Range/Transient : 6/10
Head-stage [W-H-D]: 6-5.5-5.5
Layering & Separation: 8.0/10
Stereo Imaging 7.0/10
Ambience : 6.5/10
Clarity : 9.0/10
Build/Comfort: 7/5
Value: 4/10 [AS TESTED]
Personal Enjoyment: 7.0/10
SETUP (As tested)
Hakugei Skyrim 4.4 PLUG
Tangzu Sancai Balanced (M)
Tanchjim SPACE
ALPHA OMEGA RA [1DD-4BA-2EST] [3-WC]
MSRP : 563$ USD
Tuning : Mild V-shaped (Sub-bass boost)
= Quality =
Bass: 7.0/10 Mids: 6.0/10 Treble: 6.5/10
Male/Female: 7.0/6.0
= Technicalities =
Detail & Resolve: 6.0/6.0
Instrument Replay/Timbre : 6.5/10
Dynamic-Range/Transient : 6.5/10
Head-stage [W-H-D]: 5.5-7-6
Layering & Separation: 6.5/10
Stereo Imaging 6/10
Ambience : 6/10
Clarity : 6.5/10
Build/Comfort: 8/3
Value: 3/10 [AS TESTED]
Personal Enjoyment: 6/10
SETUP (As tested)
KBEAR Wide 8C Graphene 4.4 PLUG
Tangzu Sancai Balanced (S)
Tanchjim SPACE
IO VOLARE [1DD-4BA-4EST] [3-WC]
MSRP : 599$ USD
Tuning : Balanced Mild V-shaped.
= Quality =
Bass: 6.5/10 Mids: 7.0/10 Treble: 7.5/10
Male/Female: 6.0/6.5
= Technicalities =
Detail & Resolve: 7.5/7.5
Instrument Replay/Timbre : 7/10
Dynamic-Range/Transient : 7/10
Head-stage [W-H-D]: 6.5-6.5-7
Layering & Separation: 7.0/10
Stereo Imaging 6.5/10
Ambience : 7/10
Clarity : 7.5/10
Build/Comfort: 7/9
Value: 3/10 [AS TESTED]
Personal Enjoyment: 6.5/10
SETUP (As tested)
Stock 6N SPC 4.4 PLUG
Tangzu Sancai Balanced (M)
Tanchjim SPACE
========================================================================
【SOURCE & GEARS】
● Native FLAC Files [44.1Khz 16bits-96Khz 24bits]
● Foobar2000 [ROG Laptop] [Ugreen USB C Adapter]● Huawei P20 PRO [Phone][ App- Foobar2000]
========================================================================
【PLAYLIST／TEST-TRACKS】
1977 Fleetwood Mac - Dreams ★1982 Chicago – Hard to say I'm sorry. ★
2003 NARUTO Original Soundtrack I – Wakiagaru Toushi ★
2008 K.will (케이윌) – 소원 (Great King Sejong OST Part.1)
2009 Maksim – Exodus
2010 Ichiban Ushiro no Daimaou (OST) – Kokoro no Oku De Ha
2014 Grabbitz – Here with you now. ★
2014 BoA – MASAYUME CHASING
2014 Hyolyn – 안녕 Good bye ★
2015 KOKIA – I Found You ★
2015 K MISSING KINGS (OST) - New Kings
2016 K RETURN OF KINGS (OST) - Return of Kings
2016 K RETURN OF KINGS (OST) - If you die.
2017 Berry Goodman – Zutto (ずっと) ★
2017 SawanoHiroyuki[nZk]:mizuki – ViEW
2017 Namie Amuro – Hope
2019 K SEVEN STORIES (OST) - In Pursuit Of
2019 K SEVEN STORIES (OST) - Lost Small World
2019 Blade & Soul (OST) – Half-Moon Lake
2019 CAROLE & TUESDAY VOCAL COLLECTION Vol.1 – Light a Fire ★
2020 Paradox Live Opening Show (1st E.P) – BAE – BaNG!!! ★
2020 Paradox Live Opening Show (1st E.P) – cozmez – Where They At ★
2020 倖田來未 (Kumi Koda) – GET NAKED (Kiyoshi Sugo Remix)
2020 倖田來未 (Kumi Koda) – again (MATZ Remix)
2020 premiere fleurs – プリンシパル
2020 Love Live! Nijigasaki – 朝香果林 (Karin Asaka) – VIVID WORLD ★
2020 Fujii Kaze – へでもねーよ”／Hedemo Ne-YoSeishun Sick
2020 King Gnu – 三文小説 ／Sanmon Shosetsu ★
2021 OWV – Fifth Season ★
2021 加藤 ミリヤ (Miliyah) feat. Yoshida Brothers – この夢が醒めるまで ★
2021 Aoi Teshima – ただいま★
2021 Official髭男dism – Cry Baby
2021 Chanmin BIJIN 美人 – Morning Mood
2021 門脇更紗 (Sarasa Kadowaki) – きれいだ
2021 Mirei Touyama – 美忘録
2021 SELECTION PROJECT Vol.1 – Only one yell -天沢灯ソロver.- ★
2022 Belle (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) – Million Miles Away (ENG vers.)
2022 rei (E-girls) – Dark Hero.
2022 rei (E-girls) – IDNY
2022 I can fly (Special Edition) – Bleecker Chrome - You will shine ★
2022 I can fly (Special Edition) – YOSHIKI EZAKI x Bleecker Chrome - UP ★
2022 BEAST TAMER (OST) – じんわり感じている幸せ
2022 Ado – 会いたくて
2022 Ado – 踊
2023 La prière – Sweet Dreams ★
2023 Bungou Stray Dogs 4th Season ED – Luck Life – しるし★
2023 UMAMUSUME PRETTY DERBY - Hat on your Head!
2023 Anna – 花のように (Hana no You ni)
2023 riria. – 貴方の側に (Anata no Soba ni)
2024 Dungeon Meshi OP – BUMP OF CHICKEN – Sleep Walking Orchestra
2024 Ernie Zakri, Ade Govinda - Masing Masing ★
2024 Paradox Live THE ANIMATION OST – 25 幻影武雷管 - Trauma ★
2024 Bartender Kami no Glass OP – Takaya Kawasaki – Stardust Memory ★
2024 Maou no Ore ga Dorei Elf ED – Sayaka Yamamoto – Blue Star
2024 Spice and Wolf Merchant Meets the Wise Wolf OP – Hana Hope – Tabi no Yukue/ Destination of the journey
2024 Tonari no Youkai-san ED – Aoi Kubo – Iro no Naka (風媒花)
★ Main-Test-Tracks/ A glimpse of what listen to 90% of the of time.
Do take my words for what it’s worth. Afterall, I am just one man. ╮(╯▽╰)╭
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR READING! HAVE A GOOD DAY WHEREVER YOU ARE! TAKE CARE!
Disclaimer:
- This is a loaner unit. Big thanks to Andy Audio Vault and Edmund King (Facebook) for making this possible!
EXTRA PHOTOS
I\O Audio Volare
I\O Audio is a new audio brand that debuts with a hybrid in-ear monitor named Volare. A rather unusual debut with a flagship product rather than something more affordable, this is a sign that I\O Audio are aiming high right from the start.
The I\O Volare has a nine driver array that combines one dynamic driver, four balanced armatures and four electrostatic drivers, thus using three different kinds of drivers for their respective frequency bands.
One dynamic driver is responsible for low-frequency and part of vocals, four balanced armature drivers ensure the timbre consistency, and four electrostatic drivers complete the high-frequency reinforcement. A driver configuration that completely covers the bandwidth within human hearing range.
Driver breakdown
The four high-voltage electrostatic drivers are made by the famous Danish brand Sonion and are usually used in much more expensive earphones. They have a unique sound structure and are able to offer a 40kHz upper high frequency extension with a bandwidth far beyond the hearing range.
The brand-new balanced armature drivers are custom made with the aim of reducing the excessive dependence of traditional balanced armature drivers on electronic frequency divider when achieving the target frequency response.
It took more than 1,000 hours for I\O Audio to develop their own, high-specification, 8mm silica gel suspension, birch dome dynamic driver dedicated to low frequencies. A design that successfully half lowers the bass distortion.
The crossover
The Volare adopts a brand-new, dual crossover structure that combines a 3-way physical and a 4-way electronic crossover system.
The strict sound nozzle design and the unique precise physical frequency crossover technology follow the principle of giving priority to the acoustic structure of the Volare. With the advanced micron-scale manufacturing technology, the dependence on electronic frequency crossover is successfully reduced.
The electronic frequency crossover of the Volare adopts a high-specification PCB design, and uses high-precision first-class resistors and capacitors to reduce the loss of sound quality caused by frequency crossover architecture.
Non Audio stuff
The I\O Audio Volare is a universal fit earphone that adopts a custom-like design that ensures a comfortable wearing experience despite the rather bulky ear-shells. The ear-shells are made from medical grade resin with a micron-level 3D printing technology in cooperation with HeyGears.
The manufacturing is of the highest quality, the Volare is a well made and beautiful looking set of earphones. From the faceplate with the creamy silver wavy patterns, to the all-black main body with the tiny silver granules and the gold printed Volare logo, everything looks premium and visually appealing. Passive noise attenuation is also very satisfying despite the venting port.
The Volare offers a tight and stable fit, it is comfortable and lightweight, suitable for extended listening sessions. An easy to wear, premium looking and luxurious set of earphones that has nothing to envy from other much more expensive flagship models by other brands.
Stock Cable
The high quality stock cable is made of 8-strands of mixed braided 6N OFC oxygen-free copper that is silver-plated. The cable is a little thick but soft and flexible while it doesn't induce any microphonic noise. The cable offers good handling and it doesn't get tangled. It uses the 2-pin 0.78mm interface and instead of the usual left and right markings you will find “I” and “O” ones that correspond to the same marks that are printed in each ear-shell. One point of criticism is that it doesn't have strain reliefs at the plugs.
This is a modular cable with interchangeable plugs, 3.5mm, 2.5mm and 4.4mm options included in the package. The upper main part of the plug has a rather strange design with three elongated edges that protrude and sometimes the cable gets stacked on them. Except for this minor issue, this is a well made stock cable that you will not need to exchange for something else.
Accessories
I seldomly care about the package but this one is worth mentioning because it offers a flagship level unboxing experience. The box has three drawers that you pull out to reveal the ear-tips, the cable and the manuals.
The Volare comes with five different types of ear-tips in three sizes each. They are I\O Audio branded and have specific code names. F49 wide-bore foam tips, TW43 wide-bore, ST50 medium-bore with stems, TW45 medium-bore and TT55 small-bore. All of them are single flange and offer the same kind of wearing comfort.
The package also includes a luxurious carrying case that looks like a jewelry presentation box. Don't forget to remove the inner part to make room for storing the Volare with its cable and a small USB DAC.
Power requirements
The Volare is rated at 4.8Ω with a sensitivity of 121dB/Vrms that roughly converts to 98dB/mW, thus making it not that easy to drive as one might think from the low impedance. Moreover the 4.8Ω impedance means that you are going to need a source with very low output impedance and capable of producing plenty of current at this given load without clipping. Not all portable USB DAC dongles can do that, they seldomly can provide much current below 16Ω and will not match well with the Volare. A high quality DAP or a battery powered USB DAC are much better options, not only for providing the necessary power but also because the Volare scales very well. I have mostly used the iBasso DX260 and the FiiO M15S.
Audio stuff
The I\O Audio Volare has a tuning that adheres to the Harman 2019 target curve with some clever and well executed deviations that make for a better tonal balance. The Volare has an elevated low-end with great sub-bass extension, that is not overpowering, slightly recessed but present mid-range and and a rather smooth but very resolving treble. Driver integration is also perfect, the sound is very cohesive and realistic from the bottom to the top of the frequency range, there is no audible timbre variation between the three different kinds of drivers.
The dynamic driver is not one of the largest available but is very effective in producing deep and surprisingly impactful bass that is fast, tight and controlled. It is punchy and quite weighty, not that visceral, thick or imposing but it has excellent definition and a crystalline clarity that helps a lot with layering and separation. The driver is very skilful, this is a textured bass with audiophile level technicallities that is suitable for critical listening.
The truth is that the mid-bass is slightly elevated above neutrality but it doesn't cloud or veil the mid-range, nor does it sound that tonally off. You can experiment with the included ear-tips to fine tune the mid-bass and make it more tonally accurate and a better match for listening to classical music and similar genres. I found the medium-bore ear-tips as the most balanced sounding but you are welcomed to experiment with your favorite ones.
The mid-range might appear as lacking when you browse frequency response measurements but it is actually very present and engaging. What matters the most is that the timbre is natural, the sound is colorful and harmonious, instruments and voices are reproduced with plenty of realism and a lifelike manner. The Volare cleverly avoids an excessive upper mid-range emphasis and as such it sounds fairly controlled without any annoying sibilance or shouting voices.
This is a vibrant, resolving and clean sounding earphone with mildly organic and analog textures, a feeling that is usually reserved for much more expensive earphones that use balanced armature drivers for the mid-range. Maybe this exceptional performance is related to the dynamic driver that handles a small portion of the lower mid-range.
Premium resolution and refinement are the highlights of the airy treble where the EST drivers are miraculous in producing a silky smooth yet vibrant and energetic sound that is open, luminous and transparent. Furthermore the textures are not too dry or lean as usually happens with EST drivers, the timbre is natural without any severe artificiality or metallic sheen. Instruments sound full bodied and weighty with a smooth decay, percussion instruments are reproduced with plenty of weight and not paper thin or light.
The Volare is resolving and refined with good extension and fine detail extraction but it doesn't sound analytical or sterile. The treble is quite natural, it is not bright or sharp, this is a set suitable for extended listening sessions without causing ear piercing fatigue. The Volare doesn't use its EST drivers to command attention on its own, it takes a step back to let the music flow and establish a sentimental contact with the listener.
The wide soundstage has stellar imaging and stereo separation on the horizontal plane. This is a very open sounding set of earphones but it is mildly lacking in depth layering and dimensionality. Still you can listen to the most demanding material without feeling congestion or missing ambient information.
The overall tonal balance and the great technical performance of the I\O Audio Volare make it a good all-rounder set. You can listen to all kinds of music and while it may not shine with some of them, it is also not going to disappoint either.
Conclusion
What a success for I\O Audio, these guys came from nowhere and they have managed to steer the market with their first born earphones. The I\O Volare is a flagship level debut, a magnificent set of earphones with a rather balanced tuning and great technicalities that pairs well with all kinds of music and is going to satisfy the majority of the users out there.
Comfortable, very well made, premium looking and with one of the most inclusive accessory packs, the I/O Audio Volare ticks all the boxes and offers outstanding value for money. This is easily one of the best earphones in the sub $1K category and it earns my strongest recommendation with flying colors. With such a tremendous debut, I\O Audio has established the basis for a very promising future.
The review sample was kindly provided free of charge. The price of the I\O Audio Volare is $599 and you can buy it from SHENZHENAUDIO.COM
I\O Audio is a new audio brand that debuts with a hybrid in-ear monitor named Volare. A rather unusual debut with a flagship product rather than something more affordable, this is a sign that I\O Audio are aiming high right from the start.
The I\O Volare has a nine driver array that combines one dynamic driver, four balanced armatures and four electrostatic drivers, thus using three different kinds of drivers for their respective frequency bands.
One dynamic driver is responsible for low-frequency and part of vocals, four balanced armature drivers ensure the timbre consistency, and four electrostatic drivers complete the high-frequency reinforcement. A driver configuration that completely covers the bandwidth within human hearing range.
Driver breakdown
The four high-voltage electrostatic drivers are made by the famous Danish brand Sonion and are usually used in much more expensive earphones. They have a unique sound structure and are able to offer a 40kHz upper high frequency extension with a bandwidth far beyond the hearing range.
The brand-new balanced armature drivers are custom made with the aim of reducing the excessive dependence of traditional balanced armature drivers on electronic frequency divider when achieving the target frequency response.
It took more than 1,000 hours for I\O Audio to develop their own, high-specification, 8mm silica gel suspension, birch dome dynamic driver dedicated to low frequencies. A design that successfully half lowers the bass distortion.
The crossover
The Volare adopts a brand-new, dual crossover structure that combines a 3-way physical and a 4-way electronic crossover system.
The strict sound nozzle design and the unique precise physical frequency crossover technology follow the principle of giving priority to the acoustic structure of the Volare. With the advanced micron-scale manufacturing technology, the dependence on electronic frequency crossover is successfully reduced.
The electronic frequency crossover of the Volare adopts a high-specification PCB design, and uses high-precision first-class resistors and capacitors to reduce the loss of sound quality caused by frequency crossover architecture.
Non Audio stuff
The I\O Audio Volare is a universal fit earphone that adopts a custom-like design that ensures a comfortable wearing experience despite the rather bulky ear-shells. The ear-shells are made from medical grade resin with a micron-level 3D printing technology in cooperation with HeyGears.
The manufacturing is of the highest quality, the Volare is a well made and beautiful looking set of earphones. From the faceplate with the creamy silver wavy patterns, to the all-black main body with the tiny silver granules and the gold printed Volare logo, everything looks premium and visually appealing. Passive noise attenuation is also very satisfying despite the venting port.
The Volare offers a tight and stable fit, it is comfortable and lightweight, suitable for extended listening sessions. An easy to wear, premium looking and luxurious set of earphones that has nothing to envy from other much more expensive flagship models by other brands.
Stock Cable
The high quality stock cable is made of 8-strands of mixed braided 6N OFC oxygen-free copper that is silver-plated. The cable is a little thick but soft and flexible while it doesn't induce any microphonic noise. The cable offers good handling and it doesn't get tangled. It uses the 2-pin 0.78mm interface and instead of the usual left and right markings you will find “I” and “O” ones that correspond to the same marks that are printed in each ear-shell. One point of criticism is that it doesn't have strain reliefs at the plugs.
This is a modular cable with interchangeable plugs, 3.5mm, 2.5mm and 4.4mm options included in the package. The upper main part of the plug has a rather strange design with three elongated edges that protrude and sometimes the cable gets stacked on them. Except for this minor issue, this is a well made stock cable that you will not need to exchange for something else.
Accessories
I seldomly care about the package but this one is worth mentioning because it offers a flagship level unboxing experience. The box has three drawers that you pull out to reveal the ear-tips, the cable and the manuals.
The Volare comes with five different types of ear-tips in three sizes each. They are I\O Audio branded and have specific code names. F49 wide-bore foam tips, TW43 wide-bore, ST50 medium-bore with stems, TW45 medium-bore and TT55 small-bore. All of them are single flange and offer the same kind of wearing comfort.
The package also includes a luxurious carrying case that looks like a jewelry presentation box. Don't forget to remove the inner part to make room for storing the Volare with its cable and a small USB DAC.
Power requirements
The Volare is rated at 4.8Ω with a sensitivity of 121dB/Vrms that roughly converts to 98dB/mW, thus making it not that easy to drive as one might think from the low impedance. Moreover the 4.8Ω impedance means that you are going to need a source with very low output impedance and capable of producing plenty of current at this given load without clipping. Not all portable USB DAC dongles can do that, they seldomly can provide much current below 16Ω and will not match well with the Volare. A high quality DAP or a battery powered USB DAC are much better options, not only for providing the necessary power but also because the Volare scales very well. I have mostly used the iBasso DX260 and the FiiO M15S.
Audio stuff
The I\O Audio Volare has a tuning that adheres to the Harman 2019 target curve with some clever and well executed deviations that make for a better tonal balance. The Volare has an elevated low-end with great sub-bass extension, that is not overpowering, slightly recessed but present mid-range and and a rather smooth but very resolving treble. Driver integration is also perfect, the sound is very cohesive and realistic from the bottom to the top of the frequency range, there is no audible timbre variation between the three different kinds of drivers.
The dynamic driver is not one of the largest available but is very effective in producing deep and surprisingly impactful bass that is fast, tight and controlled. It is punchy and quite weighty, not that visceral, thick or imposing but it has excellent definition and a crystalline clarity that helps a lot with layering and separation. The driver is very skilful, this is a textured bass with audiophile level technicallities that is suitable for critical listening.
The truth is that the mid-bass is slightly elevated above neutrality but it doesn't cloud or veil the mid-range, nor does it sound that tonally off. You can experiment with the included ear-tips to fine tune the mid-bass and make it more tonally accurate and a better match for listening to classical music and similar genres. I found the medium-bore ear-tips as the most balanced sounding but you are welcomed to experiment with your favorite ones.
The mid-range might appear as lacking when you browse frequency response measurements but it is actually very present and engaging. What matters the most is that the timbre is natural, the sound is colorful and harmonious, instruments and voices are reproduced with plenty of realism and a lifelike manner. The Volare cleverly avoids an excessive upper mid-range emphasis and as such it sounds fairly controlled without any annoying sibilance or shouting voices.
This is a vibrant, resolving and clean sounding earphone with mildly organic and analog textures, a feeling that is usually reserved for much more expensive earphones that use balanced armature drivers for the mid-range. Maybe this exceptional performance is related to the dynamic driver that handles a small portion of the lower mid-range.
Premium resolution and refinement are the highlights of the airy treble where the EST drivers are miraculous in producing a silky smooth yet vibrant and energetic sound that is open, luminous and transparent. Furthermore the textures are not too dry or lean as usually happens with EST drivers, the timbre is natural without any severe artificiality or metallic sheen. Instruments sound full bodied and weighty with a smooth decay, percussion instruments are reproduced with plenty of weight and not paper thin or light.
The Volare is resolving and refined with good extension and fine detail extraction but it doesn't sound analytical or sterile. The treble is quite natural, it is not bright or sharp, this is a set suitable for extended listening sessions without causing ear piercing fatigue. The Volare doesn't use its EST drivers to command attention on its own, it takes a step back to let the music flow and establish a sentimental contact with the listener.
The wide soundstage has stellar imaging and stereo separation on the horizontal plane. This is a very open sounding set of earphones but it is mildly lacking in depth layering and dimensionality. Still you can listen to the most demanding material without feeling congestion or missing ambient information.
The overall tonal balance and the great technical performance of the I\O Audio Volare make it a good all-rounder set. You can listen to all kinds of music and while it may not shine with some of them, it is also not going to disappoint either.
Conclusion
What a success for I\O Audio, these guys came from nowhere and they have managed to steer the market with their first born earphones. The I\O Volare is a flagship level debut, a magnificent set of earphones with a rather balanced tuning and great technicalities that pairs well with all kinds of music and is going to satisfy the majority of the users out there.
Comfortable, very well made, premium looking and with one of the most inclusive accessory packs, the I/O Audio Volare ticks all the boxes and offers outstanding value for money. This is easily one of the best earphones in the sub $1K category and it earns my strongest recommendation with flying colors. With such a tremendous debut, I\O Audio has established the basis for a very promising future.
The review sample was kindly provided free of charge. The price of the I\O Audio Volare is $599 and you can buy it from SHENZHENAUDIO.COM
As a huge fan of the Moondrop Variations and older THIEAUDIO Clairvoyance/Monarch MK2, I have a specific love for refined slightly V-shaped tuned IEMs. I’ve been out of the reviewing game for quite a few months due to dealing with our old apartment flooding and destroying mostly everything we owned so I’ve been excited to review something new since most of my gear is in storage. I was offered a chance to check out the new VOLARE from a new brand called I/O Audio. I wasn’t sure what to expect but I have to admit I was a huge fan on first listen which prompted me to dig out a few old IEMs since the VOLARE sounded familiar in a way. The VOLARE is a Tribrid IEM consisting of one Dynamic Driver, 4 Balanced Armatures and 4 Electrostatic Drivers. The VOLARE comes in at $599.00.
Quick shoutout to my friends over at @shenzhenaudio for sending a demo unit to check out and review. While I always appreciate the chance to test and review products sent in from manufacturers or dealers, it never affects the rating of my reviews.
The I/O VOLARE can be pickup below:
https://shenzhenaudio.com/products/ioaudio-volare-1dd-4ba-4est-in-ear-headphone
Onto the review of the I/O VOLARE! My personal preference is a hybrid/tribrid IEM where I get good hitting bass and have a detailed treble with decent mids. When it comes to an over ear headphone I prefer a spacious sound with a deep low end, the mids to be more forward and the highs to be a little bright with some sparkle. I listen to a lot of genres but I hover in the classic rock, blues and edm music with some rap here and there.
Gear Used
IPhone 14 Pro Max with headphone adapter, iPad Pro M4 w/ Moondrop Moonriver 2 Ti, Moondrop Variations, THIEAUDIO Monarch MKII, Eversolo DAC-Z8/SMSL SP400 desktop stack via Audirvana.Looks and fit
The shell has a unique design. I have a love-hate relationship with the shell since I really like the face plate but I’m not a fan of the shell color design. The shell has a really nice dark grey/black color that turns to a sparkling grey/white color when you look directly at a part of the shell. If it didn’t have the sparkle, I think I would like the shell more. On the flip side, it’s not a boring black shell so it gets a pass for being different. I think I would prefer a light grey flake or some type of other design in place of the sparkle. The faceplate reminds me of a grey leaf or something along those lines. It looks fancy and they put an I on the left side and O on the right side. When it comes to fitment, the shell is about medium sized with a 30-40 degree angle on the nozzle stem from the shell. I tend to have issues with nozzle angles like this and none of the provided tips quite held a seal in my ear for longer listening sessions. I swapped in some Spinfit W1 tips and that solved my issues for fitment. It’s lightweight and comfy for long sessions as long as I use my preferred tips.
Isolation and sound leakage
Passive isolation is decent given the slightly bigger venting hole near the connector. I would say it will lower outside noise a bit but it still allows louder noises to come through. The sound leakage is noticeable at louder volumes and if you’re within a few feet of the IEMs in a quiet area but I would use these somewhere quiet without much worry. I would probably recommend just lowering the volume a bit in quiet areas.Packaging and accessories
The VOLARE comes in a big ol box that has a flip top and three drawers. While I really prefer a smaller package to save on paper waste or for storage purposes, I give the VOLARE a pass since this is I/O Audio’s first IEM which is also a flagship for them. Inside the top area of the box we get the IEMs inside the extremely oversized carrying case. Which I felt dumb as I had a hard time getting the top foam stuff inside the case out and almost thought it was meant to be there(it’s not). I would have preferred something smaller as I’m not able to fit the carrying case in my pockets or even my everyday sling bag I use for work. Next is the top drawer which houses the wonderful cable and three plugs for different source outputs. The second drawer had the tips inside and I’m happy they include 7 different tip sets. This allows for a good way to try and get a comfortable seal and possibly a deeper fitment(more on that in the sound section). Finally we have a drawer that has the quarter inch to 3.5mm adapter and a little sleeve with the warranty cards and user as well as a cleaning cloth and a “ownership VIP card” which has the serial number printed on it. I do like the design of the card which has an I on the front and O on the back(a common theme). I like that they include a good chunk of accessories and this was a very nice unboxing experience.
Sound(overall)
These final impressions were done off the Eversolo DAC-Z8 connected to the SMSL SP400. This desktop stack is what I use for the main sound impressions for all my reviews. I use this in combination with Audirvana and Roon. The SMSL SP400 has been in use since 01/2021 and the DAC-Z8 since 04/2023. These impressions are what the VOLARE sounded like to my ears. This was also using the Spinfit W1 tips. Things like ear tip selection and DAC/amp selection will produce different results and impressions vs what my ears hear on my specific gear.The VOLARE has a V-ish shaped sound but it does sound very refined and well tuned. So much so that I assume the I/O brand must have a few industry people on the design team that knew what they were doing. The bass has a nice strong presence and thumps pretty well without overloading the lower mids. Sub-bass provides strong impact that sounds detailed and the mid-bass doesn’t sound muddy. Mids sounds pretty detailed but do sound a hair thicker which makes these sound a little warmer throughout the lower frequencies. The Vocals do come in clear and sound natural enough. I can hear a tiny bit of softness to female vocals on just a few tracks but it’s not common enough that It affects the vocal performance overall. The upper mids are pretty strong here and I found tip depth made quite the difference in how strong the sibilance can get. In my case, running Spinfit W1 tips at a deeper fit, caused the upper mid sibilance to disappear. With some of the stock tips at a further out fitment, I got quite a lot of sibilance which I wasn’t a fan of. When the sibilance is under control, I do find the details in instruments to be pretty good. The treble has some good bite and speed but it doesn’t sound much stronger than the upper mids which does make it sound a little better balanced to my ears. The resolution and detail retrieval in general are great in the upper frequencies so I found the overall sound to be quite resolving and fun.
Soundstage/Imaging
Staging is slightly above average in width/depth. There is a good balance between width and depth which gives the sense of a normal soundstage to my ears. I found imaging stellar and even with the strong bass hits, I could still pick out specific placements of sounds in busy tracks. While not anything special, staging and imaging get a thumbs up.Sensitivity/Drivability
The VOLARE isn’t hard to drive but does like a little power. It hovered around 27-30(out of 99) volume on my headphone amp via the balanced output which is a little above average in power required to get a volume I like compared to other IEMs. Like most modern hybrids, the VOLARE isn’t sensitive and shows no floor noise on any source gear I tried it with.Stock cable
The stock cable has a black matte finish and the cables have a rubber feel that doesn’t reflect much light which makes it feel higher quality compared to other cables that go for a 8-weave black rubber look. The 2 pin connectors have an I and O listed on their respective left/right sides. The plug end is a QD system and uses a rather fancy black “crown-like” design that makes screwing and unscrewing easier. The gold accents on the plug inner housing doesn’t quite match the IEM shells but I’ll give it a pass for looking good. The cable is pretty lightweight for a 8-weave and I found the soft rubber ear guides very comfortable for longer listening sessions. I would leave the cable alone unless you have a preference for a different cable design.
IEM comparisons
Moondrop Variations
Both the Variations and VOLARE have a somewhat familiar tuning. Though I would consider the VOLARE the more detailed of the two. The bass is thicker sounding on the Variations while the VOLARE keeps things a little more tamed which overall sounds a little better balanced for a strong bass presentation. The mids on both are clear with the VOLARE coming in just a little meatier than the Variations. I think both sound fine here and when it comes to vocals, I think the VOLARE tends to sound a little clearer than the Variations which has a slight haziness to the vocals. The upper mids are strong on both and while neither one causes me any fatiguing issues with my preferred tips, I still find the VOLARE has a little sharper sibilance on some tracks. The treble is noticeably stronger on the VOLARE and I think it also pulls in better details. The speed and sharpness sound a little artificial on the Variations but this could be due to the older but still decent quality EST drives being used in the Variations. Both do sound stage well but I think the Variations do sound a little wider.
THIEAUDIO MONARCH MK.II
When you run the two IEMs back to back, I find they sound quite different in tuning but they do sound about the same in terms of detail retrieval and overall resolution. Which is quite the compliment to the VOLARE seeing as it comes in $400 bucks less. These two however have tunings for different listeners. The bass is substantially stronger and fuller sounding on the VOLARE where the Monarch has a respectable but more tame bass response. Both do bass well but the VOLARE really lets you know that it’s ready to party on tracks with focused added bass. The mids are clearer and more detailed on the Monarch MK II and vocals also sound more detailed and natural on the Monarch MK II. The upper mids are better balanced on the Monarch as well. The treble sounds about the same between the two but both manage to pull in details really well with the Monarch pulling in little micro details a bit better. I always forget how great the Monarch MK II sounds as I can only listen to it for a bit before the nozzle angles cause too much fatigue in my ears. I think fans of neutral-bright tunings will find the Monarch MK II and probably the MK III a better option. For the every day and every genre listener who likes a little more bass, the VOLARE sounds so much more forgiving and brings way more smiles to my face whenever I listen to both.
Amping Combinations
Moondrop MoonRiver 2 Ti
The little Moondriver 2 Ti is my daily on the go dongle when I’m at work or in the living room relaxing. The MR2 Ti has a slightly warm tuning which compliments the VOLARE quite well IMO. The bass sounds slightly warmer without adding any extra bass impact. The mids are detailed but just a hair softer in presentation and vocals still retain their mostly natural sound. The upper mids are still strong but with a little better control. The treble is well maintained but does sound a little stronger here compared to the upper mids with this pairing which makes the perceived detail a little better. Staging is pretty balanced still though I feel it sounds a little wider than my desktop setup which I tend to notice with the MR2 Ti in general. A great pairing and I enjoy using this pairing away from my desktop.
Eversolo DAC-Z8/SMSL SP400
As mentioned in my sound impressions, this is the main stack I used for my overall impressions of the VOLARE. While I found I got the best performance from this setup for the VOLARE, I was also very happy with the performance the portable MR2 Ti was able to provide. I don’t think a big desktop unit is needed but if you already have a nice desktop setup, I think a good desktop stack will give a little extra performance to the VOLARE.Overall thoughts
I really like the VOLARE and I think most people will enjoy these IEMs with little to no complaints. This set manages to be detailed and yet fun sounding in terms of tuning. I do believe these are worth a recommendation and they’re worth a listen if given the chance to check them out! This falls into line with some of my favorite IEMs and I find myself constantly listening to the VOLARE as my daily IEM over my more expensive IEMs. Great job to the team at I/O for a first IEM that is a real treat to listen to! I’m very interested in seeing what they bring out next! Thanks for reading!!
inscythe
I recently tried a set belonging to a friend. I also found this to be an excellent set. Nice review!
AudioSeeker
Just to chime in, listening to EDM on these is pretty surreal. The effects are crystal clear and pop all around your head, the bass is tight and punch and sounds like a night club. The midrange is also sweet and detailed so everything comes across clear and natural. If you have these listen to Bad Memories by MEDUZA (David Guetta Remix) & Sickness or Fable by Retrika. 
B9Scrambler
I adore these things. Easily one of my favourite iems, and I've tried/own more than any one person should.
