I/O Audio Volare IEM Review (2nd Opinion) – A Sheep In Wolf’s Clothing
A $599, 9-driver hybrid is a brash debut for a fledgling brand, but these guys know what they’re doing. Laughably huge cardboard accessory case is larger than most Manhattan apartments; resin shells are don’t look especially rich but are well engineered; fit and passive isolation are excellent.
Compared to the massive, hyper-revealing presentation of other pricey IEMs I’ve sampled lately, like the Westone Mach 70, the Volare are fairly restrained; they don’t aspire to be detail queens or to emulate the pulsing physicality of premium closed-back cans.
Instead, their calling card is coherence, which is superb—every frequency is in balance; neither unnaturally enhanced nor understated. Which is not to say they’re sterile or lifeless; there’s a lot of sparkle and plenty of low end. The “bright and smooth” designation is accurate.
Well done overall; for a first release by rookies they’re extraordinary. I’ve contemplated telling Durwood that the dog ate these so I can keep ‘em. Unfortunately he knows my dog, who is virtually comatose.
IO AUDIO VOLARE SPECIFICATIONS
IO Audio Volare Driver Units:
1x 8mm Customized Dynamic Driver+
4x Customized Full Range Balanced Driver+
4x Imported Denmark SONIC EST Driver
Diaphragm Material (DD): Silicon Rubber + Wood Dome
Frequency-crossover Structure: 4Way Electronic (3Way Physical)
THD: THD@1kHz<1% (94dB)
Sensitivity: 121dB/ Vrms (@1kHz)
Impedance: 4.8Ω±10% (@1kHz)
FR Range: 10Hz – 40kHz (IEC61094, Free Field)
Effective FR Range: 20Hz – 20kHz (IEC60318-4, -3dB)
Cable Material: 8-Strand Oxygen-free Copper Silver-plated
Tested at: $599
Durwood’s GRAPHS
- Volare Left vs Right
- Volare Eartip Comparison
- Volare vs BGVP DM9 vs Moondrop Blessing 2 Dusk
- Impedance Plot
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