Michael Graves’ IEM collaboration with Volk Audio and Jack Vang.
Jack Vang has earned a reputation as one of the most innovative in-ear monitor designers working today. More than a decade in the making, the ÉTOILE unites Vang’s signature design vision with the mastering expertise of five-time GRAMMY Award–winning engineer Michael Graves. At its core is a custom 10-driver quadbrid system built to deliver nothing less than resolution, accuracy, and truth.
Created for mastering-level listening in the most demanding environments, the ÉTOILE is designed to deliver a transformative listening experience. It is about connection — that moment when playback disappears, leaving only the listener and the music. Bass is solid and controlled, the midrange warm and intimate, and the highs detailed with nuance, texture, and air. The result is a soundstage with true studio-grade depth and dimension.
More information about ÉTOILE can be found here.
From Michael Graves:
Jack Vang and Michael Graves - Seoul, South Korea, August 2025
“In 2013, I met Jack when he approached me with the idea of working together on a set of in-ear monitors (IEMs) he was developing. They turned out to be a game-changer for my audio restoration and mastering work, offering clarity and detail I’d never experienced with over-ear headphones. Over the past 12 years, I’ve worn those IEMs daily. Plus, after nearly three decades of working professionally with sound, I now have a clear understanding of what I’m looking for in terms of sound reproduction.
So in 2023, when Jack invited me to collaborate on his new flagship IEM, I was all in. With years of experience behind us, we worked closely on refining prototypes, sharing a common language around sound. The final version — the ÉTOILE — delivered exactly what I was looking for: sonic truth. I’m so proud of this product and to have my name associated with Jack and Volk Audio.”