Astell&Kern x VOLK Audio Stella | Quadbrid Universal IEMs
Stella Unites Engineering, Design, and Artistry Into a Single Instrument Built for Mastering Accuracy and Captivating Musical Emotion
- A masterful collaboration between Astell&Kern and VOLK Audio
- Quadbrid Driver Configuration: (1x) DD + (5x) BA + (2x) Planar + (4x) EST
- Dedicated focus on tonal accuracy, phase alignment and spatial coherence
- Crafted with 6061-T6 Aluminum and 9H Sapphire Crystal glass
- Premium 5N LCOFC Copper, 4N Silver and 24K Gold cable with 4.4 AEC plug
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Bloom's Take Stella is a flagship that prioritizes balance over extremes. This Astell&Kern and VOLK Audio collaboration delivers a compact quadbrid IEM that’s surprisingly comfortable and refined for its class. Sonically, Stella avoids strict tuning labels, offering punchy yet controlled bass, a clean and natural midrange, and smooth, well-extended treble that never turns sharp. Its presentation blends technical resolution with musical ease, handling dense mixes without sounding analytical or sterile. Stella feels intentionally tuned for long listening sessions, striking a rare middle ground between precision and enjoyment. |
Stella
STELLA is built on a 12-driver quadbrid architecture that unites four transducer technologies within a single, coherent system. Each element was developed for its distinct role and tuned through precise control of phase, pressure, and motion. Its design reflects the same discipline that governs its form. Every contour, cavity, and circuit exists to serve acoustic integrity.
LF-H VOLK Low Frequency Hybrid System
The VOLK Low-Frequency Hybrid System (LF-H) anchors STELLA’s multi-stage architecture, combining the M9-R 9 mm subwoofer with dual balanced armatures in a dual-stage chamber tuned to control phase and resonance. The chamber geometry, alignment, and crossover are co-developed to preserve phase accuracy and pressure balance. Covering 20 to 600 Hz, the LF-H forms the foundation of STELLA’s weight, control, and overall balance.
Mid-Range Architecture
STELLA’s midrange centers on a tri-armature array tuned for natural tone and balanced presence. Dual balanced-armature drivers cover 600 Hz to 7 kHz, delivering warmth, articulation, and vocal energy with added density in the critical 1–5 kHz range, seamlessly bridging the lows and highs.
A single upper armature extends from 6 to 15 kHz, reinforcing upper-mid harmonics and refining vocal and instrumental overtones. Its lightweight diaphragm and fast transients preserve clarity and texture while integrating precisely with the planar and electrostatic systems above for smooth spectral linearity.
HF-H High-Frequency Hybrid System
The VOLK High-Frequency Hybrid System (HF-H) defines STELLA’s upper range by combining MP-2 dual planar magnetic drivers with four electrostatic tweeters in a unified design. Its crossover and acoustic topology are co-engineered to preserve phase accuracy and tonal stability, allowing the planars to shape upper harmonics with control while the electrostatics extend bandwidth and atmosphere with speed and finesse.
Covering 9 to 45 kHz, the HF-H delivers coherent, ultra-high-frequency extension with authority and refinement.
Exceptional Materials
Shell
Machined from aerospace-grade 6061-T6 aluminum and anodized in satin black, the shell holds every acoustic element in precise alignment, maintaining stability between the driver assemblies and the enclosure.
Central Plate
Machined from 6061-T6 aluminum and finished in satin black, the central plate forms the visual and structural centerpiece of STELLA.
Sapphire Crystal Glass
Cut from a single block of optical-grade 9H sapphire crystal glass, the panel completes STELLA’s faceplate assembly, uniting the stainless-steel frame and central plate into a single, sealed structure.
Faceplate Frame
The frame defines the structural boundary between the sapphire glass and the aluminum chassis, machined to micron precision from stainless steel. The venting architecture built into the frame equalizes internal pressure and suppresses resonance, maintaining balance across the entire acoustic system.
Crossover Design
Stella features a proprietary six-way network that preserves phase integrity and synergy across all driver groups. Each acoustic path is filtered and time-aligned to maintain spatial coherence and tonal stability through the full frequency spectrum.
Cable Crafted for Perfection
Designed as an integral part of STELLA’s acoustic system, the cable preserves signal integrity and linearity across the full range, maintaining equilibrium between structure and sound.
- 23.7 AWG, 4 Core Configuration
- Hybrid Conductor Array: 5N LCOFC Copper, 4N Silver and 24K Gold
- 12-Strand Litz Type 4S Geometry
- 500D Macro-Molecular Fiber Reinforcement Core
- SoftFlex PVC Insulation
- Midnight Black Braided Nylon Outer Jacket
- 6061-T6 Anodized Black Hardware with 316 Stainless Steel Mirror Polished Accents
- 4.4 AEC Balanced Termination
Specifications
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Driver
- (1x) VOLK M9-R 9mm Dynamic driver
- (5x) Sonion Balanced Armature drivers
- (2x) VOLK MP-2 Planar Magnetic drivers
- (4x) Sonion Electrostatic drivers
- Crossover: 6-way design
- Frequency Response: 10Hz-45kHz
- Sensitivity: 103.8 dB @ 1 kHz
- Impedance: 7.17 Ω @ 1 kHz
