Empire Ears Raven VS VOLK AUDIO ETOILE
IEM Comparison: Expert & Community Scores Side-by-Side
Empire Ears Raven and VOLK AUDIO ETOILE use 2DD+5BA+4EST+1BC and 1DD+4BA+4EST MGT driver setups respectively. Empire Ears Raven costs $3,600 while VOLK AUDIO ETOILE costs $3,999. VOLK AUDIO ETOILE is $399 more expensive. Empire Ears Raven holds a decisive 2.1-point edge in reviewer scores (8.6 vs 6.5). Empire Ears Raven has significantly better mids with a 4-point edge and Empire Ears Raven has significantly better dynamics with a 3-point edge.
Insights
| Metric | Empire Ears Raven | VOLK AUDIO ETOILE |
|---|---|---|
| Bass | 8 | 6.5 |
| Mids | 8 | 4 |
| Treble | 6 | 6 |
| Details | 9 | 6.5 |
| Soundstage | 8.6 | 8 |
| Imaging | 9 | 6.5 |
| Dynamics | 8 | 5 |
| Tonality | 8.2 | 5.5 |
| Technicalities | 8.9 | 6 |
Empire Ears Raven Aggregated Review Score
Average Reviewer Scores
Average Reviewer Score:
8.6Excellent
VOLK AUDIO ETOILE Aggregated Review Score
Average Reviewer Scores
Average Reviewer Score:
6.5Cautiously Favorable
Reviews Comparison
Empire Ears Raven (more reviews)
Empire Ears Raven reviewed by Jays Audio
9
Reviewer Score
Youtube Video Summary
Empire Ears Raven delivers the flagship gloss without pretending to be a value king. Expect deep sub-bass rumble, clean driver control, and a warmer mid-bass emphasis that puts extra weight behind kick drums and bass guitars. That tilt makes Raven a better fit for rock, metal, and live band mixes—grooves hit with authority and instruments carry more body, while treble stays extended without getting spicy or fatiguing.
Against strong $1K contenders, the step up is more refinement than revolution: a roughly 10–15% lift in resolution and texture, not a night-and-day transformation. For pure hip-hop subwoofer thrills, sets with stronger sub-bass focus edge it out; Raven trades some of that in-your-face thump for fuller mid-bass punch and an all-rounder presentation that scales well but isn’t about flexing quantity. Stunning set if the budget is open and rock-first bass weight is the priority; otherwise, mid-tier heavy hitters already capture most of the experience.
Jays Audio Youtube Channel
Empire Ears Raven reviewed by Precogvision
8
Reviewer Score
Precogvision Youtube Channel
Empire Ears Raven reviewed by Head-Fi.org
8.8
* score rescaled + normalized
VOLK AUDIO ETOILE (more reviews)
VOLK AUDIO ETOILE reviewed by Jaytiss
2025-10-11
6.5
Reviewer Score
Jaytiss Youtube Channel
Empire Ears Raven Details
Driver Configuration: 2DD+5BA+4EST+1BC
Tuning Type: n/a
Brand: Empire Ears Top Empire Ears IEMs
Price (Msrp): $3,600
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VOLK AUDIO ETOILE Details
Driver Configuration: 1DD+4BA+4EST MGT
Tuning Type: n/a
Price (Msrp): $3,999
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Empire Ears Raven User Review Score
Average User Scores
Average User Score: n/a
Based on 0 user reviews
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VOLK AUDIO ETOILE User Review Score
Average User Scores
Average User Score: n/a
Based on 0 user reviews
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Empire Ears Raven Gaming Score
Gaming Score & Grade
- The gaming score is prioritizing technical capabilities of the IEM (Separation, Layering, Soundstage) and good value.
Gaming Score
7.1Gaming Grade
A-VOLK AUDIO ETOILE Gaming Score
Gaming Score & Grade
- The gaming score is prioritizing technical capabilities of the IEM (Separation, Layering, Soundstage) and good value.
Gaming Score
4.4Gaming Grade
C-Empire Ears Raven Scorings
Average Technical & Tuning Grades
Average Tunign Grade
A+- Expect a tasteful, well-judged response that feels both musical and true to the source. Great synergy with a wide range of genres.
Average Technical Grade
S-- The presentation is crisp and expansive, handling complex passages with impressive ease. Low-level details remain audible in quiet passages.
VOLK AUDIO ETOILE Scorings
Average Technical & Tuning Grades
Average Tunign Grade
B-- It sounds pleasant overall, with some uneven spots that hint at room for refinement. Vocals remain pleasant despite the imperfections.
Average Technical Grade
B- It offers a competent showing, maintaining cohesion on straightforward arrangements. Complex passages start to challenge it, but never derail the show.
Empire Ears Raven User Reviews
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