Short answer: the AKG N5005. It ranks #4 of 450 in-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 4.9/5, at $499.99; the IOAudio Volare ranks #43, rated 4.6/5, and costs $599, which makes this an easy call rather than a real tradeoff.
The AKG N5005 is the better-sounding option. Bass, mids and presence all land within about 0.6 dB of the Harman target, giving a Harman score of 87 and a very smooth 1.11 dB deviation. The catch: A 5.8 dB dip near 10 kHz and a 3.4 dB peak near 7.8 kHz leave the top end slightly uneven, taking some sparkle off cymbals and air.
Why pick the IOAudio Volare: Nine squig.link measurements put its preference score at 81.5 with a 1.23 dB deviation, among the smoothest in-ear results. The catch: The presence band is about 2.6 dB under target with a 3.4 dB dip near 6 kHz, then a 4.5 dB peak near 11.9 kHz, so attack is a bit soft while the very top can sound crisp.
Buy the AKG N5005. It is rated higher for sound quality than the IOAudio Volare and costs less, which makes it the one to get unless you need something the other one does better.
Want more options? Browse the full Headphones rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| AKG N5005 | IOAudio Volare | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $499.99 | $599.00 |
| Ranked | #4 of 450 in In-Ear Headphones | #43 of 450 in In-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | In-ear | In-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 87 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) | 82 (median of 9 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 1.11 dB standard deviation | 1.23 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.09 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.40 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-0.3 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+0.6 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Driver Type | Hybrid (1 dynamic + 4 balanced armature) | Hybrid (1 dynamic + 4 balanced armature + 4 electrostatic) |
| Drivers | 1 x 9.2mm dynamic + 4 x balanced armature | 1 x dynamic + 4 x balanced armature + 4 x electrostatic |
| Impedance | 18 ohms | 4.8 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 116 dB SPL/V | 121 dB/Vrms |
| Weight | 0 lbs (11.4 g) per earbud | - |
| Frequency Response | 10Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 10Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Built-in Microphone | - | No |
Related Headphone Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for AKG N5005:
- AKG N5005 vs IOAudio Sogno
- AKG N5005 vs Moondrop Meteor
- IOAudio Volare vs Moondrop Meteor
- IOAudio Volare vs TANGZU TianPeng
- IOAudio Volare vs FlipEars Aisha Electri
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The Two Headphones In Full
AKG N5005: $499.99 Amazon eBay
Pros: Bass, mids and presence all land within about 0.6 dB of the Harman target, giving a Harman score of 87 and a very smooth 1.11 dB deviation. Sub-bass is essentially on target at 0.1 dB below, so kick drums and bass lines have natural weight without bloat. The five-driver hybrid layout and 18 ohm impedance with 116 dB per volt sensitivity run fine from a phone. At 11.4 g per earbud it is light in the ear.
Cons: A 5.8 dB dip near 10 kHz and a 3.4 dB peak near 7.8 kHz leave the top end slightly uneven, taking some sparkle off cymbals and air. Treble from 6 to 10 kHz runs about 0.6 dB under target, so it can sound a touch laid back. It costs far more than the Truthear x Crinacle Zero RED, which has the same rating, so the premium buys refinement rather than a better rating.
Full AKG N5005 review and specifications →
| Back | Closed |
|---|---|
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 1.11 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Hybrid (1 dynamic + 4 balanced armature) |
| Drivers | 1 x 9.2mm dynamic + 4 x balanced armature |
| Form Factor | In-ear |
| Frequency Response | 10Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 87 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 18 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 116 dB SPL/V |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-0.3 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.09 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0 lbs (11.4 g) per earbud |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -1.8 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by AutoEQ from its measured frequency response.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | -0.8 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 9,406 Hz | +3.0 dB | 1.31 |
| Peak | 892 Hz | +2.7 dB | 1.01 |
| Peak | 1,593 Hz | -1.4 dB | 0.18 |
| Peak | 77 Hz | +1.4 dB | 1.19 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -3.6 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 4,702 Hz | -2.0 dB | 5.51 |
| Peak | 3,571 Hz | +1.3 dB | 2.99 |
| Peak | 6,150 Hz | +2.2 dB | 5.73 |
| Peak | 4,894 Hz | -0.7 dB | 4.27 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
IOAudio Volare: $599.00 Amazon eBay
Pros: Nine squig.link measurements put its preference score at 81.5 with a 1.23 dB deviation, among the smoothest in-ear results. Bass sits about 1 dB above target down to 20 Hz, so it adds weight and rumble without crowding the midrange, which tracks the target almost exactly. It is rated higher than the cheaper Myer Audio CKLVX D62 and Moondrop Blessing 3, and 121 dB/Vrms sensitivity means any phone drives it.
Cons: The presence band is about 2.6 dB under target with a 3.4 dB dip near 6 kHz, then a 4.5 dB peak near 11.9 kHz, so attack is a bit soft while the very top can sound crisp. The very low 4.8 ohm impedance works best with a low output impedance source, and the Moondrop Meteor matches its rating for less money.
Full IOAudio Volare review and specifications →
| Back | Closed |
|---|---|
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 1.23 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Hybrid (1 dynamic + 4 balanced armature + 4 electrostatic) |
| Drivers | 1 x dynamic + 4 x balanced armature + 4 x electrostatic |
| Form Factor | In-ear |
| Frequency Response | 10Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 82 (median of 9 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 4.8 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 121 dB/Vrms |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+0.6 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.40 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons