Today’s article is Thomas’s review of the PLUSSOUND VOLTA, a high-end tribrid dual dynamic, BA, and EST driver in-ear monitor priced at $2499.
Disclaimer: I received this sample in exchange for my honest opinion. Headfonics is an independent website with no affiliate links. I thank the team at PLUSSOUND for giving me this opportunity.
Click here to read more about PLUSSOUND products previously featured on Headfonics.
This article follows our current scoring guidelines which you can read in more detail here.
Building on the success of the ALLEGRO, PLUSSOUND jumped back into the earphone game with two new high-end offerings last year: VOLTA and SONORA.
The SONORA is PLUSSOUND’s flagship model and was revealed to be a strong performer when I reviewed it at the end of December 2024.
The $2499 VOLTA shares much of its DNA with the SONORA, like the distinct shell design and amazing build quality, premium COPPER XL cable, and extensive accessory kit.
Despite shedding two balanced armatures from its driver configuration and $500 from the price tag, I would argue the VOLTA should share the flagship title with the SONORA. The two models share many similarities, and the VOLTA trades blows in overall sound quality.
Choosing between the two comes down to tuning and design preference, with the VOLTA’s price cut making the decision even harder. Now that I’ve had ample time with both, I know which one I prefer, and you’re about to read why it’s the VOLTA.
Features
Just like the SONORA, the VOLTA’s aluminum shells were manufactured through a 7-axis CNC machining process.
The earpieces are polished, anodized, and then cryogenically treated to strengthen the surface, providing additional resistance to damage and scratches if dropped or bumped.
A 3D-printed chamber houses the six drivers and crossover and is acoustically tuned, guiding the VOLTA’s neutral-leaning signature.
The 0.78mm 2-pin connectors used for the VOLTA are made of tellurium copper and plated with rhodium to provide a level of conductivity well beyond what is standard in the industry.
Inside the wiring is no less special, using PLUSSOUND’s in-house Type 6 UP-OCC wiring, which has also been cryogenically treated.
While the included Copper XL cable already exists in PLUSSOUND’s lineup, the two-tone y-split has been curated to match the light grey interior of the shell and its geometric patterning.
Design
Besides the coloring and patterning, the VOLTA’s shell is the same as that used for the SONORA. It looks and feels like a premium product and is unlikely to be mistaken for anything but a PLUSSOUND earphone.
While the VOLTA has a blocky design, the edges are rounded off and quite smooth in the hand.
The gunmetal grey faceplate is adorned with a small PS logo and V-shaped wave pattern, while the rear half of the shell is a lighter grey and contains a busy pattern that reminds me of various Tetris pieces overlapping each other.
Unpainted aluminum nozzles are present with three exit points for the tri-brid setup within. Keep an eye open for debris near the nozzle, as there is no protective grill in place to prevent anything from getting inside.
Sunken 0.78mm ports can be found on top of each shell. If swapping to a third-party cable, know the ports are not keyed to prevent accidental channel swaps.
Moving to the rear of each housing is a long, vertical vent. I appreciate the placement of these vents as they don’t pick up wind noise when using the VOLTA outdoors.
While large, the VOLTA’s earpieces aren’t overly heavy. At 8g per earpiece, with no tip installed, they’re in line with other premium products like oBravo’s Clio and the Campfire Audio Supermoon, but well under the hefty 17.1g of the Earsonics Grace Platinum.
The build quality is spectacular, with properly aligned parts, an even paint job, and no excess glue squidging out anywhere. The seams between the halves of the shell are prominent, but that was obviously intentional, given the visibly tapered edges.
Comfort & Isolation
The low weight of the relatively large housings goes a long way to keeping the VOLTA’s ergonomic shortcomings manageable.
The earpieces of the VOLTA are large and deep, and once inserted, they will stick out from the ear. While somewhat rectangular, the edges are well-rounded, but there are no sharp edges to irritate the ear or cause hotspots.
The lack of protrusions to help lock the earpiece in your ear is obvious in movement. I found the seal regularly breaking loose, requiring frequent repositioning to rectify, and can only imagine how much worse it would have been if the VOLTA wasn’t so light.
The thick, heavy wiring of the Copper XL cable is at fault and, during movement, tugs at the VOLTA. This throws off the balance and fatigues the ear, though a deep sealing tip and the chin cinch help reduce this.
Despite the large vents on the rear of each housing, isolation from the VOLTA was pretty good. Taking the VOLTA to a busy coffee shop, I only needed to raise the volume mildly to listen comfortably and nullify the sounds of people and clattering dishes nearby.
Fit is personal, and the VOLTA may slot into your ear perfectly, but I found them cumbersome and at their best when listening from a stationary position. They’re not uncomfortable, but they’re also not something I can wear for multiple hours before taking a mandatory break.
Tips
PLUSSOUND includes three styles of tips with the VOLTA. The basic silicone tips are standard, single-flange, wide-bore tips that are a common sight in the hobby.
They fit well with a reliable seal and sound nice with the SONORA. The wide bore helps balance the signature, resulting in a well-balanced presentation that verges on neutrality.
Comply tips are the foam option and are a welcome addition. While they will need replacing a few months down the road, they provide a good seal and are comfortable.
Their sound is also good, though they tend to increase low-range presence and reduce mid-range clarity. It’s nothing extreme, though, and they remain the ideal pick for use in noisy environments where the extra isolation they provide is needed.
If you’re familiar with Sony Hybrids, you’ll know that the Symbio W merges a silicone tip with a foam support beneath the flange. While this was my favorite pair to use with the SONORA, the standard silicone set is my preference with the VOLTA.
Still, the Symbio W sounded great with the VOLTA, pitching the tuning towards a more mid- and treble-biased presentation. Again, the differences are minor compared to the other tips included, but it was noticeable upon direct comparison.
Stock Cable
PLUSSOUND is known for its cables, so it should come as no surprise to anyone that the VOLTA comes equipped with an altered Copper XL, which retails for $749.99.
Should you wish to choose a different cable from their lineup before buying the VOLTA you can also email PLUSSOUND with special requests.
This cable was developed to accompany PLUSSOUND’s drivers and crossover with densely bundled, enamel-coated strands in two 18AWG wires. The outer sheath is extremely dense and about as flexible as a cable this thick can be.
Missing are traditional preformed ear guides. In their place, the sheath itself up near the 0.78mm plugs is shaped at a sharp angle and lightly curved to serve the same purpose.
The tellurium copper, rhodium-plated 0.78mm plugs, and the straight jack, are user-serviceable with accessible hex screws. That said, unless you’re well-versed in cable design and maintenance if repairs are required, I’d leave that up to PLUSSOUND.
The y-split has been customized to match the color and design theme of the VOLTA. The light grey split even contains the same angular pattern found on the inner half of the earpieces, keeping the design language consistent across the entire product.
A chin cinch is found just above the y-split. Cable noise is quite minimal, so it doesn’t help with that, but it does provide a more secure fit if slid up and tucked under your chin.
Lastly, this cable lacks color coding or L/R markings to help users determine which channel is which. This would be a welcome addition for those who like that information readily available.
Packaging & Accessories
Extravagance. This was the first word that came to mind when I picked up the VOLTA’s unusually heavy box.
The front of the exterior sheath features the VOLTA in all its gunmetal glory, with a small cutout for the PS logo on the box beneath. Obscured by moody lighting on the rear of the sheath, we see the VOLTA’s light grey inner half and the angular pattern that covers it.
Sliding off the sheath reveals the PS logo in silver. The two halves of the box do not meet, with the space between them dominated by a thick line of silver.
Removing the lid reveals a thick piece of acrylic protecting everything underneath. Printed in glossy silver writing is “Designed and hand assembled in Los Angeles, California, USA.”
Next up is PLUSSOUND’s leather storage case containing most of the included accessories. Beneath it are a few more extras.
As was the case with the SONORA, the VOLTA’s is one of the most complete unboxing experiences I’ve had to date.
While the packaging itself is basic and lacks the engaging, Leica-like presentation of something like I/O AUDIO’s VOLARE, the quality of the contents is second to none and should ensure you never need to buy anything extra to accommodate failings in the stock experience.
Click on page 2 below for my sound impressions and recommended pairings.
