Activo Volcano

Activo Volcano: Lush Warm Tones Erupt in Your Ear

The Activo Volcano represents the start of a new IEM range of products from Activo. With a unique triple dynamic driver configuration of (1 x 8mm and 2 x 6mm) that promises to inherit the same design philosophy and sound quality of its parent brand, Astell & Kern, but at a more accessible price point.

As you can see from the image below, it certainly shares the same premium design and build quality as many of the Astell & Kern IEMs:

So having listened to the Volcano for a few weeks now, I feel I have enough share my impressions of what everyone can expect from the Activo Volcano.

So does it deliver a “volcanic” sound signature? Let’s find out, but before I get into my sound impressions, let’s look at the packaging and build quality:

Unboxing Experience

The Activo Volcano comes in a very attractive box featuring an elegant design with tasteful branding.

The back of the box is a little plain, but you can see the specifications at the bottom:

The specifications are at the bottom:

Removing the sleeve reveals the internal box:

Finally, opening this box shows some of the style you should expect:

The IEMs are securely nestled in a protective foam cutout:

Inside you’ll find a comprehensive set of accessories:

• The Volcano IEM shells with their distinct metallic finish
• A high-quality hybrid silver-plated copper wire and OFC copper wire cable
• Multiple connector options (3.5mm, 4.4mm, and USB-C)
• Three pairs of silicone ear tips (S/M/L)
• Three pairs of memory foam ear tips (S/M/L)
• A premium protective carrying pouch
• User documentation

The included ear tips and cable adapters provide excellent versatility, allowing you to customize both fit and connectivity options:

The carrying case is stored under the IEMs:

The carrying case has spaces for both the IEMs and accessories:

The case easily accommodates the IEMs and cable, making it practical for everyday use.

Overall, the unboxing experience and accessories punches well above the Volcano’s £99 price tag.

Design, Build Quality, and Comfort

The Volcano IEM shell design, while cool and extremely lightweight is a slight let-down at this price point and probably my main complaint with this product. While it looks like metal, the faceplate is plastic. I feel if it had a mixture of metal and plastic in this design, it would feel more premium (to match its looks).

But this is a minor quibble as this shell design does mean it is incredibly lightweight and stable in your ear.

The comfortable nature of this design extends to the shape of the shells. I do like when the shell has a contoured and opinionated design as it feels much more secure in your ears.

Cable

The included hybrid cable is excellent with lots of connectivity options:

Unscrewing the adapter reveals the connectors:

I particularly love that we get usb-c as well as 3.5mm and 4.4mm connectors:

The cable itself is pretty high quality in hybrid silver-plated copper and OFC copper construction provides excellent conductivity while remaining flexible and resistant to tangling.

Fit and Comfort

The Volcano excels in providing exceptional comfort for extended listening sessions, a critical factor that often determines how much you’ll actually use your IEMs:

The ergonomically shaped shells have been thoughtfully designed to follow the natural contours of the ear. Despite housing three dynamic drivers, the shells remain relatively compact and lightweight, distributing pressure evenly across contact points:

The nozzle angle and length worked very well for my ears and provided a deep yet comfortable insertion depth.

With the variety of included ear tips (both silicone and memory foam in S/M/L sizes), finding your optimal fit is straightforward:

In my testing, I found:

• Silicone tips (medium): Provide the best balance of comfort and sound quality for everyday use, with excellent clarity and detail
• Memory foam tips: Offer superior noise isolation for commuting or noisy environments, with a slight warming of the sound signature
• Silicone tips (large): Create the strongest bass response but may be uncomfortable for smaller ear canals

Wearing comfort during extended listening sessions (4+ hours) is excellent. The lightweight shells don’t create notable pressure points, and the cable is sufficient flexibility, keeping the IEMs securely in place during movement.

For users with smaller ears, the Volcano might be slightly large, but the variety of included tips should still allow most to achieve a comfortable, secure fit. The shells are smooth with no sharp edges, ensuring they don’t irritate the ear even after prolonged use.

In terms of isolation, the Volcano provides above-average passive noise blocking, especially with the memory foam tips.

Overall, the Volcano is a very comfortable IEM to wear with some excellent accessories:

Sound Impressions

The Activo Volcano delivers a warm, engaging sound signature with excellent clarity and detail. The triple dynamic driver configuration creates a cohesive, well-integrated presentation that handles all genres with confidence.

Bass

The bass response is a highlight of the Volcano, with excellent extension and detail:

• Deep, well-extended sub-bass with satisfying rumble when called for
• Punchy mid-bass that adds warmth without muddying the midrange
• Good control and articulation, avoiding the bloat that can affect some bass-forward IEMs
• Textured and nuanced, revealing layers in complex bass passages

Test Tracks:

• “Massive Attack - Angel”: The powerful bassline shows excellent depth and texture, with a physical presence that’s impressive for an IEM at this price point.
• “Daft Punk - Giorgio by Moroder”: The bass drops demonstrate the Volcano’s ability to deliver impact while maintaining definition and avoiding bleed into other frequencies.

Midrange

The midrange presentation is natural and clear, with excellent detail retrieval:

• Smooth transition from upper bass to lower mids
• Vocals are presented with warmth and presence
• Good clarity that allows nuances in performances to shine through
• Instruments sound natural with appropriate body and timbre

Test Tracks:

• “Norah Jones - Come Away With Me”: Her vocals are rendered with intimate warmth and excellent articulation, floating above the instrumental backdrop with natural presence.
• “John Mayer - Slow Dancing in a Burning Room”: The guitar work shows excellent texture and resonance, with each note clearly defined yet cohesively presented.

Treble

The treble is well-balanced, offering relaxed detail without harshness:

• Detailed without becoming fatiguing
• Good extension providing some air and space
• Avoids sibilance while maintaining clarity

Test Tracks:

• “Diana Krall - The Look of Love”: The delicate cymbal work and piano overtones demonstrate the Volcano’s ability to render fine high-frequency details without becoming harsh.
• “Eagles - Hotel California”: The intricate guitar work in the introduction showcases the treble extension while maintaining a natural timbre.

Soundstage & Imaging

The soundstage presentation is impressive for a closed-back IEM:

• Above-average width with good depth perception
• Precise instrument placement within the stage
• Excellent separation between elements in complex mixes
• Immersive listening experience that works well across genres

Test Tracks:

• “Yosi Horikawa - Bubbles”: The spatial positioning of the bouncing balls demonstrates the Volcano’s precise imaging capabilities.
• “Pink Floyd - Money”: The cash register sounds at the beginning spread across the soundstage with good width and depth, showcasing the spatial presentation.

Specifications and Measurements

One of the key features of the Volcano is the triple dynamic driver configuration:

Activo have provided a nice diagram of the driver configuration, revealing some of the internal structure:

Measurements:

Frequency Response

The frequency response measurements confirm that warm, engaging signature I hear in the Volcano:

The graph shows substantial, bass extension and presence, a slightly warm midrange, and well-controlled ‘safe’ treble that provides detail without every becoming harsh. The channel balance is also excellent, providing that ability to delivery exceptional imaging clarity.

Comparisons

One of the competitors for the Volcano would be one of my favourite IEMs from last year the Meze Alba:

The Alba is slightly more V-shaped with a little more sub-bass and some upper treble, but the overall sound signature of the Volcano is arguably more balanced with a more relaxed presense region.

The Alba is physically a much smaller IEM but does have a more premium shell. Here is the Volcano and the Alba and a few other IEMs for a size comparison:

Some other comparisons:

For a different comparison, here is the Volcano and compared to both the smaller Tanchjim Nora and the larger Kiwiears Aether:

As you can see it is a nice ‘goldilocks’ size for an IEM shell so should fit most users’ ears.

Comparing the frequency response:

I added some highlights:

1. The Volcano has better bass than the single DD Nora
2. The Volcano has similar warmth to the Nora and more than the Aether
3. The Volcano has a more relaxed presence region but decent extension before 8K

Overall, I feel the Volcano sound signature is very competitive and one of the most pleasant IEMs I have listened to
this year.

Distortion

Distortion measurements show that the Volcano performs exceptionally well:

When viewed as a percentage, the distortion levels are even more impressive:

Distortion remains low throughout the frequency range, indicating good driver quality and integration despite the complex triple dynamic driver configuration. Even at higher volumes, the distortion stays well below perceptible levels across most of the frequency spectrum, which contributes to the clean, clear sound signature.

Rating Explanation

I’ve given the Activo Volcano a pragmatic rating of 4/5 stars. Here’s why:

• Strengths: Good build quality, comfortable fit, engaging warm sound signature with good detail, never sibiliant and a very versatile cable with multiple connection options, generous accessory package
• Weaknesses: I feel at this price point the IEM shell material might have been more premium and there is allot of competition at this price point.

The Volcano represents very decent value at £99, delivering a level of performance and versatility that typically costs significantly more.

The sound signature does have a lovely touch of warmth (though not ‘volcanic’) and is very enjoyable to listen too for long periods both in comfort but also with its tuning.

Who is this for?

• Listeners who appreciate a slightly warm, engaging sound signature
• Bass enthusiasts who still want clarity in mids and treble
• Those looking for a premium experience without the premium price tag
• Users who value versatility in connection options (3.5mm, 4.4mm, USB-C)
• Fans of Astell & Kern’s approach who want a more affordable entry point

Conclusion

I feel the Activo Volcano successfully delivers on its promise of bringing Astell & Kern’s audio heritage to a more accessible price point. The triple dynamic driver configuration creates a warm, engaging sound that balances musicality with some detail, making it versatile across genres while maintaining a character that’s especially suited to modern pop, rock, and electronic music.

For £99, the Activo Volcano represents an excellent entry point into higher-quality audio without breaking the bank.