You may not have heard of Chinese brand Sivga before. Established in 2016, the somewhat fledgling outfit is seeking to carve out a name for itself in the world of wired headphones. A quick trip to the company's official website reveals a healthy stable of wired over-ear cans backed by robust sonic claims and adorned, to varying degrees, with swanky wooden exteriors.
Carving out your own niche is never easy, especially for young bucks trying to make a name for themselves amid a packed crowd of established players, and while those retro wooden exteriors may be enough to catch some wandering eyes, few companies make the grade if the goods they tout simply aren't up to the task. At this relatively affordable price point, our spotlighted contenders - the Sivga SV021 Robin - have substantial competition from the likes of Røde, Austrian Audio, Sennheiser and AKG, none of whom will be keen to concede ground to the new boys without a fight.
These headphones officially retail at £149 and, as yet, we haven't seen that number drop during their short lifetime.
image [https://cdn.magzter.com/1345126686/1723557444/articles/A0tumXNQ-1723618964769/f1S3MQJS31723619601954.jpg]
That figure puts the Sivgas on a collision course with some notable rivals, including the punchy AKG K371 (tested at £151) and the Award-winning Røde NTH-100. We tested the Røde last year at £149, but discounts are starting to pull prices down a touch, making the Sivgas' task of competing with the best in the business just that little bit trickier.
In terms of their general shape and profile, the SV021 Robin are something of a mixed bag. A pair of headphones sporting wooden earcups at this price level is a welcome sight if you like that sort of thing, and while the cups' exterior surface does seem susceptible to external scratches, the overall impression given by combining leather and wood is one of retro elegance. The external stitching atop the headband is uniform and neatly done, while the cans' headband adjustment sliders are relatively smooth and simple to operate.
Thanks to their soft and squishy (that's a technical term) memory foam earpads, the SV021 Robin initially seem to offer a light, easygoing fit, but it's a somewhat fleeting impression that soon gives way to the realisation that the combination of the pads' excessive softness and the lack of proper clamping pressure from the headband doesn't keep the headphones completely stable when in use.
image [https://cdn.magzter.com/1345126686/1723557444/articles/A0tumXNQ-1723618964769/4145555252.jpg]
We also notice significant on-ear heat as minutes of listening turn to hours, so bear that in mind if you are planning on using the Sivga to delve into a non-stop exploration of Tool's back catalogue or thinking of devoting a day immersed in Wagner's Ring Cycle.
Size matters
Further issues may arise depending on the wearer. While many of our more cranially endowed team had few problems with the overall fit, those blessed with more diminutive domes struggled to obtain a comfortable arrangement, bemoaning the fact that the cans, even on their smallest adjustment, sat too low on their ears.
Elsewhere, these aren't the most lavishly furnished pair of over-ears you will find, but that's understandable considering the Sivgas' reasonable cost. You are provided with a solitary 1.6m cable for directly connecting to most standard sources via a 3.5mm connector, although Sivga has been good enough to include a 6.3mm adapter should you require it. You don't get a bespoke case, though, meaning a rather basic fabric carry bag is charged with keeping your cans protected from the perils of the outside world.
A signature sound
Sivga may still be a relatively unknown name, but fears that the brand is yet to find its voice are soon assuaged when we get the SV021 Robin plugged in and firing. A Tidal recording of Paolo Nutini's intimate, sincere Through The Echoes reveals the sensibly priced over-ears' personality as the track benefits from a reasonably well-ordered and detailed display, the Sivga picking out the timbres of gentle guitar strums, disparate piano touches and Paolo's throaty, nasal rasp.
There's unquestionably a good degree of detail here, but the SV021 Robins' main currency is that of propulsive, slightly treble-happy assertiveness they are as keen to please as a freshfaced intern on their first day on the job, throwing themselves into the action and conveying tracks with a peppy, eager spirit.
image [https://cdn.magzter.com/1345126686/1723557444/articles/A0tumXNQ-1...
Carving out your own niche is never easy, especially for young bucks trying to make a name for themselves amid a packed crowd of established players, and while those retro wooden exteriors may be enough to catch some wandering eyes, few companies make the grade if the goods they tout simply aren't up to the task. At this relatively affordable price point, our spotlighted contenders - the Sivga SV021 Robin - have substantial competition from the likes of Røde, Austrian Audio, Sennheiser and AKG, none of whom will be keen to concede ground to the new boys without a fight.
These headphones officially retail at £149 and, as yet, we haven't seen that number drop during their short lifetime.
image [https://cdn.magzter.com/1345126686/1723557444/articles/A0tumXNQ-1723618964769/f1S3MQJS31723619601954.jpg]
That figure puts the Sivgas on a collision course with some notable rivals, including the punchy AKG K371 (tested at £151) and the Award-winning Røde NTH-100. We tested the Røde last year at £149, but discounts are starting to pull prices down a touch, making the Sivgas' task of competing with the best in the business just that little bit trickier.
In terms of their general shape and profile, the SV021 Robin are something of a mixed bag. A pair of headphones sporting wooden earcups at this price level is a welcome sight if you like that sort of thing, and while the cups' exterior surface does seem susceptible to external scratches, the overall impression given by combining leather and wood is one of retro elegance. The external stitching atop the headband is uniform and neatly done, while the cans' headband adjustment sliders are relatively smooth and simple to operate.
Thanks to their soft and squishy (that's a technical term) memory foam earpads, the SV021 Robin initially seem to offer a light, easygoing fit, but it's a somewhat fleeting impression that soon gives way to the realisation that the combination of the pads' excessive softness and the lack of proper clamping pressure from the headband doesn't keep the headphones completely stable when in use.
image [https://cdn.magzter.com/1345126686/1723557444/articles/A0tumXNQ-1723618964769/4145555252.jpg]
We also notice significant on-ear heat as minutes of listening turn to hours, so bear that in mind if you are planning on using the Sivga to delve into a non-stop exploration of Tool's back catalogue or thinking of devoting a day immersed in Wagner's Ring Cycle.
Size matters
Further issues may arise depending on the wearer. While many of our more cranially endowed team had few problems with the overall fit, those blessed with more diminutive domes struggled to obtain a comfortable arrangement, bemoaning the fact that the cans, even on their smallest adjustment, sat too low on their ears.
Elsewhere, these aren't the most lavishly furnished pair of over-ears you will find, but that's understandable considering the Sivgas' reasonable cost. You are provided with a solitary 1.6m cable for directly connecting to most standard sources via a 3.5mm connector, although Sivga has been good enough to include a 6.3mm adapter should you require it. You don't get a bespoke case, though, meaning a rather basic fabric carry bag is charged with keeping your cans protected from the perils of the outside world.
A signature sound
Sivga may still be a relatively unknown name, but fears that the brand is yet to find its voice are soon assuaged when we get the SV021 Robin plugged in and firing. A Tidal recording of Paolo Nutini's intimate, sincere Through The Echoes reveals the sensibly priced over-ears' personality as the track benefits from a reasonably well-ordered and detailed display, the Sivga picking out the timbres of gentle guitar strums, disparate piano touches and Paolo's throaty, nasal rasp.
There's unquestionably a good degree of detail here, but the SV021 Robins' main currency is that of propulsive, slightly treble-happy assertiveness they are as keen to please as a freshfaced intern on their first day on the job, throwing themselves into the action and conveying tracks with a peppy, eager spirit.
image [https://cdn.magzter.com/1345126686/1723557444/articles/A0tumXNQ-1...
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What Hi-fi Uk (Digital) - 1 Issue, October 2024