Sivga SV023 Review

Technical Performance

The soundstage is quite wide and deep with the Sivga SV023, allowing a nice spacious staging performance. In addition, stereo imaging is also precise and clean. So those two aspects are really good. The precise imaging provides a nice focus, and you can track down every element of a song easily. Since, since the mid-range and treble are also clean/transparent, the air and space are on a good level overall.

The balance of the headphone is very ideal for reference listeners and audiophiles. Sure, it has the musical touch and a slight warmth in the mid-range, but it’s not like overly warm like some other headphones (Peacock), it instead has a truthful and natural presentation. So coherency is a strong point of the SV023. The transition from the mid-range to the treble area is great. The mids sound very transparent, whilst the treble area is splashy and crispy. The result is a nicely balanced presentation and openness in the mid-range and treble.

One strong aspect of the headphone is the excellent detail retrieval. With a sufficient desktop setup, every nuance and every detail is easily audible in a precise manner. Since the overall resolution is good, the combined imaging performance is fabulous.

Comparisons

The XS has a more industrial and professional design. Comfort-wise it’s heavier than the Sivga, so over extended periods it might cause a bit of discomfort and the head. The SV023 is a bit more comfortable in that regard.

Sound-wise the XS is one of my recommendations of course, but the SV023 is a nice alternative with 50 bucks less if you want to have a lighter headphone on your head with a wide staging and spacious presentation.

The XS has a better bass presentation with more impact and better texture, and it also has better tonality and timbre in the mid-range. The SV023 has a more open presentation, especially in terms of treble. If you need good bass impact, the Edition XS is the one to go, but if you want to have a flatter and more spacious, open presentation and well-extended treble, the SV023 is a nice alternative.

Another dynamic headphone, the 660 S, is a good choice in the audiophile headphone market. It’s also very lightweight and comfortable, but the clamping force on the Sivga SV023 is lighter, so I think that it’s more comfortable. It also has better material quality vs. the full plastic build of the Senn.

The HD660 S is a narrower-sounding headphone in terms of the sound stage. The Sivga offering creates a wider and deeper stage, with more precise imaging and sharper separation. The HD660 S has a better tonality, with softer vocals and treble. It also has a better-textured bass with more quantity, especially in the sub-bass, so it’s much more rumbling.

So for modern music, the 660 S fits better to me, while the SV023 is better for Classical and Jazz, and also Classic Rock. You can also add Blues and Soul to this mix. The 660 S is better for EDM, Pop  RnB and Vocal Pop. However, if you just want more headroom, check out the SV023 for that reason alone.

Conclusion

The Sendy Audio and Sivga headphones, especially the planar models, have been trying to be fun and overly impressive in my opinion. However, the SV023 has a very well-balanced, open and spacious sound, which made me say; “this is more like it”. This is a very nice, high-performing “audiophile” headphone with a realistic and revealing signature, with great technicalities.

I like open-back dynamic headphones and it’s no secret, but that doesn’t mean that I liked the Sivga SV023 just because of my preferences. It proves that Sivga is improving and they’re determined to make very good cans for the audiophile crowd. As much as the successful tuning, the design, comfort and build quality are also top-notch.

Hence, I recommend the new Sivga SV023 for people looking for nice open-back headphones without breaking the bank. The price is very competitive and it deserves a place in our Best Headphone Recommendations.

Page 1: Info, Package, Design, Build, Comfort
Page 2: Sound Quality
4.1/5 - (34 votes)
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A keen audiophile and hobby photographer, Berkhan is after absolute perfection. Whether it is a full-frame camera or a custom in-ear, his standpoint persists. He tries to keep his photography enthusiasm at the same level as audio. Sometimes photography wins, sometimes his love for music takes over and he puts that camera aside. Simplistic expressions of sound in his reviews are the way to go for him. He enjoys a fine single malt along with his favourite Jazz recordings.

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