Negative reviews are fun to write, but it's easy to get carried away and miss the positives of a product; to forget that some people will disagree with you, and others might find something genuinely useful in the thing you're gleefully kicking.
It's with this recalibrated mindset that I write this review of the Sivga SV021 Pro. I don't like how these headphones sound – very much. But if there is someone out there that will like them, I hope by the end of this review they'll have all the information they need to confidently make their purchase.
Driver: 50mm dynamic
Cable: 1.6m
Impedance: 45Ω
Sensitivity: 105 dB / mW
Weight: 275g
Wood finish: Either Beechwood or Zebrawood
Price: $179
For everyone else: don't buy these headphones. They sound awful.
Although it's 'only' $179, if you're looking for a closed-back headphone, with a wood finish, I'd read my list of the best budget audiophile headphones, and buy my top pick. The FiiO FT1 is $165 and 10 times the headphone of the Robin 2 (as long as you like a lot of detailed bass).
But for now, let's dive in to what the hell went on with the Sivga Robin 2.
Sound profile
Overall, I think I know what Sivga is doing with Robin 2's sound profile, why some people might like it, and why I think it's an utter fail.
First, I think this is an aggressive mid-forward sound signature with elevations at roughly 500Hz and 1kHz, and I think this is meant to offer a dynamic punch to vocals and instruments. I started doing some EQ detective work later in this review, and it was a massive relief. By decreasing 1kHz by around 9dB, and 500Hz by around 7dB (which is an absurd amount of correction), the Robin 2 sounds not only OK, but really good. But I can only review the stock sound, and the stock sound, to my ears, has an unholy amount of lower midrange elevation, and it totally ruins the sound.
Some people who despise warm sounding headphones might find this approach transparent and detailed. It certainly makes vocals sound as if they're an inch away from your face... Intimacy? Is that what they're aiming for?! I don't know. I'm clutching at straws as to why someone with ears would do this.
I hate it because this elevated lower midrange drains the body and weight out of vocals and instruments. They sound honky, boxy, hollow and tinny. That's because you're hearing the higher end frequencies of them at twice the volume of their lower frequencies. The sound is, by definition, not natural, and instead sounds nasal.
The best way I can describe the overall sound of the Robin 2 is like two very small and weak speakers placed in cardboard boxes, playing full volume from across an empty hall... Now, if that sounds like a party to you, fill your boots! To me, it sounds like a factory tuning fail.
It sounds like a mistake. And that's why I got in contact with Sivga and requested a second pair of the Robin 2, to make sure I didn't have a faulty model. I didn't. Both sound exactly the same.
Bass, midrange, treble: The issue with trying to review the individual frequencies of the Robin 2, is that the lower midrange skews things so dramatically, that it effects also the bass and treble. With the midrange as it is, I guess I can hear some half decent bass, but everything plays second fiddle the Crazy Mids Show. Once I tame it with 7/9dB off 1kHz and 5/6dB off 500Hz, there it is – a far better, defined bass.
There's a good background sub bass, and enough punchy, enjoyable mid bass... but you won't hear that when you put these headphones on, because it's all masked by a ridiculous amount of lower mids. Passages that are busy with midrange frequencies will totally overwhelm everything else. On some EDM, excerpts of New Soul, and Hip Hop tracks, the predominant low and high frequencies sound normal. But as soon as someone sings, or a guitar is struck, things go wonky.
Eryka Badu’s Other Side of the Game reveals all of the SV021 Pro’s sins. Bass is fuzzy, in the background, and has no detail. The treble of the side snare jumps out, which it should, but only to meld into the over-powered midrange, instead of offering dynamic contrast. Female backing vocals sound thin, like they’re coming out of a transistor radio, and Eryka Badu’s voice is hollow; there's no substance to it, no chest, no soul. This is a midrange that sounds like it's been hollowed out, compressed, then blown out of a bucket. The sharp trumpet trills sound uncannily like rip-roaring farts, which, I suppose, is some light relief from this aural nightmare.
Nothing here sounds natural, neutral or in any way realistic. And I'm not saying that because I think only natural sounds good. I love the Sennheiser HD 600 and the HEDD D1 because of their realistic treatment of vocals and instruments. But I also love warm or bright, when done well. The warm Meze 109 Pro is one of my favourite headphones. I love the Ziigaat Horizon IEM and its remarkably articulate treble.
What the Robin 2 does is not just a touch of colour. It's three days straight under a sun bed. It's audio toast.
Comfort, build & looks
I've given the Sivga SV021 Pro one and a half stars out of five, and that is a half star each for comfort, build and looks.
These headphones are very comfortable. At 270g, they can sit on my head for an extended session and I don't have any hot spot issues, or pressure build up anywhere on the headband or ear cups.
They do run a little warm after a while, but these are closed-back headphones after all, and I've experienced a lot worse.
There's no unwanted movement while on my head due to a light clamp force, yet they're not a vice-like either. This is the only measured, well-judged aspect to the Robin 2.
I use a Chord Mojo 2 DAC/Amp and a Fosi DS2 DAC/Amp for all my headphone and IEM testing. This ensures sufficient power delivery for peak performance, while providing a distortion-free source for a clean, detailed signal. My music source is Spotify lossless and CDs.
As for looks, I personally don't think they look great, but anyone with the balls to release headphones in a pale yellow wood finish deserves a medal. Or half a star. I do like that you can choose between a serious dark wood finish, and an absolute barmy whatever-the-hell-that-colour-is finish. I like this kind of confidence in design. It's no small part why the first Robin is seen as iconic (it also has a very different sound profile, apparently. A massively scooped midrange – what does Sivga have against midranges?!).
Price, value, competition
OK, so you could take a punt on the Robin 2, and see if Sivga's wild experiment in midrange rockets is your cup of tea. But the problem with that is you can buy excellent headphones for the $170 asking price. Not headphones that sound like they escaped the factories untested. Really good, detailed headphones with a personality all of their own.
Well, I'm only really talking about one. If you want a closed back with a lot of bass, decent treble, and really good mid detail, the obvious (only?) choice under $200 is the FiiO FT1. If you want an open back around that price, HiFiMan’s Sundara is an excellent choice.
It's a real shame, as the FT1 kind of spoiled the party on its 2024 release. Suddenly everyone expected excellent sound for under $200... but no brand has really followed up that promise. Not in the closed back world, anyway.
The Robin 2 looked like it could fill that gap: arresting looks, well built (better than the FT1), and plenty comfortable. And all for $179. Such a pity they sound like a bath being drained.
Should you buy it?
Hell no!
Unless you like the sound of this very specific, utterly insane sound profile; or you prioritise comfort and build over sound quality. But then, there are some perfectly good ear muffs out there. Get a pair of them, and use the rest of your money to buy the FiiO FT1.
The Sivga SV021 Pro is a wonder of woodwork, and a tragedy of tuning.
