SIVGA Anser Review

 

Introduction:

Dongguan Sivga Electronic Technology Co., Ltd. is a Chinese company established in 2016. It specializes in the research, development, production, and sales of headphones and In-Ear Monitors. All products of the company are designed and produced internally.

The Anser is the company’s latest budget-oriented open-back headphone. The SIVGA Anser is equipped with a 50mm custom-developed dynamic driver unit with a titanium-plated diaphragm suspension and a high-molecular organic carbon fiber polymer dome, housed inside premium-looking wooden ear cups made of rosewood material.

Let’s take a closer look at the unboxing experience, design, features, and sonic performance of the headphone.

  

Disclaimer:

I would like to thank SIVGA for providing me the Anser Open-Back Headphone for review purposes. I am not affiliated with SIVGA beyond this review and these words reflect my true and unaltered opinions about the product.

 

Price & Availability:

The actual price of the SIVGA Anser open-back headphone is 1XX.00 US$. More information’s can be found under the links below;

• SIVGA Anser

 

Package and Accessories:

The SIVGA Oriole came inside a square shaped box in that sports an illustration of the headphone in form of a sketch and some product related brandings on the front.

This box contains the following items;

• 1 x SIVGA Oriole Closed-Back Headphone
• 1 x Detachable Cable with Dual 3.5mm to 3.5mm Single Ended (TRS) Headphone Plug
• 1 x 3.5mm to 6.35mm Male Adaptor
• 1 x Carry Bag

 

Design, Build Quality, Comfort:

The SIVGA Anser is the latest open-back headphone from the company, showing a highly aesthetic and premium design that combines metal and rosewood materials. Weighing approximately 342 grams, these headphones are lightweight and exhibit excellent craftsmanship, consistent with SIVGA’s reputation.

The dark brown rosewood ear cups feature a unique wood grain and are crafted using high-quality wood. These ear cups undergo multiple traditional handicraft processes, including grinding, polishing, painting, and natural drying, which result in a delicate and smooth texture with varying depths of wood grain and a lustrous finish.

A distinctive feature of the Anser is its open-back design with a mesh opening on the ear cups. The ear cup grille features a unique woven mesh design that not only looks stylish but also contributes to the audio performance by dispersing sound waves evenly. Behind the mesh is a multi-hole design with balanced openings to control air circulation.

Both the left and right ear cups feature 3.5mm female headphone inputs at the bottom.

The SIVGA Anser is equipped with a 50mm custom-developed dynamic driver unit with a titanium-plated diaphragm suspension and a high-molecular organic carbon fiber polymer dome. The driver is paired with a 24.5mm neodymium iron boron magnet, providing a magnetic energy level of 350KJ/m³ and a sensitivity of 105dB.

The Anser features removable ear pads (ear cushions) with a soft outer coating made of pleather material. The inner surface that touches your skin has a skin-friendly velvet layer.

The foam material inside the pads is nicely soft and offers a pretty comfortable wearing experience over extended listening periods.

The headband, on the other hand, has a leather layer and features the SIVGA branding on its surface. It showcases neat stitching on both sides, reflecting high craftsmanship.

The inner surface of the headband has the same velvet coating as the pads and features pretty soft padding, ensuring a comfortable wearing experience even during long listening sessions, thanks to the relatively low clamping force.

The ear cup holders are made of die-cast aluminum alloy material with a gunmetal finish and include a rotating mechanism that allows for rotation up to 180 degrees.

The headband adjusting mechanism is rigid, with guides in the form of small notches, and the outer surface of the headband features left and right markings for easy identification.

Overall, the build quality of the SIVGA Anser is high, combining lightweight aluminum, solid wood, and ear pads with a leather surface. The headphones do not exhibit any imperfections, such as small gaps or annoying cracks when bent.

 

Detachable Cable:

The SIVGA Anser comes with a detachable cable with fabric isolation in black, measuring about 200mm (±2MM) in total length. The 3.5mm headphone jack has a straight profiled metal housing that features the SIVGA logo in black. The headphone plug also has a flexible strain relief in the form of a spring, offering extra durability.

The cable has two 3.5mm male connectors, one for the left (L) and one for the right (R) ear cup. Each connector has a metal housing with left and right markings, and the plugs have extra ring indicators (red for the right and green for the left channel).

The cable also includes a metal Y splitter in the same silver color as the headphone and ear cup plugs.

 

Technical Specifications: 

• Model                          : Anser
• Headphone Design    : Open-Back
• Driver Type                 : 50mm Diameter Self Developed Dynamic Driver
• Frequency Response :
• Impedance                 : 38Ω/±15%
• Sensitivity                   : 105dB / ±3dB
• Cable Length              : approx. 200mm
• Headphone Plug        : 3.5mm Single Ended
• Ear Cup Plugs            : 3.5mm Singe Ended
• Weight                        : 342grams

 

Drivability & Pairing:

The SIVGA Anser is designed for ease of use with a variety of audio sources, featuring an impedance of 38Ω and a sensitivity of approximately 108dB. These specifications ensure that the headphones are compatible with portable devices, even those with relatively low amplification power. For optimal performance, the Anser pairs well with sources that exhibit a mildly warm tonal balance, enhancing the smoothness of the upper midrange and lower treble frequencies.

 

Equipment’s used for this review:

• Headphones              : SIVGA Anser
• Sources                     : FiiO M23, xDuoo XA02, Shanling UA6 

 

Albums & tracks used for this review:

• Adele – My Little Love (Spotify)
• Randy Crawford – On Day I Will Fly Away (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
• Hayley Westenra – Odyssey Album (Dezzer HiFi)
• Dionne Warwick – Walk On By (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
• Sarah McLachlan – Angel (Flac 24bit/48kHz)
• Sertap Erener – Aşk (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
• Edith Piaf – Non Je Ne Regrette Rien (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
• Diana Krall – So Wonderful (DSF)
• Aretha Franklin – I Say A Little Payer (Flac 24bit/96kHz)
• Sonya Yoncheva – (Giuseppe Verdi) II Trovatore, ActI (Flac 24bit/96kHz)
• Dave Gahan (Depeche Mode) – Free Love (Flac 24bit/96kHz)
• George Michael – Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me (Flac 24bit/192kHz)
• David Bowie – Heroes (Flac 24bit/192kHz)
• Elton John – Rocket Man ((Flac 24bit/96kHz)
• Barry White – Just The Way You Are (Flac 24bit/48kHz)
• Isaac Hayes – Walk On By (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
• Sting – Englishman in New York – (Flac 24bit/48kHz)
• Eric Clapton – Wonderful Tonight (Flac 24bit/96kHz)
• B. King – Riding With The King (Tidal Hi-Fi)
• Dave Gahan – Kingdom (Tidal Hi-Fi)
• U2 – Sunday Bloody Sunday (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
• Bro Safari, UFO! – Drama (Deezer HiFi)
• Armin Van Buuren – Vini Vici (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
• Daft Punk (feat. Panda Bear) – Doin’ it Right (Flac 24bit/96kHz)
• Jo Blankenburg – Meraki (Spotify)
• Lorde – Royals (Flac 24bit/48kHz)
• Massive Attack – Angel (Flac 24bit/48kHz)
• Toutant – Rebirth (Deezer HiFi)
• Gogo Penguin – Raven (Flac 24bit/192kHz)
• Gogo Penguin – Murmuration (Flac 24bit/192kHz)
• Photek – The Hidden Camera (Flac 24bit/96kHz)
• Portishead – It Could Be Sweet (Spotify)
• Max Richter – On the Nature of Daylight (Flac 24bit/96kHz)
• Charly Antolini – Duwadjuwandadu (Flac 24bit/192kHz)
• Abel Korzeniowski – Dance For Me Wallis (Deezer HiFi)
• Ferit Odman – Look, Stop & Listen (Flac 24bit/192kHz)
• Chopin – Nocturn No. 20 In C-Sharp Minor (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
• Fazıl Say – Nazım Oratoryosu (Live) (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
• Vivaldi – Le QuarttroStagioni “The Four Season” (Deezer HiFi)
• Otto Liebert & Luna Negra – The River (Flac 24bit/192kHz)
• Lunatic Soul – The Passage (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
• Eagels – Hotel California ((Flac 24bit/96kHz)
• Deftones – My Own Summer (Shove it) (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
• Metallica – Sad but True (Flac 24bit/96kHz)
• Metallica – Master of Puppets (Flac 24bit/96kHz)
• Opeth – Windowpane (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
• Megadeth – Sweating Bullets (Tidal Hi-Fi)
• Muse – Hysteria (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
• Rush – Leave That Thing Alone (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
• Slayer – Angel of Death (Spotify)
• Liquid Tension Experiment 2 – Acid Rain (Spotify)
• Yosi Horikawa – Bubbles (Spotify)

 

The Sound:

The SIVGA Anser headphone offers a sound performance that impresses across multiple aspects, particularly given its price point. These open-back headphones strike a balance between bass, midrange, treble, and soundstage, making them a versatile choice for various music genres. The following sections provide a detailed review of their performance in these areas.

Please note that this review was written after a burn-in period of 60 hours. I have used the stock ear pads, the stock cable and have pair the headphone with sources like the FiiO M23 (DAP), xDuoo XA-02 (Desktop DAC/AMP), Shanling UA6 (USB DAC/AMP dongle).

Bass:

The SIVGA Anser headphone provides a bass experience that is both well-balanced and satisfying. Although the lowest bass frequencies do not provide the intense impact that some listeners may prefer, they maintain a notable presence that enhances depth without overwhelming or distorting the overall sound. The bass extension is just right to enhance the overall sound without overshadowing other frequencies. When listening to tracks like Armin Van Buuren’s “Vini Vici” and Lorde’s “Royals,” the Anser demonstrates its ability to produce tight and controlled bass. For its price, the performance is quite good, maintaining clarity and precision during complex bass passages.

The midbass region of the SIVGA Anser provides a solid performance. It delivers a punchy and lively bass that adds energy to a variety of music styles. In tracks like Gogo Penguin’s “Raven,” the Anser handles bass lines with good precision and control, contributing to a satisfying and detailed listening experience. This control helps ensure that the bass does not overshadow the midrange and treble, allowing all aspects of the music to be appreciated. Overall, the SIVGA Anser offers a well-rounded bass response that is enjoyable and appropriate for many different genres

Midrange:

The midrange of the SIVGA Anser is warm and detailed for a headphone at this price level, creating an engaging and quite enjoyable listening experience.This characteristic is particularly evident in tracks like Norah Jones’ “Don’t Know Why” and Adele’s “My Little Love,” where the headphones excel at presenting female vocals with exceptional clarity and presence. The warmth of the midrange adds a natural quality to the sound, making it easy to get lost in the music. However, there are instances where the midrange can feel slightly recessed, which might not appeal to all listeners. This slight recession can make certain elements of the music less prominent, but it does not detract from the overall listening experience.

The midrange remains free of harshness or sibilance, ensuring that long listening sessions are comfortable and enjoyable. Performances like Edith Piaf’s “Non Je Ne Regrette Rien” and male vocals in George Michael’s “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me,” David Bowie’s “Heroes,” and Elton John’s “Rocket Man” are handled with ease, fitting seamlessly into the Anser’s balanced sound signature. The transition between upper midrange and lower treble is smooth and pretty cohesive, resulting in a harmonious sound that works well across various genres. In summary, the SIVGA Anser’s midrange performance is impressive, offering warmth, detail, and a natural quality.

Treble:

The treble performance of the SIVGA Anser is smooth and extended, providing good clarity and detail without becoming fatiguing. The high frequencies are well-balanced, avoiding excessive brightness that can lead to listener fatigue. This balance is particularly audible in tracks like “Hotel California” by Eagles, where the treble brings out intricate details without overwhelming the rest of the music.

The Anser’s overall treble tuning ensures that higher frequencies are represented clearly and relative accurately, adding a sense of airiness and space to the overall sound. However, some listeners might find that the treble lacks a bit of the sparkle if they prefer a HiFiMAN style treble coloration in higher frequencies. Despite this, the treble remains quite engaging and enjoyable, providing a refined and articulate listening experience. The headphone excels at maintaining a smooth and controlled treble presentation, ensuring that the listening experience remains pleasant and fatigue-free even during long sessions. This makes the Anser suitable for listening to detailed and high-frequency sounds in genres such as classical and jazz. Overall, the SIVGA Anser’s treble performance is decent for an open-back headphone at this price level, delivering clarity and detail that enhances the overall listening experience without causing discomfort.

 

Soundstage & Imaging:

The soundstage of the SIVGA Anser is relatively intimate and focused for an open-back headphone, offering a close and engaging listening experience. Rather than providing a wide soundstage, the Anser adopts a more centered approach, making the sound feel nearer and more personal. This can be especially beneficial for genres that require detail and immersion. Listeners who prefer a more open and airy sound might find the soundstage somewhat constrained. However, the intimate presentation contributes to an overall enjoyable listening experience across various music genres.

 

Conclusion:

The SIVGA Anser is a well-crafted budget-oriented open-back headphone that offers a compelling combination of aesthetics, build quality, and performance. Its design integrates premium materials such as rosewood and metal, resulting in a visually appealing and durable product. The lightweight construction and comfortable fit make it suitable for extended listening sessions.

In terms of sound, the Anser delivers a balanced and enjoyable listening experience. The bass is controlled and adds depth without overwhelming other frequencies. The midrange offers warmth and detail, making vocals and instruments sound natural. The treble is smooth and clear, providing good detail without causing fatigue. The intimate soundstage, while not expansive, offers a focused and personal listening experience that can enhance certain genres of music.

Overall, the SIVGA Anser performs admirably within its price range, making it a solid choice for those seeking an affordable yet high-quality open-back headphone. Whether for casual listening or more critical enjoyment, the Anser is a versatile and reliable option.

 

Pros & Cons: 

• + Balanced sound with well-rounded bass, warm midrange, and smooth treble
• + Delivers a pretty detailed and natural-sounding midrange presentation
• + Maintains clarity even during complex bass passages
• + Lightweight and well-padded, suitable for long listening sessions
• + Gorgeous design
• + High craftsmanship

 

• – Not as expansive as some other open-back designs
• – No 4.4mm Balanced cable
• – No protective carry case

 

Thank you for the Read!