SIVGA Que Review
SIVGA Que Review
Introduction:
SIVGA Electronic Technology Co., Ltd, is a Chinese brand located in Dongguan city of China, focuses on designing and producing high-end audio products include wooden earphones, In-Ear Monitors with multiple drivers and planar magnet headphones. All products of the company are designed and produced internally.
The SIVGA Que (鹊 /magpie in Chinese) presents itself as a nicely engineered In-Ear Monitor. At its core is a 10mm Dynamic Driver featuring a Beryllium Diaphragm. The driver is housed within a single-magnet dual-cavity structure and encased in high-precision zinc alloy ear shells. To complement the acoustic components, the Que utilizes American maple wood for its face covers. The IEMs are paired with a high-purity oxygen-free copper silver-plated cable terminated with 0.78mm 2-pin connectors.
Disclaimer:
I would like to thank SIVGA for providing the Que In-Ear Monitor 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 Que In-Ear Monitor is 69.90 US$. More information’s can be found under the link below;
Package & Accessories:
The SIVGA Que arrives in a sleek, black box adorned with a captivating iridescent bird motif, reminiscent of Asian aesthetics. This minimalist yet striking design adds a touch of elegance to the unboxing experience, hinting at the refined audio experience that awaits within.
Inside the box are the following contents/accessories;
- 1 x pair of SIVGA Que In-Ear Monitors
- 1 x Detachable Cable with 2-Pin Connectors
- 6 x pairs of Silicone Ear Tips
- 1 x Leather Storage Case
- 1 x Print Material
Design & Build Quality:
The SIVGA Que is an In-Ear Monitor with an impressive premium build quality for the price, combining high-precision zinc alloy ear shells with elegant maple wood faceplates sourced from North America. This unique combination not only enhances the earphones’ aesthetic appeal but also contributes to their sonic performance. The wood elements are designed to absorb resonance in order to improve the sonic performance.
Inside the heart of the monitors is a newly developed 10mm dynamic driver featuring a high-purity beryllium diaphragm. This material is renowned for its rigidity, lightweight properties, and ability to resist standing waves and distortion.
The SIVGA Que’s maple wood faceplates showcase the brand’s attention to detail with the elegantly incorporated SIVGA logo. This design element adds a touch of sophistication to the earphones while maintaining a minimalist aesthetic.
The inner surface features an angled sound nozzle, L/R markings, and two small venting ports.
The Que utilizes standard 0.78mm diameter 2-pin female connectors located on the top of each monitor housing. These connectors ensure a secure and reliable connection with the included cable.
The SIVGA Que is equipped with a detachable cable that features high-purity silver-plated OFC wire for improved signal transmission that is isolated with a semitransparent plastic insulation.
The 0.78mm diameter 2-pin male connectors do have metal housings with L/R marking on their surface.
The cable is equipped with a metal Y-splitter and a chin slider.
The detachable cable features a 3.5mm Single Ended headphone plug with a straight profiled metal housing with the SIVGA branding on its surface.
Fit, Comfort & Isolation:
The SIVGA Que has a comfortable fit thanks to its inner surface with smooth curves and contoured edges, which adapt well to the average ear concha. Despite the relatively weighty zinc alloy cavity (10g per monitor), I was able to wear them without discomfort. The Que provides effective passive noise isolation, performing well in moderately noisy environments such as buses or trains.
Technical Specifications:
- Model : Que
- Driver Unit : 10mm Beryllium Diaphragm Dynamic Driver
- Magnetic Circuit System : Single-Magnet Dual-Cavity
- Frequency Response : 20-20K HZ
- Impedance : 32 +/-15% Ω
- Sensitivity : 108 +/-3 db
- Housing Material : Zinc alloy + Maple wood
- Cable : High-purity Oxygen-Free Copper (OFC) with silver plating
- Cable length : about 1.25m
- Connector : 0.78mm 2-pin
- Plug : 3.5mm Single-Ended
- Weight : 10g (per monitor)
Drivability & Pairing:
The SIVGA Que presents a compliant impedance of 32 ohms and a sensitivity rating of 108 dB, positioning it as an easily driven IEM. This characteristic renders it compatible with a diverse array of audio sources, encompassing smartphones, tablets, dedicated portable players, and even USB DAC dongles.
Equipment’s used for this review:
IEM’s : SIVGA Que
DAP&DAC’s : FiiO M23, iBasso DC06 Pro
Albums & tracks used for this review:
- Norah Jones – Come Away With Me (Flac 24bit/96kHz)
- Adele – My Little Love (Deezer HiFi)
- 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)
- Michael Jackson – Billie Jean (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)
- Dave Gahan – Kingdom (Tidal Hi-Fi)
- Radiohead – Live in Berlin “ Album” (Deezer HiFi)
- U2 – Sunday Bloody Sunday (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
- Muse – Hysteria (Flac 24bit/96kHz)
- Red Hot Chili Peppers – Nobody Weird Like Me (Flac 24bit/48kHz)
- Michael Jackson – Billie Jean (Flac 24bit/96kHz)
- Bear McCreary’s – Valkyries (Deezer HiFi)
- Bro Safari, UFO! – Drama (Deezer HiFi)
- Armin Van Buuren – Vini Vici (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
- Daft Punk – Doin’ it Right (Flac 24bit/96kHz)
- 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)
- Portishead – It Could Be Sweet (Spotify)
- Max Richter – On the Nature of Daylight (Flac 24bit/96kHz)
- Charly Antolini – Duwadjuwandadu (Flac 24bit/192kHz)
- Tchaikovsky – Symphony No. 5 (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
- Ferit Odman – Look, Stop & Listen (Flac 24bit/192kHz)
- Chopin – Nocturn No. 20 In C-Sharp Minor (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
- Clair de Lune – Claude Debussy (Spotify)
- 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)
- Deftones – My Own Summer (Shove it) (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
- Metallica – Dyers Eve (Flac 24bit/96kHz)
- Metallica – Sad but True (Flac 24bit/96kHz)
- Opeth – Windowpane (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
- Megadeth – Sweating Bullets (Tidal Hi-Fi)
- Rush’s – Tom Sawyer (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
- Slayer – Angel of Death (Spotify)
- Liquid Tension Experiment 2 – Acid Rain (Spotify)
- Yosi Horikawa – Bubbles (Spotify)
The Sound:
The SIVGA Que In-Ear Monitor (IEM) presents a balanced sound signature with a focus on a natural tonal presentation. This review will assess the IEM’s performance across the frequency spectrum, including its low-end extension, midrange clarity, and treble detail. Additionally, the soundstage and overall imaging will be evaluated to determine the Que’s spatial capabilities. The goal of this analysis is to objectively assess the SIVGA Que’s strengths and weaknesses within its price category.
Testing Methods & Equipment’s:
This review is based on 60 hours of burn-in using the stock cable and silicone ear tips included in the package. My sound impressions below are mainly based on the use with sources like the FiiO M23 (DAP) and iBasso DC06 Pro (USB DAC/AMP dongle).
Bass / Midrange / Treble / Soundstage & Imaging:
The SIVGA Que delivers a solid low-end foundation with impactful kick drum and controlled bass guitar reproduction. The sub-bass extension, as demonstrated in tracks like Armin Van Buuren’s “Vini Vici” and Lorde’s “Royals,” is adequate without overpowering the overall sound signature. The mid-bass region, as audible in Gogo Penguin’s “Raven,” has a good sense of layering, speed and definition, remarkable for an IEM at this price level. While the Que’s bass is pretty capable, does who are seeking a heavily emphasized low end might find the tuning slightly restrained.
The SIVGA Que’s midrange is characterized by a mildly warm and fairly natural presentation. Vocals are delivered with of clarity and emotional depth, as showcased in Aretha Franklin’s “I Say A Little Prayer” and Adele’s “My Little Love.” The upper midrange is well-defined, allowing for a fairly detailed portrayal of vocal nuances and the attack of the snare drum and electric guitar. Male vocals, such like Eric Clapton, David Bowie or Elton John are reproduced with good amount of warmth and body. Instruments such like violins and pianos also benefit from the relative warm midrange presentation, adding depth to its sound. The midrange tuning leans towards a slightly intimate character, creating a focused listening experience.
The treble range of the SIVGA Que sounds in general quite refined and extended, delivering sufficient detail without becoming overly bright or harsh. Instruments like hi-hats and cymbals are presented with smoothness and control, contributing to a fatigue-free listening experience. Tracks like Opeth’s “Windowpane” demonstrate the Que’s ability to deliver clarity and airiness in the upper frequencies. While the level of detail is pretty decent for an IEM at this price tag, those who prefer a brighter sound might find the overall tone a bit softer.
For an In-Ear Monitor, the SIVGA Que presents a surprisingly wide soundstage. Instruments are positioned with adequate separation, creating a sense of space and depth. While not as expansive as some higher priced In-Ear Monitors, the Que’s soundstage performance is quite impressive for its category.
Conclusion:
The SIVGA Que delivers a compelling package that surpasses expectations for its price point. Its premium build quality, incorporating zinc alloy and maple wood, enhances aesthetics. The 10mm beryllium dynamic driver provides a balanced sound signature with a focus on natural tonality. While not without its limitations, the Que offers a satisfying listening experience with commendable low-end control, clear midrange, and refined treble. The surprisingly spacious soundstage adds depth to the overall presentation. Ultimately, the SIVGA Que positions itself as a strong contender in its category, offering a mature sound and comfortable fit despite its robust zinc alloy shell.
Pros & Cons:
- + Tight and fast bass response
- + Pretty clear and detailed midrange
- + Refined treble with above average extension
- + Surprisingly wide soundstage
- + Excellent Built Quality
- + Performance at this Price level
- – May not satisfy listeners seeking a heavily emphasized low end
- – The robust zinc alloy shell is heavier compared to monitors with resin shell
Thank you for the Read!
