Rarely does headphones that are this beautiful are also best in class – Sendy Audio Aiva 2 Review

*For more pictures and videos of this products, please wathc video

It is rare that I am completely satisfied with product, that even when I extend my gazes above the product itself. To packaging and presentation. I am floored and satisfied with amount of effort put to create an exciting and premium product.

This is how company cares about their users

Sendy Audio Aiva 2 is just that exciting and great and it seems they truly care about their listeners.

Yes, I heard their products at Shenzhen audio festival. And I thought that Sendy Audio Peacock was just mind blowing and my favourite product I listened there. Now this is not Peacock, this is Aiva a almost 900 dollars cheaper headphones. But it left me satisfied with what it offers, especially in its price range. At 600 dollars competition is really steep, but Sendy Audio truly tries to separate itself from the pack.

Beautiful aesthetics and build quality

But let`s first start with a packaging and design, build quality etc. And if you follow my reviews you know I never do this, but I have to do this for this one. And it is just amazing that I have no words, how beautiful and great everything is. I know I super admire Focal design language, but this might become my new design favourites among headphones. The carrying case is a very sturdy leather case. It really feels like old world elegancy, how it feels.

But inside is no slouch, you get this nice pouch. Well it is a nice pouch I have nothing to say here, but inside you get this dongle. And just weight of it and looks is enchanting. It uses quality copper 6n OCC cable, with this weight ends. One is 3.5 mm, and other is a female jack for 4.4mm which is a standard cable you get with this headphones. But look at patterns decorating jacks. At first I thought it was fish scales, but I was not that far away it is a mermaid scales. Sendy Audio is saying for this headphones, how listening to this headphones is like listening the song of mermaids, reproducing the legendary memories of seabed. They look magnificent, almost artisan. And you have it at cable and on dongle. Including very quality cable.

And then headphones itself, is a work of art. Look at them. We have this unique mermaid, we have darker color Zebra wood. And they have this contoured, to fit many faces, with 30mm thick cushion. It is a high quality protein leather mixed with memory foam. It is all meant to bring a great pleasure when listened on a long run. They are soft, and just fits super nicely, and I can say even when I did hours of listening for this review they were not fatiguing to wear. But at 420g they are not the lightest in this price range.

The top strap is lamb skin which seems nice, but I have nothing much here to say. It cannot fold, but it does swirl to 30 degrees, for more comfort when wearing it. And I can go on and on about looks, but you have to understand this is very thought out design, this is very beautiful design, this is showcase when company cares.

Inside the headphones are ultra nano double sided, magnetic composite planar diaphragm with thickness of only 1 micron. So yes these are planar headphones. It uses a double nepheline magnetic array driver (97 × 76 mm) with an ultra-thin diaphragm (1 µm) setup. Impedance is around 32 Ω, with sensitivity ~96 dB.

Sound Quality Good/Bad

So let`s go to sound quality of this headphones. And they are a bit specialist flavoured headphones. Even though I wanted this headphones to be the best of best, they are not, as they are leaning towards certain kind of audiophile.

But lets start with the greatest virtue of this headphones, its airiness. It`s soundstage. Just impressive how instruments weave each other organically, and control it over the vast soundscape it creates. Anything which is rich in instrumentations, is going to sound amazing here. The instruments are rich in dynamics especially in treble, where most impressive reach lies. For example that percussions, high toms, synth leads are going to feel very much textured and real. It is opening it so much vertically that your brain is going to pick it left, upper left and even at more corner left sound. It weaves.

And as it is very wide and airy it gives a lot of room around instruments, which means a fantastic separation as well. So if you like compactualisation on your soundstage and to clinical dissect instruments, they are vivid and presentable and you are going to have a good time. That is instruments and voices are superable isolated and have their room to breathe. So voices are clear and sharp, if you like that.

And with that said midrange is good, I would love for maybe little bit more focus, and clarity here, to declutter more. But this is a nitpick, as midrange is really solid. Vocals, and separation is brimming with textures. It has character, it has fieriness around it. It tells a story nicely. And as someone who appreciates clear and vivid story very concisely told, you are going to like mids.

That is massively also helped by treble just having this massive amount of details, and texture. That is a second great thing. The details are soaring high, they are making that soundstage even better by allowing many details to make instruments more rounded and presentable. Just those flutes, saxophones and string instruments were amazing on with such a texture on them.

I have been listening Black Market and Heavy Weather recently a lot. And especially Heavy Weather is album brimming with textures and details, so from bass to sax, to percussions is just full of life. And so real, and very forward coming at you, just like the instruments plays right next to you.

But that is an interlude to bad points. The smaller pain point around sound is actually those great details and textures. Oh boy how they know sometimes to be fatiguing if you mix it with bad gear as well. Please if you have DAC and headphone amplifier, always aim with this one to be more warm. As warm will sometimes cut those details to managing highs. And it is not always that I disliked those highs, but some bright productions are going to be bothersome.

Or just take equalising and add a bit of bass to combat that brightness. But at certain point with some albums it might become during the listening session a bit fatiguing. But EQ or proper gear can help there.

But something which is an Achilles heel of this headphones is weight. While soundstage is amazing, details and textures are amazing. It makes the presentation very lean. There are some audiophiles, and some genres that super benefits from that. As these headphones are great for more clinical people. Who cares a lot about production, mastering, details, they want to hear everything. For vocals to have space and breath around it.

But for those who expect more drive, push, weight, a bit more soundstage on horizontal lane. They might be disappointed with its lean nature. That driving galloping feeling, and slam is okay, but some my more cheaper headphones were equally good at it. And I am speaking 300 dollars cheaper. Not that it is really bad, but if you come here for smoothness, and warmer sound it is not a headphones which is going to please you especially in this price level.

But there are some good things about bass here, as how it is controlled. Some might enjoy that. Control and precision in classical music and jazz to some degree is important, as orchestration is going to give a heft to bass, but you want to see how it communicates with other instruments. So it you really hear it, it is precise into how you feel it expands grows and decays, like with many instruments with this headphones. It is lean but it is vivid.

Competitors in this price range

I would love few quick words on competition, I think fairest competition is new Fiio FT7, but I did not have chance to hear it, but it have great reviews and it is in a similar price point. Hopefully I will buy it soon for review. There is also Sennheiser HD660 S2 just to understand at what price point we are talking about. One thing more please in comments say what are your favourite headphones in this price range. I want to have bigger vision in this price range, as this is a great price range where many headphones peak. So please write in comments what are your favourites here.

vs. Aune SR7000

But headphones that I know which is a biggest competition to is Aune SR7000. And design and build quality is in Aiva’s favour. But it is important what distinguish this headphones. Aiva does not hide that it does not care that its sound is coloured. It pushes its talents hard on you will you like it or not. While Aune is more trying to be realistic, neutral balanced etc. The reason in midsection that I wore that I would like in midsection a bit more transparency, and concision is because of this headphones. They offer that. They also offer a bit weightier sound, not that it is warm. But it gives a bit more oomph in sound.

But Aiva have better soundstage, Aiva have far more details and textures at top. Now that is both good and bad, as in theory Aune can be listened on longer sessions. But I just love Aiva’s sound so much more. It is more interesting, it has more character, it is more detailed it is more fun listen. Now it is not transparent and clear as Aune, but I do not miss that as Aiva is just so much more engaging to listen. But some might prefer the other way around.

vs. HIFIMAN Ananda

Now another phenomenal choice is Hifiman Ananda. Ananda is exceptional headphones in this price range. It is not that it is warmer than Aiva, but certainly sub bass, and bass extends far more. It also have a great imaging and soundstage. And it is decently detailed.

So it is more versatile type of headphones, that can work for many genres. Now Aiva does look better, it has more details, and slightly better soundstage. So it is what you like more will be better for you.

Also consider Arya Stealth headphones. They used to be 1500 dollars now they are at this price point of 600 dollars. They had impressive soundstage and imaging, and details. Same like Aiva. I cannot compare them face to face, but if you have a chance do so. There might be a fierce competition between two. As if you like Aiva there are a lot to love in Arya Stealth.

Conclusion

Conclusion is I love this headphones so much. I love so much build quality and looks I think they will remain in my collection for a long time. Now I only could wish they are more versatile headphones. As some lacking in dynamics, is unfortunately there. While bass is delightful in some analytics flavours it lacks the body to carry a good rock song.

But what it lacks in body it outdelivers in airiness and soundstage. As for some clinical listenings, with lot of rhythm sections you will be amazed what this does. It just outdelivers details, textures, and soundstage. So if you are in that bout this could be your best headphones in this price range.

I wish more companies took so much care to present their products like it is something really premium without spending significant money on product. Sendy audio seems to care about you, and you should also care for them and support if you think you like what is in my review. As it floored me with presentation.

Keep daydreaming

Pros

Build & Design

• Exceptional aesthetics and craftsmanship — described as “a work of art” with beautiful zebrawood, mermaid motifs, and artisan-level detailing.

• Premium packaging and presentation — sturdy leather case, elegant accessories, and overall luxurious unboxing experience.

• High-quality materials — protein leather pads, lambskin strap, memory foam cushions, and copper 6N OCC cable.

• Comfortable for long sessions — soft padding, ergonomic fit, and non-fatiguing over long use despite some weight.

• Attention to detail — thoughtful and cohesive design that reflects a company that “truly cares about their listeners.”

  
  

Sound Quality

• Outstanding soundstage and airiness — expansive, three-dimensional presentation with excellent spatial layering.

• Excellent instrument separation and imaging — instruments feel distinct, well-positioned, and natural.

• Highly detailed and textured treble — superb clarity and micro-detail retrieval, making percussions, strings, and brass come alive.

• Engaging midrange — vocals rich in texture, expressive and emotionally engaging.

• Controlled and precise bass — articulate and clean, especially in jazz and classical genres.

• Analytical character suits audiophiles — great for listeners who appreciate transparency, precision, and production details.

  
  

Value / Brand

• High perceived value for $600 — delivers a premium experience typically expected from more expensive headphones.

• Distinct identity — unique design philosophy and sound signature set it apart from competitors.

• Strong emotional appeal — reviewer repeatedly highlights how much joy and admiration the product inspires.

Cons

Comfort & Usability

• Not the lightest build (420g) — not the lightest in its class, may cause fatigue for some users.

• Non-folding design — less portable and storage-friendly.

  
  

Sound Limitations

• Leans bright and analytical — can sound fatiguing with bright or harsh recordings.

• Potentially requires warm DAC/amp pairing — to tame treble intensity and balance tonality.

• Lacks a bit body and low-end weight — bass is tight but lacks impact for rock or bass-heavy genres.

• Limited versatility — better suited for analytical listening than all-around enjoyment.