Sivga SV021 are Fantastical, Good looking, Budget pick Headphones Review! vs. FiiO FT1

I actually really like headphones, but I never came around to actually review any of them. And I decided it’s better than ever now, with these great budget headphones.

Incredible Budget Option

The Sivga SV021, also known as the Sivga Robin, is a pair of closed-back, over-ear headphones. It had its 5 minutes of fame on the internet with good reviews. I gathered from those reviews that the build quality and sonic quality were great and that they were affordable. And I’m here to tell you whether I agree with that or not. Hint: A lot but with grain of salt.

Build Quality and Aesthetics

Let’s start with the build quality, which is the first impression you get even before you hear the headphones. And they look really good. Each earcup is made from natural wood—choices typically include walnut or zebrawood—giving the headphones a unique and elegant appearance. The wood grain not only adds to the visual appeal but also contributes to the acoustic properties of the headphones. At least, that’s what they say.

The headband is constructed from stainless steel and covered with soft leather, providing durability and comfort. The earpads are made from high-protein leather and memory foam.

It looks really nice, especially the earpads, which are extra soft. They really are—it’s an incredible amount of comfort you get at this price level.

What I dislike is the size, and this might be more of a “me” problem than a problem with the headphones. But in all my other headphones, I never had this issue. No matter how much I try to resize them, they are always too big for my head, and it always feels like my ears are holding the headphones. I often push them up while listening. Also, the foams are extra squishy and soft, but sometimes they don’t create a strong grip, and the headphones fall off a bit from my head.

But all in all, these are amazing-looking speakers in this price range. The wood, colors, and all the small details like the stitching look very luxurious—like you bought something premium.

Sound Quality

Now let’s talk about sound. The Sivga SV021 is equipped with 50mm dynamic drivers. And to be honest, I used my own DAP, I used a headphone amplifier, and small DACs to drive them—and they all did a wonderful job. So yes, these headphones are easy to drive, they open easily and don’t require significant power.

In every presentation I saw, people said these headphones are neutral. That’s not my experience.

I actually can see a significant V-curve here.

And that frightened me at first, because before spending time with these speakers, I kind of disliked the emphasized bass. It felt too warm, too aggressive, and veiled other frequencies.

After some time, the headphones broke in a little bit, and things cooled down. But still, there is an obvious coloration.

Bass

What happened is that the bass, which felt bouncy and large, managed to trim itself down to have a certain attack and forcefulness. Depending on who you are, that might be great—or not. It also depends on what music you listen to. It truly has that galloping drive to it. It has a bunch of insertion and presence, even though I would prefer a bit more texture to it. A bit more insight into how the sound opens and expands. It can sound aimless at times—a better focus could do wonders for this bass.

Sometimes the bass just feels like it’s there without proper placement or timing. It made it sound empty. I don’t know how to describe it better—just bass for the sake of bass. It lacked cohesion and purpose.

But saying that, let’s summarize. I think bass is good, but not the best. It lacks a bit more texture, details, and better musicality in order to weave together with other instruments on the sonic stage. But it does have that force and definition, and it can definitely create nice rhythms around it.

Treble and Detail Extraction

The greatest strength, I think, is how these headphones are able to extract details. So from me thinking these headphones were warm, in the end, they ended up being bright.

That detail extraction maybe creates a sound that is a bit bright, but it certainly makes a sound that is upbeat and energetic.

And it is super great in that regard—I enjoyed the amount of insight these headphones offer. Such a lovely piece to listen to music that’s filled with energy. Very great headphones for jazz and rock.

They might become a bit fatiguing at times after long listening periods, but for that fun, open, and detailed sound—it might be worth it. I mean, that’s probably why they padded the headphones so much—to make them comfortable, haha.

Just listening to the cymbals, the percussions going all around the soundstage and creating space—it’s truly great.

Treble is amazing here, it truly is. I don’t have anything bad to say about it—it’s just lovely, detailed sound.

Midsection

Maybe the weakest point is clarity in the midsection.

And I want to emphasize—it’s not that mids are bad. It’s just that I expected clarity among vocals. I wanted more presence, more body to vocals, which sounded like they were buried.

It felt like I wanted more insight in complex compositions where there’s a lot going on in the production. That’s where it falters a bit—it's not able to organize everything to its full potential.

Not to mention that we don’t have an absolute mess in the midsection—just that if instruments had more room and space in the soundstage, they could shine more, unravel in front of us. And the reason I use vocals as an example is because vocals sit right there. I would love more body, more precision in vocals, so that they also drive the song—like the fantastic treble and detail. But it’s just not it.

Still, it does a fine job holding the instruments’ tension together and trying to tell us a story.

vs. FiiO FT1

The closest competitor I can think of is the FiiO FT1. They are similarly priced headphones, coming from a reputable brand. They were more expensive at launch, but you can find them now at the same price.

FiiO are also great headphones, but I think the major distinction between them is their sonic profile. I think FiiO is much warmer, the sound is much bigger, and the soundstage is wider. But it lacks the details and insight of the Sivga. And if you prefer more pleasant music, go with FiiO. If you want something more clinical and insightful, Sivga might be the one you actually go with.

Both of them deliver great value in their price range.

Conclusion

Conclusion: the Sivga SV021 are headphones with great looks, great build quality, and great sonics—though with some shortcomings that are common in this price range. But they outshine the competition with amazing detail extraction, incredible rhythmic sound and bass, and overall value for the price. It's something that anyone who wants fun, energetic, detailed headphones should try. They might be your next hidden gem in this price range.

You can buy this headphones here:

SIVGA SV021 on Amazon：

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B097DKVDZC

SIVGA SV021 on AliExpress：

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005002870022058.html

✅ Pros

1. Excellent Build Quality

   • Natural wood earcups (walnut/zebrawood) give a premium, elegant feel.

   • Stainless steel headband and soft leather for durability and comfort.

2. High Comfort Level

   • Extra soft earpads made from high-protein leather and memory foam.

   • Very comfortable for long listening sessions.

3. Attractive Design

   • Luxurious aesthetic with attention to detail (e.g., stitching, color, wood grain).

4. Easy to Drive

   • Performs well with various audio sources (DAPs, DACs, amps).

   • Doesn’t require high power to sound good.

5. Exceptional Detail Extraction

   • Bright and energetic sound with great clarity, especially in the treble.

   • Ideal for genres like jazz and rock.

6. Good Bass Impact

   • Strong bass presence and rhythmic drive.

   • Offers fun and dynamic listening experience for many users.

7. Great Value for Money

   • Competes well with other headphones in the same price range.

   • Offers a balanced mix of aesthetics, build, and sound performance.

❌ Cons

1. Fit Issues

   • May be too large for smaller heads; lacks secure grip.

   • Can slide down or feel awkward even after adjustment.

2. Bass Can be more Precise and focused

   • Lacks cohesion, texture, and timing in some tracks.

3. Might, depending on your pairing, cause Fatiguing over prolonged listening sessions

   • Bright treble and energetic presentation may cause listener fatigue after long sessions.

4. "Okey" Mids

   • Vocals lack presence, body, and clarity.

   • Can sound buried in complex mixes.

   • Midrange lacks the refinement to match the treble performance.

5. Narrower Soundstage Compared to Competitors

   • Competitor (e.g., FiiO FT1) offers a wider, more spacious soundstage.

   • Sivga focuses more on detail than immersion.