By: Aaron Lai
January 31, 2025
Over this past Christmas, I participated in several white elephant gift exchanges, which were all quite enjoyable. One particularly memorable exchange involved four other families, and it was the most chaotic one I had seen. During the game, kids stole gifts from grandparents, siblings swapped gifts to help each other get gifts back, and there were multiple occasions of families stealing from families only to be backstabbed by another family. A common rule in these gift exchanges is that the first person who opens a gift gets one more chance to steal at the end, which can lead to a flurry of final round swaps. I had the chance to take the gift left in the middle on the final round and put an end the thievery, but I wanted to see some more jousting, so I decided to keep the game going. In general, I find shopping for these gift exchanges to be less stressful than doing Secret Santa, as it means you can buy for a group rather than a specific person. This can be especially advantageous if you do not know the recipient too well. In a similar fashion, headphones can be targeted towards a specific type of listener, such as bass heads or critical monitoring, or designed for the general public with a fun-sounding V-shaped signature. Today, we have the SIVGA Robin SV021, a pair of headphones that boasts an elegant design, but does not clearly establish a target market. How do they feel on our heads and sound in our ears? Let us read on to find out!
Today's review unit of the SIVGA Robin SV021 arrived from the People's Republic of China. The shipping box does not clearly indicate the origin city, although I assume it is from SIVGA's offices in Guangdong, China. It was shipped via a local courier before arriving in Canada, where it was transferred to Canada Post. With their Expedited Parcels service, Canada Post delivered this to our APH Networks location here in Calgary, Alberta. The corrugated cardboard box arrived still sealed and generally was in good condition. There was a notable bruise on one corner and a small hole on one side, but neither caused any concern. SIVGA also included some packing materials to help protect the contents from damage.
The retail packaging of the SIVGA Robin SV021 may appear plain at first glance, featuring an all-black box with white print. However, the surface has a subtle crosshatch texture that adds a touch of elegance, although it does not capture well on camera.
On the front, the SIVGA logo is positioned in the top left corner, while the product name is displayed at the bottom. An outline of the headphones is also featured. Around the back, a description reads, "Created with Craftsman Spirit," with the product specifications listed below.
Before we continue, I have grabbed the specifications from the manufacturer's website for your reading pleasure:
Style: Over ear
Transducer type: Dynamic driver
Transducer size: φ 50mm
Frequency response: 20Hz - 20KHz
Sensitivity: 105dB +/- 3dB
Impedance: 32 Ohm +/- 15%
Cable length: 1.6M +/- 0.2M
Connector: φ 3.5mm
Weight: 275g
Out of the box, the SIVGA Robin SV021 is securely seated in a large open-cell foam bracket. In a separate resealable plastic bag, we find a 1.6m braided audio cable with a 3.5mm termination that splits into separate 2.5mm connections for the left and right ears. Each connector is reinforced with a substantial metal plug for added durability. Interestingly, the 3.5mm end has a small spring where the cable meets the plug. This should reduce bending stress between the braided cable and the plug, as it prevents sharp angles of bends. Each connector is marked with L and R to indicate proper plug orientation. Also included is a 3.5mm to 6.35mm or 1/4" adapter, along with a SIVGA-branded hemp drawstring pouch for easy storage and transport.
Page Index
1. Introduction, Packaging, Specifications
2. Physical Look - Hardware
3. Subjective Audio Analysis
4. Conclusion
