The SIVGA Robin SV021 headphones are a pair of beautifully designed, budget-conscious headphones. Offering a stylish and unique design, the SV021 comes equipped with impressive 50-millimetre drivers, low impedance for adaptable listening, and a comfortable ear cup design. As an added accessory, SIVGA has paired the SV021 with its new detachable boom microphone, turning these budget-friendly audiophile headphones into a functional gaming headset.
The Robin SV021 are attractive headphones. The mixture of wood and metal finishes provides a distinct design that helps SIVGA’s hi-fi headphones stand out in a crowd. With two colour profiles to choose from, a dark walnut and a light brown, the Robin SV021 feel well constructed and sturdy when worn. The metal mounting brackets provide smooth tilting action, which allows the headphones to seal securely around the ear.
As a closed-back headphone, the SIVGA Robin SV021 creates a sealed audio chamber around the ear when worn. The ear cups provide notable comfort, with very little pressure applied to the head. The relatively light frame of 275 grams is a welcome design choice, since even after long listening sessions, the SV021 does not create fatigue. Made of soft and plush memory foam, the ear cups rest comfortably around the ears. Even when wearing glasses, the Robin SV021 offers long-term comfort.
“The SIVGA Robin SV021 headphones are a pair of beautifully designed, budget-conscious headphones.”
The headband is made of a metal band wrapped in a thin layer of foam and soft leather. The result is a headband that provides strong support and reliable comfort, along with an adjustable mounting system for the ear cups. SIVGA has incorporated a notched adjustable slide system into the headband, which provides smooth and distinct per-click adjustments. It is well designed and well constructed, helping the SV021 feel surprisingly premium for a budget-conscious pair of headphones.
The SV021 features a split left and right channel 2.5-millimetre to 3.5-millimetre braided cable for connecting to a wide range of devices. The detachable design is a thoughtful addition that allows for easy swapping when needed. As a bonus, SIVGA includes a 3.5-millimetre to 6.35-millimetre adaptor for connection to DACs or similar devices. The included cloth travel bag keeps all accessories in one place for convenient storage. For a $149.99 pair of headphones, the SIVGA is exceptionally well designed and well constructed.
Speaking of accessories, SIVGA sent along a detachable boom mic designed to transform the SV021 from Hifi headphones into a Hifi-enabled gaming headset. Following the trend of many HiFi headphone companies, the SIVGA detachable BOOM mic replaces the aforementioned braided cable system with a similar 2.5mm to 3.55mm cable system with one notable difference: the left split cable includes the BOOM mic.
With a mounting point shaped to wrap around the bottom of the left ear cup, the boom mic clicks into place easily. Installation takes only a few seconds and is a true plug-and-play experience. The cable includes a control hub that manages headphone volume and mute control for the mic. It is a simple system that performs well. One small critique of the design is that although the boom mic attaches securely to the Robin SV021, it can twist, which means it may shift away from the mouth on occasion. It did not happen often during testing, but it did occur. This is something to keep in mind if you are a more excitable gamer.
The low impedance of the Robin SV021, listed at 32 ohms, also means the drivers can be powered by almost any audio device, including a console controller. In testing, it provided a plug-and-play experience across a wide range of audio sources.
Audio testing for the Robin SV021 revealed a fairly bright profile. The 50-millimetre dynamic drivers provided a clean, crisp and clear audio experience. Frequency testing came through cleanly with no notable noise. The low-end frequencies are tight and clear without overwhelming the mix. The mids and high end present as detailed, with vocals coming through with strong clarity. The overall mix is well balanced, with no single frequency dominating the rest.
“Even when wearing glasses, the Robin SV021 offers long-term comfort.”
Being a closed-back headphone, I’m impressed at how well the earpad encircles the ears without applying unnecessary pressure to your head or ears. They are impressively comfortable to wear while listening to music. Due to how well they seal around your ears, audio doesn’t escape or bleed through, providing excellent conditions for listening to your favourite music.
With all this being said, I did find the mix to be quite bright. The positive side of this experience is that audio signals are well defined, clear and distinct. In fact, I was impressed at how wide the soundstage actually presents. It feels much larger than I would have expected. The result is a detailed audio listening experience.
The drawback to a brighter profile is that it can fatigue your ears quickly. While the audio is crisp and clear, I do wish it were a bit warmer overall. The low end, although clear, feels as if it is missing some of the warmth I like to hear in a mix. The resulting brightness leaves the audio mix feeling a bit too sharp in the high end for my preference. As with all audio, this is subjective, and for those who prefer a brighter mix, the Robin SV021 provides an excellent listening experience.
“For a $149.99 pair of headphones, the SIVGA is exceptionally well designed and well constructed.”
When testing the Robin SV021 and the boom mic for gaming on my Xbox Series S, I was impressed with how well the headphones performed. The brighter mix provided exceptional audio detail while gaming, and I appreciated the clarity of dialogue and sound effects during play. While it is not my preferred audio profile, the Robin SV021 performs well, especially given its budget-conscious price point.
The boom mic accessory, however, was a mixed experience. The mic captures vocals well and the gain is sensitive, often picking up background noise, but it lacks any distinguishable low end. Although some users may prefer a low-end cut to improve vocal clarity, the boom mic here simply does not capture those frequencies. My own voice, which sits in a lower register, lost much of its usual depth. The result was a hollow representation of my voice. It was clear enough for communication, but it did not represent the source accurately.
With all this considered, the Robin SV021 headphones are a strong offering from SIVGA. While the profile is not my preference, I remain impressed with the clarity and detail produced by the 50-millimetre dynamic drivers. Combined with the comfort and craftsmanship, the SV021 is a good pair of budget-conscious, HiFi-ready headphones worth considering.
