[WHO23]

SendyAudio Aiva Measurements:
(MiniDSP EARS. 500Hz 84dB normalized. No Smoothing.)

SendyAudio Aiva <Raw Measurements>

SendyAudio Aiva <Purr1n's Compensation>

SendyAudio Aiva (green) vs Sennheiser HD6XX/650 (red) vs Focal Elex (blue) <Purr1n's Compensation>

 

[WHO23]

SendyAudio Aiva EQ

Preamp: -8.39 dB
Filter: ON PK Fc 20 Hz Gain 3 dB Q 1
Filter: ON PK Fc 50 Hz Gain -0.7 dB Q 2
Filter: OFF LSC 9 dB Fc 105 Hz Gain 5.5 dB
Filter: ON PK Fc 470 Hz Gain -1.9 dB Q 3
Filter: ON PK Fc 535 Hz Gain 2 dB Q 7
Filter: ON PK Fc 760 Hz Gain -2 dB Q 4
Filter: ON PK Fc 830 Hz Gain 0.6 dB Q 10
Filter: ON PK Fc 950 Hz Gain -3.3 dB Q 7
Filter: ON PK Fc 1085 Hz Gain 1 dB Q 15
Filter: ON PK Fc 1275 Hz Gain -1 dB Q 10
Filter: ON PK Fc 1400 Hz Gain -1.6 dB Q 9
Filter: ON PK Fc 1620 Hz Gain 8.5 dB Q 6
Filter: ON PK Fc 1666 Hz Gain -3.4 dB Q 20
Filter: ON PK Fc 1755 Hz Gain 1 dB Q 30
Filter: ON PK Fc 1900 Hz Gain -1 dB Q 20
Filter: ON PK Fc 1990 Hz Gain 1 dB Q 20
Filter: ON PK Fc 2200 Hz Gain 4 dB Q 4
Filter: ON PK Fc 3000 Hz Gain 2 dB Q 0.8
Filter: ON PK Fc 3100 Hz Gain -2.5 dB Q 5
Filter: ON PK Fc 3400 Hz Gain -1.5 dB Q 14
Filter: ON PK Fc 4500 Hz Gain -2 dB Q 5
Filter: OFF PK Fc 5900 Hz Gain 7 dB Q 7
Filter: OFF PK Fc 9500 Hz Gain -5 dB Q 7

(How it looks with all settings ON)

Functions of my EQ:
Boosted sub-bass to be level #1-2
Made uneven mids more linear #4-9
Made upper mids less recessed #10-17
Kept the lower treble level as I felt it was just nice #18-20
Lowered level in the sibilance region #21. You can lower it some more at 5kHz if needed
(I eyed Crinacle's Aiva measurements and compared with mine to make sure the peak and dips are really there)


Optional EQ Settings (OFF by Default):
#3: Filter: OFF LSC 9 dB Fc 105 Hz Gain 5.5 dB (Harman +5.5dB Bass Boost)
#22: Filter: OFF PK Fc 5900 Hz Gain 7 dB Q 7 (Rtings PTRF Soundstage Boost)
#23: Filter: OFF PK Fc 9500 Hz Gain -5 dB Q 7 (Rtings PTRF Soundstage Boost)
(Rtings PTRF are to be used in conjunction - need to have both #22 & #23 ON)

 

[WHO23]

I spotted some measurements from MusicTeck's website for the SendyAudio Aiva which I've manually drawn over with a white line for better clarity:
<https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0...son_Between_AIVA_and_P-II_by_SIVGA-2.pdf?1502>

Inpsired by these measurements, I shifted my Aiva around the rig to get measurements that correspond to this graph:
(MiniDSP EARS. 500Hz 84dB normalized. No Smoothing. Purr1n's Compensation)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

With these new measurements I came up with a second EQ that corresponded to these measurements

Preamp: -8.43 dB
Filter: ON PK Fc 20 Hz Gain 2.5 dB Q 1
Filter: ON PK Fc 50 Hz Gain -0.7 dB Q 2
Filter: OFF LSC 9 dB Fc 105 Hz Gain 5.5 dB
Filter: ON PK Fc 250 Hz Gain 0.4 dB Q 4
Filter: ON PK Fc 500 Hz Gain -1.4 dB Q 3
Filter: ON PK Fc 560 Hz Gain -0.6 dB Q 7
Filter: ON PK Fc 700 Hz Gain 1.5 dB Q 10
Filter: ON PK Fc 760 Hz Gain -2 dB Q 4
Filter: ON PK Fc 830 Hz Gain 0.6 dB Q 10
Filter: ON PK Fc 900 Hz Gain -2.3 dB Q 4.5
Filter: ON PK Fc 1000 Hz Gain -1.8 dB Q 7
Filter: ON PK Fc 1085 Hz Gain 1 dB Q 15
Filter: ON PK Fc 1275 Hz Gain -1 dB Q 10
Filter: ON PK Fc 1400 Hz Gain -1.6 dB Q 9
Filter: ON PK Fc 1620 Hz Gain 8.5 dB Q 6
Filter: ON PK Fc 1666 Hz Gain -3.4 dB Q 20
Filter: ON PK Fc 1755 Hz Gain 1 dB Q 30
Filter: ON PK Fc 1900 Hz Gain -1 dB Q 20
Filter: ON PK Fc 1990 Hz Gain 1 dB Q 20
Filter: ON PK Fc 2150 Hz Gain 2 dB Q 20
Filter: ON PK Fc 2200 Hz Gain 4 dB Q 4
Filter: ON PK Fc 2800 Hz Gain 5 dB Q 7
Filter: ON PK Fc 3000 Hz Gain 2 dB Q 0.8
Filter: ON PK Fc 3100 Hz Gain -2.8 dB Q 5
Filter: ON PK Fc 3400 Hz Gain -2 dB Q 14
Filter: OFF PK Fc 5900 Hz Gain 7.8 dB Q 7
Filter: ON PK Fc 7000 Hz Gain -1.4 dB Q 10
Filter: OFF PK Fc 9500 Hz Gain -10 dB Q 7
Filter: ON PK Fc 13200 Hz Gain -6 dB Q 4.5

(How it looks by default, with optional settings OFF)

Functions of my EQ:
Boosted sub-bass to be level #1-2
Made uneven mids more linear #4-12
Made upper mids less recessed #13-23
Kept the lower treble level as I felt it was just nice #24-25
Lowered upper treble peak #29

Optional EQ Settings (OFF by Default):
#3: Filter: OFF LSC 9 dB Fc 105 Hz Gain 5.5 dB (Harman +5.5dB Bass Boost)
#26: Filter: OFF PK Fc 5900 Hz Gain 7.8 dB Q 7 (Rtings PTRF Soundstage Boost)
#28: Filter: OFF PK Fc 9500 Hz Gain -10 dB Q 7 (Rtings PTRF Soundstage Boost)
(Rtings PTRF are to be used in conjunction - need to have both #26 & #28 ON)

 

[Cat Music]

The only thing Aiva may lack is a good source. Without a good source and a good amp, the soundstage collapsed and hence people think it has small soundstage

What Dac and Amp are you pairing your Aiva with?

 

[Whitigir]

What Dac and Amp are you pairing your Aiva with?

I have it with Dx220Max and DMP Z1

 

[CoryGillmore]

I use no EQ on my Aiva being powered by a Modius/Jotunhiem combo. All I've done to my Aiva is fit a pair of Brainwavz XL sheepskin hybrid pads. The sheepskin HYBRID is an important distinction as it's very similar to the stock pads, just a lot bigger. Increased soundstage and bass impact while retaining all the detail. I urge everyone to try these pads. For many genres I prefer my pad swapped Aiva to my LCD2C.

 

[Whitigir]

I have also been tinkering around with the modifications to improve the Aiva further. I am very surprised by the build quality of this headphones.

 

[Facta]

I have also been tinkering around with the modifications to improve the Aiva further. I am very surprised by the build quality of this headphones.

Might you be tempted to recommend Sendy Aiva at $450 on sale more than you would any other planar magnetic headphones under $1000?

 

[silent-circuit]

Might you be tempted to recommend Sendy Aiva at $450 on sale more than you would any other planar magnetic headphones under $1000?

Yes, I don't know of any planar you can get new under $500 I'd recommend over the Aiva, save maybe the Sundara at $350 which seems to be its new more or less perpetual sale price.

 

[Roderick]

Yes, I don't know of any planar you can get new under $500 I'd recommend over the Aiva, save maybe the Sundara at $350 which seems to be its new more or less perpetual sale price.

There are a lot of sub $500 planars. Which ones have you heard or preferably owned?

 

[CoryGillmore]

Just put my Aiva on for a session for the first time in a while. I had been listening to my LCD2C almost solely for the last 3 weeks. It took only a few minutes to adjust to the pad swapped Aiva, but when I did....wow this headphone is underrated. I think people have let squiggly lines on paper deter them away from an otherwise fantastic headphone. The louder you push them, the better they sound. I use no EQ, just swapped the pads to Brainwavz sheepskin XL hybrids.

 

[G8torbyte]

Just put my Aiva on for a session for the first time in a while. I had been listening to my LCD2C almost solely for the last 3 weeks. It took only a few minutes to adjust to the pad swapped Aiva, but when I did....wow this headphone is underrated. I think people have let squiggly lines on paper deter them away from an otherwise fantastic headphone. The louder you push them, the better they sound. I use no EQ, just swapped the pads to Brainwavz sheepskin XL hybrids.

True, it is nice to revisit the Aiva after some time. I found it is one of a few planars that pair well with the xDuoo TA-20 hybrid tube amp (w/US made NOS tubes) that pushes a good amount of power. I prefer the LCD2C's wide bass response and occasionally like to switch it up with the Aiva's more intimate details. In my experience the LCD2C and Ether CX sound odd on hybrid tube amps so I primarily use them on an RME ADI-2 DAC balanced out w/minor EQ adjustments to the THX 789 amp.

 

[silent-circuit]

There are a lot of sub $500 planars. Which ones have you heard or preferably owned?

I've heard the Sundara but didn't feel they did anything significantly better than my other headphones to warrant a purchase. I own HE-4XX (2 pair, early and late production). I've heard HE-560v2 extensively. Beyond that it's based on reviews, to be fair. There's also everything else in my sig, non-planar.

 

[Shane D]

Has any Aiva user compared these to Verum headphones?

 

[ngoshawk]

Has any Aiva user compared these to Verum headphones?

Yes, I have: https://ngoshawksounds.blog/2019/09/08/verum-audio-verum-1-the-story-of-one/