SIVGA Oriole

You can read the SIVGA Oriole review together with the usual disclaimers in my website.



Build quality and appearance

The headphone housing is made of natural high-density rosewood, which is the first choice for musical instruments, as it makes stable and outstanding sound quality. The wood is processed by CNC machining and then made by many manual processes such as sanding, polishing, painting and natural air drying. The surface of the wood housing has a high gloss piano paint finish with a laser engraved logo of the brand and is available in dark or light brown. The color and the texture of each headphone is unique due to the use of wood so each one has its own distinctive looks. The metal parts are well made and they have a high quality finish, black for the dark brown cups and silver for the light brown. Build quality is really excellent, the headphone is sturdy and well made, the headband is carefully stitched and assembled while the adjustment is smooth and noise free. The Oriole has a luxurious feeling, it is beautiful looking with a classic yet modern appearance that can suit many different lifestyles.


Wearing comfort

The Oriole is lightweight, it weighs only 280g and thanks for the comfortable headband you can use it for many hours long.
The ear-cups rotate and swivel while the detachable ear-pads are soft and filled with memory foam but their diameter is marginally enough to fully fit a larger ear so there is the chance that you might feel some pressure points at the outer perimeter of your ears.
The closed back design of the Sivga Oriole doesn't help with heat and sweat management but it offers great passive noise attenuation.



Cable

The Sivga Oriole features a detachable cable with 2.5mm sockets that are not as popular as 3.5mm so finding an aftermarket cable will not be so easy and you will have to order a custom one. And you are definitely going to need one because the included cable, albeit being of decent quality with a fabric sheathing, is extremely microphonic and very noisy if you move around. A better designed cable should have been included because this one ruins the whole listening experience, especially when we consider that the headphone is made mostly for use on the go.



Accessories

The headphone comes packed in a cardboard box that includes the cable, a 6.35mm audio adapter and a hemp carrying pouch.

Power requirements and associated gear

The Sivga Oriole has a 32Ω impedance with 108dB of sensitivity so it is very easy to drive from all portable sources.
You can use USB DAC dongles like the iBasso DC03 Pro or the FiiO KA5 but don't feel afraid to experiment with something better, like the EarMen TR-Amp or the Chord Mojo 2, because the headphone scales pretty well.



Listening impressions

I usually don't sympathize with closed back headphones, especially entry level ones, because most of them have a sound signature that is too colored and are usually lacking in technicalities. This time was different though as the Sivga Oriole positively surprised me with its mostly balanced and even tuning. It has satisfying sub-bass extension and an almost neutral bass response without too much of a mid-bass emphasis so it doesn't bleed into the mids and the lower register separation is well defined. The tuning is tonally accurate and well suited for classical music and any other genre where a natural tonality is desired while at the same time the Sivga Oriole can sound equally satisfying and fun with all other kinds of music but without exaggerating in the bass department. Technicalities are also good for the category and a headphone that is not designed for stationary critical listening.
The bass is quite tight and controlled, full bodied and weighty, without too much of a cup reverb, spatial echo or boxiness. It seems that the three holes that are located at the upper part of the ear-cups are acting as venting ports. It is also fast, well defined and sufficiently layered with natural recovery while it is impressively dynamic and impactful.

The mid-range tuning is mostly even despite some recession at its lower portion and an upper-mids emphasis that is not too much to become harsh or piercing. Transparency and clarity are better than someone would expect and the overall presentation is musical, fun and organic with a natural timbre and good sense of realism. Vocals and instruments are well articulated, they have a solid foundation and plenty of harmonic wealth, the Oriole sounds mildly sweet and warm with a very satisfying level of engagement factor. The Sivga Oriole is good for listening to popular tunes but is also equally capable when things get more serious with classical music.

The treble is crisp and lively with plenty of detail retrieval and clarity, the headphone is fast and energetic but the overall tuning is quite safe without alarming peaks that could lead to brightness and cause listener fatigue. Don't expect maximum transparency or resolution not the last word in refinement but what I like is that the timbre is quite natural without much artificiality or metallic hue and the treble texture is as weighty and full bodied as on the bass and the mids.

Another striking feature of the Sivga Oriole is its open sounding character, the soundstage gets fairly expanded and spacious, especially for a closed back headphone, with good positioning accuracy. The presentation though, is mostly flat without too much of a depth layering and holography but this is a bit of unfair observation for the headphone, given its price point, and at the end what it matters the most is that the Sivga Oriole is not claustrophobic and it never becomes congested at all even with stress tests like Bruckner's 7th symphony.



In the end

The Sivga Oriole was a positive surprise as it proved to be a well tuned headphone with a balanced sound signature and good technicalities for the category. It is also beautiful looking, very well made, lightweight and comfortable so it gets highly recommended in case you are looking for a headphone suitable for casual and more critical listening both for home and outdoor use.

Test playlist

Copyright - Petros Laskis 2023.

Sivga oriole​

Sivga oriole:
instagram: @mataudiophiles
Prelude:
I have known the sivga brand for a long time. After all, it is thanks to the great position of the v21 robin model. I will not get a better position for PLN 650, however, taking into account the specific character and tuning on the L plan with a boosted bass, I was happy to grab a slightly more expensive position, which is the oriole model. Promising foldable shells and greater sonic balance. At the same time, care was taken to preserve the timeless design and beautiful wooden housings.
Unboxing:
In this respect, minimalism still reigns, which is actually quite good. For the price of PLN 999, full compatibility with the v21 model has been maintained. We have the same pads, the same cable and the same fabric pouch and adapter for a large jack. I immediately encourage you to replace the cable with a balanced one, because the conical one is what it is. He’s not bad, but he’s far from good. So much for the contents of the black package.

Sound:
Moving on to what is equally important, i.e. the way the music is presented, you can immediately notice a much greater tonal balance than in the v21.
Bass: It is clear and felt, but much more balanced and balanced than in the previous model. It spills less, but its spectacularity has also been toned down. In the case of pop, instrumental music or jazz, this is a very good treatment. It translates into a great tonal balance and excellent spatiality of the sound. Personally, I really like this presentation, it is more linear and balanced, which allows you to enjoy the sound to a greater extent.
Midrange: The mids are close to neutral and natural, are well realized and noticeably closer than in the v21 model. Here, the resolution and detail of vocals and instruments are a huge plus. The main difference from the V21, however, is the placement of the vocals on the bass line, which translates into a great effect. If you’re looking for a fairly linear sound, you’ll find it here. It will also not be boring and lifeless, fans of musicality will certainly not miss it in this model. Bass that is bouncy and full complements the presentation perfectly.
Treble: They are present and clear, Although they are not as extended as in the case of robins, they are still great and resolved. For many people who do not like excessively accentuated treble, such a presentation is closer to the ideal. The instruments sound a bit warmer than in the predecessor, which is an interesting and pleasant effect.

soundstage:
Thanks to greater linearity, we do not have such a sense of depth here as in the robins, but we still have a wide and resolved sound. These are headphones that focus on width, not depth. Which is not a bad effect, and certainly not at this price. This translates into a pleasant end result, communing with equipment from a much higher price shelf. The headphones themselves gain quite a lot with more powerful sources, but they are not overly demanding and a mid-range dongle or a slightly better amplifier is enough. Here they perfectly matched with xDuoo XD05pro and iBasso DX170.

Comparison:
Sivga oriole (PLN 999) VS SIVGA ROBIN (PLN 750)

As I mentioned in the previous words, the Oriols sound much more even, less sharp in the treble and less aggressive, but the Robins have more depth and a more entertaining and light character. Both models are great dynamic earmuffs at a great price, but it’s all about our individual preferences.

Sivga oriole (PLN 999) vs Hifiman He400 SE (PLN 599)
Here the matter is not so obvious because we have two completely different models of headphones, on the one hand closed, beautifully made and dynamic oriole and on the other the legendary he400se with an open design. The Oriol are much easier to drive and more linear, on the other hand, the he400se have more space and, above all, a total lack of isolation. The HE400s also require a really powerful amplifier, and the Oriols are much more liberal in this matter.

Summary:
Orioles are really surprising headphones with above-average aesthetics and excellent workmanship. They impress with their extraordinary linearity and pleasant resolution. They have less depth than their predecessor, but at the same time they control the treble better. As for the price of PLN 999, it is a great proposition worth every zloty spent. On the downside, the depth is somewhat limited, but the great resolution and natural sound go far beyond the price we will have to pay. All this puts this model very high. If you’re looking for a fun and smooth gaming experience, this is where you’ll find it. If you want a strong and entertaining V, reach for V21.


Test Materials:
Equipment used for the review includes xDuoo xp2pro, xp2bal, poke II. Oriolus 1795s, Qudelix 5k, iBasso dx170, dc04pro, dc03, Dunu DTC500, xDuoo ta01b, xDuoo mu601, mt602. The music is songs from tidal, apple music and own files.

Sivga Orioles are Sivga’s newest closed-back headphones. They are priced at 238$ on their Aliexpress store and 199$ on Amazon. I don’t understand why they list them differently but it is what it is. You can also read the full review along with our other reviews at mobileaudiophile.com.

Disclaimers​

Without boring you too much, I don’t necessarily have a sound preference. I tend to enjoy different sound profiles as long as they do well at what they intend to do. I try to be critic in my reviews but I might be somewhat biased one way or another (Recency bias, buyer’s bias etc.). Please keep these in mind. Also, I bought Sivga Orioles as well as other headphones mentioned here with my own money. If a unit I reviewed is given or loaned to me in the future, I will say so here.

Build, Comfort and Trivia​

Sivga Orioles are my third pair of Sivga headphones I owned and reviewed (you can also check out my Sivga Phoenix and 021 Robin Reviews). I might as well become a Sivga reviewer altogether. Orioles build is almost exactly the same with 021 Robins with just a few differences. They are like 021 Robins, built with wood, leather and metal. Again, they are extremely comfortable, though 021s were just a bit more comfortable, at least for me. This time yolks can swivel and lay flat on your desk. In the box, they only included 1.6m long single ended cable with fabric coating, 6.35mm jack adapter and a hemp carrying pouch as accessories, just like 021 Robins.

Sound​

Sivga Orioles have a relatively mature sound with good technicalities. There are a few things that can still be improved but after 021 Robins, I’m very impressed but them.

Bass​

Orioles have a tight and controlled bass. Surprisingly they are not too bassy and there is a clear cut between mid-bass and lower mids to prevent bleeding. It is not the most natural implementation and you definitely feel something lacking, especially when bass guitars are played. On the other hand, when drums or electronic music is played, they hit hard enough. Bass extend deep into the subbass and have good rumble. Transience is good, not too fast not too slow, though I wouldn’t complain if it was faster.

Mids​

Mids are the strongest suit of the Orioles. Upper mids, around 2.5 k is a little emphasized but I didn’t find vocals particularly shouty or harsh. In fact, I quite like it but I’m sure not everyone is a fan. Orioles are not particularly sibilant headphones but occasionally they can get sibilant and splashy depending on the song and the recording.

Treble​

Treble on Orioles is kind of a mixed bag, although lower treble is close to neutral and not overly harsh, above 10k is emphasized a lot. It brings planar-like air and sizzle. This airy presentation is mostly something to look forward to but can also get tiring after a few hours of listening, especially if you are sensitive to treble. Other than that, it helps with the detail, clarity and makes them feel airy. They didn’t feel too splashy most of the time.

Technical Performance​

Orioles surprised me with their technical performance to be honest. After being kind of let down by 021 Robins, I wasn’t expecting much but these are really great performers, especially for their price range. Detail level is very good, this time more mature tuning doesn’t hold them back. I’m not sure if the driver is the same with 021 Robins but they surely perform better here. Timbre is although pretty good, not entirely natural. Perceived sound stage is decent and Imaging is very good. For more context, check out the comparisons.

Quick Comparisons​

Sivga Oriole vs. Sivga Robin​

They have pretty much the same build and the same accessories. Headbands are exactly the same except Orioles’ yolks can swivel 180 degrees and lay flat. Both are very comfortable but Robins are more comfortable with their plush memory foam pads and they can accommodate larger heads and ears. Cables are also the same. They both come with fabric sheathed microphonic cable, 3.5 mm to 6.35 mm jack adapter and a hemp pouch.
Orioles are an improvement over Robins almost in every way. Robins sound thicker, muddier and splashier. Robins don’t have the bass tuck that Orioles have but they have somewhat recessed mids. Compared to Robins, Orioles have forward mids especially in the upper mids region. They both extend very good into the subbass but Orioles have more satisfying impact. Robins feel mushier compared to that.
Female vocals sound much better on Orioles. But they can get sibilant a tad more easily. Male vocals on the other hand, seem to get sibilant earlier on Robins. Male vocals have more body on Robins but bassier passages tend to mask vocals so I again liked the Orioles presentation better.
Lower treble is more emphasized on Robins and this causes them to sound splashier. But upper trebles are more or less the same. Both are very airy but also can get fatiguing with harsh recordings.
Imaging is a little blurry on Robins, Orioles’s imaging is slightly better. Perceived soundstage feels a little wider on Robins thanks to recessed mids but difference is not very big. Orioles are noticeably more detailed and resolving. Timbre is significantly better on Orioles. I’m not sure if they both have the same drivers but even if they do, inferior tonality on Robins affect the technical performance too.

Sivga Oriole vs. Fostex TH610​

TH610s have a warm neutral tonality with a bit of spice in the treble region. Orioles have noticeably warmer tonality. Buildwise I’d say Orioles give more confidence. I’ve heard horror stories about the yolks of the Fostex headbands breaking. TH610s are slightly harder to drive but still quite easily driven.
Bass is much more emphasized and impactful on Orioles. Although TH610s have decent extension in the subbass, Orioles are much more pronounced in this region.
Recession between midbass and lower mids kind of messes up bass guitars also also male vocals on Orioles. They take a step back compared to TH610s. Upper mids are more forward on Orioles, compared to that TH610s again sound more natural and it also helps them to sound wider with female vocals.
Lower treble is similar on both headphones. They both can get sibilant with female vocals. But upper treble is more relaxed on TH610s without sacrificing air. They still feel airy and not as fatiguing as Orioles.
TH610s feels fresher and more open. They have a more natural presentation. Also, imaging is more precise on TH610s. Unsurprisingly in all technical aspects TH610s are superior. They are more resolving, more detailed, sound clearer and have better timbre.

Conclusion​

Like I said earlier, I was pleasantly surprised by Sivga Orioles. They are a significant improvement over their own 021 Robins. While warm signature lovers might still prefer Robins over Orioles, personally I can’t find any reason to, except maybe slightly better comfort on Robins. 50$ price increase is justified in this case. Also I compared them to my TH610s just to see how far they have come and the lack of a big difference kind of frightened me. Probably with better drivers and more attention to tuning they might catch up to other wooden headphone manufacturers like Fostexes and Denons sooner than we all thought. I can’t wait to see the day when headphone companies, like IEM market, are forced to compete with budget alternatives.