Sivga Oriole Review

I’m always excited to hear something new from Sivga. Their open and closed-back wooden headphones have been consistently good and you can always expect a fair price too. Recent efforts from Sivga have been very well-received, like the SV021 and SV023. Both headphones have been reviewed here, and now Sivga is welcoming another headphone into its lineup. The new Oriole is a wooden closed-back headphone for $199. It is a continuation of their affordable and stylish closed headphones, meant to be their finest yet. Let’s see exactly what Sivga can bring this time around.

What You Get

• Oriole headphones
• 3.5mm cable
• Quarter-inch adapter
• Hemp carrying bag

Look and Feel

You always have to admire the craftsmanship that goes into making a Sivga headphone. The Oriole has its classic rosewood, seen on the SV021, and also high-end musical instruments. Its surface is glossed with piano paint, and with the engraved logo, the Oriole has a sleek and classy design. The metal frame that supports the ear cups and headband makes for an even more fashionable build. In terms of comfort, the Oriole features memory foam pads that offer a snug fit. I think my big ears just squeeze in their cups, so even though they didn’t have enough breathing room the Oriole was still comfortable.

Design

The Oriole uses a 50mm dynamic driver. With its low impedance, you can drive these headphones with any 3.5mm headphone jack. It gives you plenty of power, and the output always feels consistently amplified.

• Frequency response: 20Hz – 20KHz
• Sensitivity: 108dB+/- 3dB
• Impedance: 32 Ohm+/-15%

Soundstage

The Oriole is one of those headphones with all of the characteristics of a good closed-back, with just a little more. Its stereo field is wide enough to feel like it encompasses the complete area of response. Never feeling too closed in, the Oriole makes room for all of the sound elements to perform naturally. Spatially, the Oriole gives your tracks an impressive amount of separation, strengthening the identity of each individual instrument. The imaging does a great job of intertwining these layers to stack on each other. Each element is positioned to add slightly more dimension to the sound field. In effect, the Oriole is able to deliver a richer sound environment that stands out on a closed-back headphone. It isn’t completely holographic, but instruments have an easy time sticking out.

Low End

If you like the bass on the SV021, then the Oriole is a great expansion of that sound. The Oriole has a smooth presence to it. Its tone expresses a lively bass that shakes more than it slams. There is still a satisfying punch to it, but the real texture comes from the sub-bass. These frequencies have the most meat to them, resonating with a throaty rumble. It excited most electronic and pop tracks while providing a solid lift for rock and alternative genres too. Bass grooves are clear and full, with notes that you can feel vibrating outward.

Mids

Some of the midrange frequencies can feel nice and whole, but the low-mids have some quirks that take away from its overall clarity. I felt that there was a bit of hollowness in the mids, particularly in the lower regions. There was a certain drive missing that resulted in a recession in a few frequency bands. Kick drums feel too thin, and strings don’t exactly provide much warmth. However, the upper mids are very transparent. Vocals are energetic and crisp in their resolution. They showcase nice detail at a surface level, and always appear dignified. The Oriole has a midrange that benefits tracks busy with fast instrumental and clear vocals, but slower orchestral and acoustic tracks have a few missing pieces.

Highs

The highs on the Oriole have a natural spark to them. While the frequencies are displayed naturally, there is a strong sizzle to the tone. It is so satisfying to listen to these highs taper off, highlighting reverb tails and vocal sibilance. Great height is established by this response, but it isn’t airy. They sparkle in their space and provide solid energy to the region. Like the bass, this is a tone you can feel as well as hear. The highs have a forwardness to them that makes you feel their resonance with minimal harshness. A fun and engaging treble to entice yourself with.

Summary

When Sivga comes out with new headphones, you can always expect something good. The Oriole is yet another great addition to their library of wooden headphones. Out of all of their closed-back headphones, the Oriole is one of the most colorful I have heard from them, with some engaging bass and treble. Its wooden cups are well-crafted as ever and feel snug when worn for multiple hours. For $199, you don’t have as many great wooden closed-back headphones as the Oriole.

The Sivga Oriole is available at Audio46.