Sivga is a chinese brand known for their wooden headphones and build quality for the price and the newest Anser headphone is no different. This $199 headphone will be available on Amazon on Nov 8th at the following link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DK6SSYZ4
This review unit was provided by Sivga directly.
Sivga did not specify the wood type on this unit, but it is stained in a dark mahogany/brown color and is surprisingly lightweight and extrememly comfortable. The unit is open-back and features a large round aluminum grill on the front with a clean and elegant round beveled edge.
The headband and headphone pads both feature a gray breatheable fabric layer that is soft and very comfortable to the touch. The pads have a leather exterior, making this somewhat of a hybrid pad. Comfort is king on these, and this may be one of the most comfortable wood headphones I've worn. It's a great combination of softness and light weight that makes it very easy to wear, and the clamping force is minimal. The unit also has rotating yokes, which helps get proper fit on different heads.
The cups use 3.5mm jacks on both sides, and the included cable terminates in also a 3.5mm stereo jack. Sivga includes a 1/4 inch adapter. The cable has a black cloth braid and is a decent overall cable. It doesn't tangle too much and is lightweight and easy to use. The connectors are also black, but machined metal and overall has a nice look to it.
Sound Impressions
The Anser has a warm and dark sound signature that has a slightly elevated bass response, a focus on the upper-mids, and a dark treble range. It's generally an overall tame and almost muted sound signature, but also one that is non-fatiguing and easy to listen to.
The bass range on the unit I have is slightly elevated, with a subtle bass boost that is tasteful and enjoyable. It does not have a great deal of subbass impact, nor does it punch hard, but fills in the low end well enough to make sure the overall sound signature is not lean. Of course, the treble, or lack of, also helps keep the body of the overall tonality on the rich and heavy side.
The midrange is fairly consistent and even. There is a slight emphasis in the upper midrange but its not that discernable compared to what it may look like in the graph -- I never found this obnoxiously forward in my piano jazz or vocal music as I would have thought.
The treble though, is rather dark for my tastes. There's quite a dip in this range that makes excitement a bit lacking, but instead provides a warmer body and a more lush and easy-to-listen sound. There is still upper treble extension, so there isn't a lack of air or soundstage but there is a noticeable lack of energy with this headphone on many of my tracks, and sometimes it sounds a little lifeless, although smooth.
The Sennheiser HD600 is plotted above overlaying the Anser and it is definitely audible that the bass is heavier and bigger on the Anser than it is on the HD600 reference. While the majority of the mid-range is similar, I do find the HD600 to have a much better treble range where things do not sound as dark and limited here. That's saying a bit as some find the HD600 slightly veiled because of its treble, although some find it perfect too.
In my case, I would prefer a little more treble on the Anser, and perhaps a little bit more in the HD600 as well. The Anser has a deeper bass though, but with the darker treble, it does make the entire sound a bit more subdued and euphonic in general.
Final Thoughts
The Anser is very pleasant headphone and tuned well for those who like a slightly neutral-dark tuning. It is well-built, attractive, and comfortable to wear, and works well with a lot of music while also being relatively affordable.
--
View the product ratings on
Antdroid's IEM Ranking List and/or Antdroid's Headphone Ranking List
Comments
Post a Comment