Disclosure: I’d like to thank SIVGA for providing me with the SV021 Pro V2 for this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own, and SIVGA had no say or input on the contents of this review.

The SIVGA SV021 Pro V2 is a $179 USD closed-back over-ear headphone that continues SIVGA’s familiar focus on wood-based designs, lightweight comfort, and easy-to-drive performance. It is not trying to be a reference headphone, nor is it trying to compete with open-back models on staging or resolution. Instead, the SV021 Pro V2 is a practical, musical, and stylish closed-back headphone that is intended to work well with a wide range of sources.

After spending, well, quite a bit of time with the SV021 Pro V2, I came away feeling that this is one of SIVGA’s more balanced efforts in the affordable closed-back category, which is typically an underserved market with few quality options. It should be noted that the SV021 Pro V2 is the second version of the SV021 Pro, which needed some optimization based on feedback. If you have the non-V2 version, none of my sound impressions will apply to you. So, let’s get into things.

• SIVGA SV021 Pro V2
• Dual 3.5mm to 3.5mm cable
• Cloth (hemp) storage pouch
• 3.5mm to 6.35mm adaptor

SIVGA has a talent for making headphones look more expensive than they are, and the SV021 Pro V2 continues this trend. It has a classic closed-back look with a clean, understated design that feels more mature and elegant than flashy. The wood-finished cups give it a warmer and more premium appearance than the average plastic-heavy headphone in this price range, and the overall aesthetic fits nicely into SIVGA’s overall style. The SV021 Pro V2 comes in two colors: Zebrawood (the version I have) and Beachwood (a lighter brown color).

When handling it, the SV021 Pro V2 feels light but not cheap, thanks to the use of aluminum for the yokes, earcup surround, and headband. The wooden earcups are also smooth and fit the overall aesthetic very well. It’s honestly one of the nicest-looking headphones I’ve been able to review in a while.

At 289 grams, it is lighter than many other dynamic-driver closed-back headphones, yet without compromising on build quality. That low weight plays a big role in its comfort, especially during longer listening sessions. It never feels like it is pulling down on your head, and the headband distributes weight reasonably well.

The headband adjustment mechanism is simple and easy to use. There is a little bit of that “lightweight headphone” character to the frame, but I did not find it concerning during daily use. It feels like SIVGA prioritized comfort and low weight over making the headphone feel overly dense or tank-like. The top of the headband has a very nice leather-like material with elegant stitching, with the bottom of the headband being made from a soft fabric with decent cushioning.

My only issue with the headband design is that the headphones are just slightly too large for me. When I put the headphones on a lineup the earcups with my ears, there is a slight gap between the headband and the top of my head, meaning when the headband settles on my head, the earcups are a tad lower than where they need to be. This can be mitigated by moving the headband forward on my head by a few millimeters, but if you have a smaller head, you will likely encounter this issue. Something to be aware of, and like I always suggest, try before you buy.

The ear pads are soft and comfortable, with enough cushioning to avoid immediate pressure around the ears. The cups are not enormous, so those with larger ears may find the fit slightly snug, but it wasn’t an issue for me. The clamp force is moderate, meaning it is enough to maintain a good seal, but not so tight that it causes discomfort or fatigue over time.

The seal is important because the SV021 Pro V2 is a closed-back headphone, and any breaks in the seal affect the frequency response, especially the bass. Isolation is decent for home use, office listening, or situations where you want to block out some ambient noise without going wireless or using ANC. It will not isolate like a studio headphone, but it does a respectable job of keeping your music in and some outside noise out.

The headphone uses a detachable cable featuring dual 3.5mm connections on the headphone side and a 3.5mm termination on the source side. I always appreciate it when brands use standard connectors because it makes cable replacement much easier. The included cable is serviceable, though not especially luxurious. It is flexible enough, has a reasonable length for desktop listening, and does not feel overly stiff. There are some microphonics when the cable moves against a surface, and it has a tendency to tangle or kink easily. Not my most favorite cable, but definitely one of the better stock cables for a headphone.

I do like that SIVGA includes a cloth storage pouch. At this price, it would be easy not to include it, and it helps reinforce the portability aspect of the SV021 Pro V2.

On paper, the SIVGA SV021 Pro V2 is rated at a 45Ω impedance and 106dB sensitivity. In real-world use, this means it is very easy to drive. You do not need a desktop amplifier to get good volume or strong performance from these headphones.

I had no trouble running it from DAC/Amps like the FiiO K11, Fosi Audio MD3, or even the Apple USB-C dongle DAC. Portable sources like the HIDIZS AP80 PRO MAX, SnowSky Disc, and even the HiBy R1 had no issues here either. This makes the SV021 Pro V2 a good option for listeners who want a proper wired over-ear headphone but do not want to build an entire desktop stack around it.

That said, it does still benefit from cleaner and more capable sources. With my FiiO K13 R2R, bass control improved, the stage felt a bit more organized, and the overall presentation gained a little more body and smoothness. The SV021 Pro V2 does not scale endlessly, but it responds well enough to better gear that I would recommend pairing it with at least a decent dongle DAC or entry-level desktop amp if you want to hear it at its best.

From a non-audiophile perspective, you can plug it into almost anything and get good sound, but a proper DAC/amp helps tighten things up and improve the presentation.

The SIVGA SV021 Pro V2 has a warm, slightly full-bodied sound signature with an emphasis on musicality. This is not a cold or analytical headphone. Instead, it presents music with a sense of weight and smoothness that makes it easy to listen to for long periods, making it fairly accessible.

The tuning leans toward a warm V-shape, though I would not call it aggressively recessed in the midrange (thankfully, since some of you may know I do prefer mid-centric signatures). The bass has some lift, vocals are smooth and reasonably natural, and the treble has enough energy to add clarity without being sharp or sibilant. For casual music listening (rock, pop, acoustic, jazz, and electronic music), the SV021 Pro V2 is very enjoyable.

It is also important to remember that this is a closed-back dynamic driver headphone, not an open-back planar. It has a more intimate and direct presentation, with less air and openness than something like the HIFIMAN Sundara. However, it also gives you better isolation, stronger low-end punch, and a more practical listening experience in most environments. Let’s get into my detailed impressions.

Bass

The bass is one of the SV021 Pro V2’s defining traits. It sounds full, warm, and punchy, with enough emphasis to give tracks a sense of weight. It has body, impact, and even a bit of fun in the low end.

Sub-bass extension is pretty solid. Electronic tracks have enough rumble to feel engaging, and movie scores or modern pop tracks come across with good depth. It does not hit with the same sheer authority as some larger or more bass-focused headphones, but there is enough low-end presence to make the SV021 Pro V2 feel energetic.

The mid-bass is more noticeable than the sub-bass, which is mainly why I described the bass as one of the SV021 Pro V2’s defining traits. Kick drums have a nice thump and natural-sounding impact, and bass guitars sound warm and well-rounded. Both rock and electronic music have a pleasing sense of drive. On tracks like “Angel” by Massive Attack or “Avaritia” by deadmau5, the SV021 Pro V2 delivers a satisfying foundation without sounding completely loose or uncontrolled. The bass lines in, well, any Dire Straits track, but specifically those from their first album (self-titled), are prominent and have good decay.

That said, the bass is not perfectly neutral. It can sound a little thick on some recordings, especially tracks that already have a lot of elevated low-end energy. The bass is generally controlled, but it is not the tightest or fastest bass. Compared to a good planar headphone, the SV021 Pro V2 has a softer leaning edge and a rounder decay.

For most listeners, I think the bass quantity will be a positive. It makes the headphone sound rich and enjoyable, especially at lower listening volumes. Those seeking something that sounds analytical should look elsewhere. Personally, I enjoy this bass tuning for most listening, and even the odd critical listening session. It gives the SV021 Pro V2 character and helps it avoid the dry, flat sound that some affordable closed-back headphones can fall into.

Midrange

The midrange of the SV021 Pro V2 is smooth and slightly warm. Vocals have good body, and instruments like acoustic guitars and pianos come through in a pleasing tone. This is where the headphone’s musical tuning works in its favor.

Male vocals sound full and rich, with enough warmth to give them weight without becoming muddy. Lower-register vocals in particular benefit from the SV021 Pro V2’s added body. There is a natural fullness here that makes singer-songwriter, jazz, and classic rock tracks very easy to enjoy. If we go back to that first Dire Straits album, Mark Knopfler’s voice retains his rough edges and varied registers that he exhibits in some tracks. Listening to a Mark Lanegan track like “Kingdom of Rain”, his deep chested vocals come through just right.

Female vocals are clear and smooth, though not overly forward. The SV021 Pro V2 does not push vocals aggressively into your face. Instead, they sit naturally in the mix, slightly behind the bass and treble emphasis but not buried. This makes the headphone forgiving, especially with brighter or less-than-perfect recordings.

There is a slight closed-back coloration in the midrange. Some instruments can sound a bit rounded or boxed-in compared with a more open headphone. This is not unusual for a closed-back design, and it is not severe enough to ruin the listening experience, but it is noticeable if you compare it directly to an open-back headphone with a more spacious presentation.

Acoustic instruments have good timbre overall. Guitars sound woody and natural, and pianos have decent note weight.

For vocal-focused listeners, I think the SV021 Pro V2 performs well. It is not a midrange specialist in the way something like a Sennheiser HD 600-series headphone is, but it delivers a pleasant and relaxed vocal presentation that’s suitable for long listening sessions, yet detailed enough to satisfy the audiophile in you.

Treble

The treble on the SV021 Pro V2 is smooth, controlled, and generally non-fatiguing. It does not chase extreme sparkle or air, but SIVGA has given it enough upper-end presence to keep the headphone from sounding overly dark.

Cymbals have decent bite and impact, and string instruments have enough texture to satisfy most listeners. I did not find the SV021 Pro V2 sharp or piercing during normal listening, which is a good thing for anyone sensitive to harshness or sibilance. Poorly recorded tracks remain listenable, and brighter pop or rock mixes do not become unbearable.

However, the trade-off is that treble extension is only average. If you are looking for a very airy, open, sparkly sound, this is not the headphone I would choose. The SV021 Pro V2 has clarity, but it does not have the top-end openness of a more treble-forward dynamic headphone. This headphone will sound more intimate and relaxing by comparison.

In the context of its tuning, I think the treble works well. It complements the warm bass and smooth midrange without drawing too much attention to itself. This is a headphone tuned more for enjoyment than analysis, and the treble reflects that philosophy. I can live with that.

Technical Performance

The SV021 Pro V2 is technically competent, but it does not perform better than its price point. Its strengths are comfort, tone, bass weight, and easy listening. Its limitations show up more in staging, separation, and fine detail retrieval.

Soundstage is pretty decent for a closed-back headphone. It does not feel claustrophobic, but it also does not create a large out-of-head presentation. The stage mostly stays around your head, with moderate width and only a modest sense of depth. Again, this is somewhat expected given the design and is certainly listenable.

The stage is overall well organized for most music genres. Left-right placement is clear, and the headphones do a good job keeping vocals centered. On tracks with obvious stereo effects, such as Pink Floyd’s “Money” or that beginning drum sequence “Money for Nothing” by Dire Straits, the panning is easy to follow, though it does not float as freely as it would on a good open-back headphone.

Imaging is solid. Instruments and vocals occupy defined positions, and the SV021 Pro V2 avoids sounding blurry in simple to moderately busy tracks. With dense arrangements, however, separation can become a bit compressed. The warm tuning and closed-back design mean that complex mixes do not always have the most open or layered presentation.

Detail retrieval is also good for the price, but not exceptional. You can hear small background elements, room reverb, and texture in vocals, but the headphones do not dig into microdetail the way more analytical headphones do. Again, I think this is a deliberate trade-off for the tuning choice.

The overall dynamics are enjoyable. The SV021 Pro V2 has a good sense of punch, especially in the bass and lower midrange. Macro dynamics are stronger than micro dynamics, meaning it handles big swings in energy better than subtle low-level shifts.

The SIVGA SV021 Pro V2 is a very enjoyable closed-back headphone. It combines a very attractive design, lightweight comfort, easy drivability, and a warm, musical sound signature that works well across a wide range of genres and sources.

Its biggest strength is that it is simply easy to like. The bass has satisfying weight, the midrange is smooth and natural enough, and the treble avoids harshness and sounding too dark. It is the kind of headphone I could put on for a few hours while working, relaxing, or listening casually without feeling the need to constantly analyze what I’m listening to.

Of course, it is not perfect. The bass can sound a little thick on some tracks with a lot of mid-bass, and the treble does not offer the most air or sparkle. The included accessories are also fairly basic, and I would have liked a cable with less microphonics.

Those criticisms do not take away from what SIVGA gets right here. At around $179 USD, the SV021 Pro V2 does so much right that it is easy to forgive the compromises. In an audiophile world where we often obsess over detail retrieval and neutrality, the SIVGA SV021 Pro V2 is a reminder that musicality and enjoyment still matter. It may not be the most technical headphone in its class, but it is one I found myself enjoying more and more over time. Great headphone at a great price. Good job, SIVGA!

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