Sivga SM003 Review: The Ideal Entry-Level IEM?

Until a few days ago, I had no idea that the quickly growing audiophile brand, Sivga, has started to offer budget-friendly IEMs in addition to it’s over-hear headphones. In fact, I just tested out the SM002 and was super impressed by the resolution, speed and tuning for the price. So, I was interested to see what Sivga could deliver for 100 bucks. Can this overachieving brand wow us with the performance of their entry-level IEM? And what can you expect in terms of balance?

What's in the Box?

• SM003 IEMs
• 2 cables (one with mic) with 3.5mm termination
• 3 sizes silicone tips
• 3 sizes foram tips
• 3 sizes double-flange silicone tips
• 3 sets of filters

Look and Feel

The build quality of the SM003 seems to align with its price point, featuring silver shells that have a modest and lightweight feel. The design opts for a minimalist approach, focusing on simplicity rather than flashy aesthetics. The isolation and seal were not perfect, but it's worth considering that this can vary for different individuals. Comfort, on the other hand, was not a problem.

Design

Like the SM001 and SM002, the SM003 combines an 8mm dynamic driver and a balanced armature to achieve its sound signature. And like the other two models, Sivga offers two cable options for the SM003: an OFC silver-plated cable with a 3.5mm termination, and a cable with a microphone and remote for making calls. The cables feature MMCX connections, providing the flexibility to upgrade to a balanced connection if desired.

Sound Impressions

Soundstage

The SM003 offers a noteworthy soundstage, which helps sets it apart from other entry-level IEMs at this price point. The mix feels almost positioned slightly back from the center, creating an added sense of space. In fact, instrument placement behind the ear shows incredible depth, even is the height dimension may not be as remarkable. The SM003 also effectively showcases well-distributed instruments across the stereo field. And overall, the SM003 delivers a colorful and multidimensional soundstage that even discerning audiophiles will appreciate.

Lows

The lows are tight, fast and impactful. There seems to be some extra oomph in the lower bass registers, though you’ll feel plenty of power throughout the low-end. There is good sub-frequency extension here, and I felt a little vibration in my jaw when testing a few hip-hop tracks. So, overall, the bass offers some immersive depth. At the same time, string instruments in this range sound impressively natural and detailed; there’s no sense of artificial weight or color added to the instrument, even though the overall presentation feels warm and majestic. And, in general, it’s hard to ignore how clean the bass presents, never creeping into the higher frequencies or bloating the low-end.

Mids

The upper mids have significantly more presence than the lower-mids. And given this imbalance, the mids can cause a some harshness at times, especially with respect to vocals. I even found myself having to turn down the volume on certain vocal performances. That being said, like the SM002, the midrange transparency is top-notch and the forward leaning vocals, along with the impressive level of nuance results in a highly intimate performance. And singer-songwriter tracks sound especially good, given the beautifully detailed solo instruments and incredibly natural vocal delivery. In addition, snares that hit in that pronounced midrange sweet spot have fantastic snap and energy. As a result, fast funk and pop tracks show tons of energy and momentum.

Highs

Given that the mids can prove harsh at times, I was expecting to run into some discomfort in the highs as well. But even playing some very high pitched trumpets, my ears stayed intact. So, although there’s solid extension here, the SM003 still remains relatively easy on the ears at the highest peaks. Still, there were some areas of the treble that protruded a little too much through the mix. So, again, even with respect to this range, I found myself adjusting the volume here and there. But again, the resolution is best in its class, if you’re listening to a lot of acoustic genres, you’ll certainly get an impressively clean transparent string or brass instrument in this range as well. 

Summary

If you can handle the sometimes bold high-mids, the SM003 should overdeliver for the price. It offers a charismatic sound signature with an impressive soundstage, punchy bass, crystal clear vocals, and great detail. And if you value detachable cables and the option to make calls, the SM003 is definitely worth considering as an entry-level IEM. 

You can buy the Sivga SM003 IEM at Audio 46.

Specifications

Drivers: 8mm Dynamic + 1 Balanced Armartures

Impedance: 16 Ohms

Sensitivity: 105 dB

Frequency Response: 20Hz – 20kHz