Sivga Lyrebird Review: Quad-Driver Setup for Under $200

Sivga earphones have always been a favorite at Audio46. The Que, Que UTG, Nightingale, and Nightingale Pro are all well-known models that are a great value for anyone looking for a decent upgrade. Now, they've released the Lyrebird, which sits right in the middle between the Ques and Nightingales. What does Sivga give you for the $165 price point? Does it hold a candle to other $150 IEMs? We analyzed the details of the Lyrebird and its competition to see if it continues Sivga's legacy of excellently valued products.

Sivga has always impressed with its product build quality. Wooden shells with high-quality cables are the usual equation for a solid Sivga IEM, and the Lyrebird fits right into that mold. The Lyrebird has a smaller shell than we've seen from Sivga in the past, which makes it a better fit for smaller ears. The triangular design is sleek and doesn't stand out too much, but it is a nice change from the teardrop shape you expect from some IEMs. The wooden shell is beautifully crafted and set in resin to shine in the right light. The 2-pin connection on the IEM is slightly recessed, but it is still a good match for a lot of third-party cables. The Lyrebird was a very comfortable IEM, and with the ability to switch out the eartips for any of the included assortment or your own third-party ones, you could find the right seal and be able to listen for hours. 

The cable that comes with the Lyrebird ends in a 4.4mm termination. This balanced connection makes the Lyrebird a good match for external DACs and amps that you might be pairing with the IEMs. I liked pairing the Lyrebird with the FiiO BTR17, the IKKO Heimdallr, or the iFi GO Link Max 2 for an elevated listening experience. Both devices had great synergy with the profile of the Lyrebird, so you were able to listen in whichever way was most convenient for you. 

• Driver: Quad-driver hybrid per side
• Configuration: 
  • 10mm Dynamic Driver
  • Balanced Armature 
  • Micro Planar
  • 9.2mm Piezoelectric Ceramic
• Impedance: 14Ω±15% @1kHz
• Sensitivity: 108±3dB @1kHz
• Frequency Response: 20 Hz - 20 kHz
• THD: ≤ 1% @ 1kHz
• Plug: 4.4mm balanced
• Cable: 120±10cm hybrid cable

SOUNDSTAGE & IMAGING

What does the Sivga Lyrebird sound like? The first thing I noticed was how detailed the signature was. It was incredibly balanced throughout the profile, and the soundstage was revealed to be quite expansive. It expands out very far horizontally, so there is a lot of space for instruments to spread out. The treble allows the soundstage to stretch upwards in height, so the sound becomes tall and much grander. The Lyrebird doesn't have a lot of depth, so layers stay pretty close to the front. The imaging, despite being very close, was still well-placed across the horizontal space the soundstage provided. The Lyrebird didn't give the impression of a reference IEM, but the level of detail did make it a decent contender for those who love analytical listening. 

In terms of a sonic profile, it was noted before that the Sivga Lyrebird has a balanced signature. The signature leaned more towards the treble, with bright detail being the most memorable thing in every track. The bass was still punchy and effectively driving, but it definitely took a backseat in comparison to the treble. It was a nice balance because of the heavy detail throughout, and it kept tracks engaging while listening. The dynamics from bass to treble made the Lyrebird a great contender for everyday, casual listening as opposed to reference sound. If you like detailed sound that isn't very heavy, the Lyrebird offers a bright alternative that is a great match for any genre.

BASS FREQUENCIES

The low-end in the Lyrebird is rich and impactful. The depth is minimal on these IEMs, but the bass response brings it out the most in the way it extends into the sub-bass region. As previously mentioned, the bass takes a backseat so it doesn't overtake the entire signature. That being said, the Lyrebird does produce a colorful and punchy bass response for the tracks and genres that are more low-end focused. The textures of bass percussion and low strings come out with a lot of timbral detail to make them instantly recognizable. I appreciated how the low end was able to build a solid foundation despite being on the thinner side, but it still had enough body to be weighty when it needed to be. It did not overwhelm and let the texture and detail come through the most. 

MIDRANGE FREQUENCIES

The midrange is where the most detail of the Lyrebird lives. The midrange comes the most forward in the signature, highlighting detail and texture across the wide soundstage. Instruments get reproduced exceptionally well, and you can easily tell the difference between instruments and pick apart their minor differences. The separation in this range was shown horizontally, though there was some detail in the layering that extended ever so slightly backwards. The balanced armature and planar magnetic driver do a great job in recreating lots of detail in every genre. I liked how vocals sounded smooth and very natural amongst all the colorful instruments, so you weren't left with too synthetic of a sound. The Lyrebird was great for reproducing those high-energy tracks with a lot of midrange melodies, but it was just as good in more minimal and softer tracks.

TREBLE FREQUENCIES

The treble was a standout feature in the Lyrebird. The Lyrebird is equipped with a ceramic piezoelectric driver, which invites a lot more detail and attention to the ultra-high frequency range. The treble came forward and brought a lot of precision and clarity to the entire signature. It is vibrant and colorful, really opens up the signature in terms of height and space. You hear how frequencies extend and ring upwards, and they dissipate more naturally as opposed to getting cut off at an awkward limit. The colorful reproduction of these high-end frequencies, paired with the precise placement across the sound field, makes the Lyrebird a very entertaining and dynamic listening experience that is great for more than just music. Gaming detail and cinema dialogue were both well reproduced, making the Lyrebird a multi-use tool.

For less than $200, the Lyrebird sits amongst models that have already made a name for themselves. The Sennheiser IE 200 is a go-to for traveling musicians and engineers who need reliable, portable sound. The Meze Alba has become a sought-after upgrade for detailed listening that is more than just a flat response. Where does the Lyrebird fit into this mix? 

Sonically, these three IEMs are quite different. The Sennheiser IEMs are the most natural and neutral of the bunch, focusing on honest sound reproduction so they can be used as a monitoring earphone above all else. Things still sound very musical, but there is a certain analytical quality that makes this a clever tool for traveling musicians. The musicality and balance are similar to those of the Meze Alba, where you have the midrange coming forward to highlight the main melodies. The sound reproduction is still very natural but has a more dynamic color to it, making it better for entertainment rather than strictly monitoring. The Lyrebird shares the engaging quality with the Alba, but the Lyrebird produces a more balanced sound, like the Sennheiser IE 200. It is punchier in its sound reproduction to be a little more colorful and dynamic, and not as reference-like as the Sennheiser. 

Depending on what use case you have for the IEMs, you may find you have a preference for one option over the other. Below is a helpful table detailing all the main differences between the Lyrebird and its competition to guide you through which may suit your needs more. 

The Sivga Lyrebird makes its way into the IEM market and faces some tough competition. However, these IEMs quickly make a name for themselves by providing an engaging and precise listening experience that keeps you entertained for any kind of listening session. Their precise imaging and open top-end space make listening to them non-fatiguing, even with thinner layers that stay fairly close. If you're looking for reference sound, you likely won't find it here; instead, you are set to have an engaging and fun listening session when you choose the Lyrebird for your tracks. 

You can get the Sivga Lyrebird at Audio46.