Spending nearly $500 on a pair of headphones requires a lot of thought and careful consideration. How do you know you are getting the headphone that is right for you? With the new release of the Sivga P2 Pro, people are wondering if they are worthy to be compared to some headphones that are already on the market in the same price range. Today, we put two Sivga models next to one another – the P2 Pro and the SV023 – to see how they differ and are the same with sound, design, and function.

What Comes In The Box

Sivga stays consistent on what is included with their headphones. You get a nice carrying case (differing in size for the different headphones), a 4.4mm cable with a few adapters, and a hemp pouch for said cables. Being that these two are at the same price point, it makes sense that they would have the same added features in their boxes. 

Aesthetics and Functionality

These two headphones are quite aesthetically different. You can see this is the wood finish alone, with the P2 Pro using light oak wood and the SV023 using walnut. While both are open back design, you can see how the two opt for different styles of the metal grill. The P2 Pro has nearly the entire face of the ear cup as an open design, and the SV023 only opts for a smaller circle near the center for the sound to pass through. The SV023 has a rougher metal feel on that section, while the P2 Pro takes the look more into account with a geometric and smooth pattern. 

Despite them being very different, there are a few fundamental design choices that Sivga decided to stay consistent with. Both opt for a suspended headband, as well as a unique ear pad shape. They are curved to the shape of your head so there is a better seal when listening. Both are comfortable to wear for listening sessions, and don’t cause fatigue over long periods of time. They are both compatible with a host of different audio setups thanks to the many included adapters, so getting these up and running is a breeze. 

Ultimately, when it comes to aesthetics, you can’t go wrong with either design. Each is unique in its own way, bringin character and style to any setup. If the physical look of the headphones is simply a bonus point in your eyes, you will be happy with either of these choices. 

Tech Specs

The technology involved in each of these headphones is where we see the most stark difference. The main difference is in the type of driver, where the P2 Pro has planar magnetic and the SV023 has dynamic. This is an important distinction because it will likely affect the sound you hear. Planar magnetic drivers have a typically brighter sound signature, with a delicate design and exceptional detail across the board. Dynamic drivers are more common and lean on the bassier side, paired with robust construction that is more prone to distortion. 

Without listening to these two, I can tell by their technical specifications that I may enjoy the SV023 more. I am a fan of powerful low ends, and headphones that are too bright are generally fatiguing. Perhaps the detail in a planar magnetic headphone may sway me to appreciate the P2 Pro, but I will not know my exact feelings until I listen to them both. Now it's time to investigate the sound. 

Listening Review

Soundstage

The soundstages on these headphones are similar because they are both open-back. The P2 Pro and SV023 are wide, have good dynamics, and have accurate imaging. The field is a bit more narrow on the SV023, likely because the open-back design is not on the entire earcup. The P2 Pro has a much wider stage and the instruments are less congealed in the stereo field. The SV023 makes everything very tight, but not oppressively so. Noise cancellation is better on the SV023, whereas the P2 Pro allows for more ambient noise bleed during use. 

The sound signature of these headphones is noticeably different, and this is due to the different drivers in their initial construction. As mentioned before, the P2 Pro is a planar magnetic headphone, so the signature is naturally brighter and is accentuated in the treble. On the flip side, the SV023 is a dynamic driver; it leans more bass-heavy and has a darker tone. The hypothesis proposed earlier rings true. Still, despite these both following their stereotypes, I was impressed by the range on the P2 Pro and the clarity provided in the SV023. 

Low Frequencies

The low end of a dynamic headphone versus a planar headphone is vastly different. Depending on how you feel about bass, this will definitely be a determining factor for which one is the right fit for you. The SV023 came in with its powerful and driving low end: a deep rumble that you can feel as well as hear. Even with the open-back design, it was grounded and weighty and gave tracks an extra kick. The P2 Pro, however, did impress with its exceptionally detailed sub frequencies and punchy low end. The added color to bass guitars and kick drums was widely appreciated, and it had just a little extra flair to make tracks more interesting. Where it lacked was in sound reproduction: the planar driver makes the bass sound a bit synthetic that may not be everyone’s cup of tea. The SV023 had very natural and accurate reproduction, making instruments sound like they were being played right in the room. 

In particular, I was listening to “Bullet With Butterfly Wings” by Smashing Pumpkins on both headphones. The bass guitars had a nice twang and treble character with the P2 Pro, still while delivering the deep bass kicks to ground the song. The SV023 had that driving factor from the drums, though it lost some of the clarity coming from the layers. What it lacked in clarity came through with natural sounding low tones that made me feel immersed in the track. 

Mid-Range Frequencies

Both mid-ranges are exceptionally detailed with a lot of focus put into the vocals. The SV023 has a particularly V-shaped signature where the vocals rest right in front, and everything else follows close behind it. The P2 Pro offers a frontal vocal response as well, with the reproduction sounding natural and clean. The SV023 also has a lot of clarity in this section, highlighting the many layers and giving them each a chance to shine. These two are quite similar in delivering an impressive and enjoyable mid-range, and when listening to vocals from Joji and Bleachers, I found it was a toss-up as to which I preferred. 

High Frequencies

The high end is another area where the two differ in more apparent ways. The P2 Pro, with its treble-leaning signature, excels here by producing a clean, detailed high end that doesn’t get overwhelming. It doesn’t go shrill or piercing, and stays light and crisp against a powerful low end. The SV023 also delivers this balance: bright, colorful, and airy against a deep bass. It does lack some detail that you see in the P2 Pro, but the SV023 still has a lot of open space at the top end to let frequencies dissipate naturally. It has considerably less power compared to the other ranges, but when it does come through, it's a pleasant listen. 

Listening to Arca made this most apparent. The post-production effects in tracks like “Rakata”, “KLK”, and “Mequetrefe” have a theme of glitchy, high-pitched pops to entertain the audience. These moments of ear candy were best heard in the P2 Pro, where the crisp detail and strong treble response made them stick out more than in the SV023. 

Summary

Sivga has produced two very great headphones. The P2 Pro is for listeners who appreciate a detailed response, full clarity, precision, and treble shine that is represented beautifully with its light oak wood design. The SV023 is darker in design, tone, and bass response, making it the perfect headphone for bass lovers who want a wide soundstage. No matter the choice, you can’t go wrong with either of these Sivga models. 

I highly recommend testing them out for yourself before purchasing. You can get a good idea of how they might sound by reading, but ultimately your own ears will be the best judge. Everyone hears a little differently, so doing a side-by-side test will help you determine what is best for you. 

The Sivga P2 Pro and the Sivga SV023 are both available at Audio46.