Do the Sivga SV021 Pro headphones take the budget crown from the Sivga Robin?

(Image credit: SIVGA)

Chances are you didn’t buy your last pair of headphones because a chart told you to. You bought them because they felt right. They sounded good for eight-hour stretches. They didn’t clamp your skull like a vice. And crucially, they let you get on with your work.

That’s exactly why the original Sivga SV021 headphones, nicknamed Sivga Robin, launched in 2021, became a bit of a word-of-mouth hit. They weren't flashy, hyped or chasing trends. They just got the basics right. Balanced sound, natural tonality and comfort you could forget about once the playlist started. And they were also some of the best budget headphones out there too.

Now Sivga is back with the SV021 Pro (the Robin 2?), launching on 5 February 2026, and it’s very much an evolution rather than a reinvention.

Why the SV021s mattered

The original Sivga Robin earned its following by being quietly sensible. It was a closed-back headphone that didn’t sound boxed-in. It was accurate without being clinical. And it managed to feel “musical” whether you were colour grading, laying down a rough mix or just trying to focus through email hell.

No harsh treble fatigue. No overcooked bass. Just a sound signature that worked across genres and tasks, hour after hour. With the SV021 Pro, SIVGA is aiming to keep that easy-going DNA, but sharpen things up where it counts. And it's good to see – with releases like the FiiO FT1, offering a point of difference in the budget sphere with its excellent bass, the Robin 2 needs to stand out from the crowd somehow.

The SIVGA SV021 Pro headphones are shown plugged into a laptop with a braided cable, emphasizing the dual-entry 3.5mm connections on the wooden earcups. — (Image credit: SIVGA)

At its heart is a newly developed 50mm aluminium diaphragm dynamic driver; designed to be stiffer, better controlled and more precise. SIVGA has achieved this through a complex multi-layered approach, using a five-layer composite diaphragm and a six-layer reinforced dome structure.

In practice, that should translate into cleaner separation, clearer dialogue and less guesswork when you’re making decisions through the mids and highs where detail lives.

The tuning aims to offer more detail and dynamics, but without tipping into the fatiguing “studio microscope” territory that can kill long sessions. Importantly, SIVGA isn't chasing artificial excitement here; the Pro is going for natural clarity, not exaggerated sparkle.

Wood, comfort and the long-haul test

SIVGA’s use of handcrafted wooden earcups was part of the SV021’s original charm, and the Pro doubles down with Beechwood and Zebrawood options, which look stunning in these images.

Comfort-wise, the velour ear pads have been widened, while the metal support structure is designed to distribute weight evenly. At 289g, these cans will be light enough to disappear once you’re in flow.

A top-down perspective of the SIVGA SV021 Pro headphones lying next to a laptop, showcasing the thick, contoured black ear pads and the fabric-lined headband. — (Image credit: SIVGA)

Elsewhere, the detachable oxygen-free copper cable might not be exciting, but it’s the sort of practical detail you'll appreciate in use. It uses standard 3.5mm connectors, meaning it's durable, low distortion and easy to replace or upgrade; exactly what you want from something that lives in a bag, under a desk or wrapped around a chair leg.

Furthermore, with an impedance of 45Ω and high sensitivity, these headphones promise to be truly "plug-and-play". You shouldn't need a bulky desktop amp to get the best out of them.

If the original SV021 was the headphone you recommended to friends with the phrase “just trust me”, the SV021 Pro looks set to be the same; only better tuned for the realities of modern creative work. Released on 5 February, they'll be priced at $179 / £179 / €199 and available worldwide from Amazon.

Tom May is an award-winning journalist specialising in art, design, photography and technology. His latest book, The 50 Greatest Designers (Arcturus Publishing), was published this June. He's also author of Great TED Talks: Creativity (Pavilion Books). Tom was previously editor of Professional Photography magazine, associate editor at Creative Bloq, and deputy editor at net magazine.

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