Firstly I would like to thank Sigva for sending me this sample for review.
*disclaimer: This sample was provided for the purpose of writing a review, no incentive was given to write a favourable review. All opinions expressed are my own subjective findings
Gear Used:
PC > Topping D90 > Topping A90 > Phoenix
Tech Specs:
Style: Over-Ear
Transducer Type: Dynamic Driver
Driver Diameter: 50mm
Sensitivity: 103 dB±3 dB
Impedance: 32Ω±15%
Frequency response: 20 Hz-20 kHz
Plug: 3.5mm
Cable Type: Removable 3.5mm
Color: Zebrawood
Weight: 296g
Packaging, Build Quality and Accessories:
Sivga have put a lot of thought into the initial impressions of the Phoenix, The box is really sturdy and looks quite premium too. The box splits into two parts with the inner bit having a zebra wood like finish, which matches the headphones inside, a nice touch in my opinion. Inside the box you’ll find the headphones neatly nestled inside their carry case, a really pleasant and high quality unboxing experience.
The headphones have real zebrawood cups, metal grills, hybrid leatherette and fabric earpads, a metal headband and leather comfort strap. They are an extremely well built headphone that uses good materials yet are still lightweight and comfortable. The stock cable terminates in a standard 3.5mm jack, with dual 2.5mm mono jacks into the headphones, it is soft and fabric coated, but a little on the thinner side. It does however have excellent strain relief on the 3.5mm jack and should last a while.
Accessory wise you get a really nice hard leatherette case which is perfectly shaped for carrying the Phoenix in, along with a small fabric pouch that holds the detachable cable. The Phoenix have dual 2.5mm sockets on them, so it would be easy to get a balanced cable for them in the future. Included with mine were a set of the new pads Sigva are providing with the Phoenix which are perforated leatherette, these do change the sound a little and they are really easy to change.
Comfort:
The headband is soft and I always prefer a comfort strap style for even pressure distribution, however the adjustment range on the Phoenix is quite small and those with larger heads might struggle a little. The earpads are comfortable but a little shallow, the clamp force is not too tight, all this leads to a headphone that is very comfortable for me to wear for long listening sessions. Comfort is somewhat subjective so your mileage may vary depending on the size and shape of your head and ears.
These are open back so that helps with heat, but they don’t really isolate even though the design is slim and almost portable.
Sound:
Lows: The Phoenix manage to be a bass oriented headphone, yet without being a true basshead model. There is a lot of warmth and presence down low, but they are well behaved and controlled. There is tons of body to the sound and this will please those who enjoy the likes of the Meze 99 Classic etc… These are not made to be a monitoring headphone, instead the offer up a warm and lush sound that is utterly addictive and enjoyable. I find myself just kicking back and enjoying the music instead of trying to analyze it. Those who do prefer a more neutral sound have tons of options out there, but for those who want something a bit more bassy these surely fit the bill. The bass isn’t necessarily all that hard hitting (although it can when needed) instead it has this enveloping warmth from the sub-bass that manages to not make the Phoenix sound congested or overly dark. These are not however the quickest when it comes to timing, and they don’t quite keep up with complex passaged quite as well as some other models in this price range.
Midrange: Whilst there is a lot of body down low, it doesn’t have a huge effect on the midrange luckily. There is a little bit of a veil over lower male vocals, but they still cut through with good presence and a very smooth presentation. Layering here is very well done, the vocals are clearly and cleanly separated and guitars come through with power and authority. There is a good level of detail too, however it is the kind of presentation that allows you to hear it if you want to, rather than be upfront and throw it in your face. Much like the overall sound, these seem tuned for enjoyment rather than analytical listening. Female vocals are smooth and there isn’t any sibilance on these, these don’t have a particularly upfront and intimate midrange, however everything is well presented and nothing is done in an offensive or aggressive way.
Treble: The treble is soft and a little bit laid back for my personal preference, it is also lacking a little bite and precision sounding every so slightly smeared instead of crisp and precise. However they don’t sound too dark overall and there is a good amount of extension and presence, enough to satisfy most listeners. As per usual this is fairly genre dependent and recordings with well recorded treble will of course sound better, with pretty impressive tonality, not sounding artificial or strained. Heavy metal isn’t the most exciting genre through these, but put on some jazz/acoustic and you get a much more pleasant sound which sounds a lot more true to source.
Perforated Leatherette Earpads:
The alternative pads are quite comfortable and a little deeper than the stock ones, and they bring out a little bit more sparkle in the treble region but they also loose a little of that warmth and body that makes them such a pleasure to listen to out of the box. They end up sounding a little more controlled and tighter which works well with heavier genres, the bass has less sub-bass focus and more mid-bass impact than the stock pads.
If you are looking for a fuller bodied sound stick with the stock earpads, if you want a little more balance and energy the perforated leatherette are definitely the way to go. I find the perforated leatherette fit my personal tastes a little better, but there is something quite addictive about the stock sound.
Soundstaging:
The soundstage on the Phoenix isn’t necessarily a stand out point of their sound signature, however they do have quite a wide presentation and the instrument separation is always great on them. During more complex mixes they do sometimes sound a little congested, but stick with softer genres and they are a pleasure to listen to.
Gaming:
I decided to use these for a bit whilst gaming (BF V) on my PC and I was really surprised how good their spatial accuracy was. These make a truly awesome gaming headphone with the help of a Mod Mic. The full low end helps with explosions yet it’s the spatial accuracy that caught me off guard, you have hear every little detail and easily pinpoint enemies.
Conclusion:
This is an interesting headphone in this price range, if you want a closed back you have offerings from Meze, if you want an open back you have the HiFiMAN Deva and sometimes the Sennheiser HD600 series. Yet the Phoenix stand out a little in some ways, they are compact and easy to drive (at the expense of having limited adjustment for different head sizes and slightly shallow pads) and they have a warm and full sound signature yet they don’t lack clarity or sound dull and dark overall.
The Phoenix is incredibly well built and the stock pads are there for pure smooth and easy listening, whereas fitting the perforated leatherette pads tightens up the sound, adds a bit more impact and excitement at the expense of a little body.
Technically the HiFiMAN Deva are superior, but they don’t have that alluring warmth that the Phoenix do, likewise the Meze 99 Classic are another competitor with slightly more powerful bass that does sometimes overwhelm the rest of the sound. So as long as you have your expectations right, I think the Phoenix is a brilliant purchase for their price, and they double up for gaming duties really well too.
Sound Perfection Rating: 7/10 (warm, smooth, enjoyable – not suited for larger ears/heads and sometimes sound a little congested)