We’re living in a golden age of audio equipment. Technology is better, competition is driving innovation, and the arrival of new global manufacturers is keeping pricing competitive. SIVGA, based in Dongguan, China, is one such company, already setting out their stall with devices like the eye-catching wooden earpiece-toting Robin SV021. The flat-head SIVGA M260 are similarly striking, with cool, retro styling and a universal 3.5mm connection making them a great-sounding, near-universal companion for your audio consumption.
The SIVGA M260 arrive in a grey, fabric-covered hard case, with a reliable zip keeping your earphones safely tucked away. It’s not oversized, and it is pocketable, though you may end up with a pretty hefty lump in your jeans. Best to chuck it in your bag.
The retro styling extends from the metal body of each earpiece, to the clear plastic covering of the silver-plated wound cable. Each of the earpieces has a textured, grip-like metal surface, lending them an industrial, pure-audio outlook, and as someone who grew up in a house packed with old broadcasting equipment, it perfectly emulates the look and feel of 70s/80s audio, while retaining a modern touch, albeit with some distinctly old-school foam covers over the distinctive flat-head buds.
That modernity extends to the quality of the M260’s output. The 14.2mm dynamic drivers are capable of producing a deeply enjoyable and detailed listening experience, while I found that the flathead design and light weight remained comfortable through long listening sessions.
Listening to ‘To Whom It My Concern’, the newest track from A Perfect Circle, you get a great impression of the soundstage, with a decent sense of width and spatiality capturing the depths of Maynard James Keenan’s vocals, and lending the instrumentation a ‘live’ feel, that feels organic and open.
Moving onto something much – much – heavier, the new album from Wage War loses some of its aggression, if only because the M260 isn’t as bass-heavy as a host of other earbuds and headphones these days, even with some EQ wrangling. These are a pair of well-balanced earbuds, and they’ll certainly suit a wide range of musical styles, with a level of precision that ensures you hear every detail that the artist intended.
Returning to a musical comfort food, Alice in Chains MTV Unplugged was the perfect partner for the M260’s extended soundstage and warmer tonality, delivering the live recording perfectly, with Layne and Jerry’s vocals retaining all of their emotion and nuance through No Excuses, while I could practically feel the tone of the bands’ acoustic guitars.
After many years of relying on active noise cancellation, there is a freeing sensation with the M260, though you’ll need to bear in mind that it has virtually no noise-blocking abilities, letting in conversation, street noise and the tapping of my keys as I write this review. I’ve also used them for a few runs, and while they don’t match up with open-ear headphones, you’re definitely still aware of your surroundings.
I, as many are, have been trying to step away from streaming platforms, and the SIVGA M260 fit in perfectly with my iPod Shuffle, both stylistically and audio-wise, letting me take music I actually own on the go, while also not having to think about charging my headphones (the iPod Shuffle is another matter, of course).
I’ve also put the M260 through their paces with plenty of gaming, especially via the Nintendo Switch 2, where the 3.5mm wired connection makes it an ideal, battery-free companion. Here I found that the detail served my RPG gaming needs perfectly, delivering the Witcher 3 Remastered’s soundtrack and Geralt’s distinctive growl with all the detail and clarity you could possibly want, while they just stayed so comfortable throughout as to be practically invisible.
