Sivga Peng

Comfort meets wooden beauty with a unique personality

Over the past few weeks the Sivga Peng has become something of, a guilty pleasure of mine. Sometimes in this hobby, we encounter products that might not tick every objective box but somehow capture our hearts through comfort, looks, and distinctive sound profile personality. The Peng is exactly that kind of headphone, it won’t be for everyone, but maybe in this review you will find out if this high-impedance closed back could be one for your collection.

Priced at around $449, these closed-back beauties are exceptionally comfortable and genuinely gorgeous with their African zebrawood cups.

They are far better looking in person than competing options like the FiiO FT1, though admittedly not quite reaching the artisanal heights of for example, a typical $1000 ZMF wooden headphone like the Bokeh Closed below.

But here’s the thing: in this price range, the Peng’s visual appeal is simply outstanding.

So, the sound signature will not be for everyone. Sivga don’t really have a house sound, instead each headphone has a unique sound profile. In the case of the Peng, the first thing you will notice is the rolled-off subbass response paired with a warmer mid-bass; then you’ll know exactly what to expect.

But this unique personality for a closed back (there are many open backs with this type of bass response) is where this headphone has been a bit of a guilty pleasure for the past 4-5 weeks. I believe every headphone collection should embrace different sound signatures, and the Peng offers something genuinely unique for a closed-back in this price range. For those seeking a more ’neutral’ experience, maybe you should look elsewhere, though technically the Peng responds well to a little EQ, but honestly, part of its charm lies in embracing its distinctive personality.

Executive Summary: Pros and Cons

• Pros: Attractive zebrawood cups; midbass warmth; Comfortable, plush angled pads
• Cons: Sub‑bass is lean; laid-back vocals and treble; Power hungry (high‑impedance design)

Let’s first have a look at the unboxing:

Unboxing and Build Quality

The Sivga Peng arrives in an understated yet premium packaging that sets the tone for what’s inside.

The outer box features a clean, minimalist design with a line drawing of the headphone and Sivga branding. The back of the box provides specifications and product details. I do like the “Created with Craftmans Spirit” and this does embody most of Sivga headphones.

Zooming in on those specifications:

Opening the box reveals a high-quality hard carrying case that houses the headphones and accessories.

The hard case itself has a very nice premium look and feel to it, with a textured exterior that feels durable yet sophisticated.

Opening the case reveals the Peng headphones nestled securely inside, immediately showcasing their beautiful wooden earcups and premium wood and metal construction.

You can’t help but admire the look of the wooden earcups especially in the sunshine:

And once you take it out of the case you can really check out those amazing earpads:

The accessories come in a cloth bag:

The Sivga Peng comes with a high-quality 6N OCC (Ohno Continuous Casting) copper cable that reinforces the premium positioning of these headphones.

The complete package includes:

• Sivga Peng headphones
• Detachable 6N OCC cable with 4.4mm balanced termination
• 4.4mm to 3.5mm adapter
• 3.5mm to 6.35mm adapter
• Hemp-textile drawstring pouch for cable storage
• Hard-shell carrying case
• Documentation

Everything about the unboxing and build quality is premium and exceptional in this price range, with materials and construction that feel substantial.

The overall impression is one of careful craftsmanship and attention to detail that elevates these headphones above mass-produced alternatives.

Design and Physical Features

Wood and Metal Craftsmanship

The Sivga Peng’s most obviously feature is undoubtedly its African zebrawood earcups, which exhibit beautiful natural grain patterns under a subtle matte finish:

The frame is constructed from CNC-machined aviation-grade aluminum, with a steel-reinforced headband for long-term durability. The matte grey metal accents contrast elegantly with the warm wood tones, creating a sophisticated aesthetic that feels both modern and timeless.

Even the dual 3.5mm connectors had a quality look to them:

Headband and Adjustment Mechanism

The headband uses a dual-approach design for comfort: a metal structural band provides stability and durability, while a suspended lambskin leather comfort strap distributes weight across the top of the head.

The headband features well-designed grooves to enhance airflow and prevent heat buildup during extended listening sessions.

The adjustment mechanism is smooth and precise, with enough range to accommodate a variety of head sizes. The yoke and pivot system allows 180° cup rotation for easy storage and wearing comfort.

The ability to rotate the cups flat is particularly useful for resting the headphones around your neck or storing them in the included case.

Unique Angled Earpad Design

One of the Peng’s most distinctive features is its aggressively contoured earpads, an uncommon design choice though one we have seen in a few other Sivga headphones over the years:

The angled design is intended to provide a more ergonomic fit and better seal, though as we’ll discuss in the comfort section, this approach has both benefits and drawbacks.

For example, you can see a gap when pressed together:

On my head I found this design to be very comfortable, and I got a decent seal (but I still get the sub-bass roll-off). I noticed however, that on my flat measurement head this design did cause a gap which I believe causes the more exaggrated the mid-bass response measurements that you will see later in the review:

Basically, I think this design is better on humans than on a flat measurement rig, and therefore the bass response in shown my measurements (and others) should not be taken as being as accurate as other designs.

The earpads themselves are thick and generously sized, with an outer ring made of synthetic leather and a face that contacts the skin covered in a soft, velour-like material for comfort.

Exceptional Comfort: A True Guilty Pleasure Experience

Here’s where the Sivga Peng truly excels and becomes that guilty pleasure headphone - the comfort is genuinely exceptional. At 341 grams, these headphones feel remarkably light on the head thanks to excellent weight distribution through the suspended leather comfort strap and perfectly balanced design.

The clamping force is absolutely spot-on - secure enough that you never worry about them slipping, yet so comfortable you can easily forget you’re wearing them during multi-hour listening sessions. The lambskin comfort strap distributes pressure beautifully across the top of the head, eliminating any hotspots that plague many other headphones.

The velour-like material that contacts your skin is supremely comfortable and offers excellent breathability for a closed-back design. While they will naturally warm up during very long sessions (as all closed-backs do), the heat buildup is minimal and rarely becomes an issue.

Technical Features and Driver Technology

At the heart of the Sivga Peng is a sophisticated 50mm dynamic driver assembly that incorporates several advanced technologies. Here are some diagrams provided by SiVGA of the internals:

Copper Ring Diaphragm System

The Peng utilizes a copper ring diaphragm system that Sivga claims provides stable transmission and low distortion. This design approach aims to maintain structural integrity during high-excursion movements, resulting in more controlled bass and lower distortion across the frequency spectrum.

LCP Driver Surround

The driver surround is made from Liquid Crystal Polymer (LCP), a material chosen for its balanced combination of rigidity and flexibility. According to Sivga, this enhances transient response by approximately 30% compared to more conventional materials, resulting in faster, more precise driver movement.

Sapphire Composite Diaphragm

The diaphragm itself is a sapphire composite design that aims to optimize stiffness-to-weight ratio—a critical factor in driver performance. This material choice is intended to deliver cleaner mid and high-frequency details while maintaining coherent bass response.

Diamond-Cut Skeleton Craftsmanship

Sivga employs what they call “diamond-cut skeleton craftsmanship” in the driver housing, creating micron-level acoustic channels that help shape the sound signature. These precision-machined structures are part of the overall acoustic design that contributes to the Peng’s sonic presentation.

High Impedance Design

With a 340Ω impedance, the Peng is designed primarily for use with dedicated headphone amplifiers rather than portable devices or smartphones. This high impedance approach is a deliberate choice that allows for a more sophisticated voice coil design with potentially better control and detail, provided sufficient amplification is available.

Sound Impressions

The Sivga Peng presents an interesting sonic profile that combines clear technical capabilities with a distinctly colored frequency response. Its high-impedance design benefits from proper amplification, and my listening impressions were formed using several capable headphone amplifiers to ensure the Peng was given appropriate power.

Bass

Here’s where the Peng reveals its unique personality - if you’re familiar with the legendary Sennheiser HD600’s bass characteristics, you’ll immediately understand what to expect from the sub-bass region. Like the HD600, the Peng exhibits that classic rolled-off sub-bass response that veteran headphone enthusiasts will recognize instantly. This isn’t a flaw - it’s a deliberate character trait that creates a specific sonic signature.

But here’s where the Peng adds its own twist: the mid-bass region is beautifully warm and adds satisfying weight to the sound that the HD600 lacks. On tracks like Massive Attack’s “Angel,” this warm mid-bass gives the percussion real body and impact, creating a fuller, more satisfying presentation than the leaner HD600 approach. It’s this warm mid-bass that provides the foundation weight that makes music feel substantial and engaging.

The bass response works brilliantly on acoustic instruments where this warmth really shines. On Christian McBride’s " Night Train," the upright bass has wonderful woody resonance and body, with that warm mid-bass emphasis giving it satisfying presence in the mix. While bass-heads seeking deep electronic sub-bass might look elsewhere, those who appreciate the HD600’s restraint but want more warmth and weight will find the Peng’s bass approach deeply satisfying.

Midrange

The midrange is arguably the Peng’s strongest suit, with a natural, slightly forward presentation that places vocals and lead instruments prominently in the mix. Male vocals in particular are rendered with weight and presence — baritones and tenors have a satisfying chest and body. Female vocals remain intimate and expressive, though they don’t chase the last word in detail compared to more neutrally tuned sets; think smooth and relaxed rather than hyper‑etched.

There’s excellent tonal density to midrange instruments, with acoustic guitars, pianos, and brass instruments rendered with convincing timbre and harmonic richness. On The Dave Brubeck Quartet’s “Take Five,” the saxophone maintains its reedy texture and breathy quality, while the piano has appropriate weight and resonance.

The transition from upper bass to lower mids is smooth, avoiding the disconnected feeling that can plague some headphones with V-shaped signatures. This coherence makes the Peng particularly enjoyable for vocal-centric music and acoustic performances.

Treble

The treble response showcases another key aspect of the Peng’s distinctive personality - beautifully relaxed lower treble and presence regions that create an incredibly smooth, fatigue-free listening experience. This isn’t about lacking detail; it’s about presenting music in a way that prioritizes long-term listening enjoyment over analytical dissection.

The relaxed approach to the presence region means you can listen for hours without any trace of fatigue, even with poorly recorded material that might sound harsh on more aggressive headphones. On Norah Jones’ “Don’t Know Why,” the piano notes have that pleasant, organic smoothness that makes you want to keep listening rather than analyzing every detail.

This treble character is perfect for those who value musicality over microscopic detail retrieval. While ultra-detailed headphones might reveal every studio imperfection, the Peng’s relaxed treble presentation focuses on the music’s emotional content. Orchestral pieces like Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 flow naturally without the sometimes overwhelming treble energy that can distract from the musical narrative. It’s a deliberate choice that prioritizes musical enjoyment - exactly what makes this such a guilty pleasure headphone.

Soundstage and Imaging

For a closed-back design, the Peng creates a reasonably spacious soundstage with good width, though depth is more limited. Instrument placement is precise enough to follow complex arrangements, but the imaging lacks the pinpoint accuracy of the best performers in this price range.

The slightly recessed treble contributes to a less airy presentation than some competitors, which affects the perception of space around instruments. However, the clean midrange ensures that instruments remain distinct and identifiable even in dense mixes.

On binaural recordings like “Yosi’s Walk Around” from the Chesky Records test disc, the Peng creates a convincing sense of movement around the head, though the boundaries of the soundstage remain more confined than with open-back alternatives.

Dynamics scale nicely when the Peng is adequately powered; percussive hits and string swells carry physicality and weight. One quirk I noticed on some mixes: occasional slightly off‑center placement of vocals or certain instruments, leaning a touch left or right rather than locking perfectly to center.

Specifications and Measurements

Technical Specifications

• Driver: 50mm dynamic driver with sapphire composite diaphragm
• Acoustic Design: Closed Back
• Impedance: 340 Ω
• Sensitivity: 102 dB
• Frequency Response: 20 Hz – 40 kHz
• Weight: 341 grams
• Cable: 1.6m detachable 6N OCC with 4.4mm balanced termination
• Included Adapters: 4.4mm to 3.5mm, 3.5mm to 6.35mm

Frequency Response

The frequency response measurements of the Sivga Peng reveal the objective basis for the subjective impressions described above. As I mentioned earlier - I believe the unique contoured design of the earcup cushions causes a gap on flat measurements rigs - so the bass aspects of these measurements may not be as accurate as other headphones:

The most notable features in the frequency response are:

1. A roll-off in the sub-bass below about 50Hz
2. A mild mid-bass emphasis around 100-200Hz
3. A resonance dip that is much less apparent on my head than in these measurements
4. A recessed presence region (3-5kHz)

Other than that resonance dip this aligns well with subjective impressions: the rolled-off sub-bass explains the lack of lowest-octave impact, while the recessed treble corresponds to the polite high-frequency presentation.

Comparison with the Sivga Luan (obviously comparing the open back Luan with a closed back will always be different) but you can definitely see differences in tuning philosophy between the two models from Sivga:

Both headphones show some deviation from what might be considered a “neutral” target, but in different ways. The Luan maintains better sub-bass extension but has its own midrange colorations.

When compared to other closed-back headphones, the Peng’s bass roll-off becomes more apparent as other closed backs typically have boosted bass rather than rolled off bass (1):

The measurements also highlight an important aspect of the Peng’s design: the contoured earpads can create seal inconsistencies that significantly affect bass response, but you should trust your ears as far as the bass response and tweak the bass to your liking rather than rely on measurements.

One last comparison with some other closed backs - again a resonance dip is very common, and some much more expensive closed-backs like the JM-Audio XTC Closed has an even larger dip:

Distortion measurements show that the Peng maintains good technical performance, with low distortion across most of the frequency range:

That resonance dip again is obvious in these measurements:

The distortion remains well-controlled even at higher volumes, indicating that the driver is capable of clean reproduction. The technical performance of the driver is very solid and safe to EQ to fix tonal issues should you feel the need.

I did also measure the group delay again thinking this might show issues with the resonance:

But by just showing a dip in that 400hz region rather than huge amounts of varied peaks/dip in that area shows that this is easy to EQ should you hear that dip, which for me wasn’t nearly as dramatic as these measurements show but still worth tweaking.

So I decided to do a little bit of EQ using the Topping Tune EQ App:

And using the Peng with the Topping DX5 II was an excellent pairing as that amplifier has the power to drive the Peng and the ability to tweak the FR using PEQ should you want too:

I also used the Peng with the little Snowsky Melody - mostly because it is a wooden dongle but it was fine driving the Peng to reasonable loud levels and even allowing a little bit of EQ as that is one of the features of the Snowsky Melody dongle:

Finally, pairing the Peng with nice Class A amplifier like the Burson Playmate 3 worked very well where the Playmate 3 has all the power needed for a 340 Ohm headphone:

Comparisons

Here are some comparisons with some other headphones with wooden earcups:

Fiio FT1

The Fiio FT1 represents an interesting comparison point as another wooden closed-back headphone, albeit at a lower price point.

The FT1 offers remarkable value and very decent comfort, delivering good sound quality and attractive wooden aesthetics at a significantly lower price than the Peng.

However, the Peng demonstrates superior build quality, with more premium materials and finer attention to detail in its construction.

In terms of sound, the FT1 has a warmer, bassier signature that may appeal more to casual listeners, while the Peng offers better technical performance, particularly in midrange clarity and detail retrieval. The FT1 is arguably the better value purely from a price-to-performance perspective, but the Peng justifies its higher price through superior craftsmanship and technical capabilities.

Meze 105 Silva

The Meze 105 Silva provides another fascinating comparison as a wooden headphone with a different approach.

The 105 Silva is an open-back design, which creates immediate differences in sound presentation. It offers a more spacious, airy soundstage and better treble extension than the Peng. The Silva also features superior build quality and more universally comfortable design, with pads that create a more consistent seal across different head shapes. Though with an open design Seal is less important:

However, the open-back nature of the Silva means it provides virtually no isolation, making it less versatile for environments where containing sound is important. The Peng’s closed-back design makes it more suitable for shared spaces or office environments where sound leakage would be problematic.

Sivga Luan

Perhaps the most directly relevant comparison is with the Sivga Luan:

The Luan offers better comfort than the Peng, with earpads that create a more consistent seal across different head shapes. This translates to more reliable bass response without the potential fitting issues that the Peng’s contoured pads can present.

Sonically, the Luan has a totally different tuning philosophy. Both deviate from strict neutrality but in different ways the Peng with its recessed treble and the Luan with its own midrange characteristics. Again in a headphone collection both headphones can be excellent additions.

Rating Explanation

The Sivga Peng earns a solid 4-star pragmatic rating as an interesting headphone that absolutely deserves your attention and possible a place in your collection. This rating also reflects its design, comfort and that unique sound profile and character that you can’t get elsewhere in the closed-back category at this price point.

What Makes It Special:

• Exceptional comfort that makes it a joy to wear for hours
• Gorgeous wooden craftsmanship that’s far better looking than competitors like the FiiO FT1
• Unique sound personality with warm bass and restrained treble
• Perfect guilty pleasure character - not for everyone, but deeply satisfying for those who “get it”
• Distinctive high-impedance closed-back that stands apart from the typical closed-back sound

Life should be full of personalities and the Peng has personality in spades.

Conclusion

In a world filled with technically accomplished but often sterile closed-back headphones, the Peng dares to have personality and what a delightful personality it is. With exceptional comfort that makes you forget you’re wearing headphones, genuinely gorgeous African zebrawood construction that looks far better than competitors like the FiiO FT1, and a unique sound signature that brings something refreshingly different to the closed-back category.

This isn’t a headphone for everyone, and that’s exactly the point. It’s the kind of headphone that rewards those who appreciate distinctive character over universal appeal. It’s not trying to be all things to all people; instead, it carves out its own distinctive niche in the closed-back market with confidence and style.

Sometimes a guilty pleasure becomes guilty precisely because it’s different yet satisfying in its uniqueness.