Sivga SV021 Robin

Could Sivga's wired headphones be your new over-ear sidekicks?

You may not have heard of Chinese brand Sivga before. Established in 2016, the somewhat fledgling outfit is seeking to carve out a name for itself in the world of wired headphones. A quick trip to the company's official website reveals a healthy stable of wired over-ear cans backed by robust sonic claims and adorned, to varying degrees, with swanky wooden exteriors.

Carving out your own niche is never easy, especially for young bucks trying to make a name for themselves amid a packed crowd of established players, and while those retro wooden exteriors may be enough to catch some wandering eyes, few companies make the grade if the goods they tout simply aren't up to the task. At this relatively affordable price point, our spotlighted contenders - the Sivga SV021 Robin - have substantial competition from the likes of Røde, Austrian Audio, Sennheiser and AKG, none of whom will be keen to concede ground to the new boys without a fight.

These headphones officially retail at £149 and, as yet, we haven't seen that number drop during their short lifetime.

That figure puts the Sivgas on a collision course with some notable rivals, including the punchy AKG K371 (tested at £151) and the Award-winning Røde NTH-100. We tested the Røde last year at £149, but discounts are starting to pull prices down a touch, making the Sivgas' task of competing with the best in the business just that little bit trickier.

In terms of their general shape and profile, the SV021 Robin are something of a mixed bag. A pair of headphones sporting wooden earcups at this price level is a welcome sight if you like that sort of thing, and while the cups' exterior surface does seem susceptible to external scratches, the overall impression given by combining leather and wood is one of retro elegance. The external stitching atop the headband is uniform and neatly done, while the cans' headband adjustment sliders are relatively smooth and simple to operate.