SIVGA NIGHTINGALE PRO REVIEW

>>I am brazilian and I speak portuguese, so forgive my english, I’ll use translation tools to help<<

INTRO:

Proving that IEMs with Planar Magnetic drivers weren’t just a fad of the Planar Wars, SIVGA continues to release earphones with this type of driver. Today’s review is of the SIVGA Nightingale PRO, the successor to the company’s first Planar Magnetic in-ear IEM.

It’s a pity I didn’t review the first version of the IEM – the Nightingale – but at the time of its release, I didn’t yet have a partnership with SIVGA.

Price: $296 USD
Color: Zebrawood
Cable: 4.4mm Balanced

SIVGA REVIEWS: QUE, QUE UTG.

SIVGA LINKS:

https://amzn.to/3MepZFf (US)

https://amzn.to/4at3JPP (UK)

https://amzn.to/4aMILwJ (DE)

https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_c4UkmSPd (Official store)

SPECIFICATIONS:

Planar Magnetic:

• (1) 14.5mm Planar Magnetic driver per side

– Frequency: 20Hz – 40kHz
– Effective frequency: 20Hz – 20kHz
– Impedance: 16Ω (±15%)
– Sensitivity: 107±3dB
– Connectors: 2pin 0.78mm QDC (detachable)
– Cable Plug: 4.4mm Balanced (straight design)
– Cable size: 1.25m 0.2m
– Cable material: Copper + Black PVC
– Shell: aviation Aluminum-magnesium alloy + wood
– IEM weight: 6.4g (one side)(without eartips)
– Cable weight: 31.2g
– Total weight (packaging, iems, etc): 283.8g
– Packaging size: 14cm [H] x 14.5cm [W] x 5.5cm [D]

UNBOXING:

PHYSICAL ASPECTS:

Construction:

• Shell made of aviation-grade aluminum-magnesium alloy.
• Zebrawood faceplate.
• Aesthetically very beautiful (subjective).
• The wooden faceplate is a brand highlight.
• Great build quality. Robust metal.
• Features 2 vents.
• Good unboxing experience.
• Great case. Covered in faux leather. Semi-rigid, compact, lightweight.
• Case with high relief logo. Zipper closure.

Eartips:

• Two types of eartips: wide bore (white), “normal” (black).
• It comes with 6 pairs + 1 pair pre-installed (7 pairs total).
• They are generic eartips; I confess I didn’t even get to use them on the earphones.
• From experience, just by looking at them I know I wouldn’t adapt to them.
• The silicone is very soft, but I didn’t like the shape.
• For earphones costing almost $300 USD, I think there should be something better.
• 99.9% of people who buy earphones at this price will use eartips from another brand.
• For example, the HE Sonic eartips are very cheap and offer something different.
• I did the sound review with the SpinFit CP100 (size M).

Cable:

• It’s an average cable. For the price, it could be better.
• It’s not bad, but they prioritized aesthetics.
• I found the QUE UTG cable better, for example.
• Usability is a little below what I would like.
• It’s a bit stiff.
• Medium malleability.
• It doesn’t tangle.
• It doesn’t develop “memory” (creases).
• The earhooks are wavy, but comfortable.
• It didn’t have any microphonics.
• The chin slider is 100% effective.
• “QDC” connectors aren’t my preference, but they are secure.
• Compatible with 2-pin 0.78mm connectors.
• It could be a modular cable (3.5mm and 4.4mm).
• The choice of a 4.4mm plug may limit some users.
• That’s why it might justify switching to another cable.

Fit and comfort:

• Vertical fit – not so conventional.
• I found the QUE/UTG fit better.
• Comfortable. Good ergonomics.
• Better shape for medium and large ears.
• Shallow to medium insertion.
• Better suited for long eartips.
• Good/okay isolation.
• 6.4g is still a good weight.

Earphone kit (accessories):

• Nightingale PRO earphones.
• 7 pairs of ear tips (sizes S/M/L).
• 4.4mm Balanced Cable.
• Semi-rigid case.
• Plastic case for eartips.
• Manual.

SOUND ASPECTS:

Sound:

• Warning: It’s important to see the “amplification” section at the end of the text.
• Natural, comfortable, and detailed sound.
• Neutral/natural tuning.
• Slightly emphasized mids.
• Linear bass and the treble following the mids (slight emphasis).
• Excellent resolution and detail.
• Technically very competent.
• Excellent for genres such as Jazz, Instrumentals, Vocals, Classical Music, etc.
• Not the most suitable for genres with emphasized bass: EDM, Hip-Hop, Reggae, etc.
• I also wouldn’t use it for genres with instrument distortion (Metal, Rock, etc.).
• The Letshuoer S15 is sharper and more technical, although more fatiguing (for my ears).
• The Nightingale PRO is remember me the Tin P1 (OG), but with more polished treble.
• The Nightingale PRO aims to have a more linear, calm, and well-defined sound.
• The Letshuoer S08 is the opposite, with a warmer sound and more bass.

Bass:

– Quantitative:

• Moderate to low frequencies.
• Not for bassheads.
• Sub-bass slightly lower than the mid-bass.
• Neither region is particularly prominent.

– Qualitative:

• These are very natural and discreet bass frequencies (to my ears).
• Texture and physicality are more restrained.
• The extension is okay, there’s a slight roll-off in the subs but it doesn’t detract from the sound.
• This is the type of bass that usually accompanies the recording.
• The definition is good.
• The bass isn’t the star of the show (in my opinion).
• The impact is smoother, yet tight.
• They don’t invade the mids.
• They aren’t boomy, not bloated, not muddy.
• These bass frequencies are more suited to acoustic instruments.
• It’s the type of bass that makes the mid and treble frequencies stand out more.
• The bass sound coming from an acoustic guitar body sounds natural.

Mids:

– Quantitative and qualitative:

• Slightly “forward” mids.
• Comfortable pinna gain, without shrillness or aggressiveness.
• Excellent definition and detail.
• Great clarity, airiness, and transparency.
• Undoubtedly the star of the show (plus the treble).
• The sounds of instruments and voices are very detailed.
• It brings good technicality without needing to exaggerate the tonality.
• I didn’t feel fatigue in the upper-mids frequencies.
• The IEM bring a lot of information in this mid/upper-mids region.
• Wind instruments, piano, snare drum, everything has life and resolution.

Voices:

• The voices sound great and clear.
• It’s possible to hear the nuances of the voices with excellent precision.
• Excellent projection for higher-pitched voices.
• Lower-pitched voices sound more subtle.
• For me, female/high-pitched voices performed best.

Treble:

– Quantitative:

• Moderate or moderate to high treble.
• More suitable for trebleheads than bassheads.
• I didn’t experience fatigue due to the treble.
• It’s an IEM that tends towards bright, but isn’t overly bright.
• Because it has less bass, it ends up emphasizing the mids and treble frequencies.

– Qualitative:

• Versatile, controlled, fast, and with good extension.
• Dynamic and lively brightness.
• Excellent detail and airiness.
• Great level of definition.
• They are not shrill, not sharp, not harsh.
• I didn’t experience sibilance, peaks, or coloration.
• High piano notes have plenty of attack and resolution.
• Guitar fingerings are technical and fast.
• Ride cymbals sound lively and defined.

Soundstage:

• Great soundstage.
• Like in a live performance, the vocals are slightly forward.
• A great sense of spaciousness in the presentation.
• Great depth and width, good height.
• A rare exception of IEM with forward mids and spatiality.

Imaging:

• Excellent instrumental separation.
• The stereo image is also very good.
• The excellent resolution improves the imaging.
• Easy to identify the position of the instruments.
• Mid and treble frequency instruments are easier to identify.

Driver flex test:

• Planar Magnetic doesn’t have the characteristic of driver flex.

Amplification:

• A more powerful source is recommended.
• Ideally, dongles with a 4.4mm output and ~500mW or higher.
• I review the Nightingale PRO with the FiiO QX13.
• 4.4mm balanced output in Desktop Mode, Volume 23.
• I also tested with a 3.5mm cable and with the FiiO KA11.
• Result: The best sound was with the QX13 in 4.4mm + D. Mode.
• With the 3.5mm or KA11, the sound was weaker/colder (even with +volume).
• It really scales with more amplification.
• The company wanted to left a message with the 4.4mm cable.
• Even so, the modular cable would be useful for those with a more powerful 3.5mm AMP.

PROS AND CONS:

GRAPHS BY AUDIO AMIGO:

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