Today, Nihal reviews the Sendy Audio Aiva 2, a second-generation set of open-back dual-sided 97mm x 76mm planar driver magnetic headphones. They are currently priced at $599.
Disclaimer: This sample was sent to me in exchange for my honest opinion. Headfonics is an independent website with no affiliate links or status. I thank Sendy Audio for their support.
Click here to learn more about Sendy Audio products previously reviewed on Headfonics.
This post follows our current scoring guidelines, which you can read in more detail here.
Sendy Audio has not been in the scene for very long. While their sister brand, SIVGA, has been quite active in the budget IEM and headphone space, Sendy hasn’t released a new product in nearly half a decade.
I never had the chance to try any of Sendy Audio’s offerings, but considering they share the same level of craftsmanship as SIVGA products and that they cater to the mid-fi market, their lineup is quite interesting.
They’ve now come up with the Aiva 2, which is currently priced at $599. The Aiva 2 is the successor to their widely appreciated planar magnetic headphone, the Aiva, which Marcus reviewed nearly six years ago.
In this review, we’ll take an in-depth look at the new release, compare it to some prominent headphones such as the SIVGA SV023 and Sennheiser HD 660S2, and see if the long wait was worth it.
Features
Like its predecessor, the Aiva 2 is a planar magnetic driver headphone. The drivers are 97×76mm double Nepheline magnetic array planars with a 1-micron-thin diaphragm.
This ultra-thin design delivers excellent resolution, detailed mids and treble, strong transients, and a spacious soundstage.
The Aiva 2 has an impedance of 32 Ω @ 1 kHz and a sensitivity rating of 96 dB/Vrms. It drives fairly easily with most of the sources I tried, be it a phone, a dongle, or other low-rated sources. With better power, the dynamics do improve.
Design
Like earlier Sendy Audio models, the Aiva 2 features a similar build with wooden earcups and a dual-structure headband comprising a metal arch with a leather strap beneath it.
It looks very similar to the previous Aiva version, with the key difference being the deeper colors on the earcups of the newer model.
The headband uses a smooth floating suspension system that can be adjusted by sliding the leather strap up and down. I found it fairly simple to adjust to my head size.
The outer cups are crafted from solid zebrawood with an elegant finish. The shiny outer grille displays a geometric scale-like pattern resembling a mermaid’s body, which also aids in acoustic transparency for the planar magnetic drivers.
This same pattern is also present on the cable hardware. The combination of the natural wood finish and the industrial grille creates a luxury-meets-tech aesthetic.
The cable connects using dual 3.5mm mini jacks at the earcup ends. The ear pads are made of leather lined with a soft, velvet-like material for enhanced comfort. They also have a unique oblique design to fit the contours around the ears.
Comfort & Isolation
Whenever I try headphones, the weight and comfort are the most important factors for me, as I cannot bear heavy headphones. Thankfully, the Aiva 2, with its weight of 420gm, is not too heavy for me.
The thoughtfully designed headband helps in distributing the weight evenly and does not put any added pressure on the head. The headband has a smooth sliding mechanism to adjust the headphones.
There is very minimal clamping force, which adds a lot to the comfort factor. The ear cups have soft and breathable ear pads on them, providing enough space for my ears to sit in comfortably.
The ear pads are not flat, as with most of the headphones that I try. They have a contoured shape, adjusting to the area they touch around the ears.
The ear cups swivel 30 degrees, which I think is less, as a full swivel allows for easier handling. I do not find isolation to be a strong suit of these headphones, as a considerable amount of noise seeps in when they are over the ears.
Overall, I do not have many complaints about the comfort factor of these headphones. They are quite comfortable, and I could wear them for hours.
Stock Cable
The stock cable on the Aiva 2 reminds me of premium-built IEM cables. The cable is a 4-wire 6N OCC, with two wires having a copper appearance and the other two a darker appearance. It is slim yet very robustly built. The braiding is done very precisely, avoiding any gaps in between.
The adapter has a very solid build; it’s thin, adding to the slim factor. The adapter also has a similar pattern matching those on the earcups.
There is a spring covering at the junction where the cable meets the adapter, adding a lot of flexibility and support in case the cable bends from there, thus securing the cable.
The Y splitter and chin cinch are made of wood. The Y splitter has the brand’s logo on it. The 3.5mm pins connecting to the headphones have metal plugs with a similar pattern to those on the adapter and earcups.
Other than this, there is a 3.5mm to 4.4mm converter, which again matches the overall scheme. Not sure why this adapter is not 6.35mm ended; it could help in case someone wants to connect to dedicated amps and professional audio equipment.
Packaging & Accessories
The headphone is packed in a light-brown, large box with a minimal look, featuring logo art and an animated picture of the Aiva 2 on the top. This design theme is similar to recent headphones I’ve received, such as the SIVGA Anser and P2 Pro.
Opening the box, you are greeted with the headphone case, which is fitted into a high-density foam cutout that is very soft and wrapped in premium fabric.
The headphone case houses all the contents: the headphones, a stock 4.4 mm-terminated cable, an interchangeable cable adapter (3.5mm to 4.4mm), and a small carry pouch. The carry pouch can be used to store the cable and the converter.
The overall presentation is not overly fancy but looks clean and carries the right premium touch. The fact that every accessory is nicely built is certainly a bonus.
Sound Impressions
The following sound impressions of the Sendy Audio Aiva 2 were completed using a mixture of my main source, Lotoo’s Paw Gold Touch, the Earmen Angel, and the Questyle CMA18 Master. For the review, I paired the headphones with the stock cable.
Summary
The Aiva 2 exhibits the true characteristics of a planar headphone with its snappy and precise presentation, offering crisp details. They are sometimes in-your-face, depending on the source you pair them with.
The bass boasts a nicely rounded character with satisfying depth and decent quantity. The midrange remains very natural and true to the music, without any added coloration or excessive warmth. The treble has a slightly sharp nature but never sounds harsh or overly exaggerated.
If you’re someone who enjoys extra sparkle and zing in the upper frequency regions, the Aiva 2 should be an instant favorite.
The technical aspects hit the right spot, making it a headphone that balances both technical performance and musicality really well. Depending on the source you choose, the Aiva shifts gears quite effortlessly.
Bass
I don’t look for overwhelmingly impactful bass. Rather, I prefer something that keeps the fun and excitement alive. Aiva 2 delivers exactly the kind of bass I appreciate.
The bass is quick and has a fast decay, while the impact is satisfying. It doesn’t linger for too long like dynamic drivers, but makes its presence felt with a subtle touch of reverberation.
The texture and layering are on par with the headphones in this price range. It resolves bass lines from various sources quite well. So, more than the quantity, it’s the quality that wins you over.
I understand that some bassheads might want a bit more depth in the sub-bass region and a stronger impact in the mid-bass, but it never really feels lacking. The sub-bass has pleasing depth with enough rumble to keep you engaged, especially if you enjoy tapping your feet to kick drums and bass lines.
Even though I said the bass isn’t super powerful, that doesn’t mean it’s weak or flat; it’s not like that. The controlled nature of this bass allows ample space for the upper frequencies to shine. With better amplification, the bass gains the final bits of missing impact, adding a sense of scale.
Midrange
The bass stays controlled and doesn’t overwhelm the midrange, which gives the midrange space to stand out. However, this also means the lower midrange sounds a bit lean, lacking the depth and weight that some might expect.
This affects male vocals and some instruments like bass guitars and cellos, which miss nuances, and the presence feels a bit shallow.
Contrary to this lean lower midrange, we have an energetic and vibrant upper midrange, which adds some sense of openness and a satisfactory extension to the midrange. I find female vocals hitting the right spot for me.
There are some minor flaws with the midrange, though. I find it a bit inexpressive and lacking emotion. On one hand, the midrange manages to hit the right tonality with a clean timbre and naturalness, but it misses on the depth and engagement front.
Also, the resolution could be a bit better at revealing more information while giving some added weight to the notes. Other than these, the midrange is appealing in a general sense.
Treble
The treble on the Aiva 2 is nothing less than a delight for trebleheads. It’s a bold treble, where you have plenty of sparkle and a satisfactory level of detail on offer.
The treble notes are very resolving and layer quite well. They feel natural. The cymbals and high hats are crisp and have the right amount of energy to them.
Sometimes, though, the treble may appear to have excess energy. It’s not one of those smooth trebles that I can listen to for long. If you are someone who enjoys treble, the Aiva 2 won’t let you down. That said, the treble could be a bit smoothed out, giving it a toned-down character.
With bright-leaning sources, the synergy is not decent, and the treble looks quite bright and exaggerated. Add that with a leaner bass shelf, this aggressive tuning may be off-putting for many.
Staging & Dynamics
When I first put the Aiva 2 on, I was taken aback by the soundstage I was perceiving. It’s a very holographic soundstage with enough depth and width.
The soundstage is quite tall, adding to a satisfying 3-D feel to the presentation. The sound has an ample sense of openness, thanks to the treble profile on Aiva 2. The channel-to-channel movement is quite accurate.
Overall, the stage is grand, and it seems like you’re getting sound from the right corners, giving a very true-to-life immersive presentation.
The imaging is quite decent as well, helping to very accurately position instruments within the stage. However, due to the extra energy in the tuning, imaging takes a hit.
The spacious stage gives ample space to the instrument to breathe, thus giving it the power to handle complex tracks quite well. Even with a not-so-resolving midrange, the details are quite vivid here. Some improvements in resolution would have helped the stage gain more depth.
Click on page 2 below for my recommended pairings and selected comparisons.
