The following feature is a review of the SIVGA Nightingale, which is the company’s debut 14.5mm planar magnetic driver universal in-ear monitor. It is priced at $229 SRP.
Disclaimer: This is a sample that was sent in exchange for our honest opinion. Headfonics is an independent website that does not have any affiliate links or status. We thank SIVGA for their support.
To learn more about SIVGA products previously featured on Headfonics you can click here.
Note, that this article follows our latest scoring guidelines which you can read up on here.
SIVGA has just recently launched their first-ever single planar magnetic driver IEM called the Nightingale.
A lot of you might associate headphones with them but they’re not a newcomer in the portable side of the market. We even did a review of their M200 last year, which is a set of earbuds with dynamic drivers.
With a heart for dynamic drivers and balanced armatures, the P-II headphone is currently the only other SIVGA audio product using planar technology.
Tech Highlights
The SIVGA Nightingale is a single 14.5mm planar driver universal in-ear monitor priced at $229 SRP.
The driver is enclosed inside a dual iron boron magnet array at a micro-sized level to enhance the transient response and keep the driver working evenly and efficiently.
The Nightingale planar driver is also enclosed in a precision-machined aviation-grade aluminum magnesium driver frame to enhance the uniformity of the ultra-thin composite diaphragm’s motion.
Design
Reading through the online materials for the Nightingale, it was indicated that the design was inspired by water droplets.
Not sold on this connection aside from SIVGA being consistent with their other IEMs, I made an out-of-the-box association that it also looks like a bird egg. Yup, that made me giggle as well.
After the shape, what caught my attention was the refined shell design made from an aluminum-magnesium alloy. Honestly, the cohesive play of light from the face plate to the shell’s polishing makes the Nightingale appear a little bit extra special.
Using real solid wood, the face plate pattern will be unique for each owner as no two plates will ever be the same. But what wood is used, well, that is something SIVGA is keeping a secret.
One thing I didn’t notice until I tried to put on the cable is that there are raised platforms for the 2-pin interface. It may seem pointless but the positioning of the socket is well-considered and will reveal its meaning in the comfort section.
Comfort & Isolation
The marriage of the recessed 2-pin connector on the cable to the Nightingale helped achieve an accurate and secure fit. Almost as if SIVGA measured it to my ear, the ear guide follows the outside curvature of my ear effectively even though removable cables usually have a hard time doing so.
And with a build on the smaller side, considering the ever-growing hybrid monitors I’ve handled recently, it was also refreshing how petite the Nightingale felt in the ear.
The conic section of the shell touching the skin ends with a relatively short stem so inserting the IEM deep won’t feel uncomfortable. However, even though the IEM stays seated if I try to move my head around, the seal sometimes dislodges whenever I try to talk.
Stock Cable
I’ll begin by saying that the stealthy 1.2-meter balanced cable of the Nightingale does pair nicely with the aesthetic of the monitors. Like the shell of the Nightingale, the tightly woven 4-core cable is black but its sheath will catch the eyes because of the light glimmer it emanates.
The cable is very easy to manage and its soft nature makes untangling less of a concern. Even if it does, you won’t have to worry about kinks since there is no memory retention.
The cable is terminated with a 4.4mm jack on one end and a set of recessed 0.78mm 2-pin connectors on the other, allowing for a more natural settling of the ear hook.
Packaging & Accessories
Not expecting too much since the box appeared plain black and wrapped in thin protective plastic, the experience turned positive when the glimmering night sky emerged after it peeled off. Expressing the nighttime when a Nightingale sings, SIVGA meaningfully tied the design of the container as part of the whole concept.
Taking off the tightly fitted lid, the monitor heads of the Nightingale and a rugged hard case can be seen neatly lying next to each other. But since the wooden face plate of the Nightingale is still shielded by a plastic film to prevent scratches, my eyes were drawn more to the case instead.
With a ‘SIVGA’ badge proudly stamped on top, the provided carry case seems to be tough enough to take a beating. Inside is where the 4.4mm balanced cable is stowed alongside two sets of ear tips tucked in a side pocket.
Sound Impressions
Summary
The SIVGA Nightingale’s character is most prominent in the midrange with good voice presence while the low and high end of the spectrum act as support.
Arranging lyrics with a warm and broad profile, singers come in quite intimately from the Nightingale. Airiness is not the priority here as breathier areas will be caught but will stay discreet.
String plucks carry a wet and friendly twang without losing the initial steely attack. The technicalities pull enough detail so notes won’t jam together but the placement is relatively close to one another.
Reverberations on the Nightingale is pretty well-behaved. They have a clean nature that is filled with a more controlled level of weight to maintain balance. Supple but not warm, it lingers with a shallow but well-textured bite for subtleties.
I don’t think SIVGA tuned the Nightingale with rock songs in mind. With a test track I usually pull up, the treble region felt stifled and lacking in detail retrieval. But with the right song, the courting timbre is quite pleasing.
Staging
The origin of far-sounding instruments will most of the time only be associated with the driver’s location. I found a few instances where a song can push this limit but I wouldn’t count on it for staging width.
Having a heavy and wide image also makes the accurate positioning of a note to a defined space a bit harder. The Nightingale could use more details and airiness to help present a tighter and holographic experience.
Synergy
Efficiency
Still quite efficient for a planar monitor, the 16Ω drivers of the Nightingale won’t need much to get loud but a 100 dB @1kHz sensitivity level gives it a medium efficiency rating on paper
However, my volume setting was right around the same for my other IEMs with the Chord Electronics Mojo 2 set at 5-10 clicks before the high gain kicked in.
Testing its compatibility with desktop-class pairings, I found that the 2W capable dual THX AAA 788+ amplifier of the FiiO K7 BT drove the Nightingale just as well.
But as mentioned in my review of the K7 BT, the gain could be improved because I was able to use the high setting. Keeping it in low gain, the rotary knob pointed just above the quarter mark.
Pairings
If unlocking the full potential of the 14.5mm huge planar drivers of the Nightingale is the end goal, the Mojo 2 undoubtedly delivered. It may be more expensive and not as powerful as the K7 BT but the technical aspect is there.
Helping the Nightingale sound wide, the midrange of the Mojo 2 pulls more subdued data that the K7 BT misses. Partly to blame is the lesser presence of breathier sections on the FiiO all-in-one.
Sifting through a plucked string, the K7 BT maintains the richness in tonality of the Nightingale. It, however, has a dulled quality compared to the more realistic ring and depth of the Mojo 2.
In both pairings, what limits the soundstage is the Nightingale. If not for the superior layering ability of the Mojo 2, a sustained beat reverberates pretty similarly to the K7 BT. It is to be noted though that the K7 BT on tighter bass lines sounds dry and fuzzier.
Select Comparisons
Hidizs MP145
Technical
With planar technology mounted on both monitors, the MP145 has a mirrored spec of driver size and frequency range.
Furthermore, Hidizs specifically listed seven magnets on each side of the diaphragm of the MP145 but counting the magnets on the 3D render of the Nightingale driver’s assembly reveals that there is just as much on its belly.
The MP145 can be seen with two unique features. The Hidizs took cues from a whale’s anatomy and punched two huge vents to allow the drivers to breathe. And then there are the removable nozzles that let users of the MP145 mix up the sound three ways.
Design
Without going back to read the specs of the two, I wouldn’t have guessed that the driver dimension is the same on both. True to their visions, the larger whale-inspired shell of the MP145 significantly overshadows the more compact presence of the Nightingale.
Aside from flexing a wider body, the MP145 also features a longer stem. Without becoming uncomfortable, I can feel more contact points on the MP145 compared to the safer fit of the Nightingale. The latter one, however, allows the ear guide to follow the curvature of the ear better by dropping the position of the 2-pin socket.
Performance
With a less emphasized low-end section, the Nightingale generates a safer wallop when compared to the MP145. Nevertheless, it has a greater ability to extend and subtleties are easier to inspect. What the MP145 has is a wider and more open background where beats can diffuse more freely.
The midrange of the MP145 has a much easier time revealing the details of vocals since it highlights subtler areas more. And with a lighter flavor, images can spread with more definition for more accuracy in placement.
Electric guitars have the same level of texture and detail as the Nightingale but it does placement much closer to what I expect since it is not as shy in the treble. With dynamic horn ensembles, the different intensities were handled a little bit better against the constrained energy of the Nightingale.
Raptgo Hook-X
Technical
The 14.2mm planar driver of the Hook-X also has a dual array of magnets on either side of the diaphragm delivering 20Hz-40kHz. It may be a touch smaller physically than the Nightingale, but the Hook-X is filling up its larger chassis by exploiting a supplementary PZT driver to enhance the treble region.
Simply looking at the Hook-X, it is easy to notice that there are punched holes on its side. A functional design, it addresses ear pressure fatigue as well as helps in opening up the soundstage.
Design
The perforated face on the Hook-X will surely catch more curious onlookers since it is not as candid as the egg-shaped monitor heads of the Nightingale. Between the two though, the Hook-X may be more confident to hold, but I would guess the Nightingale is the more premium set given the shiny finishing applied to the wood installed.
Sitting deeper on the ear, the Nightingale has a more petite profile when worn. The placement of the 2-pin sockets also makes the ear guide more comfortable than the Hook-X.
Performance
Doing staging well, the Hook-X with its more open presentation immediately stood out to me as the better all-rounder monitor. Not as mid-centric and heavily flavored, it will cater to a wider range of music genres.
Bringing more importance to the breathier parts of a song while at the same time placing singers further behind, I find the Hook-X to be more accurate. With a difference in timbre, the Nightingale supports its bolstered midrange with a supple bite while the Hook-X digs more forcefully.
With more focus on the low end, the Hook-X conveys beats with an impactful and meaningful mass. The Nightingale is tuned on the leaner side when compared but it doesn’t let the Hook-X get ahead in exhibiting a lingering extension.
The Hook-X is letting instruments in the treble range sing with more energy. In contrast to the non-fatiguing electric guitars of the Nightingale, there is more dynamics and resolve on the Hook-X.
Our Verdict
The SIVGA Nightingale is a mid-centric IEM that will surely greet its users with an engaging tonality.
It may not be a soundstage specialist but it’s far from being an Achilles heel. What I recommend is to let the drivers open up with burn-in or casual use to loosen up the more dynamic qualities of the set.
The Nightingale has the scalability when using higher-end sources so it can already go far even with its affordable price. Wearing comfort is also a boon adding another reason to just sit back and listen.
SIVGA Nightingale Technical Specifications
- Driver Type: Planar diaphragm
- Driver size: 14.5mm
- Frequency Response: 20Hz-40kHz
- Sensitivity: 100dB
- Impedance: 16W
- Cable length: 1.2m
- Plug size: 4.4mm
- Weight: 15g
