This has been a difficult review to write because I really like what the Aiva 2 has to offer in terms of build, design, and sonic performance. However, I also experienced issues with not just one but two units of the Aiva 2. Even though I believe I managed to resolve the issues, it does complicate things.
But first, let’s start with the introduction. The Aiva 2 is an unusually compact pair of planar magnetic headphones. It features double-sided magnets with a thin 1-micron composite planar diaphragm. The typical price is $599.
I will be reviewing the Aiva 2 mostly with a carefully selected pair of third-party sheepskin pads, and there is a good reason for that, which relates to the previously mentioned issues. The sheepskin pads are part of my solution. They do not radically change the sound of the Aiva 2, but they do improve some of its weak points.
MAIN TAKEAWAY
- Great sound, comfortable and well built
- Potential QC issues
- Leather pads sound better
The Aiva 2 is the successor to the first Aiva, which was released in 2019.
Sendy Audio is the “premium” sub-brand of the Chinese audio company Sivga (link to store). Sendy’s current models are the Aiva 2, the Egret, the Apollo, and the Peacock, all planar magnetic headphones with seemingly great build quality and wooden ear cups. They also offer the Kylin DAC/AMP.
SENDY AUDIO AIVA 2 SPECIFICATIONS
- Driver Type: Planar magnetic – 97×76mm Double Nepheline Magnetic Array
- Impedance: 32 Ohms ± 15%
- Sensitivity: 96 dB/mW ± 3 dB
- Frequency Response: 20 Hz – 40 kHz
- Cable: 2m detachable 6N
- Headphone cable connectors: dual 3.5 mm
- Cable termination: 4.4mm jack
- Pads: Hybrid memory foam with ergonomic shape.
- Weight: 420 g
Current price and availability:
- AliExpress: Sendy Aiva 2
- Find it at Audio46: Sendy Audio
THE ISSUES – RESONANCES
When I first received the Aiva 2, I encountered some severe distortion on certain tones. Especially specific piano notes – C6 to be exact – and similar frequencies sounded shrill and painful at higher volumes. To be fair, many headphones can struggle to reproduce these tones smoothly, but the Aiva 2, before I found a fix, was worse than most.
My first guess was that there was probably a very narrow peak in the frequency response of the driver which have some resonances in the housing.
I took off the pads and checked for loose screws, finding several that weren’t fully tightened (poor quality control). Tightening them helped but didn’t resolve the issue completely. I then got hold of a second pair of the Aiva 2, but it had the same issue, so I basically gave up on the headphone, thinking there was something fundamentally wrong with the pairs I had tried.
However, after reviewing the Sendy Egret and finding pad swapping beneficial, I went back to the Aiva 2 and started experimenting with different pads. Lo and behold, changing the pads essentially fixed the issues I had with the Aiva 2!
After spending hours and hours listening to challenging music, I found that 99.9% of the time the Aiva 2 behaves very well. There can be a slight shrillness on certain tones at higher volumes, but it’s so rare that I would barely notice it, with the exception of one specific moment in one song.
Long story short, with the new pads and tightened screws, I really like the Aiva 2. They are great headphones and actually now among my favourites in their price class.
MAGIC SHEEPSKIN PADS
After trying a few options, I ended up replacing the stock pads with a pair of oval angled sheepskin pads from Brainwavz. I am generally very fond of some of the Brainwavz pads, specifically the micro suede and sheepskin variations. I find them excellent at dampening resonances in the housing, very versatile, and they do a great job on many headphones.
Equipping the Aiva 2 with the angled sheepskin pads gave great results. They fit perfectly, and the angled pads work very well in place of the stock pads. Since the cups are already tilted when attached to the headband, the angled pads narrow at the temple, providing a better fit. The sound is excellent, comfort is great, and it looks splendid.
The oval micro suede pads also work well. They are even better at dampening reflections, but they do alter the sound more compared to the original pads. I also prefer the looks and comfort of the angled sheepskin pads.
BUILD AND COMFORT
The Aiva 2 is a compact headphone with a very ergonomic design. It uses the same excellent headband as the Sivga Peng, which I think is one of the most perfect headband assemblies I have ever come across. It is a steel spring construction with a soft suede leather strap, and I find it extremely comfortable.
The Aiva 2 also comes with the ergonomically shaped pads used on the Sivga Peng. I find them very comfortable myself, but I know this choice of ear pad is not necessarily a perfect fit for everybody, and I wish Sendy offered a second standard pair for customers who prefer conventional pads. In addition, I wasn’t too happy about how these pads sound on the Aiva 2 – as mentioned before.
The ear cups are made of zebrawood and carved using CNC technology. There is a silver mesh on the outside of the driver and a decorative black pattern grid. The drivers are in other words very well protected, unlike on Hifiman’s unveiled series…
There is a very nice 2-meter cable made of 6N single crystal copper. The termination is 4.4mm, with a 3.5mm adapter included. Although the headphone uses standard 3.5mm connectors on the cups, the openings are somewhat narrow, meaning only slim 3.5mm jacks will fit if you wish to use a third-party cable.
LISTENING IMPRESSIONS
I listened through this playlist with both the stock pads and the sheepskin pads. The basic impressions are pretty much the same, the main difference being that the occasional resonance issues are resolved with the sheepskin pads. I also prefer their sound overall, with slightly better technical and tonal performance. They sound cleaner, smoother and more enjoyable.
I tried a number of different desktop amplifiers with various results, but found that the headphone output of the RME ADI-2 DAC FS and the Ferrum Erco mk2 did as good a job as any, and stuck with them.
Related equipment:
- DAC/AMP: RME ADI-2 DAC FS and Ferrum Erco mk2
Jambi by Tool
The guitars are warm with a nice texture. Vocals stand out nicely without being too upfront, and there is no harsh sibilance. The bass is tight and detailed. Imaging is good but somewhat intimate, the soundstage is open but the stage isn’t very large, and there isn’t too much space between instruments, even though the detail level is high.
Smile by Pearl Jam
Snappy and textured. Vocals are smooth and free of sibilance. Imaging is good, but the soundstage is on the smaller side.
Almost Like The Blues
The bass is perfect: well balanced, rich, and textured yet full sounding. Percussion is snappy. Vocals have a wonderful combination of body and texture, much like the bass.
Black Crow by Cassandra Wilson
Warm, slightly dark presentation. Vocals are very upfront and almost intense, very much “in your head” rather than distant.
Some Day My Prince Will Come by Coryell Miroslav Quartet
There is a great balance between the rich-sounding bass and the warm electric guitar. With some headphones the bass is too dominant, but not here. The guitar sounds pleasingly tube-like.
Bored by Deftones
The guitar riff is nicely warm and excellently textured. Vocals stand out with a nice warmth. The main riff has a lot of full-bodied yet textured energy, and the bass is very vibrant.
Desert Island Disk by Radiohead
The guitar is excellently rendered, warm and rich in detail. The vocals are upfront, also warm, and very intimate. There is a wonderful immersive coherence to the overall delivery.
As Before by Olga Konkova
This is the track that led me to seek out a second unit, which unfortunately had the same issue in stock form.
Initially, one of the piano notes at 0:07 distorted at higher than moderate listening levels in a way that was far from pleasant.
However, tightening the screws and using the third-party sheepskin pads resolved the problem at normal listening levels, though there is still a slight distortion if the volume is cranked up.
Den Gamla Eken by Tingvall Trio
This is another track where problems emerged with the stock pads and before tightening the internal screws.
Starting at 1:16, there are several hard-hitting piano notes that initially, with the stock pads are painful at higher volumes.
Wth the right screws and sheepskin pads installed the resonances are gone and it all sounds excellent.
Mozart “Sonata Facile” by Lang Lang
This solo piano track is included because of my search for distortion. At lower listening levels it sounded good with the stock pads, but only after swapping pads could I listen to it at higher volumes.
Again, there was a resonance issue with the stock pads in my case, but as stated, with the sheepskin pads and the tightened screws, everything is fine.
Take On Me – MTV Unplugged by a-ha
Morten Harket’s vocals in this track are otherworldly, and the Aiva 2 does them no injustice. The vocals are nicely warm and firmly at the centre of the presentation, intimately delivered. The soundstage is also generally up close.
With the stock pads and before tightening the screws, there was a hint of distortion and resonance on one of Morten’s high notes, perhaps a C6, but with the tightened screws and the sheepskin pads it is all fine.
Spontaneous Compositorius by Thomas Agergard
The saxophone has a nice breathy character. The bright percussion has a crisp, zingy quality, with no bothersome distortion or resonances even with the stock pads, though it does sound better with the sheepskin pads, as the treble is smoother and cleaner. The bass is nicely present and textured without being overwhelming.
Young Vivaldi by Modo Antiquo
The Aiva 2 delivers a nice string timbre, slightly sharp and aggressive but not overly so.
Summer 3 Vivaldi Recomposed by Max Richter
The strings here are also sharp and upfront, on the energetic side rather than being particularly smooth.
Silhuett by Maridalen
The double bass and the two saxophones are rich- sounding, excellently balanced, rich in detail and nuanced sounding. The soundstage remains intimate even though instrument separation is good.
Train to Kyoto by Vega Trails
This track is dominated by a double bass and a saxophone, and the Aiva 2 renders it beautifully. The bass is very well balanced and detailed, neither dry nor bloated. The saxophone is beautiful, and the background details are audible without being intrusive. The soundstage is intimate but separation is good.
Murmurations by Vega Trails
This whole album is outstanding with the Aiva 2. In this track the double bass is fabulous, nicely full-bodied yet tight, the percussion is snappy, the piano is perfectly crisp, and the violin has excellent texture.
WRAPPING IT UP
As mentioned, I listened through my playlist with both the stock and the sheepskin pads, and my observations are very similar, even though there are small differences.
Sound Signature
The Aiva 2 has an upfront delivery with a neutral bass presence, bold midrange, and crisp highs. With the sheepskin pads, it becomes both a bit tighter and smoother at the same time but be the main signature is very similar.
Treble
The treble is crisp and articulate with a rich character. It is seldom sharp or unpleasant with the stock pads, and never with the sheepskin pads.
Midrange
The midrange is upfront and bold, energetic and sometimes a bit intense, yet rich in detail, and I certainly appreciate the intimate presentation.
However, as mentioned, with the stock pads I encountered some resonance issues, making the midrange thicker and more compressed sounding compared to the cleaner and more refined sound of the sheepskin pads.
Bass
I adore the bass of the Aiva 2. It is tight and detailed, yet with a nice touch of warmth and richness. I never find it overwhelming, nor do I find it lacking on any track I have listened to.
The bass is where the sheepskin pads made the least difference, but if there is a change, it is for the better there as well.
Soundstage and Imaging
The soundstage is open but not too large. I like to think of it as listening to music outdoors with the musicians playing on a small stage, and sometimes it feels as though you are on stage with the band. The imaging is nice and separation between instruments is pretty good, though there is not always much distance between them.
The sheepskin pads increased the general resolution and also improved imaging to a certain extent.
Detail, Dynamics, and Timbre
The general detail level is very good for the price point, and dynamics are excellent, both macro and micro. The sheepskin pads increased the perceived detail retrieval, likely due to reduced reflections and resonances. Dynamics remain broadly the same with either pad.
The timbre is upfront, energetic, and generally quite natural. The bass is close to perfect, the midrange is mostly very good but can be a bit too upfront and occasionally crisp. The treble is articulate and rich, yet not overly bright. Many headphones can have a thinner sounding treble that feels brighter and sharper.
With the sheepskin pads, the timbre generally improves, most noticeably in a more natural and cleaner sounding midrange and treble, while the bass remains very similar.
COMPARISONS
I have spent so much time with getting this headphone right that I will not spend time on my usual A/B comparisons. However, in most ways, the Aiva 2 is very similar to its bigger sibling, the Egret, which I have already compared in depth several times. Link: Egret.
The difference in sound quality and overall sonic character between the Egret and the Aiva 2 is, as mentioned, not large. It is clear that they belong to the same family and are positioned relatively close to each other in price.
Personally, especially with the sheepskin pads, I find the Aiva 2 to be on the same sonic level – slightly different but just as good for most purposes. Thanks to its more compact size, I also find it more comfortable, and in total I prefer it over its larger sibling (QC issues aside, of course).
CONCLUSION
After some initial adjustments, the Aiva 2 has become one of my favourite planar magnetic headphones at its price point.
It is of course not acceptable that you have to tighten screws on a brand new headphone just to avoid mechanical resonances, but I am glad I figured it out. I hope I was simply unlucky with my particular units. I have not found anything online about other users experiencing the same issue.
Still, Sendy needs to improve their quality control. I was very disappointed, especially because everything else about Sendy’s headphones is so well put together, far more so than certain larger headphone brands (from which I’ve also experienced loose screws – and worse).
Even though I found the stock pads comfortable, I am not a big fan of how they affect the sound. The sheepskin pads I ended up using made a significant positive difference, making the sound less shrill, smoother, and richer, with better definition and control.
All that being said, I am very happy with how the Aiva 2 sounds after fixing the screws and swapping the pads, and I hope I haven’t scared too many people away from trying it. That said, a return option is always advisable when buying headphones.
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- AliExpress: Sendy Aiva 2
- Find it at Audio46: Sendy Audio
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