The Aiva 2 and Apollo Pro are two compact planar magnetic headphones from Sendy Audio.
The Aiva 2 was released in early 2025. It features oval ear cups with an oval driver measuring 97 × 76 mm, using double-sided magnets with a 1-micron thin diaphragm. The typical price is 599 USD.
The Apollo Pro launched in mid-2026 and uses circular cups. The driver is 78 mm in diameter and also uses double-sided magnets. The diaphragm is 0.8 microns thick. The typical price is around 499 USD.
SENDY APOLLO PRO SPECIFICATIONS
- Driver: Planar magnetic
- Driver size: 78 mm diameter
- Sensitivity: 93 dB ± 3 dB
- Impedance: 27 Ω ± 15%
- Cable: 2 m OFC
- Headphone connectors: dual 3.5 mm mono
- Termination: 4.4 mm plug
- Adapters: 3.5 mm SE – 4.4 mm BA and 6.35 mm – 3.5 mm
- Leather carrying case
- Hemp bag
- Weight 354 g
Current price and availability:
- Amazon: Sendy Apollo Pro
- AliExpress: Sendy Apollo Pro
- Sivga: Sendy Apollo Pro
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
- Sendy Audio: Aiva 2
BUILD AND DESIGN
When it comes to build quality, both are excellent, with wooden cup rings and a lot of quality materials.
Both the Apollo Pro and the Aiva 2 have the same fantastic headband mechanism, featuring a very thoughtfully designed and crafted construction and a comfortable strap. It’s easy to regulate, the clamping force is perfectly balanced, and there’s good swivel action.
PADS
As mentioned, the Aiva 2 is oval and the Apollo Pro is circular. The Aiva 2 has oval pads with an ergonomic-shaped contour. The ergonomic shape of the pads is not for everybody. Personally, I have replaced them with sheepskin pads, angled oval sheepskin pads from Brainwavz, which I find more comfortable and that sound slightly better as well.
The Apollo Pro has circular pads that are flat on the face, but they wedge out so that the outer diameter of the pads is larger than the headphone cup diameter.
The Aiva 2 uses a lip-and-groove attachment system (although the groove is not very deep), which makes it more flexible in terms of third-party pads. The Apollo Pro uses a proprietary attachment mechanism, which makes third-party pads more difficult to use. You would have to cut off the plastic attachment ring from the original pads to be able to use third-party pads. However, I find the original pads to be excellent both in terms of comfort and sound.
Both the Aiva 2 and Apollo Pro pads have pleather on the outside, and textile on the inside where the pads meet the skin, both using very soft and comfortable memory foam.
CABLES
The Aiva 2 and Apollo Pro both feature detachable cables with 3.5 mm connectors on the headphone side and a 4.4 mm termination. However, the Apollo Pro’s cable feels noticeably more premium, with a thicker construction and a more refined design.
LISTENING COMPARISON
Associated equipment:
- Amplifier: Topping A90
- DAC: Ferrum Erco mk2
In The Mountains by Espen Eriksen Trio
They’re not too different, but the Aiva 2 has a crisper and more energetic piano timbre, which suits this track. It also has a more punchy character, although the Apollo Pro feels more neutral.
Woodpecker by Tingvall Trio
The Aiva 2 has a much crisper and more energetic piano timbre; certain bits are straight-out shrill if the volume is loud. The Apollo Pro is very neutral, and there’s no shrillness in sight. The Aiva 2 has a peak or some resonance in a certain frequency area that makes this happen; it can sound more engaging and is often appreciated, but the Apollo Pro is definitely more neutral and less peaky. General detail level, bass quality, sound stage, etc. are pretty similar.
Blessed Feet by Tord Gustavsen Trio
The Aiva 2 is snappy and feels very alive. The piano is well behaved here but is still on the more energetic side compared to the slightly darker and flatter sounding Apollo Pro, which, however, sounds perfectly fine.
Terminal 7 by Tomasz Stanko Quintet
The Apollo Pro is snappy and precise, delicate and well balanced. The Aiva 2 is less neutral and pushes some frequencies more than others. The trumpet sounds more upfront, and the bright percussion is more energetic. Things sound a bit more busy in general; there’s more intensity, mostly in a good way.
Moo)n by Lindstrom
Time for some electronic music. The Aiva 2 sounds dynamic and engaging. The Apollo Pro is a bit darker, with a smoother top end and more bass. I enjoy both.
Escape Route by Boris Blank
Again, the Apollo Pro is darker with more bass, and the Aiva 2 is more upfront in the mids with a crisper character.
It Could Be Sweet by Portishead
The Aiva 2 offers excellent bass quality and clear vocals that avoid sibilance, which can often be a problem here.
The Apollo Pro has slightly more bass and slightly darker mids, but the two headphones are more similar here than normal.
Vicarious by Tool
The Apollo Pro is very good with metal; the rich, tight bass, the high detail level, and overall tonal balance work very well.
The Aiva 2 has less bass and more aggressive fuzz guitars. It sounds a bit less focused than the Apollo Pro, not in a good way. The Aiva 2 isn’t bad, but the Apollo Pro is significantly better here.
Bored by Deftones
Another metal track. The Aiva 2 sounds good enough; it’s snappy and crisp, and the bassy riff is excellently vibrant. The Apollo Pro is different, more neutral but not necessarily better.
Rambling Man by Laura Marling
Excellently balanced sounding by the Apollo Pro. The Aiva 2 brings the vocals closer, but it’s also less clean, with a tendency to sound shouty on some tones. By itself it sounds good, but the Apollo Pro is definitely better balanced.
Sunrise by Norah Jones
Again, the Aiva 2 has upfront vocals that can get a bit too intense if played loudly on certain notes. The Apollo Pro is the safer choice, sounding more balanced but with the vocals a bit more politely presented.
Limit to Your Love by James Blake
The Apollo Pro offer delicate vocals and superb bass quality. The bass quantity is just perfect, a bit more than studio neutral but not overdone. The Aiva 2 has similar bass quality, a bit less quantity. It sounds a bit more crisp and bright in the mids and highs.
Young Vivaldi by Modo Antiquo
The Apollo Pro sounds neutral and balanced. The Aiva 2 has a brighter tint with a slight boxiness that becomes apparent in direct comparison but that doesn’t bother me by itself. There’s some extra energy and forwardness that I can like about the Aiva 2, though.
WRAPPING IT UP
Sound Signature
The Aiva 2 and Apollo Pro are not extremely different, but they’re certainly not identical. The Apollo Pro is much more neutral, with a flatter response curve but with a bit more bass. The Aiva 2 has a brighter mid-range and treble; it comes off as brighter and crisper and sometimes more intense.
Treble
The Aiva 2 is brighter and crisper in the highs. The Apollo Pro is more even and neutral.
Midrange
The midrange is also more neutral with the Apollo Pro, it is actually remarkably neutral. The Aiva 2 is brighter and crisper, sometimes even bordering on shrill when played loudly. Mostly, however, it is just more intense and can come off as more engaging.
Bass
The Apollo Pro has excellent bass quality and a very well-balanced quantity. The Aiva 2 has slightly leaner bass of similar quality.
Soundstage and Imaging
Soundstage and imaging capabilities are pretty similar between the two. It depends a bit from track to track which is more impressive. On its own, I think the Aiva 2 has very good soundstage and imaging, but the Apollo Pro is certainly not any worse, rather even better.
Detail, Dynamics, and Timbre
The detail level is comparable, but it depends a bit from track to track. However, when there is a difference, the Apollo Pro typically comes off as more refined and nuanced sounding. It is less colored and more leveled. In terms of dynamics, they are pretty similar. Again, it depends a bit on the track. Sometimes the Aiva 2 has more articulation, but it is also more colored.
The coloration of the Aiva 2 also affects the timbre. The Apollo Pro is certainly more neutral and the safer bet to get an even response. The Aiva 2 did, however, have that extra energy, making the midrange and treble more on the attack, for better and for worse.
CONCLUSION
Both the Aiva 2 and Apollo Pro are unusually compact planar magnetic headphones with strong build quality and comfortable, well-designed headbands.
The Apollo Pro is the more neutral and balanced performer, with excellent bass quality, refined detail, and no hint of shrillness, making it the safer choice across most genres.
The Aiva 2 trades some of that neutrality for a brighter, crisper, and more energetic character that can be highly engaging but occasionally can border on shrill with certain tones at higher volumes.
I like the Aiva 2 a lot, but the Apollo Pro is such an impressive performer at a lower price that it is difficult not to recommend it over the Aiva 2. However, people have different preferences, and I hope this comparison review has shed some light on the strengths of both headphones.
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- Amazon: Sendy Apollo Pro
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- AliExpress: Sendy Aiva 2
- Sendy Audio: Aiva 2
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