Sivga M260 earbuds are old-fashioned, flat and circular earbuds with a detachable MMCX cable and several cable options, including versions with a microphone and USB-C. The price is around 45-50 USD.
Although the term earbuds is used loosely, real earbuds sit in your outer ear (the pinna) rather than in your ear canal like in-ear monitors (IEMs). The advantage is that they are often more comfortable, easier to insert, and let in more sound from the surroundings. The downside is that it’s near impossible to get a full and deep bass presence because of the lack of seal, and of course they leak sound if you want maximum isolation.
The M260 earbuds have single dynamic drivers with a rated impedance of 16 ohms and a rated sensitivity of 118 dB. There are three cable options:
- 3.5mm / No Mic
- 3.5mm / With Mic
- USB-C / With Mic
This review is about the USB-C version.
SIVGA M260 EARBUDS SPECIFICATIONS
- Type: Wired earbuds
- Transducer type: Dynamic driver
- Transducer size: 14.2 mm
- Frequency response: 20 Hz – 20 kHz
- Sensitivity: 118 dB ± 3 dB
- Impedance: 16 Ω ± 15%
- Distortion <1% @ 1 kHz
- Microphone sensitivity: -42 ± 3 dB
- Connector: 3.5 mm (L-shaped) or USB-C (straight)
- Cable length: 1.2 m
Disclaimer: the review unit was provided in exchange for an unbiased review.
Current price and availability:
- Amazon: Sivga M260
- AliExpress: Sivga M260
- Sivga: M260
BUILD AND DESIGN
The M260 is an exclusive-looking and nicely designed earbud made primarily of metal. It’s not the largest earbud I’ve tried, and it’s a tad small for me. For optimal fit I’d need to find a thicker pair of foams than those supplied.
“Foams” are very important with earbuds. They are the small foam covers that not only protect the earbuds but also ensure a better seal, a better fit, and more comfort.
The M260 comes with four pairs of foam covers. Two of them have an “empty center” design so as not to dampen the sound, and two of them are full foams. I primarily used the “empty center” foams but I do not think the difference is significant or even audible.
Unusually for earbuds, it also has detachable cables using the MMCX system. This means that not only can you choose different cables when you purchase, but you can also change the cables afterwards to any MMCX cable you prefer. Also, if the cable fails, you can swap it and keep the earbuds.
The M260 comes with a very nice fabric storage box/carrying case.
SOUND IMPRESSIONS
Source: POCO Android phone.
Sound Signature
The sound signature is best described as neutral to warm, but lacking sub bass. As mentioned, the bass response depends on the fit in your ear. A tight fit leaks less bass.
Treble
The treble is airy and pleasant, smooth and relaxed. It has good detail, but it’s not overly crisp or sharp. I didn’t encounter any sibilance.
Midrange
The midrange feels very natural and organic, with a nice sense of warmth. Vocals sound very nice on the M260.
Bass
There is a built-in problem with earbuds: the bass will always roll off. It is by design, and there is no way around it. On the M260, the bass sounds quite good for an earbud until the frequencies start to roll off and the deepest bass literally leaks out of your ear.
However, the bass overall feels quite punchy, nicely present, and adds good warmth as long as it’s not too low frequencies. But on most tracks I really do not feel that I’m missing much, so the reach is much better than I expected. If you compare it to IEMs, which seal your ear canal, IEMs will always be better.
As mentioned earlier, the bass response depends on the fit in your ear, and I found the M260 a tad small. A tighter fit would probably have left me with more bass.
Soundstage and Imaging
The soundstage feels very open and airy. It is very pleasant and natural-sounding. With IEMs you can often feel a bit closed in, but the advantage with earbuds is that everything sounds much more airy, and there is some natural leakage from your surroundings.
Compared to the best IEMs at this price point, the imaging is not flabbergastingly impressive, but it is quite good and impressive for an open earbud. It should be good enough for both music and gaming.
Detail, Dynamics, and Timbre
The detail level is good, but it’s not an analytical-sounding earphone. It’s smoother detail rather than sharply pronounced detail.
Dynamics are quite good, certainly better than I expected from earbuds, especially when the sub bass is leaking.
The midrange and treble timbre is very natural and neutral. Vocals especially sound great. The bass is nice until it starts to heavily roll off due to leakage at a certain point, as mentioned, preventing optimal bass performance – especially in the sub-bass area.
COMPARISON
I don’t exactly have a bunch of USB-C earbuds lying around, but I do have the 10th Anniversary from NICEHCK, which was originally priced at around 15 USD.
NICEHCK 10 th Anniversary vs SIVGA M260
The 10th Anniversary has a much cheaper build and presentation. It’s a budget product, with a plastic housing and a cheap-looking black cable. There’s no storage box, and only one pair of foams.
Considering the price of 15 USD or less, the 10th Anniversary performs well. However, it does not hold up to the more expensive M260:
Comparing the NICEHCK 10th Anniversary to the Sivga M260, this is what I hear:
- Treble is similarly relaxed but with less detail.
- Mids are much better on the Sivga. They are more neutral and detailed, and vocals sound significantly more natural and organic. Mids are darker and more muffled on the NICEHCK.
- The bass, or rather the midbass, is more powerful on the NICEHCK. It might be because they are a tighter fit in my ears. As with all earbuds, there’s no sub bass.
- General detail level is significantly better on the Sivga, and so are imaging and dynamics. Timbre is much more natural all over.
In conclusion, the 10th might have a stronger midbass presence, but other than that the Sivga is better in every way and well worth the extra money if you’re willing to spend it. If you need something cheap, however, the 10th is totally fine.
- AliExpress: NICEHCK 10th Anniversary Earbud
CONCLUSION
The Sivga M260 is a very well-built earbud that offers a lot for the price. The metal construction, detachable MMCX cable, and fabric carrying case make it feel more premium than its price suggests.
The sound is neutral to warm, with natural, organic mids, smooth and airy treble, and an open soundstage. Vocals are a highlight. Like all earbuds, it lacks sub bass, and the bass depends on a good fit. A thicker pair of foams can help when the fit isn’t tight.
If you want maximum bass and isolation, go for IEMs. However, if you enjoy the comfort and airy sound of true earbuds, the M260 is easy to recommend and well worth the price.
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- Amazon: Sivga M260
- AliExpress: Sivga M260
- Sivga: M260
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