In this article, I review the Sivga Peng closed-back headphones. The Peng features a 50mm dynamic driver with LCP suspension, sapphire composite diaphragm and African Zebrawood wooden ear cups. It’s priced at 495 USD.

Sivga has years of experience in designing wooden headphones, and they’ve refined the process to a high level. I’ve tested several of their products in the past, including the Luan, Anser and P2 Pro, to name just a few.

Wooden earcups are prized not just for their visual appeal but also for their acoustic benefits. Different types of wood can impart unique sonic characteristics, offering natural resonance control and a warmer tone. They tend to smooth out harshness, add body to the sound, and contribute to a more natural, pleasing timbre — so let’s see how that translates into the sound of their latest release, the Peng.

Disclaimer: This sample was provided by SIVGA Audio for an honest review. All observations and opinions here are my own, based on my experience with the product.

Sivga Peng

Specifications

Driver Diameter: 50mm sapphire composite diaphragm dynamic driver
Frequency Response Range: 20 – 40000Hz
Impedance: 34 Ω ± 15 %
Sensitivity: 102 dB ± 3 dB

Inside the Box

• Headphone Sivga Peng x1
• Cable with 4.4 mm BA plug x1
• Adaptor plug (6.35 mm → 3.5 mm) x1
• Adaptor cable (3.5 mm SE → 4.4 mm BA) x1
• Hemp carrying bag x1
• Carrying case x1

Design

The Sivga Peng features a closed-back design with dark brown African Zebrawood earcups. They have a smooth matte finish and are polished, stained, and air-dried, accented by a white Sivga logo. The earcups rotate 180°, making the headphones more compact for storage and easy to lay flat around your neck or on a desktop.

Peng is built on a lightweight, flexible steel headband with an integrated design. Up top, there’s a soft genuine lambskin strap that spreads the weight evenly — perfect for those long, late-night sessions. The earcups pivot and swivel to naturally adjust to your head, so getting a good fit is easy.

Generously sized pads mean you won’t have to worry if you’ve got larger ears. The earpads use a popular leather and velour combo that lets sound through well while keeping things cool and comfy. The headphones are reasonably lightweight at 341grams, compared to the recent P2 Pro, which are a hefty 435g.

The included 6N OCC cable has dual 3.5mm connectors and a 4.4mm balanced plug. It handles well and is the perfect length for desktop or listening room use.

Sound

Sources used for testing include the D&A Alpha Pro, iBasso DX180 and Cayin RU6. Peng is easy to drive, so you won’t need a high-powered source or amp to get good results.

The Sivga Peng has a laid-back, mature tuning that doesn’t go out of its way to grab your attention — at least not immediately. It’s not trying to impress with sparkling treble or oversized bass. Instead, it takes a more grounded approach, focusing on balance and tone. The midrange is the star here: smooth, gently weighted, and with a natural quality that makes vocals and acoustic instruments feel honest and uncoloured.

The treble is soft-edged but still present, avoiding harshness while maintaining enough air to keep things from sounding closed in. Bass is tastefully restrained, sitting just low enough to provide body without pulling focus. It’s the kind of sound that reveals itself over time — understated at first, but quietly convincing the more you sit with it.

Bass

The Peng’s bass isn’t loud or aggressive, but it’s not weak either. It plays things safe with a smooth and controlled low end — no boom, no mud, and no bleed into the mids. It’s more about giving the music a bit of warmth and weight rather than hitting you with impact.

Low-end instruments don’t slam like they might on a more bass-heavy headphone (like the FiiO FT1), but they still sound natural and clear. Sub-bass is pretty light, but just enough to give the sound a bit of depth. It’s a careful, balanced bass that works well with the Peng’s overall laid-back tuning — especially for a closed-back design.

Midrange

This is where the Peng really shines. The mids are full and smooth, with a warm, slightly relaxed tone. It doesn’t go for super-sharp detail or extreme separation — instead, it focuses on making instruments and voices sound natural and easy to listen to.

Everything sits together nicely without feeling too blended or too far apart. Vocals are clear and nicely positioned, just a bit warm around the edges. It’s not a midrange that jumps out at you, but it’s consistent and pleasant, and it’s easy to enjoy for long sessions.

Treble

The treble fits in nicely with the rest of the sound. It’s not harsh or too bright, but it’s also not especially crisp or sparkly. It’s tuned for smoothness over sharp detail, and in that sense, it does the job well. The trade-off is that it doesn’t sound particularly lively or open.

Because of this, the overall clarity is a little on the soft side. Some instruments — especially higher ones — don’t sound as sharp or clean as they could. But the treble doesn’t feel out of place; it matches the rest of the tuning and keeps everything sounding cohesive. It’s clearly a deliberate choice, and one that makes the Peng easy on the ears.

Soundstage & Technicalities

The soundstage has modest dimensions but it creates a coherent and inviting space. Instrument separation is solid and spatial positioning is precise, making it easy to pinpoint instruments and vocals. Detail retrieval is decent but some micro-details are smoothed over.

Verdict

The Sivga Peng might not be the most hard-hitting or technically dazzling headphone out there, but it gets a lot of the fundamentals right. Its warm, organic tonality makes for an easy and enjoyable listen, especially if you’re after something that leans smooth rather than sharp. It’s the kind of tuning that works well across long sessions without wearing you down.

Add to that the top-notch build quality and handsome wooden earcups, and you’ve got a headphone that feels as premium as the price suggests. If you value comfort, craftsmanship, and a relaxed, natural sound, the Peng is a solid pick.