Sendy Audio is a high-end headphone manufacturer based in Dongguan, China, operating under the umbrella of Sivga Electronic. Established by audio engineer Jian Zhou. While Sivga focuses on more accessible audiophile products, Sendy Audio represents the brand’s premium vision. Jian Zhou saw an opportunity to push further into the audiophile market. That’s when Sendy Audio was born, with a strong emphasis on natural materials, aesthetic refinement and technical performance.
From the beginning, the Sendy Audio team emphasizes in-house development, from driver technology to housing design. Unlike many other brands that rely on OEM platforms, Sendy Audio strives to maintain control over every aspect of its product development, allowing for a more distinct ‘own’ identity.
What distinguishes Sendy Audio from other brands is its dedication to detail in both form and function. Their headphones are known for their elegant, handcrafted wooden earcups. They are made from natural hardwoods, paired with high-grade metal components. The result is not only visually striking but also built to last. Every model is packaged with a carefully curated set of accessories, often including balanced cables and a luxurious leather case.
Sendy made a strong debut with the original Aiva: a headphone that quickly gained a following for its airy soundstage, refined design and competitive pricing in the planar magnetic category. Since then, the brand has released a small but focused lineup, including the flagship Peacock which is known for its spacious and articulate sound. With the arrival of the Aiva 2, Sendy Audio aims to refine the strengths of its predecessor while addressing earlier criticisms. This new model continues the brand’s pursuit of musicality, technical performance and design.
In this review I will take a look at the Aiva 2, Sendy Audio’s latest iteration and successor to the original model.
Sendy Audio has introduced the Aiva 2 as a next-generation planar magnetic headphone building on its predecessor. Featuring a dual-magnet structure and ultra-thin diaphragms measuring just one micron, the design aims to deliver exceptional clarity and fast dynamic response, according to the manufacturer.
The Aiva 2 showcases Sendy-Sivga Audio’s signature craftsmanship, featuring beautifully finished wooden earcups paired with a robust steel headband and metal components. The design stays true to the brand’s elegant aesthetic, with a familiar yet refined look that fans of the previous Aiva model will recognize and appreciate.
Specs:
- 97×76mm Double nepheline magnetic array planar unit
- Impedance: 32 Ohm
- Sensitivity: 96dB
- Weight: 420g
Test equipment:
Build quality and what is in the box:
The Sendy Audio Aiva 2 comes in a sturdy cardboard box that reveals a brown carrying case, crafted from nice leather. Receiving such a great carrying case in the box at this price range is very rare!
The cable that comes with the Aiva 2 is clearly built with care. It’s a four-core 6N OCC design. The braiding is tight and with no gaps, giving it a clean and polished look. The Y-splitter and chin slider are carved from wood, matching the headphone’s design. T
The included adapter (3.5mm to 4.4mm) is slim and functional, matching the earcup’s design for a nice consistent look. There’s no 6.35mm plug in the box, perhaps a missed opportunity for those planning to pair the Aiva 2 with studio gear or (unballanced) full-size amplifiers.
The Aiva 2 doesn’t grab your attention as much as Sendy’s flagship, the Peacock. With it’s wooden earcups, a well-finished grill and a solid metal headband it most definately carry a sense of luxury. All combined it gives a nice classy vintage look. The design embraces a certain (almost retro) timelessness.
As for build quality, it’s exactly what you’d hope. Sendy didn’t hold back here, there’s no plastic in sight. Everything is either precision-cut aluminium or beautifully finished zebrawood. The Aiva 2 offers excellent comfort thanks to its balanced weight, well-designed self-adjusting headband and soft goatskin memory foam earpads. This gear is built to last.
Sound Quality
Treble
The Aiva 2’s treble has a detailed presentation that will surely delight fans of an energetic top end. It delivers excellent resolution and layering, with instruments sounding crisp, energetic and natural.
Some have mentioned that the Aiva 2’s treble can verge on aggressive, especially when paired with brighter sources. I can see how that might be the case in certain setups. But in my own experience, I didn’t encounter any harshness, not with the Burson Soloist, the Sparkos Labs Gemini, nor with the Mojo 2/Shanling M8T or Chord TT2 + M Scaler. With a slightly warmer source, the treble balances out beautifully, revealing its full charm without becoming fatiguing. When paired right, it’s simply magical. If you enjoy sparkle and air, the Aiva 2 delivers.
Mid
The mids are clean and tonally neutral, with a smooth character. Because of that, vocals are well-defined and nicely positioned. The timbre is lively, instruments sound natural and organic. The Aiva 2 is not a detail monster, but it portraits music in such a way, that it gives you that analog quality that makes them a real joy to listen to.
The Aiva 2 delivers excellent tonal accuracy and midrange quality. A touch more openness and definition in the lower mids would have elevated the overall balance even further.
Bass:
While the Aiva 2’s bass doesn’t reach the depth or impact of the Peacock from what I remember, it still impresses with its speed, texture and control. It’s tight and articulate rather than booming, more about quality than quantity. You won’t get deep rumble or heavy slam, but what is there is clean and well-resolved, making it ideal for reference-oriented listening.
The bass stays in its lane and never overwhelms the mix, which works well for genres that benefit from clarity and balance, they sound amazing with classical, blues and jazz. However, those looking for a strong low-end presence or physical impact might find it lacking.
To get the best out of the Aiva 2’s bass, decent amplification is the key. Despite the specs suggesting it’s easy to drive, it clearly benefits from more powerful sources. In contrast, more powerful setups like the Burson Soloist GT4 and Sparkos Labs bring out the control and tightness the Aiva 2’s bass truly needs. It is still a planar, they benefit from power and control. A great match for listeners who prefer a flatter tuning.
Stage
The moment I started listening to the Aiva 2, I was instantly drawn in by the spacious and engaging soundstage. There’s a very good depth and width, giving the entire presentation a tall and three-dimensional character.
This spaciousness is further enhanced by the treble tuning, which adds a welcome airiness to the overall sound. Spatial cues are rendered with convincing realism, giving the impression that sound is emanating from distinct points around you, not just from the drivers. I didn’t expect this level of performance from drivers of this size, it’s definitely a step up from the previous Aiva 1.
Imaging is solid, offering respectable instrument placement across the stage. The slightly elevated energy in the tuning can occasionally soften the pinpoint accuracy you’d expect in more reference-oriented sets. Which is not an issue, in my honest opinion. The Aiva is a very nice performing headphone, giving you that jazz cafe smoothness, without loosing detail.
A touch more resolution could have added even greater depth to the stage, but as it stands, the imaging and separation are already impressive. The Aiva 2 offers a well-balanced and engaging sound presentation.
Pairing
Listening to the Sendy Audio Aiva 2 through three very different sources, reveals just how versatile and revealing this planar headphone truly is.
On the Burson Soloist GT4, the Aiva 2 opens up with a bold, controlled authority. The amplifier’s immense power reserves deliver a firm grip on the drivers, translating into punchy, articulate bass and a sense of space that feels very expansive. The midrange gains a sense of refinement and texture, with vocals sounding both grounded and expressive. Treble, while still energetic, feels more polished and less fatiguing, likely due to the Soloist’s remarkable control and dynamic finesse.
Switching over to the Sparkos Labs Gemini, the Aiva 2 takes on a slightly different character, more neutral and focused, with excellent clarity and layering. The Sparkos delivers exceptional micro-detail and separation, making it easy to follow individual instruments even in busy passages. There’s a slight emphasis on transparency and speed, which works particularly well with acoustic recordings and tracks that benefit from precision and tonal accuracy.
Paired with the Chord TT2 and M Scaler, the Aiva 2 gains a new level of finesse and resolution. The TT2’s ultra-clean output and the M Scaler’s upsampling magic produce a sound that’s holographic and finely etched. The soundstage expands noticeably and the layering becomes remarkably precise. Vocals and instruments are presented with a lifelike presence and three-dimensionality that few setups can match. The Aiva 2 benefits from the TT2’s impeccable timing and tonal neutrality, resulting in a presentation that is both emotionally engaging and technically immaculate.
The Shanling M8T delivers less power, while it doesn’t quite match the authority of desktop gear, they bring a surprising level of control and elegance. The sound is slightly more intimate; beautifully balanced, airy treble, smooth mids. The Aiva’s fun and lively character pairs well with their warm refined tuning, making it an excellent option for on-the-go listening.
Each pairing showcases a different facet of the Aiva 2’s personality, from its detail-rich and dynamic nature to its smooth musical flow. Whether you prefer analytical precision or engaging musicality, these sources let the Aiva 2 shine in its own distinctive way.
Listening impressions
To give you a better sense of the Sendy Audio Aiva 2’s capabilities, I’ll walk you through a few music tracks that highlight its strengths and where it might show a bit of character. Let’s dive in.
Karajan – Bedřich Smetana – Moldau (Vltava)
On the Sendy Audio Aiva 2, Moldau becomes a vivid painting of sound: a river not just heard, but deeply felt.
The Aiva’s planar drivers excel at presenting complex orchestral textures with astonishing clarity. From the delicate flutter of flutes evoking the river’s source to the bold, sweeping strings that capture its unstoppable momentum, the Aiva never loses the thread. Instruments are placed with an almost visual precision across a broad and immersive stage, violins to the left, cellos to the right, horns cresting through like sunlight on water.
The slightly warm tilt brings a naturalness to the strings and a golden hue to the horns without sacrificing definition. You can almost feel the Czech landscape rolling by, the castles on the hills, the folk dances along the banks. It’s a sonic journey, one that the Aiva doesn’t just present, but escorts you through with elegance and poise.
For classical lovers, this is a reference moment. The Aiva 2 doesn’t just reproduce Moldau, it invites you in.
Gregory Poter – Take me to the Alley
Few voices today carry the weight and tenderness of Gregory Porter’s. On Take Me to the Alley, his baritone flows like midnight velvet, soulful and introspective.
The Aiva 2 excels here: its planar precision lays bare the brush of cymbals, the breath in the horns and the quiet elegance of the piano without ever stepping on Porter’s vocals.
The Aiva’s warm tone complements the intimate recording beautifully, giving each note a soft glow without dulling its edges. This is headphone jazz at its finest; soulful, subtle and human.
Joni Mitchel – Both sides, Now
This reimagining of Joni Mitchell’s classic is less a cover and more a cinematic reflection on a life fully lived. The orchestration swells like emotion itself and Joni’s aged, honest voice cuts through with aching vulnerability.
The Aiva 2 handles this balance with grace: the sweeping strings have depth and air, but the real magic is in how it renders Mitchell’s vocal textures cracked and smoky. There’s a sense of space here that lesser headphones compress; the Aiva 2 opens it up like a quiet confession in a grand hall.
Loreena McKennitt – Nights from the Alhambra – Marco Polo
This is atmosphere, pure and distilled. A tapestry of oud, percussion and ancient echoes unfolds. The Aiva 2 becomes your guide through Loreena’s mystic world.
With its holographic staging and effortless layering, the Aiva places every instrument with surgical yet organic precision. The deep throb of the frame drum has satisfying impact, while the strings shimmer with Eastern exoticism.
McKennitt’s voice floats above it all like desert wind, never piercing, always graceful. A reference track for the Aiva’s strengths in acoustic nuance and exotic detail.
Maceo Parker – Roots & Grooves – Shake Everything You Got
This is funk with a capital F. Maceo and the WDR Big Band are on fire, the Aiva 2 keeps up without breaking a sweat; Horn stabs are snappy and bold, the bass is tight and deep, the percussion hits with joyful precision.
What’s special is it’s speed. The Aiva’s planar drivers make the groove feel immediate, responsive and alive. Each layer pops without smearing, each solo cuts through without shouting. If you’re looking to feel funk in your bones, this is a perfect pairing.
