Sivga Que
Sivga Que: zinc and maple in-ear earphones
Wood and metal are materials Sivga has combined since its beginnings in headphones made in Dongguan, China. With the Que (the Chinese name for the magpie), the brand applies this formula to a wired in-ear earphone. A single driver does all the work, the metal housing is capped with a maple faceplate, and the cable is detachable. This is the entry-level model in its in-ear range, and it connects to a smartphone just as easily as to a portable music player.
A single driver with a beryllium diaphragm
Each earphone contains a 10 mm dynamic driver, the most widespread design: a thin diaphragm set in motion by a coil and a magnet. On the Que, this diaphragm has a beryllium coating, a metal that is both very light and very rigid. A rigid diaphragm deforms less as it vibrates. It therefore produces fewer unwanted resonances and less distortion, and responds faster to changes in the signal.
The motor uses a single magnet and a dual-chamber structure: air is managed separately in front of and behind the diaphragm to help control the bass. Sivga has opted for warm tuning, with full yet controlled bass, detailed treble that extends without harshness, and a wide soundstage for an in-ear model. Using a single driver eliminates the need for a crossover between multiple transducers, delivering a consistent sound from bass to treble. The trade-off is that the Que prioritizes warmth and listening comfort over an analytical rendering of every detail.
A die-cast zinc housing and a white maple faceplate
The front part of the housing, which holds the nozzle and vents, is made from die-cast zinc alloy. This process gives the air channels very precise dimensions, and these determine how the diaphragm breathes. This limits cavity resonances and helps preserve the driver over time. Zinc is also denser than conventional plastics: at 10 g per earphone, the Que has a weight you can feel in your hand, without causing discomfort once in place.
The rear face is made from North American white maple, engraved with the Sivga logo. In addition to its aesthetic role, the wood absorbs some of the housing’s vibrations. As this is natural wood, the grain is never quite the same from one pair to another.
A stable fit for long listening sessions
The shape of the housings was designed using 3D scans of different ears. It sits in the concha without applying pressure, and the angled nozzle follows the direction of the ear canal. The cable runs behind the ear, as on musicians’ stage monitors. This routing keeps the earphones in place as you move and reduces cable rubbing noise transmitted to the ears. As with any in-ear earphone, isolation and bass depend heavily on the seal: you need to choose an ear tip size that seals the canal properly.
A detachable cable with a standard connector
The supplied cable is approximately 1.25 m long. Its conductors are made from silver-plated oxygen-free copper, with numerous fine strands braided in a litz construction, and it terminates in a 3.5 mm jack plug. At the earphone end, it attaches via a 0.78 mm two-pin connector, one of the most common formats for in-ear earphones. If the cable is damaged, it can be replaced without changing the earphones. You can also switch to a 4.4 mm balanced cable to take advantage of the corresponding output on a portable DAC or portable music player.
With an impedance of 32 ohms and a sensitivity of 108 dB, the Que requires very little power. A headphone socket on a phone, tablet or computer is enough to drive it to a good listening level.
Technical specifications
Acoustic design
- Type: Que wired in-ear earphones, with over-ear cable routing
- Drivers: dynamic, 1 per side
- Diameter: 10 mm
- Diaphragm: beryllium-plated, according to SIVGA
- Magnetic circuit: single magnet, dual chamber
- Impedance: 32 Ω ± 15%
- Sensitivity: 108 dB ± 3 dB
- Frequency response: 20 Hz to 20 kHz
Connectivity
- Earphone-side connectors: 0.78 mm 2-pin, detachable cable
- Termination: 3.5 mm unbalanced jack
Materials and finish
- Front shell: die-cast zinc alloy
- Faceplate: solid maple
- Colour: white maple, single finish
Box contents
- Que earphones
- Cable:
- Conductors: high-purity silver-plated oxygen-free copper (OFC)
- Length: approximately 1.25 m
- Leather carrying case
- Ear tips: 2 pairs in size S, 2 pairs in size M, 2 pairs in size L
- Instruction manual
Related accessory
- SIVGA accessory: 4.4 mm cable for Que (SIV-QSPC-4.4mm-2PIN)
Weight
- Weight per earphone: 10 g
Frequently asked questions
Is the diaphragm made entirely of beryllium?
No, it is a beryllium coating deposited on the diaphragm. Solid beryllium diaphragms are reserved for a few very expensive drivers, as this metal is difficult to work into thin sheets. The coating provides some of beryllium’s rigidity while keeping the diaphragm easy to manufacture.
How do I use it with a smartphone without a headphone jack?
All you need is a USB-C to 3.5 mm jack adapter, or a Lightning adapter for older iPhones. These adapters contain their own small digital-to-analog converter. A slightly bulkier portable dongle DAC generally delivers cleaner sound and more power headroom.
Is a headphone amplifier useful?
Not for volume: the Que reaches a comfortable level with any source. A dedicated DAC or amplifier is mainly worthwhile when the source device’s headphone output is noisy or of modest quality. You’ll then hear a quieter background and better-controlled bass.
Which ear tips should I choose?
Start by trying all the supplied sizes, and change sizes if the bass sounds thin or the earphones move around. The Que accepts commercially available ear tips compatible with its nozzle. Larger or foam ear tips improve isolation and bass. Wide-bore ear tips open up the treble a little.
What's the difference compared to the Sivga Que UTG?
The Que UTG retains the same shape and electrical specifications (32 ohms, 108 dB, 0.78 mm two-pin connector). It uses different materials: its diaphragm is made of ultra-thin glass, and its faceplate is green sandalwood instead of maple. These are two different tunings on the same foundation, with the Que being the warmer of the two.
How do I care for the wooden front panel?
A soft, dry cloth is all you need to remove fingerprints. Avoid water, alcohol and household cleaners, which can dull or damage the wood finish. Store the earphones in a case rather than in a pocket with keys to avoid scratching the wood or the zinc housing.
Can they be used as stage monitors?
The design lends itself to this: the earpiece is closed-back, the cable runs behind the ear and the connector is standard. The Que can be used with a wired personal monitoring system, or with a wireless bodypack receiver equipped with a 3.5 mm jack output.
- Eco-contribution included in the sale price.
- Manufacturer reference: SIVGA-QUE
- GTIN / EAN: 6973869470830
