The SM100 is a corded in-ear model from SIVGA, a Chinese brand best known for over-ear headphones, and it marks the company's entry into wired earphones at an entry price of around EUR 60. It targets buyers after a detachable cable, a microphone on the lead for voice chat, and a metal housing without paying for a multi-driver design.
Key specs that matter
SIVGA fits one 10 mm dynamic driver per side, and its diaphragm combines a PU layer with a sapphire-like ceramic composite. SIVGA lists an impedance of 32 ohm, a sensitivity of 105 dB and a frequency response of 20 Hz to 20 kHz. The cable ends in a 3.5 mm stereo mini-jack and attaches to the shells through standard 0.78 mm two-pin sockets, so it can be removed and replaced. The supplied lead carries an integrated microphone with a single-button remote.
Engineering and use context
Each driver is mounted in a dual-chamber acoustic structure, which SIVGA uses to control airflow on both sides of the moving diaphragm and to set the tuning of the earphone, with the goal of better layering and balance across the range. SIVGA describes the product as focused on a stable analogue signal path and controlled tuning, and it has no wireless function at all. Housings are made of zinc alloy, a material the maker picked for durability and for damping resonance in the shell. The shape was developed from 3D ear scans, with the aim of a secure fit that does not press on the ear during long sessions. The cable is worn over the ear, which keeps it from rubbing against clothing and reduces the stethoscope effect, the noise transmitted up the lead when it moves. Because the two-pin connection is a widely used standard, owners can swap the stock lead for another two-pin cable, for example one without a microphone or with a different plug, and a damaged cable does not mean replacing the earphones. SIVGA covers the earpieces for twelve months, while the lead has three months of cover. The in-ear format seals the ear canal, so the SM100 also blocks a share of outside noise when used on public transport.
Pairing
Being easy to drive, the SM100 can run directly from phones, laptops, game controllers and portable players with a headphone socket. Devices without a headphone socket require an external USB-C or Lightning adapter, which works as a small DAC.
Alternatives
The SIVGA Nightingale is another wired in-ear model from SIVGA, using one 14.5 mm planar unit instead of a moving-coil driver.