These wired headphones blow wireless headphones out of the water — here's why you need a pair

Sivga Peng — (Image credit: Tom's Guide)

There's part of me that feels like I'm repeating myself. A new pair of wired headphones lands on my desk from a name you've never heard of, and they sonically eviscerate all the wireless options you can buy for a similar price. Cue me acting "surprised," penning my "surprise," and then everyone continuing to buy the same ANC cans they always have.

But seriously, you have to give some of these wired options a chance. Sure, you won't be wearing them on a train to block out the sounds of angry sports fans, but you will appreciate everything your music has to offer when you sit at your work desk, or at home after a long day at work. Or something.

Connect to disconnect

The modern world is too filled with "beeps" and "boops." My car bings at me when I go slightly over the speed limit to overtake your Mom in her station wagon, my nightstand light squawks at me when it's disconnected from the Wi-Fi, and trash cans say "thanks!" when I throw away my empty Monster can.

I hate beeps and boops. They're annoying. The fact that wireless headphones beep and boop more than just about anything else I own is the icing on top of a disgusting cake. "Oh, I've disconnected," say my headphones. "BEEP, I've got some battery left." "BEEP, I've got even less battery left." Please. Stop.

You know what doesn't beep at me? The Sivga Peng, and just about any other wired headphones you might have. Plug them into a device that doesn't see the outside world for anything other than music streaming, and you'll find a peaceful world where nothing wants for your attention with a piezo buzzer or a synthetic beep. Or boop.

Battery life? Never heard of her

"My headphones last for 30 hours!"
"Oh yeah? Well, mine last for 50!"
"I've got you both trumped — mine go on for 100 hours!"

How about all of the hours? The only thing you have to worry about is how long the connected device will last. The Sivga Peng? No charging needed. Pub friends bragging rights won, perpetual music gained.

Seriously impressive sound

Bluetooth has improved in leaps and bounds. You can listen to far higher-quality audio than the first pairs of wireless headphones could ever have hoped of reproducing. But it's still limited, either by the device you're listening to, the codecs your headphones support, or both. Wireless is an imperfect listening solution, a compromise of convenience over just about everything else.

My Sivga Peng and their wonderful, braided cable, however, are different. They take wonderful hi-res tracks from my digital audio player (or my laptop, or even my phone), and then feed them directly into my earholes as if they were love letters delivered on the backs of cherubim.

There's detail for days, mids that give you a warm, welcoming hug, and their closed-back design keeps the bass in for weighty, thick sound. The soundstage is slightly more intimate as a result, but you won't mind as you're surrounded by your favorite tunes.

You might miss some amenities

Wireless headphones do, of course, have some pros. ANC that keeps the noise of irritating people at bay, and no cable to get all tangled. But if you want something that sounds incredible, and don't want to start looking at headphones that cost over $599, then wired headphones are the only way to go.

The Sivga Peng are just one pair of wireless headphones — but they are a spectacular option if you've got $449 spare and you were thinking of picking up something with a Sony or a Bose logo. Don't. Buy these. They sound so much better. And you'll never have to worry about the battery running out.

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Tammy and her generous collection of headphones have found a new home — Tom's Guide! After a two-and-a-half-year stint as iMore's resident audiophile, Tammy's reviews and buying guide expertise have more focus than ever on Tom's Guide, helping buyers find the audio gear that works best for them. Tammy has worked with some of the most desirable audio brands on the planet in her time writing about headphones, speakers, and more, bringing a consumer focussed approach to critique and buying advice. Away from her desk, you'll probably find her in the countryside writing (extremely bad) poetry, or putting her screenwriting Masters to good use creating screenplays that'll never see the light of day.

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