Short answer: the Sony MDR-MV1. It ranks #92 of 216 over-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 3.8/5, at $328. The Sivga Audio Phoenix ranks #120, rated 3.6/5, at $309, $19 cheaper, not enough of a saving to outweigh the sound-quality gap.
Why pick the Sony MDR-MV1: The open back has lively, extended treble and a full low end, with sub-bass on target and bass from 60 to 200 Hz about 2.7 dB above, so it delivers real punch for an open design. Watch for: Treble from 6 to 10 kHz is about 4.4 dB above target, with a 6.9 dB peak near 6.2 kHz, so cymbals, sibilance and hi hats can sound sharp or fatiguing.
Why pick the Sivga Audio Phoenix: Oratory1990’s measurement gives it a preference score of 72 with a fairly even 2.3 dB standard deviation, and its warm tilt with bass about 2 dB above target suits warm and bassy tastes. The tradeoff: Low mids sit nearly 3 dB above target, which can thicken vocals and make dense mixes sound slightly muddy, and a 4.3 dB dip near 3 kHz recesses voices a touch.
Buy the Sony MDR-MV1. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $19 you would save on the Sivga Audio Phoenix does not close the gap.
Want more options? Browse the full Headphones rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Sony MDR-MV1 | Sivga Audio Phoenix | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $328.00 | $309.00 |
| Ranked | #92 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones | #120 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 78 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) | 72 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.34 dB standard deviation | 2.28 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.42 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.86 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-1.4 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-3.5 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Back | Open | Open |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 40mm dynamic | 1 x 50mm dynamic |
| Impedance | 24 ohms | 32 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 100 dB/mW | 103 dB |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs (223 g) | 0.7 lbs (296 g) |
| Frequency Response | 5Hz - 80kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 20Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | - | No |
Related Headphone Comparisons
More top alternatives to Sony MDR-MV1:
- Austrian Audio Hi-X65 vs Sony MDR-MV1
- Audeze Maxwell vs Sony MDR-MV1
- Beyerdynamic DT 700 Pro X vs Sony MDR-MV1
- Sony MDR-MV1 vs Sennheiser HD 490 Pro
- Audeze Maxwell vs Sivga Audio Phoenix
Prices on this page were last checked October 11, 2026 at 4:59 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Headphones In Full
Sony MDR-MV1: $328.00 Amazon eBay
Pros: The open back has lively, extended treble and a full low end, with sub-bass on target and bass from 60 to 200 Hz about 2.7 dB above, so it delivers real punch for an open design. At 24 ohms and 100 dB/mW it is easy to drive from a phone, and at 223 g it is the lightest headphone in this group. The preference score is 78, and it ties the Austrian Audio Hi-X65 on rating.
Cons: Treble from 6 to 10 kHz is about 4.4 dB above target, with a 6.9 dB peak near 6.2 kHz, so cymbals, sibilance and hi hats can sound sharp or fatiguing. A 4.1 dB dip near 4.6 kHz can leave vocals less natural. The bass and low mids add warmth that moves it away from neutral, and the open back leaks sound with no isolation.
Full Sony MDR-MV1 review and specifications →
| Released | May 2023 (3 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Open |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.34 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 40mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 5Hz - 80kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 78 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 24 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 100 dB/mW |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-1.4 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.42 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs (223 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -4.1 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by AutoEQ from its measured frequency response.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | +9.7 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 46 Hz | -9.2 dB | 0.37 |
| Peak | 1,722 Hz | +2.8 dB | 0.95 |
| Peak | 4,643 Hz | +9.2 dB | 1.99 |
| Peak | 5,779 Hz | -9.2 dB | 1.50 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -2.2 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 705 Hz | +0.8 dB | 2.45 |
| Peak | 242 Hz | -0.7 dB | 2.04 |
| Peak | 128 Hz | +0.5 dB | 2.09 |
| Peak | 2,955 Hz | -0.9 dB | 4.58 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
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Sivga Audio Phoenix: $309.00 HiFiGo eBay
Pros: Oratory1990’s measurement gives it a preference score of 72 with a fairly even 2.3 dB standard deviation, and its warm tilt with bass about 2 dB above target suits warm and bassy tastes. Treble stays within about 1 dB of target from 3 to 10 kHz, so it never turns harsh. At 32 ohms and 103 dB sensitivity it runs well from a phone or laptop, and it weighs 296 g.
Cons: Low mids sit nearly 3 dB above target, which can thicken vocals and make dense mixes sound slightly muddy, and a 4.3 dB dip near 3 kHz recesses voices a touch. The open back leaks sound and blocks little outside noise. The Audio-Technica ATH-M60x is rated higher for less money.
Full Sivga Audio Phoenix review and specifications →
| Released | 2020 (6 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Open |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.28 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 50mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 72 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 32 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 103 dB |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-3.5 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.86 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.7 lbs (296 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -5.2 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by AutoEQ from its measured frequency response.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | +4.9 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 143 Hz | -4.0 dB | 0.18 |
| Peak | 8,971 Hz | +2.1 dB | 1.28 |
| Peak | 1,214 Hz | +3.1 dB | 0.64 |
| Peak | 3,160 Hz | +4.4 dB | 4.21 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -0.3 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 4,592 Hz | -2.6 dB | 4.75 |
| Peak | 5,893 Hz | +2.2 dB | 5.71 |
| Peak | 49 Hz | -0.6 dB | 1.65 |
| Peak | 121 Hz | +0.5 dB | 1.62 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons