The SIVGA M260 wired earbuds are a Y2K-fueled trip down memory lane, and my new budget pick

As a sap for nostalgia, the SIVGA M260 wired earbuds caught my eye pretty fast, and I'm glad they did.

There turned out to be far more to these best gaming earbuds contenders than their Y2K-inspired translucent detachable MMCX cable. They sound fantastic, and fortunately, nothing like the fuzzy and distorted mess that were wired earbuds from my actual early 2000s teenage years. Not only that, but they're one of the most comfortable buds I've ever used, even if they can tend to move around if the wire gets caught on anything.

As a result, these buds have earned a permanent place in my backpack for gaming and listening to tunes on the go. However, their tendency to prioritize high-frequency sounds and make them sound overpowered means I won't be hanging up the best gaming headsets any time soon.

SIVGA M260 Wired Earbuds with MMCX Detachable Cable: $45 at Amazon

The SIVGA M260 wired earbuds are available in two versions: the USB-C model that I've reviewed here today, and a 3.5mm model that's best suited for PS5 players.

UK: £45 at Amazon

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Key specs

Design

The look of the SIVGA M260 earbuds is why I've labelled them as "Y2K-fueled," and it all has to do with their translucent wiring. Tech which you could see through was a big thing in the late 90s and early 00s, and I was utterly obsessed with it at the time. I still dream of one day owning an original 'Bondi Blue' Mac, which has that transparent plastic blue butt. But these earphones help fill that void in a more compact (and cost-friendly) way.

The MMCX detachable cable is the only part of these buds that is translucent, but they still look pretty great in spite of that. The heads of the buds have a metallic finish, with gold accents that contrast against the white-silver look of the wiring. The branding is used pretty understatedly too, just appearing across the tip of the USB-C cable and across the accompanying fabric carrying case, which helps contribute to the M260's classy and retro appeal.

Features

As wired buds, the M260's aren't fully clad with features like the SteelSeries Arctis Game Buds. Instead, they keep things simple by including 14.2mm dynamic audio drivers in each bud, which are powered by a copper ring-enhanced diaphragm to help combat audio distortion, and include that 4N silver-plated OFC MMX detachable USB-C cable in the box that I mentioned above.

The cable is fully removable at the buds, making it easily replaceable should any harm come its way. The pair is actually available to purchase in two plug configurations, so while I was provided with the USB-C version to review, you can instead pick up the 3.5mm L-shaped plug version for just $35 / £35 instead - which I'd recommend if you're a PS5 player. Or, if you have one spare, just attach it to these existing buds to save some extra cash.

The USB-C version is the most high-powered of the two, boasting a built-in Realtek ALC5686 DAC (digital audio converter) that supports up to 32-bit/384kHz Hi-Res audio. If you're on the hunt for a pair for gaming and music listening on the go, this is the version I'd recommend. Not to mention it's the only model with a highly sensitive microphone that you can use for Discord, GameChat on the Switch 2, or answering phone calls. There are also volume and call answer buttons on the USB-C cable to help with the latter.

Performance

I tested the SIVGA M260's in the opposite way that I would normally approach earbuds. Instead of seeing how my favorite games sounded, I was desperate to see how these handled music first and foremost. This was spurred on after seeing the wave of articles about how younger generations prefer old tech, and I'm glad I did it this way.

The M260's sound pretty snazzy. With large 14.2mm dynamic audio drivers, I did expect a loud and booming quality, but it still took me by surprise when I first popped the buds in my ears. Some of my favorite tracks in recent years, like Opr by Gesaffelstein sounded especially crunchy, which is exactly what you want when it comes to industrial EDM.

These earphones were also able to get plenty loud. While there's no ANC at play, I could still comfortably turn these up and zone out the world around me as I strolled down the sunny streets of Glasgow, feeling like a teenager again. Tracks like Masayoshi Takanaka's "Oh! Tengo Suerte" felt especially bouncy and invigorating during these days out. And just as SIVGA boasted, the copper ring diaphragm of the drivers managed to keep any distortion at bay. There was no warbling or audio issues, no matter what I listened to, which is how these low-cost buds have now ended up as my new go-to music accessory.

The only real issue with the quality that I noticed is that higher frequency sounds can tend to sound a bit grating to the ears. This was more prevalent when gaming, as the soundtracks to titles like Mario Kart World are a lot busier than a relaxing Masayoshi Takanaka guitar track.

When it came to replaying my favorite courses, the roaring of my kart's engine and the sound effects of Koopa shells that were hurling in my direction were startling. They didn't distort, but they sounded far louder than they should be, almost like the drivers were singling them out on purpose. This carried on to Donkey Kong Bananza, which I would much sooner recommend playing with one of the best Nintendo Switch headsets instead.

Using the Elephant Bananza's special move to suck up terrain sounded horrendous, as it was so loud and imposing. Even in Pokemon Pokopia, where the sounds are a lot more chill in comparison, still hurt my ears whenever a high-pitched cry of one of my Pokemon pals would sound off in the distance.

It's annoying, as these are still great-sounding earbuds, and ones I would recommend to Switch 2 players. Especially as they can easily pop into the extra USB-C port at the top of the handheld. The same goes for the PC. They don't sound bad, but games like Counter-Strike 2, where a lot is going on, are going to startle your eardrums. To give your ears a rest, I'd much prefer you use these for the odd Marvel Rivals match or two and music, than full-blown 10+ gaming marathons.

If you want to know what these are like for the PS5, I sadly wasn't able to test them with Sony's pixel-pusher. The USB-C model I reviewed wasn't compatible with the DualSense controller, and I wasn't provided with a 3.5 cable to use in its stead. If you do pick up that version, you shouldn't have any issue connecting to the console, other than the overpowering sound design permeating your eardrums.

If you are at all concerned about general comfort, you don't need to be. I have pretty sensitive lugs, and I found these to be pleasantly comfortable after hours of use. As you have that cable dangling, they will have the tendency to move around or even fall out if you're listening to music out and about. Yet, even the tiny amount of foam padding on the buds was enough for a pretty comfortable wear.

Should you buy the SIVGA M260 wired earbuds?

If your budget is tight and Gen Z's obsession with older tech has emboldened you to re-enter the realm of wires, the SIVGA M260 earbuds are a fantastic choice. For music, these have earned a forever spot in my backpack as they sound great, are comfortable to wear, and their wired nature means I don't have to spare a thought for battery woes while on the go.

For gaming, they sound just as impressive, though I'd only recommend them for small sessions. The audio that can be conjured up in these compact earphones is mighty impressive, and they contain some of the best bass I've heard in a wired form factor. However, the drivers seem to prioritize high-range sounds, which can make sound effects in games, from a barrage of bullets to the cries of Pokémon, sound a bit grating and unpleasant on the ears.

Making sure the buds aren't too loud can help, but you'll still get a surprise shock whenever you get blasted with a blue shell, or if a match of Marvel Rivals gets particularly loud, as they tend to do.

How I tested the SIVGA M260 wired earbuds

The SIVGA M260 wired earbuds became my only audio source for two weeks of testing, whether I was listening to music or playing my Samsung S24 smartphone, Nintendo Switch 2, or my gaming PC. As the USB-C sample I was provided with to review was not compatible with the PS5 via the DualSense controller, I spent many hours using the buds alongside my Ninty handheld while playing Mario Kart World, Donkey Kong Bananza, and Pokemon Pokopia.

Afterwards, I tested the M260's while playing Counter-Strike 2, Marvel Rivals, Paranormasight The Mermaid's Curse, and Dead as Disco on Steam. When not gaming, the wired earphones were attached to my Samsung phone and used to listen to a huge range of music, from The Beatles to the EDM and industrial music stylings of Ninajirachi and Gesaffelstein. Plenty of TV was watched too, as I used the buds to play catch-up with the last episodes of The Boys on Amazon Prime and episodes of the anime series Witch Hat Atelier via Crunchyroll. For more information on how we test gaming headsets and earbuds, check out the full GamesRadar+ Hardware Policy.

If you prefer some over-ear action, check out our guides to the best PS5 headsets, the best Xbox Series X headsets, and the best PC headsets for gaming.