BGVP DX7 Review-NymPHONOmaniac(head-fi)

Pros: -crisp balance W shape (warmer or brighter way depending on tuning module)
-clean, transparent and above average resolution
-wide, tall, deep and airy headroom (feel like open back headphones)
-sparkly and airy treble
-punchy and textured bass
-clear and wide in presence mids and vocal
-impressively snappy treble attack
-good imaging
-superior technical performance earbuds way
-excellent construction, which is eye appealing too
-nice modular cable included (very useful since earbuds benefit balanced output)
-good package value

Cons: -dry and rolled off sub bass
-a bit offensive upper mids (energic vocal that can stole the show in term of dynamic)
-light note weight
-a bit thin mid range
-not for warm sound lover

TONALITY: 7.8/10
TECHNICALITIES: 8.5/10
TIMBRE: 7.5/10
SOUNDSTAGE: 9/10
IMAGING: 8.2/10
MUSICALITY (subjective): 7.5/10
CONSTRUCTION: 9/10
SOUND VALUE: 8.2/10

BGVP is an experience IEM making company that has been around for more than 5 years, it’s among chifi pioneer we can say and they specialize in hybrid IEM which i’ve review some, including the BGVP DMA which i consider best tribrid with BC in sub-300$ price range. Then DM9 might be the best sound value of 9 drivers with 4 EST too, so BGVP is one of those chifi companies aiming for high sound value products, it’s in their DNA (and DMA!).

Today I will review something more exotic from them, an earbud. Unlike IEMs, they release only one other, the DX6 which I haven’t tried. The DX7 i’ll review today is the upgrade of this model, acting as their flagship model.

Priced 110$ for colored version and 100$ for silver version, the DX7 uses a big 14.2mm with carbon composite diaphragm and N52 magnet.

Let’s see in this (delayed) review if the DX7 is excelling in technical or musical department, or even better: both.

CONSTRUCTION&ACCESSORIES

I’ll be fast here, the construction is very good, it’s made of a premium CNC metallic shell that has an eye-catching multicolor mirror finish. It’s not that easy to scratch it unlike most mirror finish IEM I have. The size is rather big so small ears should be worried, as well it’s a bit heavy and the fit isn’t the most secure, but for my big ears it fits well and steady, unless i begin to run or headbang (which can’t happen with those anyway).

On top of the shell there is the tuning module, it’s a wise tech though it doesn’t inflict drastically on sound.

As well, it’s an earbud with mmcx connector, and modular detachable cable of good quality (way better than fiio option).

In terms of accessories, for the price we are spoiled enough. We have this good 38-core single-crystal copper silver-plated cable as noted, with 3.5mm se and 4.4 bal plug.

We have an elegant carrying case. Plenty of donuts and full foams. And even an ear hook adaptor to add to the cable. Then we have this pair of tuning modules.

All of this is truly great for 100$.

SOUND IMPRESSIONS

THE DX7 offer a crisp, airy and open musicality with a balanced bright neutral tonality with slight bass boost that had just a notch of warmth in lower mids if you use the colorful venting module, it goes more flat neutral with extra upper treble boost with silver venting which is more technical and cold sounding yet cleaner and higher in resolution too.

For this review I will stick on colorful tuning module which is the blue one with Silver version DX7, it has a bit warmer and punchier mid bass as well as smoother and denser vocal, it’s not as thin and bright sounding as Silver module which i’m not a fan, it say it’s specialize for vocal but this is more about upper mids boost and forwards vocal presence, and since the colorful venting module deliver already a quite bass light presentation (compared to IEMs), the Silver version is plain anemic, dry and dynamic less in bass department, something even purist will find lacking, bass feel very very distant compared to instruments presence.

So, the DX7 musicality with colorful venting is quite balanced, we can consider it W shape since there is a boost in mid bass, upper mids and upper treble, which add an holographic macro dynamic articulation. This is what hit first with the DX7: the concert hall like headroom which is vast, wide, tall and deep, it goes even deeper with bass less Silver module since their no resonance blur affecting spatial depth clarity.

Even with a slight notch of warmth and presence edge polishing, I don’t consider the DX7 plain warm, these feel like bright mid centric with airy sparkly treble and this speedy but non rumbly mid bass punch. Even with this lower mids transition warmth, the overall DX7 sounds clean and open, again it will go leaner and even cleaner with Silver venting and suddenly feel treble centric, unless you consider lower treble and upper mids presence as fully rendered mid range, which I don’t.

DX7 is a technical set, in the sense the dynamic driver used in these is no joke in term of transient speed, the layering goes effortless and don’t induce ‘’macro-muddyness’’, attack control is great too, thus this minimal bleeding due to fast post impact release that don’t amplify in resonance.

The bass is focused on mid bass yet has an impressively deep and lean extension too so you can perceive well the bass line should it be double bass or electric bass, yet for the latter it will lack this dense grunt sustain when needed.
Don’t expect meaty rumble since there is none, there is no subwoofer hidden in this musicality and it’s a common drawback of earbuds, here at least the bass line presence is clean and don’t fully go scooped or impossible to read.
The mid bass is quite excellent, round, textured and minimally punchy but we have some and it doesn’t go full warmth nor muddy, it’s a speedy punch with mellow impact and it doesn’t go loose. While textured, it’s not plain edgy, we have this extra sustain roundness, then with other venting modules there none, the mid bass become more textured and bright in resolution but less impactful too, feel like the drummer is at the far end of the concert hall with this silver module.
The hard hitting attack lead isn’t there, both toms and kicks feel a bit softened in edge, yet the natural release is clean and well layered.
The DX7 offers impressive bass performance though dynamic wise it’s restrained.

Then the mids are the true star of the show, it sounds open, transparent, wide and inviting in presence and quite airy without going plain thin. But we aren’t in thick and lush territory still, it’s light in note weight and presence of instrument isn’t finely carved, it sustain release mix together and affect definition delimitation, this is due to lack of attack lead so for piano i don’t send the intensity level of finger pressing the key, nor for the acoustic guitar their authority in string pulling nor for violin the hard edge of attack will be highlight with accent swing.
This mean vocal are sibilance free and smoothen in spike, both male and female vocal sound full and natural enough, presence is wide and centered without blooming all the rest, these aren’t shouty even if forwards in vocal and intelligibility iss very good even if not maxed in resolution and texture details (which is a plus since I hate lipsy or sand paper vocals).
Saxophone too is excellent, this means those buds are good for jazz in general since double bass is well rendered and controlled too.

The treble is quite impressive too, quite extended, sparkly and airy, it’s not one of those buds that goes high and rolls off yet the rendering is delicate, it’s not an analytical sounding buds either.
If i use the term crisp alot, it’s to underline it’s not a crunchy brightness, the texture isn’t super boosted so this explain attack softness, electric guitar aren’t very lively nor forwards, it’s not a buds i’ll suggest for metal head even if technical performance can handle the speed.
Where we have most energy is in higher range metallic percussion which goes snappy, clicky and sparkly with good extra air around it, micro details in electronics too can be crisp and captivating.
All in all, the highs are mostly lean and soft until this extra upper treble swing happens, which add this appealing airiness and finely layered percussions or high pitch micro sound.

The soundstage, which i call ‘’headroom’’ for ear buds, is one of main highlight of those. Some earbuds feel like a wide mono wall of sound in front of you, here we are into a surround sound system. I really feel like bringing my speakers room with DX7 sometime, it’s that out of your head. It’s taller and deer than wider, it’s circular as if their 3 speakers around you, one in front for mids and stereo one for bass and treble. It’s very clean and crisp too.

This means imaging is above average too but not on monitor level because we have some sound info lacking, surely due to a specific part of treble that goes super smoothen, the part that adds sens of air I think (can’t remember which khz it is though).

COMPARISON

VS PENON BS1

The BS1 is warmer and bassier, more mid centric and lush sounding yet not as open ,crisp, clean and airy as the more technical sounding DX7.

The bass has heavier and more impactful mid bass slam, which is warmer and less textured than lighter and faster kick of DX7, sub bass offer denser more vibrant rumble with the BS1 too were the DX7 feel more rolled off and thin, we don’t have has much physicality in sub release. Yet, bass line presence is clearer and better layered, less warmed in a muddy kick and bassline mix.

Mid range is fuller sounding and more colored with BS1, both male and female have wider and thicker presence and smoother upper mids, it’s better rounder but more opaque, less clean and transparent for proper imaging. All instruments sound more bodied, less compressed in presence yet darker in definition with BS1 that has more bass warmth and veil.

Treble is this time more rolled off with BS, it’s thicker and more euphonic, DX7 is sharper and snappier with faster and more controlled percussion. Acoustic guitar has more sparkle and we have a notch more micro details and more air around instruments with DX7.

The soundstage is about as wide with both but notably taller, cleaner and deeper and more 3D with DX7.

Imaging benefit from extra air and clarity of DX7, making it sharper in positioning, more spacious in separation and more transparent in layering for proper multi stage readability.

All in all, these are near polar opposite tonality wise, but I would conclude technical performance is superior with DX7 due to better resolution and imaging and cleaner soundstage. Tonality wise, mid centric and vocal lovers will most likely prefer BS1, as well as bass impact lover, and i’m one of those people.

CONCLUSION

The BGVP DX7 is an excellent earbud that excels in spacious musicality with a crisp near neutral tonality that can go ultra clear or slightly smoother and bassier depending on the tuning module you choose.

If you want an open-back headphone like musicality in ultra-portable form, the DX7 might be a great solution.

Sense of immersivity and concert hall like spatiality add to musical appeal of those, but don’t get overly enthusiastic about their big bass promise because like near all earbuds i have tested (more than 50), it’s sub bass is roll of and never induce dense vibrant rumble, as well, mid bass seem miniaturized while vocal is the opposite, it go wider and more forwards in presence.

All in all, the technical performance of DX7 is above average in the 50-150$ earbuds range, and the treble is master of the show without feeling unbalanced, it’s airy and sparkly and well controlled.

If you’re an earbud lover, the DX7 should be on your list unless you’re a basshead or warm mid centric tonality lover.

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PS: I want to thanks BGVP for sending this review sample as well as for their tremendous patience because this review was 90% complete for now 3 months…but i make a reviewing break and forget about it. As always, i’m not affiliated nor earn any $ doing this review.

You can order the BGVP DX7 colorful edition for 105$ (sale) here in there official Ali Express store:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005007127859271.html