BGVP DMA Review-Ichos(head-fi reviewer)

Feel the atmosphere

Pros: + Low-end extension
+ Punchy and weighty bass
+ Mid-range clarity and timbre
+ Energetic yet smooth treble
+ Effective bone conduction driver
+ Expansive and holographic soundstage
+ Easy to drive
+ High quality modular cable
+ Lightweight and comfortable
+ Beautiful faceplates
+ Accessories

Cons: – Low-end tonal accuracy
– Bass layering and definition
– Bass could be faster and more controlled
– Not suitable for critical listening
– Mid-range and treble resolution

BGVP is a pro headset brand founded in 2015 and the subordinate brand of Dongguan Nengjiang technology limited company which is located in ChangPing Town, Dongguan City. BGVP mainly produces and customizes various high-end HIFI earbuds, earphones and other electronic products. In the process of development, BGVP has never forgotten to master the core technology capabilities, independent research, development and sales. BGVP is committed to providing high-quality HIFI headsets for consumers around the world. The brand produces various highly acclaimed earphones, like the NS10 that I have reviewed here.

BGVP DMA

The BGVP DMA (DMA stands for Dream Armature) is a brand new earphone that features a groundbreaking 1DD+2BA+2BCD hybrid configuration that incorporates both bone conduction and air conduction technologies. This combination of bone conduction and air conduction technologies aims to provide a real and wide sound field atmosphere, compensating for the frequency band loss that occurs during air transmission.

The two bone conductor drivers by Sonion are adjusted to support lower mids rather than the low-end as is the usual practice. This type of balanced armature bone conduction units is different from the dynamic driver type bone conduction. The vibration frequency of the balanced armature type bone conduction is delicate, so the outer skin tissue cannot sense the vibration frequency. The bone conductors kick in at 100Hz and are effective up to 10kHz with maximum effect at about 2.5kHz.

Additionally, the front cavity features three acoustic ducts for independent sound production, minimizing interference between drivers. Metal acoustic damping is employed to ensure accurate frequency division and clean details. The back cavity includes an independent bone conduction shock hole for realistic sound field simulation.

DMA is equipped with Sonion 2300 series balanced armature as the middle frequency part of the sound and Knowles RAD series balanced armature that has good analytical performance, super high frequency linear extension and great transparency.

The dynamic driver incorporates a nickel vibration film with high temperature distribution, resulting in a thin nanoscale diaphragm. Nickel’s properties, including hardness, high rigidity, fast heat conduction, and high specific elasticity, contribute to the driver’s performance.

Non Audio stuff

BGVP has cooperated with the famous 3D printing company, HeyGears Technology, to make the front cavity using advanced DLP-3D printing technology for high precision molding. The clear resin material that is used for the main body of the ear-shells ensures impact resistance and durability while allowing a clear view of the internal parts. The outer faceplate is made from CNC machined aluminum alloy that is available in two beautiful looking finishes, dianthus silver and dark blue. An engraved “Y” pattern at the center of the faceplate is both aesthetically pleasing and also serves as a venting mesh to relief bass pressure.

Despite the many internal parts, the ear-shells are compact and lightweight enough while they have an ergonomically shaped design that results in a comfortable and stress free fit, even after prolonged time of use. Build quality and finish are really good, the only things of note are the rather sharp edges of the faceplates and the non seamless integration between them and the main body of the ear-shells.

Cable and accessories

BGVP has equipped DMA with a detachable and modular cable that utilizes MMCX attaching system and snap-on interchangeable plugs. High quality, polished aluminum 3.5mm and 4.4mm plugs are included. The cable is made of four-strand 6N single crystal, silver-plated copper and has an outer sheathing made from transparent TPU material. This is a high quality cable that might be a little thick but it looks very durable, it doesn’t get easily tangled and has
minimal microphonic noise.

Except for the high quality cable, the package also includes two types of silicone ear-tips in three sizes each (vocal and bass), a pair of memory foam ear-tips and an absolutely fantastic carrying case in a classy white color.

Audio stuff

Rated at 17Ω with 106dB/mW of sensitivity, the DMA is very easy to drive and doesn’t need special amplification. However, it scales quite well and is also a little sensitive to source noise so you are encouraged to use gear better than entry level USB DACs. For this review, I have mostly used the FiiO M15S and iBasso DX260.

The sound signature of the BGVP DMA is distinguished by abundant sub-bass extension, generously emphasized bass and mid-bass, present and natural sounding mids and a treble that is luminous and energetic yet quite smooth and polite. The tuning is a warm and colored, steering away from neutrality, however it is still a mostly balanced and not dark sounding earphone that additionally is not lacking in transparency and overall clarity.

Sub-bass extension is excellent, the deep low-end is slightly boosted in a polite way that makes it very enjoyable with bass heavy tracks without ending too dominant. Thus said, this is an earphone that can’t hide its bass credentials, the low-end is emphasized all the way up to the lower mids. The bass is weighty, visceral and impactful with plenty of punchiness and dynamic force. The overall experience is head shaking and rattling, the bass is mostly tight and controlled but not without some boominess and a few instances of slow rebound.

The DMA does very well in reproducing deep synthesized bass and percussion instruments (like bass-drums or timpani and even with bass guitars and electric bass) but it doesn’t fare that well with low-pitched stringed instruments, especially when many of them are playing together. This is because mid and lower bass are too boosted to sound tonally accurate and correct while at the same time layering and definition are not class leading. I don’t know if it is due to the bone conductor driver but listening to heavy populated passages with a bulk of cellos and double-basses playing together can get rather messy and lacking in definition. The DMA wouldn’t be my first choice for large symphonic works, reproducing Mahler’s 2nd symphony was not an easy task for the earphone.

Thankfully not all people listen to classical music and the DMA truly shines with a lot of other genres, like modern pop and electronic. Part of this success is the crystal clear, well voiced and present mid-range that allows for vocals to shine forth with adamantine clarity while at the same time the bass hits hard at the back of your head. So you can listen to stuff like Billie Eilish and enjoy the heavy beat without losing track on the vocals. The mid-range is very harmonious and engaging with a natural timbre, great vibe and absence of any shoutiness or other fatiguing elements. The texture is weighty and rich without dryness and has plenty of liquidity despite using a single BA driver.

The treble is well extended and clean, it is energetic and lively with good levels of clarity, definition and detail retrieval. There is plenty of shed light and a pinch of brightness to counterbalance the low-end warmness and keep things moving and sparkling but it never sounds harsh or piercing. The textures get a little drier this time but not overly lean while some traces of balanced armature tinge can be spotted here and there. Resolution and refinement are pretty good but not the best, you can expect much from a single balanced armature per each frequency section.

The BGVP DMA surpasses itself and punches above the category when it comes to the soundstage which is extended both horizontally and vertically to make for a three dimensional and rather grand listening experience. Separation and imaging are also above the average of the category but it is not that successful in communicating the ambient information.

Comparison with the BQEYZ WIND

The BQEYZ WIND is a hybrid earphone that combines a single dynamic driver with a custom bone conduction driver that is effective in the low and mid frequencies. The all aluminum made ear-shells are slightly more compact than that of the DMA. Both earphones are very comfortable but the DMA is more ergonomically shaped so it matches better the shape of the outer ear. Both are also well accessorized, the cable and the carrying case of the DMA are of higher quality but the WIND comes with a greater variety of ear-tips.

When it comes to tuning, the WIND is also a bass prominent earphone but it doesn’t have the sub-bass extension of the DMA. The WIND is not as dynamic and impactful as the DMA but the bone conduction driver is more effective at transferring the low-end energy inside your head. Textures on the WIND are leaner and not as visceral as on the DMA but it sounds just a bit more clear and well defined on the bass. The mid-range is more prominent in the WIND, especially in its upper section where it gets a generous boost to sound more energetic and luminous but slightly brighter and sharper than the DMA. The WIND has better frequency cohesiveness but it not as resolving and detailed as is the DMA, both in the mids and the treble. The two earphones are really good when it comes to soundstage, the WIND is more expansive and airy but the DMA is the most holographic one.

Conclusion

The BGVP DMA is an earphone made for people who like shuttering bass experience without sacrificing anything when it comes to mid-range clarity and treble definition. It has a special tuning that combines thundering bass with very engaging mids and a rather smooth treble that blend together to form a sound profile that pairs well with a lot of sources and matches a variety of music tastes. If you are after that kind of signature, then the BGVP DMA is a solid choice as it combines great sonics with a comfortable fit and plenty of high quality accessories at the right price.

The price of the BGVP DMA is $299 and you can buy it from BGVP official AliExpress store.

The review sample was kindly provided free of charge.

A deluxe version of the review is available in my website.