BGVP ArtMagic DH3

Intro
Disclaimer: This review set is a demo set graciously lent to me by Daniel at Oardio and the review is written of my own accord and all thoughts are my own. The DH3 is available for purchase from Oardio through their website should you find yourself interested in a pair. For more reviews like this, drop by www.perrivanaudio.com

Today we'll be looking at the BGVP DH3, a hybrid IEM with a 2BA and 1 DD configuration. The speciality of this IEM lies in its dip switches. There are 2 on each IEM, allowing for a total of 4 possible sound signatures. The DH3 joins the ranks of many recent hybrids within the $100-200 USD price point and we shall take a look at how they fare.


Accessories and Build Quality (Score: 8.5/10)


BGVP has found stability in its packaging and accessories and never fails to impress. Gone are the days of the DM6 which only shipped with the earpieces, a cable and minimal tips. There are altogether 3 sets of Tips, all in small, medium and large sizes. These are namely the black stock ones, bass tips and vocal tips.

The included cable is an 8-core cable that is really thick, sturdy and well-braided. The cables that come with BGVP IEMs are still one of the best I've seen in their respective price points. Everything is so well done, and I have absolutely no complaints.

Fit (Score: 8/10)


The fit of the DH3 is pretty good, as expected of BGVP. The shells are well-rounded with curves in the right places for these to sit snugly in the ear. They are although slightly larger than average. I especially liked the Vocal Tips that came with the DH3. They are basically SpinFits and they pair perfectly with the IEMs.

Sound (Score: 8.3/10)

Sources Used

• Hiby R5
• Lotoo Paw S1

Albums and Tracks tested with

• Scary Pockets
• Ragtime Broadway Recording
• Jersey Boys Broadway Recording
• Carmen Fantasy by Itzhak Perlman
• Sheppard - Animals
• Grease Soundtrack
• Sam Feldt - Magnets
• Smith & Thell

Bass (Score: 8/10)

Fun, lively and enjoyable. There is enough emphasis in the bass to keep bass lovers entertained, but overall the tuning is still rather balanced. This, however, can be tweaked with the switches. One of the switches seems to be the "bass switch" and boosts the bass region by about 3db. The switches provide quite a bit of versatility to tweak the DH3 to suit your tastes. Listening to tracks from Grease soundtrack such as "You're The One That I Want", the basslines were lively and well-layered. Areas for improvement would be the sub-bass rumble and overall definition in the bass region.

Mids (Score: 8.5/10)

I really love the mids on the DH3. It has a good combination of warmth carried over from the bass, combined with the upper mids energy, breathing life into both male and female vocals. The entire midrange is smooth-sounding and natural, making it the region I enjoyed most in the DH3. Vocals came across sweetly and never once threatened to turn shouty or piercing. Male vocals on Scary Pockets' cover of "If I Ain't Got You" had a very nice soothing body. Great stuff.

Treble (Score: 7.5/10)

Treble is safe and inoffensive. However, the timbre of the treble is arguably the worst performing out of the three regions. However, this is more of a "room for improvement" rather than a direct criticism of the DH3. The safe tuning here may in fact suit people who are sibilant sensitive. This can be further tweaked using the switches, depending on your preferences. Listening to EDM tracks by Sam Feldt, the treble can sound a little lifeless and lacking in sparkle and energy. The lack of sparkle seems to give it limited height and limits the perceived soundstage.

Overall

The DH3 scores big in its overall presentation. It has an extremely pleasant and coherent tuning that suits a wide range of music. It is never aggressive in any region and is a delight to listen to. My biggest criticism would be this comes at the expense of technicalities. This is not to say the DH3 is sluggish. Instead, it delivers what is expected of it at its price point. Imaging is pretty good and enjoyable, while soundstage sounds average, with sufficient space, held back by the lack of air in the treble.

Comparison

VS Thieaudio Legacy 3 (Review here)


The two IEMs are rather similar, with both having the same driver configuration and being able to tweak their signatures with the switches. They both have their different strengths and I would attempt to discuss some of them. The Legacy 3 has the better fit of the two, with its smaller and more comfortable size. This may vary depending on your ear shape and size. The DH3 has a better switch mechanism, offering a more noticeable (and useful) changes to the sound signature.

In terms of the sound, the Legacy 3 has a more versatile sound signature, with better definition in the bass region and better timbre in the treble regions. However, I find the mids (especially lower mids) on the DH3 more engaging and better presented. In terms of technicalities, they are both about on par, nothing too amazing, but very much more than enough at their price point. Otherwise, they are both great, and I would tip the balance in favour of the Legacy 3 as it seems like the more polished product and at a lower price point.

Conclusion


BGVP certainly have got a rhythm in place and have significantly improved in their IEM development. Although many people are hesitant to give them a chance after the DM6 saga, I would say the DH3 has changed my perspective. Certainly, BGVP must work on their PR and keep up their quality products to continue rebuilding consumer trust. The DH3 is great but overall seems a bit of an experimental project went right. Hopefully, this points BGVP in the right direction to more great IEMs we can look forward to.

Rating: 8.6
Sound 8.5

Intro
I'm coming out: I'm a fan of BGVP. I think the company has found out (similar to AUDIOSENSE) how to produce high quality products with good quality control and above all sound characteristics, always keeping the needs of their buyers in mind regarding price, scope of delivery and handling. In doing so, they stay with their products in the mid-class/high-class range, but also dare to take the step into the high-end range. Their current Art Magic line-up includes a wide range of products, starting with the DH3 (135 € - 1*DD & 2*BA) and ending with the ES12 (1300 € - 4*EST & 8*BA), both in terms of price and technology. This review deals with the DH3, which is a hybrid of a dynamic and two BA drivers. In addition, there are 2 dip-switches with which the sound can be adjusted to your own preferences.



Handling
In contrast to the DM7, or DM6, the DH3 appears more compact and filigree. The case is no longer so bulbous, but flatter and more comfortable.

As far as the scope of delivery is concerned, BGVP is not so easy to beat and that already for years. We get a premium cable (8 cores), foam tips, transport case, cleaning tool and 3 kinds of silicone tips in different sizes (vocal, bass, standard). No wishes remain open!

The case has the proven custom-built look, is extremely durable and above all safe. In addition, there are almost countless colors and faceplate designs to choose from

As with all its products, BGVP uses a MMCX connection, which is the current standard in addition to the 2-pin connection.
Two dip-switches have been integrated into the housing, which allow a sonic modification of the basic signature.

With the foam tips, the isolation of the DH3 is really very good, also with the silicone tips. It should also be mentioned that the blue vocal tips are basically spin-fits, at least a replica.



Sound
In the meantime I have understood that the aim of dip switches (no matter which manufacturer) is not necessarily to create a completely different signature, but rather to fine-tune it according to personal preferences. This is quite possible with the DH3, although I would limit it here more to two basic changes concerning the bass and treble. The mids can only be changed very tentatively, which is audible but rather subtle. The review is based on the on/on setting (bass and slight midrange emphasis), but I'll also refer to the other combinations at the end.

The bass of the DH3 is, besides the mids, its main feature. Not necessarily because it's particularly authoritarian or even because it could inspire bassheads. No, it's simply wonderfully homogeneous, with a pleasant, dry punch, very good dynamics and texture. More something for detail lovers who don't want to have their eardrums massaged, but still appreciate the dynamics and pressure from below. With that I don't mean to say that the DH3 in the bass is weak on the chest. It simply delivers what is asked for depending on the genre, without overdoing it. On the other hand, I also love hybrid configurations as long as the dynamic driver is well integrated, which is something that the DH3 has undoubtedly achieved. In the sub-bass, as well as a little bit in the mid-bass it might be a bit more to make the sound fatter/fuller, but this way the bass integrates very well into the very balanced, rather neutral signature. Depending on the switch settings, the bass performance can be compared well with that of the THIEAUDIO LEGACY 3.

The mids are a bit the heart of the DH3. They're almost a bit too cool and flat for me, but they're wonderfully detailed and above all transparent. They are absolutely not influenced by the bass and are very linear from the lower to the upper mids. With the dip-switches you can give them a bias more musicality (off/on, on/on), but they never lose their clean and high resolution basic character. The BA driver does a very good job here, even if I would like a bit more warmth and body. However, the grumbling is at a high level and I'm sure that not many will find anything wrong with the mids. Vocals are very realistic and slightly in the foreground, as well as always in focus, until the on/off setting.

The highs are now the little sticking point on the DH3. Not because there would be a complete sonic collapse, on the contrary. The trebles have a very good extension and give the signature a lot of clarity. Unfortunately the sibilant emphasis is a topic here, which can vary slightly with the dip switches, but is always present. The annoying thing is that I can't really name songs or genres where this occurs more often. There are songs where I don't expect strong sibilants, but these do occur, but also vice versa sibilant songs work quite well with the DH3. So you have to be more or less prepared for the fact that the sibilants will be more or less always a side effect of the DH3. Of course, the sensitivity for this also plays a role here. Apart from that, the high tone of the DH3 is very convincing!

Separation and stage also have a very good expression, even if they are at a disadvantage compared to the DM7, which is technically simply more competent, but also twice as expensive.

A brief description of the individual configurations:

1/0 - neutral with treble boost - the bass loses influence and the sound becomes a bit thinner and sterilized. In terms of frequency response, the most linear/flatest setting and rather something for purists. The mids are slightly lacking in body, but the high frequencies are more present and sibilants come more to the fore. Vocals are more integrated into the mix. This goes more in the direction of "reference sound".

0/0 - Signature becomes a bit more vivid as the upper mid/lower trebles get more gain. Voices get more focus and the mids get more clarity and radiance. Sibilant accentuation and high frequency presence as with 1/0

0/1 - The bass is now allowed to mix in more and the signature gets a little warmer, making the DH3 sound more musical and natural. The focus here is also on vocal presence, but the mids get more volume, which is very good for them and basically makes the DH3 what it is. The treble loses some volume in the upper range, which is good for the sibilants, but doesn't exclude them.

1/1 - This is the review configuration and for my taste the most relaxed and balanced setting. As with all settings, the sound is, due to the basic signature, rather direction neutral, but the DH3 is most musical and lively here. As with 0/1, the bass is raised without losing quality. The lower and upper trebles are softened, which also makes this setting the most homogeneous and audible in the long run.



Outro
The DH3 is a very good IEM in its price range and a very good entry if you're looking for a balanced, mid & voice focused, more neutral, brighter signature, with an appealing low end that has its strengths in detail reproduction and brings a solid and dry punch, very well separated, transparent and crisp mids, as well as a distinct, high resolution high frequency that can be a bit exhausting at times and likes the sibilants quite a bit, you'll surely find your luck with the DH3. In addition, there are the tuning options, which makes sense and also has a noticeable effect, if you compare this with the THIEAUDIO Legacy 3, for example. For me the DH3 is to be classified before the DM6, but the DM7 has even more to offer and is the more mature IEM.

If you compare it to the THIEAUDIO Legacy 3, which is similar in price, the DH3 is more present and clearer in the midrange, which is also reflected in the high frequencies. The L3 has a bit more bass impact and a more relaxed signature, which however turns more into V. Therefore the two IEMs address different preferences.

Thanks to OARDIO for the review unit.
https://www.oardio.com/earphones/bgvp/bgvp-dh3-iem.html


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BGVP DH3 2BA + 1DD Hybrid IEM

Build Quality
Good attention to aesthetics from BGVP. The shells look well made. One can even make out the numbering labels of the drivers through the semi-clear shells. The switches look tight and they snap on properly back and forth. It's only the labels on them that made me think what they are for, and only at a later time did I understand, with the help from a fellow enthusiast who also reviewed the product. The nozzles look good and with enough lip/stopper for tips, which often becomes a problem for CIEMs and other IEMs that easily loses the tips when pulling the earpieces out. The copper cable included is also well built. It is not the most supple or pliable cable though, but it's also not that stiff to begin with. There's only minimal cable microphonics and only noticeable when you're not playing any music.

Fit
I had no problems with the fit. Well, almost. As mentioned above, driver flex is present. It's minimal but still audible whenever I try to wear them. It's also present when applying pressure on the earpieces while wearing them. Of course, the flex can be minimized by carefully wearing the earpieces slowly. Overall fit is good. They feel comfortable enough to wear while stationary or on the move. I primarily used the included blue tips (vocal ear tips). They are not your typical stock tips. They're built like the Spinfit tips, which kind of contours inside the ears with the help of its flexible core/stem.

Sound
For this short review, I chose to leave the switches on the default mode (1 and 2). I used the blue tips included (vocal ear tips).
- Bass -
The subbass on stock configuration goes deep enough to feel the rumble on the selection of tracks that I tested. They were mostly RNB, hip-hop, triphop, and EDM. The midbass is punchy and is one of the qualities that make the DH3 engaging.
- Mids -
The engaging factor goes through to the middle frequencies. I could hear the strings and vocals clearly. Each pluck of note is vivid especially on acoustic tracks and there's also good weight on vocal centric tracks. This is one of the main attractions. Though as I tuned more into the tracks that showcases the mids, that's when I noticed the sibilance. It's audible but not entirely annoying. It's still below the threshold of my tolerance on sibilant sound.
- Highs -
I hear nothing special really, but they do the job. The BA drivers were tuned well, though the extension could be better. But if you do like sparkles? You got 'em.
- Soundstage -
Depth quality is better than its width. That's what I can say about the DH3's soundstage. Distance is much easier to tell thanks to the good amount of details and layering. 3D imaging would be further improved if there's a better amount of stage width for this IEM.

Comparison
I still have my iBasso IT03 ($259) lying around which has the same type of driver configuration as the DH3 ($149). Both are hybrid IEMs (two balanced armature drivers and a single dynamic driver).
The DH3 is ahead when it comes to build quality and comfort of wearing. They felt better when worn and my ears didn't feel sore even after a prolonged listening time. About the sound, the subbass of the IT03 still goes deeper. The rumble is felt even more. The DH3 has a quicker decay on midbass and edges the IT03 quite a bit on punchiness. Vocals sound more vivid and upfront on the DH3 while the IT03 felt more natural and centered. It's as if the IT03's sibilance disappeared when compared side by side with the DH3. Sibilance is more obvious on the DH3, both on male and female vocals. The highs on the IT03 felt a little more smooth. It's probably due to its wider soundstage, while the DH3 sounds more intimate having closer proximity of the instruments to the listener.

The DH3 can definitely go toe to toe with the much higher priced IT03. There's excellent value for the price with the DH3 having a better accessory package while also having the built in switches for a flexible tuning.

Conclusion
The BGVP DH3 is geared towards a fun and engaging sound to keep the listener browsing for more tracks from his/her collection. The basshead in me got satisfied and the overall quickness is good for multiple genres that I have tried. I felt that the highlight was in the mids having a warm and rich tone to it. The sibilance level is tolerable at most, but just a little bit more and I wouldn't have liked it. The sparkle up top is good but better extension would be more welcome.

As the IEM market gets heavily saturated more and more these days, it's also getting more difficult to try and find the one that will please us most. The BGVP DH3 can definitely satisfy those who prefer to enjoy the music as it is, having lesser priority on other technicalities and complicated stuff. Price to performance is another plus for me having heard worse iterations with same or higher prices. This time, BGPV didn't disappoint as compared to the last time I tried their much hyped and more expensive DM6. Kudos!

PS:
I found out that the switches were effective and working when I unknowingly put the IEM on while the switches were set differently on each earpiece. I noticed that they sounded different. I was told that having them both at 1 and 2 sets them at default. Turning knob 1 to ON enhances the treble. Turning knob 2 gives more bass. Both 1 and 2 turned ON enhances the mids.



Specs (from Penon Audio website)
Model: ArtMagic DH3
Driver units: 2BA + 1DD
2 tuning switches: 4 styles (1 is for high frequency , 2 is for low frequency, 1&2 is for for mid-high frequency)
Frequency Response: 13-40kHz
Sensitivity: 105dB
Impedance: 15Ω
Channel balance: ≤1dB
Distortion rate: ≤0.5%
Rate power: 5mW
Cable length: 1.2m