Greetings,
Today we’re checking out the MRY6 from BGVP, a very unique looking earphone crafted with the same attention to detail and overall amazing build quality I have come to expect from the brand.
Driving the MRY6 forward are 9mm dynamic drivers with Japanese voice coils, the same durable TPE copper cable found on the YSP04, and CNC machined aluminum housings with exceedingly crisp, laser etched printing that’s not going to rub off.
They’re nice to look at and comfortable to hold, but how do they sound? Let’s find out.
Disclaimer:
Thanks to Chi from Penon Audio for arranging a complimentary sample of the MRY6 for review. I realize I forgot to finish this review and release it… a while ago… so my apologies for the tardiness. The thoughts within this review are my own and do not represent Penon, BGVP, or any other entity. No financial compensation was provided to write a positive review or otherwise.
At the time of this review the MRY6 was retailing for 24.90 USD: https://penonaudio.com/bgvp-mry6.html
Personal Preferences:
I listen primarily to various EDM sub-genres (liquid drum and bass, breakbeat, drumstep, etc.), hip hop, and classic rock. While I enjoy a variety of signatures in my headphones I generally lean towards slightly warm with elevated treble and sub-bass, an even and natural mid-range response, with reduced mid-bass. The HiFiMan RE800, Brainwavz B400, and thinksound On2 offer unique examples of signatures I enjoy.
Packaging and Accessories:
One thing BGVP does quite well is offer up their headphones in a nice package, and support it with a strong accessory kit. Like the YSP04, the MRY6 is a good example of this. It arrives in a small case about the size of a watch box. The exterior sleeve features the BGVP logo on the front and a sticker on the back with the MRY6’s specifications.
Sliding off the sleeve and lifting the lid reveals the earphones displayed in a foam cutout. The earpieces are crammed in pretty tight, smushing the tips in place. This foreshadows a potentially crippling issue that we’ll get to in a second. Lifting out the foam insert reveals the cable neatly wrapped, and a pile of accessories;
Should you choose to buy these, you’ll need some after market tips, ones that meet a specific criteria; a stem that extends further than the flange, or at the very least is flush with it. Easy to find tips that fit properly are KZ’s ribbed “Starline” tips, as well as Spinfits. The KZ tips are way more affordable and still of good quality, so I’d go with those.
Build, Comfort, and Isolation:
Out of every BGVP product I’ve tried, only the DN1 was unimpressive in terms of material and build quality. The MRY6 is just like the YSP04 and built well beyond what I’d expect from such an inexpensive product. The aluminum shells are absolutely flawless in their construction with no faults. The two main pieces (face and body) fit together with a slender seam that only adds to the design. The seam outlines the statement “BKYT MRY6 Feel The Difference” laser etched in tiny, crystal clear writing that wraps around the base of the nozzle.
The cable is the same found on the YSP04 and in my opinion is a standout among budget offerings. The sheath is very dense and durable with strong anti-tangle properties, no stickiness, and no bounciness. It does retain some memory meaning the original bends from when you first unpack the product stick around for a while, but that’s about the only real negative. Strain relief at the ear pieces and 45 degree angles jack is excellent, and the inclusion of a chin cinch is always welcome, even if movement is limited by the inline mic. Speaking of the mic, the module is a common one found on a few other products but it’s well built. The button clicks purposefully with a clear, tactile response and the mic performs acceptably on calls.
Comfort is entirely dependent on tip selection in my experience. With the stock tips, the broad shell presses against my ear and causes hot spots. With the KZ tips, the shell hovers just away from my ear with all weight on the tip. You’d think this would become an issue but the MRY6 is very light. With the right tips, I could wear these for hours without any problems. Since it’s a barrel-shaped earphone, you can also wear them cable over-ear which takes nearly all the weight off the tip. In general, I think the ergonomics are some of the worse I’ve come across for an iem of this style, especially rolling with the stock tips. With after market tips the MRY6 is quite salvageable.
Isolation is also below average for me. Since the fit ends up being so shallow and the housings have two very large vents, they let in lots of noise. Isolating foam tips would go a long way towards rectifying this, but without them I would not be taking these with me into noisy areas.
Source:
For at home use the MRY6 was powered by a TEAC HA-501 desktop amp or straight out of my Asus FX53V laptop. For portable use it was paired with an LG G5, HiFi E.T. MA8, Walnut V2s or Shanling M1, all of which brought it up to listening volume without any effort. I enjoyed running it through the Walnut F1 which helped tame the mid-bass.
Specifications:
The MRY6, like it’s YSP04 counterpart, is a bit of a bass cannon. Some adjustments were made to the presentation that make it the slightly better sounding product, just not in every aspect.
Treble is pretty smooth and tuned without any excessive peaks making it inoffensive, but not boring. There is just enough energy to avoid it being dry or dull, lacking the shimmer expected from cymbal hits and other effects that benefit from upper range energy. Clarity is decent with clear notes and adequate separation.
The mid-range is where the MRY6 suffers a little in my opinion, having a hollow quality about it that can be pretty distracting. It is especially noticeable on male vocals, including pretty much every track on Aesop Rock’s “Skelethon” album. Female vocals fare better, but still aren’t perfect. Listening to Jessie J’s “Bang Bang”, Jessie and Ariana sound fine, but Nicki’s vocals take on a nasal, breathy tone that is simply unpleasant. At least detail and clarity is again, pretty decent with vocals displaying a pleasant texture. Guitars are also plenty grungy and crunchy. I think they benefit from that nasally tone the MRY6 gives off at times.
Bass is massive. There’s lots of mid-bass, though with the MRY6 emphasis is shifted with more sub- than mid-bass focus. While this movement in emphasis is welcome and helps balance the low end somewhat, it doesn’t fully address the giant mid-bass hump that I found so distracting on the YSP04. At least it’s well-textured and quick, if not somewhat bloomy.
That could be due to the huge sound stage. The MRY6 does feel truly open and spacious, almost like listening in a large, echo-prone room, an affect that is probably compounded by the mid-range hollowness. Imaging is not particularly accurate and as such sound moves somewhat vaguely from channel to channel. Layering is decent though, taking advantage of all the room sounds have to move within.
Select Comparisons:
BGVP YSP04: The MRY6 and YSP04 make for an interesting comparison. From a physical standpoint I find the MRY6 vastly inferior. Sure, they’re just as well built and have a look that is just as unique, but from the perspective of ergonomics they’re just wrong. The broad housings and stubby nozzles mean none of the included tips actually fit the earphone properly, and if turning to third party tips your options are severely limited due to the nozzle length. Once you find something that works they’re about as comfortable as the YSP04. You’re given 9 pairs of tips though, none of which fit. That’s just wrong. The MRY6 is a nightmare ergonomically compared to the YSP04 if using it in it’s stock format.
In terms of sound, the YSP04 and MRY6 share their bass-heavy signatures with the MRY6 getting a number of tweaks that make it superior. It tones down the mid-bass hump (it’s still huge), dials in a bit more treble, brings forward the mids which means there is less bleed, and improves clarity top to bottom. Texturing is improved as well, and the already impressive sound stage is even larger. They’re very similar and I prefer the YSP04’s mid-range tonality, but the tweaks made to the MRY6 mean it the superior sonic performer.
Hypersense HEX02: The MRY6 has a larger sound stage with greater depth than the HEX02. Imaging is less precise, but sounds have more space to move. It has a thicker presentation top to bottom and as such sounds lightly veiled when a/bing with the Hypersense, particularly in the lower treble and mid-range where detail and clarity are also behind the HEX02. Bass on the MRY6 is bigger and more viscera with some additional texture, though there is some extra mid-bass that adds some bloat not present on the HEX02. Treble on the HEX02 is slightly more elevated with greater control. The MRY6’s treble has a dull sheen to it that takes the shimmer out of cymbals, at least when put head-to-head with the HEX02.
In terms of build, the MRY6 is hard to beat. I’m not a fan of the design for a number of reasons, but the machining quality and materials are flawless. The cable is also stiffer but thicker and more durable than what you get on the HEX02. The HEX02 takes a huge step forward in terms of ergonomics, for me, due to the MRY6’s pudgy housings and short nozzle. Those qualities make finding tips that fit way more of a challenge than it needs to be. The HEX02 isolates much more successfully.
Final Thoughts:
The MRY6’s construction quality far exceeds what I would expect from a sub-30 USD earphone. It has a unique, if not somewhat polarizing design. It’s sound quality isn’t anything to write home about, but it’s still entertaining. Where it falters are ergonomics that could best be described as lacking, and an extensive accessory kit that is redundant and not tailored appropriately to the product it’s included with.
Those last two aspects really hurt the experience for me, and as a result it’s not an earphone I can recommend, out of the box at least. If you’re willing to buy some new ear tips and spend some time EQing, the MRY6 is something that could serve you well for a long time.
Thanks for reading!
– B9Scrambler
Some Test Tunes:
Aesop Rock – Skelethon (Album)
Daft Punk – Random Access Memories (Album)
Elton John – Yellow Golden Brick Road (Album)
King Crimson – Lark’s Tongues in Aspic (Album)
King Crimson – Starless and Bible Black (Track)
Supertramp – Crime of the Century (Album)
Infected Mushroom – Converting Vegetarians (Album)
Infected Mushroom – Legend of the Black Shawarma (Album)
Gorillaz – Plastic Beach (Album)
Massive Attack – Mezzanine (Album)
Fleetwood Mac – Rumors (Album)
Run the Jewels – Run the Jewels (Album)
The Prodigy – The Day is My Enemy (Album)
Tobacco – screw*d Up Friends (Album)
Felt – Felt 2 (A Tribute to Lisa Bone) (Album)
Today we’re checking out the MRY6 from BGVP, a very unique looking earphone crafted with the same attention to detail and overall amazing build quality I have come to expect from the brand.
Driving the MRY6 forward are 9mm dynamic drivers with Japanese voice coils, the same durable TPE copper cable found on the YSP04, and CNC machined aluminum housings with exceedingly crisp, laser etched printing that’s not going to rub off.
They’re nice to look at and comfortable to hold, but how do they sound? Let’s find out.
Disclaimer:
Thanks to Chi from Penon Audio for arranging a complimentary sample of the MRY6 for review. I realize I forgot to finish this review and release it… a while ago… so my apologies for the tardiness. The thoughts within this review are my own and do not represent Penon, BGVP, or any other entity. No financial compensation was provided to write a positive review or otherwise.
At the time of this review the MRY6 was retailing for 24.90 USD: https://penonaudio.com/bgvp-mry6.html
Personal Preferences:
I listen primarily to various EDM sub-genres (liquid drum and bass, breakbeat, drumstep, etc.), hip hop, and classic rock. While I enjoy a variety of signatures in my headphones I generally lean towards slightly warm with elevated treble and sub-bass, an even and natural mid-range response, with reduced mid-bass. The HiFiMan RE800, Brainwavz B400, and thinksound On2 offer unique examples of signatures I enjoy.
Packaging and Accessories:
One thing BGVP does quite well is offer up their headphones in a nice package, and support it with a strong accessory kit. Like the YSP04, the MRY6 is a good example of this. It arrives in a small case about the size of a watch box. The exterior sleeve features the BGVP logo on the front and a sticker on the back with the MRY6’s specifications.
Sliding off the sleeve and lifting the lid reveals the earphones displayed in a foam cutout. The earpieces are crammed in pretty tight, smushing the tips in place. This foreshadows a potentially crippling issue that we’ll get to in a second. Lifting out the foam insert reveals the cable neatly wrapped, and a pile of accessories;
- felt-lined carrying bag
- black silicone tips (s/m/l)
- green silicone tips (s/m/l)
- orange silicone tips (s/m/l/)
- shirt clip
Should you choose to buy these, you’ll need some after market tips, ones that meet a specific criteria; a stem that extends further than the flange, or at the very least is flush with it. Easy to find tips that fit properly are KZ’s ribbed “Starline” tips, as well as Spinfits. The KZ tips are way more affordable and still of good quality, so I’d go with those.
Build, Comfort, and Isolation:
Out of every BGVP product I’ve tried, only the DN1 was unimpressive in terms of material and build quality. The MRY6 is just like the YSP04 and built well beyond what I’d expect from such an inexpensive product. The aluminum shells are absolutely flawless in their construction with no faults. The two main pieces (face and body) fit together with a slender seam that only adds to the design. The seam outlines the statement “BKYT MRY6 Feel The Difference” laser etched in tiny, crystal clear writing that wraps around the base of the nozzle.
The cable is the same found on the YSP04 and in my opinion is a standout among budget offerings. The sheath is very dense and durable with strong anti-tangle properties, no stickiness, and no bounciness. It does retain some memory meaning the original bends from when you first unpack the product stick around for a while, but that’s about the only real negative. Strain relief at the ear pieces and 45 degree angles jack is excellent, and the inclusion of a chin cinch is always welcome, even if movement is limited by the inline mic. Speaking of the mic, the module is a common one found on a few other products but it’s well built. The button clicks purposefully with a clear, tactile response and the mic performs acceptably on calls.
Comfort is entirely dependent on tip selection in my experience. With the stock tips, the broad shell presses against my ear and causes hot spots. With the KZ tips, the shell hovers just away from my ear with all weight on the tip. You’d think this would become an issue but the MRY6 is very light. With the right tips, I could wear these for hours without any problems. Since it’s a barrel-shaped earphone, you can also wear them cable over-ear which takes nearly all the weight off the tip. In general, I think the ergonomics are some of the worse I’ve come across for an iem of this style, especially rolling with the stock tips. With after market tips the MRY6 is quite salvageable.
Isolation is also below average for me. Since the fit ends up being so shallow and the housings have two very large vents, they let in lots of noise. Isolating foam tips would go a long way towards rectifying this, but without them I would not be taking these with me into noisy areas.
Source:
For at home use the MRY6 was powered by a TEAC HA-501 desktop amp or straight out of my Asus FX53V laptop. For portable use it was paired with an LG G5, HiFi E.T. MA8, Walnut V2s or Shanling M1, all of which brought it up to listening volume without any effort. I enjoyed running it through the Walnut F1 which helped tame the mid-bass.
Specifications:
- Driver: 9mm dynamic
- Sensitivity: 110 dB/mW
- Impedance: 16 ohms
- Frequency Response: 15-22,000Hz
The MRY6, like it’s YSP04 counterpart, is a bit of a bass cannon. Some adjustments were made to the presentation that make it the slightly better sounding product, just not in every aspect.
Treble is pretty smooth and tuned without any excessive peaks making it inoffensive, but not boring. There is just enough energy to avoid it being dry or dull, lacking the shimmer expected from cymbal hits and other effects that benefit from upper range energy. Clarity is decent with clear notes and adequate separation.
The mid-range is where the MRY6 suffers a little in my opinion, having a hollow quality about it that can be pretty distracting. It is especially noticeable on male vocals, including pretty much every track on Aesop Rock’s “Skelethon” album. Female vocals fare better, but still aren’t perfect. Listening to Jessie J’s “Bang Bang”, Jessie and Ariana sound fine, but Nicki’s vocals take on a nasal, breathy tone that is simply unpleasant. At least detail and clarity is again, pretty decent with vocals displaying a pleasant texture. Guitars are also plenty grungy and crunchy. I think they benefit from that nasally tone the MRY6 gives off at times.
Bass is massive. There’s lots of mid-bass, though with the MRY6 emphasis is shifted with more sub- than mid-bass focus. While this movement in emphasis is welcome and helps balance the low end somewhat, it doesn’t fully address the giant mid-bass hump that I found so distracting on the YSP04. At least it’s well-textured and quick, if not somewhat bloomy.
That could be due to the huge sound stage. The MRY6 does feel truly open and spacious, almost like listening in a large, echo-prone room, an affect that is probably compounded by the mid-range hollowness. Imaging is not particularly accurate and as such sound moves somewhat vaguely from channel to channel. Layering is decent though, taking advantage of all the room sounds have to move within.
Select Comparisons:
BGVP YSP04: The MRY6 and YSP04 make for an interesting comparison. From a physical standpoint I find the MRY6 vastly inferior. Sure, they’re just as well built and have a look that is just as unique, but from the perspective of ergonomics they’re just wrong. The broad housings and stubby nozzles mean none of the included tips actually fit the earphone properly, and if turning to third party tips your options are severely limited due to the nozzle length. Once you find something that works they’re about as comfortable as the YSP04. You’re given 9 pairs of tips though, none of which fit. That’s just wrong. The MRY6 is a nightmare ergonomically compared to the YSP04 if using it in it’s stock format.
In terms of sound, the YSP04 and MRY6 share their bass-heavy signatures with the MRY6 getting a number of tweaks that make it superior. It tones down the mid-bass hump (it’s still huge), dials in a bit more treble, brings forward the mids which means there is less bleed, and improves clarity top to bottom. Texturing is improved as well, and the already impressive sound stage is even larger. They’re very similar and I prefer the YSP04’s mid-range tonality, but the tweaks made to the MRY6 mean it the superior sonic performer.
Hypersense HEX02: The MRY6 has a larger sound stage with greater depth than the HEX02. Imaging is less precise, but sounds have more space to move. It has a thicker presentation top to bottom and as such sounds lightly veiled when a/bing with the Hypersense, particularly in the lower treble and mid-range where detail and clarity are also behind the HEX02. Bass on the MRY6 is bigger and more viscera with some additional texture, though there is some extra mid-bass that adds some bloat not present on the HEX02. Treble on the HEX02 is slightly more elevated with greater control. The MRY6’s treble has a dull sheen to it that takes the shimmer out of cymbals, at least when put head-to-head with the HEX02.
In terms of build, the MRY6 is hard to beat. I’m not a fan of the design for a number of reasons, but the machining quality and materials are flawless. The cable is also stiffer but thicker and more durable than what you get on the HEX02. The HEX02 takes a huge step forward in terms of ergonomics, for me, due to the MRY6’s pudgy housings and short nozzle. Those qualities make finding tips that fit way more of a challenge than it needs to be. The HEX02 isolates much more successfully.
Final Thoughts:
The MRY6’s construction quality far exceeds what I would expect from a sub-30 USD earphone. It has a unique, if not somewhat polarizing design. It’s sound quality isn’t anything to write home about, but it’s still entertaining. Where it falters are ergonomics that could best be described as lacking, and an extensive accessory kit that is redundant and not tailored appropriately to the product it’s included with.
Those last two aspects really hurt the experience for me, and as a result it’s not an earphone I can recommend, out of the box at least. If you’re willing to buy some new ear tips and spend some time EQing, the MRY6 is something that could serve you well for a long time.
Thanks for reading!
– B9Scrambler
***** ***** ***** ***** *****
Some Test Tunes:
Aesop Rock – Skelethon (Album)
Daft Punk – Random Access Memories (Album)
Elton John – Yellow Golden Brick Road (Album)
King Crimson – Lark’s Tongues in Aspic (Album)
King Crimson – Starless and Bible Black (Track)
Supertramp – Crime of the Century (Album)
Infected Mushroom – Converting Vegetarians (Album)
Infected Mushroom – Legend of the Black Shawarma (Album)
Gorillaz – Plastic Beach (Album)
Massive Attack – Mezzanine (Album)
Fleetwood Mac – Rumors (Album)
Run the Jewels – Run the Jewels (Album)
The Prodigy – The Day is My Enemy (Album)
Tobacco – screw*d Up Friends (Album)
Felt – Felt 2 (A Tribute to Lisa Bone) (Album)
