General Information
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iBasso IT05Single dynamic driver IEM, price at time of release $299 -
TINHIFI P1 Max IITINHIFI P1 MAX II NEXT-GENERATION 14.2 MM PLANAR IEMS -
Canpur CP32E3BA, 2EST hybrid -
Melodic Artification Alter EgoBrand:Melodic Artification Model: ALTER EGO Shell Material: TC4 TITANIUM Frequency... -
Tigerism OctaveTigerism Octave 10mm Dynamic Driver IEM
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Lavricable Master Silver V4Master Silver AWG22 2 pin upgrade cables from Lacricable -
TANSIO MIRAI FEATAll Resin Dual 8mm Coaxial DD + 2 Knowles BA Hybrid
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Tansio Mirai XTSMR-X 10th anniversary edition hybrid IEMs
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Simgot LC7 IEM cableSimgots first IEM cable.
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Effect Audio Ares S x CadmusFor the Holidays a unique marrage of the Ares S and Cadmus in one cable.
BGVP DM8
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When I first learned I was getting a chance to be a part of a review tour of BGVP DM8, I was excited to say the least. I have used 2 other BGVP iems in the past: Artmagic VG4 and Artmagic DH3. While now I do not have any of them, I can remember clearly that I loved them when I had them.
But I am in, what you say, “Less is More” club. When driver count increases I automatically become sceptical at the sound, as I suspect not much effort has been put in tuning rather than increasing driver count. However, because it’s BGVP, I kept an open mind. And...well, I found out I wasn’t wrong keeping my mind open!
Specification:
Model: DM8
Driver: 8 Knowles + Sonion balanced armature driver unit
Ultra-high frequency: Knowles*2
High frequency: Knowles *2
Medium frequency: Sonion*1, Knowles*1
Low frequency: Sonion*2
Sensitivity: ≥110dB SPL/mW
Input impedance: 12Ω
Frequency response: 10Hz-40kHz
Distortion: <0.5%
Channel difference: <1dB
Rated power: 9mW
Cavity material: Nicefit resin, Egger bright paint
Cable length: 1.2m±5%
Disclaimer:
The unit has been sent to me from BGVP as a part of a review circle. I am not working or affiliated to BGVP and I am not being paid or influenced otherwise to say anything positive or negative about this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Note: My opinions are based on price, category, personal experience, and personal expectations and are subjective in nature.
Build Quality and Comfort:
No compromise here, the iem feels solid and looks amazingly beautiful in the transparent shell, displaying all the drivers. Even though it houses 8 BA drivers, the housing is quite, I repeat, quite small comparatively, and gives a very good snug fit inside the ear. The shiny faceplates only add to the aesthetic appeal more.
Sound Impression:
I was surprised, to say the least, when I put them in my ears and played a song. The overall sound signature is very balanced, with a pronounced bass, very good midrange presence, and nice treble. It’s a gentle W shaped sound, at least to my ears.
Low:
Honestly, I wasn’t expecting such an impactful midbass punch when I put these on. But that’s how DM8 reproduced the lower frequencies. It was quite pleasing to my ear - strong punch, authoritative presence, very good texture. Never heard better BA midbass at this price range.
But that feeling of awe slightly falters when it comes to subbass. The subbass rumble is not bad at all, quite audible. But it has a slight roll off that prohibits it from reaching to the deepest registers, and restrains it from sounding as natural as DD bass, retaining the unmistakable BA tonality. Although not much of a trade-off, because if you are used to listening to only BA iems you will be more than satisfied. But coming from DD, you will feel something is off - in spite of the voluminous presence, the fullness of DD is still lacking.
But most importantly , there are very good layers of bass - it isn’t one note. And that should compensate the shortcomings well.
In Battlestar Galactica Season 2 OST: Prelude To War the drums sound strong but fast, giving out a strong punch then disappearing quickly. That helps keeping the stage clean, but sounds a bit unnatural nonetheless.
In The Dark Knight OST: Why So Serious? the ultra low notes which start right after 03:25 timing mark are reproduced with a good presence, but the DD physicality could not be found, which takes away the character.
In Muse - Showbiz and Steven Wilson - To The Bone the bass guitars have a nice rumbling presence with very good texture, but also do not fill up the space much - clean and well-tuned.
Mid:
This is where DM8 shines. This is where DM8 outperforms most others. This is DM8’s stronghold. Okay, enough adjectives, let’s get on to it.
The strength of DM8 in its midrange is its note definition and transparency. They are very good, to say the least. All the notes have very good depth and they stand out markedly, and yet they are refined enough not to sound harsh. It is quite a unique trait of DM8, sounding crisp yet refined, not grainy or harsh. Electric guitars sound crunchy yet not harsh.
The lower midrange has a notable touch of warmth. It’s not a very slight touch, mind it. Because of this, the male vocals have the required weight and sound quite natural. However, very occassionally, I found the snare rolls to be a touch too warm for my liking, same goes for other string instruments - cello, viola, bass; notes sound slightly warmer than my liking. But still quite transparent, hence nothing much to split my hairs on, so mostly they go unnoticed.
However, to my pleasant surprise, this warmth is not carried forward to the upper mids. Hence, female vocals retain their original musicality and convey the emotion perfectly. Electric guitars do not sound unnatural. A very very pleasing experience.
In Battlestar Galactica Season 2 OST: Prelude To War the snare rolls sound crisp and textured, notes are very well defined, with a noticeable hint of warmth.
In Poets Of The Fall - The Ballad Of Jeremiah Peacekeeper Mike Saaresto’s voice have the fullness and authoritative presence it so rightfully deserves. DM8 does not hold back in reproducing the textures also.
In Yao Si Ting - Scarborough Fair the voice of Yao Si Ting comes out beautifully with all its sizzle in ample quantity - sounds totally magical.
High:
BGVP has tuned the upper registers very cautiously, such that the energy is there in a moderate quantity and the highs are not in your face, but also do not feel claustrophobic or subdued. Transparent, crisp, refined, no sibilance - this is how I will describe the highs. Treble has a good extension - no complaints there. The energy is comparatively more in the lower treble than in the upper treble. That helps toning down sibilance, but also tones down the shimmers a bit. The energy in highs is less than the energy in the mids, hence the highs sit behind the mids and seem to have slightly less air. But still there is plenty of air for treble to breathe freely.
In Muse - Showbiz the background cymbal rolls are reproduced cleanly while not sounding piercing.
The track Metallica - The Four Horsemen sound sufficiently bright yet not harsh to the ear.
Soundstage and separation:
This is a mixed bag on DM8. DM8 exhibits a splendid separation and imaging of different instruments in a busy track. Each different instrument and vocal can be easily pinpointed within the headspace it creates. They are all stacked neatly from front to back.
However, the overall soundstage feels slightly narrow. It extends very well in depth, but feels restrained in width and height. Hence, the hint of holographic feel is there, but not the grand expanse of stage. Although not much of an issue, as the excellent separation does not make the overall presentation congested.
Comparison:
Vs. Unique Melody 3DT($349) - UM 3DT is my current daily driver, and I am sufficiently smitten by it, to say the least. Fundamentally, 3DT and DM8 are vastly different: 3DT houses 3 DD, two for bass and one for mids and highs. Whereas DM8 houses 8 BA drivers to take care of the whole spectrum. Understandably, the sound signature differs too.
DM8 has slightly more pronounced microdetails or microdynamics. 3DT also reproduces all of the microdetails quite effortlessly, just not as prominent as DM8.
In terms of bass, 3DT trumps DM8, hands down! I am yet to experience the sweet, highly satisfactory, and yet controlled bass that 3DT gives out. DM8's bass, while pretty good for BA, does not hold a candle to 3DT's bass.
Midrange is another story. DM8's midrange is more forward than 3DT, has a slightly warmer tonality. Whereas, 3DT has a slightly more v shaped signature in terms of mids. Mids of 3DT have neutral-cold tonality, which, to my ear, sounds extremely pleasing. Not so cold that sounds unnatural, not so warm that it sounds thick. Transparency of notes is more or less similar on both, whereas note definition is better on DM8 by a hair’s breadth.
3DT has slightly more energy in highs. Extension is similar on both, not much difference. Here also the notes have a similar neutral cold tonality as compared to DM8, but DM8 also does not sound unnatural - very balanced.
3DT has a more expansive and more airy stage than DM8, it extends more in height and width. But DM8 has a deeper stage - the instruments are stacked very well from forward to backward.
Although, DM8 takes the cake in imaging. The placement of different instruments inside the headspace is a touch better on DM8.
In short, 3DT draws you more into the music, whereas DM8 presents all the fine details effortlessly. Different modus operandi altogether, and both excel equally in their respective fields.
Conclusion:
If it is not evident by now, I love the DM8. The sound it produces is so balanced - mids are in focus, punchy and full BA bass, and very nice highs with plenty of energy in perfect balance with the rest of the spectrum. Honestly, DM8 ticks a lot of boxes. Mids are crisp, and details are produced effortlessly. Highs are also crisp but not sharp or piercing, details are there in abundance. Bass is the best I have heard from a BA driver till date. Very articulated notes that grab your attention without being uncomfortable. It is perhaps the first time I am being so much impressed by a full BA iem at this price range. Except the subbass, I never felt even a touch of dissatisfaction in any part of the rest of the spectrum. Really a very complete iem.
But I am in, what you say, “Less is More” club. When driver count increases I automatically become sceptical at the sound, as I suspect not much effort has been put in tuning rather than increasing driver count. However, because it’s BGVP, I kept an open mind. And...well, I found out I wasn’t wrong keeping my mind open!
Specification:
Model: DM8
Driver: 8 Knowles + Sonion balanced armature driver unit
Ultra-high frequency: Knowles*2
High frequency: Knowles *2
Medium frequency: Sonion*1, Knowles*1
Low frequency: Sonion*2
Sensitivity: ≥110dB SPL/mW
Input impedance: 12Ω
Frequency response: 10Hz-40kHz
Distortion: <0.5%
Channel difference: <1dB
Rated power: 9mW
Cavity material: Nicefit resin, Egger bright paint
Cable length: 1.2m±5%
Disclaimer:
The unit has been sent to me from BGVP as a part of a review circle. I am not working or affiliated to BGVP and I am not being paid or influenced otherwise to say anything positive or negative about this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Note: My opinions are based on price, category, personal experience, and personal expectations and are subjective in nature.
Build Quality and Comfort:
No compromise here, the iem feels solid and looks amazingly beautiful in the transparent shell, displaying all the drivers. Even though it houses 8 BA drivers, the housing is quite, I repeat, quite small comparatively, and gives a very good snug fit inside the ear. The shiny faceplates only add to the aesthetic appeal more.
Sound Impression:
I was surprised, to say the least, when I put them in my ears and played a song. The overall sound signature is very balanced, with a pronounced bass, very good midrange presence, and nice treble. It’s a gentle W shaped sound, at least to my ears.
Low:
Honestly, I wasn’t expecting such an impactful midbass punch when I put these on. But that’s how DM8 reproduced the lower frequencies. It was quite pleasing to my ear - strong punch, authoritative presence, very good texture. Never heard better BA midbass at this price range.
But that feeling of awe slightly falters when it comes to subbass. The subbass rumble is not bad at all, quite audible. But it has a slight roll off that prohibits it from reaching to the deepest registers, and restrains it from sounding as natural as DD bass, retaining the unmistakable BA tonality. Although not much of a trade-off, because if you are used to listening to only BA iems you will be more than satisfied. But coming from DD, you will feel something is off - in spite of the voluminous presence, the fullness of DD is still lacking.
But most importantly , there are very good layers of bass - it isn’t one note. And that should compensate the shortcomings well.
In Battlestar Galactica Season 2 OST: Prelude To War the drums sound strong but fast, giving out a strong punch then disappearing quickly. That helps keeping the stage clean, but sounds a bit unnatural nonetheless.
In The Dark Knight OST: Why So Serious? the ultra low notes which start right after 03:25 timing mark are reproduced with a good presence, but the DD physicality could not be found, which takes away the character.
In Muse - Showbiz and Steven Wilson - To The Bone the bass guitars have a nice rumbling presence with very good texture, but also do not fill up the space much - clean and well-tuned.
Mid:
This is where DM8 shines. This is where DM8 outperforms most others. This is DM8’s stronghold. Okay, enough adjectives, let’s get on to it.
The strength of DM8 in its midrange is its note definition and transparency. They are very good, to say the least. All the notes have very good depth and they stand out markedly, and yet they are refined enough not to sound harsh. It is quite a unique trait of DM8, sounding crisp yet refined, not grainy or harsh. Electric guitars sound crunchy yet not harsh.
The lower midrange has a notable touch of warmth. It’s not a very slight touch, mind it. Because of this, the male vocals have the required weight and sound quite natural. However, very occassionally, I found the snare rolls to be a touch too warm for my liking, same goes for other string instruments - cello, viola, bass; notes sound slightly warmer than my liking. But still quite transparent, hence nothing much to split my hairs on, so mostly they go unnoticed.
However, to my pleasant surprise, this warmth is not carried forward to the upper mids. Hence, female vocals retain their original musicality and convey the emotion perfectly. Electric guitars do not sound unnatural. A very very pleasing experience.
In Battlestar Galactica Season 2 OST: Prelude To War the snare rolls sound crisp and textured, notes are very well defined, with a noticeable hint of warmth.
In Poets Of The Fall - The Ballad Of Jeremiah Peacekeeper Mike Saaresto’s voice have the fullness and authoritative presence it so rightfully deserves. DM8 does not hold back in reproducing the textures also.
In Yao Si Ting - Scarborough Fair the voice of Yao Si Ting comes out beautifully with all its sizzle in ample quantity - sounds totally magical.
High:
BGVP has tuned the upper registers very cautiously, such that the energy is there in a moderate quantity and the highs are not in your face, but also do not feel claustrophobic or subdued. Transparent, crisp, refined, no sibilance - this is how I will describe the highs. Treble has a good extension - no complaints there. The energy is comparatively more in the lower treble than in the upper treble. That helps toning down sibilance, but also tones down the shimmers a bit. The energy in highs is less than the energy in the mids, hence the highs sit behind the mids and seem to have slightly less air. But still there is plenty of air for treble to breathe freely.
In Muse - Showbiz the background cymbal rolls are reproduced cleanly while not sounding piercing.
The track Metallica - The Four Horsemen sound sufficiently bright yet not harsh to the ear.
Soundstage and separation:
This is a mixed bag on DM8. DM8 exhibits a splendid separation and imaging of different instruments in a busy track. Each different instrument and vocal can be easily pinpointed within the headspace it creates. They are all stacked neatly from front to back.
However, the overall soundstage feels slightly narrow. It extends very well in depth, but feels restrained in width and height. Hence, the hint of holographic feel is there, but not the grand expanse of stage. Although not much of an issue, as the excellent separation does not make the overall presentation congested.
Comparison:
Vs. Unique Melody 3DT($349) - UM 3DT is my current daily driver, and I am sufficiently smitten by it, to say the least. Fundamentally, 3DT and DM8 are vastly different: 3DT houses 3 DD, two for bass and one for mids and highs. Whereas DM8 houses 8 BA drivers to take care of the whole spectrum. Understandably, the sound signature differs too.
DM8 has slightly more pronounced microdetails or microdynamics. 3DT also reproduces all of the microdetails quite effortlessly, just not as prominent as DM8.
In terms of bass, 3DT trumps DM8, hands down! I am yet to experience the sweet, highly satisfactory, and yet controlled bass that 3DT gives out. DM8's bass, while pretty good for BA, does not hold a candle to 3DT's bass.
Midrange is another story. DM8's midrange is more forward than 3DT, has a slightly warmer tonality. Whereas, 3DT has a slightly more v shaped signature in terms of mids. Mids of 3DT have neutral-cold tonality, which, to my ear, sounds extremely pleasing. Not so cold that sounds unnatural, not so warm that it sounds thick. Transparency of notes is more or less similar on both, whereas note definition is better on DM8 by a hair’s breadth.
3DT has slightly more energy in highs. Extension is similar on both, not much difference. Here also the notes have a similar neutral cold tonality as compared to DM8, but DM8 also does not sound unnatural - very balanced.
3DT has a more expansive and more airy stage than DM8, it extends more in height and width. But DM8 has a deeper stage - the instruments are stacked very well from forward to backward.
Although, DM8 takes the cake in imaging. The placement of different instruments inside the headspace is a touch better on DM8.
In short, 3DT draws you more into the music, whereas DM8 presents all the fine details effortlessly. Different modus operandi altogether, and both excel equally in their respective fields.
Conclusion:
If it is not evident by now, I love the DM8. The sound it produces is so balanced - mids are in focus, punchy and full BA bass, and very nice highs with plenty of energy in perfect balance with the rest of the spectrum. Honestly, DM8 ticks a lot of boxes. Mids are crisp, and details are produced effortlessly. Highs are also crisp but not sharp or piercing, details are there in abundance. Bass is the best I have heard from a BA driver till date. Very articulated notes that grab your attention without being uncomfortable. It is perhaps the first time I am being so much impressed by a full BA iem at this price range. Except the subbass, I never felt even a touch of dissatisfaction in any part of the rest of the spectrum. Really a very complete iem.
Disclaimer:
The unit has been sent to me from BGVP as a part of a review circle. I am not working or affiliated to BGVP and I am not being paid or influenced otherwise to say anything positive or negative about this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Note: Please note that my opinions and ratings are based on price, category, market competition and personal expectations and are subjective in nature.
Build Quality and comfort
The DM8 looks beautiful in its transparent shell, and you get to see the 8 BAs inside. DM8 is a all BA iem, with a crossover design, 8BAs taking care of different sound frequencies. The retail packaging comes with a great bundle of accessories – a 2.5mm thick frozen UPOCC 6N 8-strand single crystal copper 24awg handmade litz cable, 2.5mm to 3.5mm connector, 2.5mm to 4.4mm connector, various assortment of tips which can fine tune the sound signature, a tin container to store the IEMs,
Score: 9/10
Lows
It’s a common convention that BA-only IEMs can’t do bass that well, surely we have had flagship IEMs that broke this convention, but DM8 has really outdone it in the mid-fi category. DM8s bass is strong and punchy, impactful and sounds like a dynamic driver. It’s not overwhelming, rather very satisfying as it takes care of that appetite for bass that we have. The bass doesn’t bleed into mids, neither over emphasized to call it a bassy IEM. Sub-bass is great and has good grip on the overall low frequencies. The lows are textured and detailed, and has really good quality. The bass is slightly boosted but in the best quantity possible with great quality.
Score: 9/10
Mids
Midrange is smooth and slightly laid back in the DM8. It sounds natural to my ears. Upper midrange has slightly more energy comparatively. It’s well detailed but non-fatiguing at the same time.
Score: 8.5/10
Highs
Highs in the DM8 is clean and smooth. It has good really good amount of details and decent amount of air in the top end. Treble extensions could have been slightly better and could have had more air in the top end. Overall, its still really good and does better than most of the IEMs in this range. It has good amount of macro details but manages to be smooth at the same time.
Score: 8.5/5
Soundstage, Imaging, Separation
Soundstage of DM8 has good width and depth, and helps keep enough space for instrument heavy tracks to not sound congested. The imaging was really good for an IEM to be able to pinpoint each instrument and identify even the how distant those were placed. It has good instrument separation and I believe DM8 performs in this area way better than most other IEMs in this range. The layering is decent in DM8 too.
9/10
Source and drivability
I believe neutral to warm sources will pair well with DM8. I have Ibasso’s DX160 and Pico Power amp. Both Ibasso DX160 PO and DX160 (lineout) to Pico Power paired well with DM8, however Pico Power improves the bass performance and makes the presentation musical and euphonic.
DM8 is a low impedance high sensitivity IEM, although less sensitive than CA Andromeda. Power wise they can be driven off mobile phone but I would recommend a good source, atleast a decent dongle DAC as DM8 is a very capable IEM.
Conclusion:
I previously owned BGVP DM6 which was a well received IEM during its time, although had mixed reactions due to its V shaped sound and the efforts it takes in terms of source matching, cable and tip rolling to make it sound best. I went that extra mile and I was well rewarded, I still love that IEM and I don’t think any other IEM could have taken its place, not for that price. I had high hopes on BGVP as a brand, I didn’t get to try the DM7 or BGVPs other offerings, but I was lucky enough to get to review the DM8. And I can happily say that BGVP has delivered to my expectations, and this time without me needing to go that extra mile for the DM8 to sound good. It has a mature tuning, one that of the likes of flagships IEMs. It has excellent package of accessories, really good build quality and sounds excellent. There’s always room for improvement and hence the same will always reflect on the score, DM8 is going to be my highest rated IEM among the ones that I have reviewed so far, DM8 is a complete package and offers great value for money.
Overall rating: 9/10
SoundChoice
Great review, thank you. I too have the great-fitting DM6 and really appreciate it for stage use its isolation, imaging, and separation. Is the DM8 a step up over the DM6 in these factors?
Introduction :
BGVP is a quite a known contender when it comes to making universal as well as customized in ear monitors. BGVP was formed in 2015 and they are famous for their “All BA” sets like DM6, DM7 and their latest flagshipmDM8 which is what we are reviewing here today. They have received a lot of positive feedback for DM7 in the past as well. BGVP makes IEMs ranging from 80$ to all the way up to 2,000$, their ArtMagic series are specialized electrostatic custom in ear monitors made for vocalists and working professionals.
Disclaimer :
The review was tested at 350$ and all the judgement was made keeping the exact same price in mind. We're not responsible for any price change that might alter this review.
This item was graciously provided by BGVP for review in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. The review was written by the team in our own accord and no thoughts or judgements were altered in any way.
Purchasable link :
HiFiGo (Global Market)
Penon Audio (Global Market)
Specifications :
Unboxing and Accessories :
When it comes to unboxing DM8, BGVP has nailed this one. The box is small yet packs accessories which are more than needed. The cover has fluidic shades of orange and blue which resembles the wood version of DM8 (which costs 30$ more). After sliding the cover you have a box which contains all the accessories fitted nicely in foam. Box accessory set includes:
The included adaptors make the default wire very versatile making it possible to pair with any DAP/AMP. The included tips are presented greatly in a holder. Memory foam tips do an amazing job and everything feels like quality. This type of unboxing experience is expected from other competitors as well and BGVP has set the benchmark at 350$ as they know how to provide accessories.
Cable :
Cable that comes with the box is a 2.5mm balanced cable along with adaptors which make it a really versatile cable to go along with any DAP or AMP. The only drawback of this cable is that it’s pretty heavy and the ear guides have sharp corners and lack a little bit of refinement. It’s a MMCX cable and material of choice BGVP went with, is copper. It has a rubberised texture to it, the cable braiding feels secure and tight. The Y-split is made out of aluminium and the chin slider works pretty well. The connector has an aluminium cladding on which “BGVP” is etched. There were a few microphonics with the provided cable.
Case :
Nothing fancy here, it’s a round case with BGVP branding on top of it. Inside is covered with micro fabric to protect IEMs. Its a very small and easily pocketable case and cannot fit anything apart from IEMs, sorry dongle DACs!
IEM quality and fit :
The IEMs are made out of acrylic which are hollow in nature unlike Moondrop Blessing’s 2 which are filled with resin that give them heft and sturdiness. The DM8 comes in two variants, Transparent clear and Stabilized wood. The faceplate had unpolished edges, the aesthetics and quality felt not so great for the price considering we have Blessing 2 which has solid build quality.
The fit of DM8 was great, nothing was uncomfortable for long usage neither did they create any sort of pressure inside ears.
Sound Isolation :
The DM8 are built from acrylic resin and do an amazing job blocking outside noise. With the default pair of eartips the seal achieved was satisfactory. They isolate sound very well considering the fact that they are made out of resin. One shouldn’t be concerned about isolation on this pair.
The Driveability and sources used :
BGVP DM8 are fairly easy to drive, with only 12 Ohms of impedance and sensitivity of 110dB they are easily driven off by any source. They are quite sensitive IEMs and you will be benefited from a clean signal output. A good DAC/AMP combination is recommended as it was quite evident in testing with FiiO Q5 on balanced it does scale really well. Being easy to drive we were still able to reach 70% on Q5 and they were steady as a rock, they didn’t increase in volume much but they did have an impact on both left and right extensions.
Sources used are :
Sound :
Bass (5/5) :
This came as a shocker, owing to its build and driver setup we were not expecting the bass to be this good, DM8 has a 8 BA setup and the overall reproduction of bass is punchy and crisp, the drum kicks and that deep engulfing bass almost feels life-like. The details and texture of the bass is on point, lower bass is present but never for a second we thought it overpowers the presentation, the bass extends very well and is satisfying overall. Mid bass packs a solid punch, instruments really pop out to life and if eyes are closed one can be fooled to be present on the stage listening to live music as the bass is so precise and fast, highly recommended to people who enjoy listening to instrumental music, believe us this IEM does justice to the music, this is the kind of bass that we expect from an IEM and this does a fantastic job of portraying the sheer perfection in terms of bass representation to sum it up - No More No Less, Perfect It Is !!!
Mids (4.5/5) :
One thing we have noticed during the trial of many IEM that if the all BA setup is tuned well the overall sound uplifts which is the case here right from the very beginning the bass being spot on it's time to talk about the vocals, just like the bass the vocal representation is very natural and slight front set. Lower mids are tuned so well that it does not make the vocals sound too hefty but also does not make the vocals sound thin and tinny as some of the IEMs out there do. Higher mids see a bit of dip due to which we think that female vocals experience slight warm sounding but nevertheless vocals sound very natural and does not feel artificial, as compared to the music and instruments that music has the overall perception of vocal are right in the center position of the staging right in the head which makes them sound very natural. For the given price what these offer, we think that it does check almost every possible box present. Slight change in upper mids and they can expect all 5 stars from Team EM.
Treble (4/5) :
The overall signature that we think is close to being warm and natural in the way this IEM portrays the vocals and highs, being a bit warmer we feel there is a slight dip on the higher side of the spectrum, there is an early roll off on the highs and it does not feel so sparkly and bright sounding as we expected on the basis the driver configuration, again shocked by the overall presumptions we had prior, but again the overall presentation is very natural and life like. Higher range of treble is lacking making the sound not exciting and we really want BGVP to work on this and if this gets fixed there is no stopping it to beat some big contenders in the market.
Imaging (4.5/5) :
The separation and placement of instruments feels like to be in a sphere and the detail retrieval is just beyond the words can describe. Vocals take center staging and the instruments sound exactly where they are being played, the most emphasizing thing about the imaging is top level instruments sound on top of head which is very rare to find but it does portray these according to the recording. In conclusion the imaging is stellar but if highs can be fixed a little bit then the imaging would also improve.
Sound Stage (4/5) :
Staging on these are the only thing that makes us think that this needs to be worked on. At the first go nobody can tell that these have average soundstage as the imaging is so good anybody can be easily fooled by that, but spending some time with the IEM and playing some various tracks it became evident that there is a lack in sense of space and grandeur. Playing Hans Zimmer's OST tracks from Inception and Interstellar it became evident that the width of the stage is not so wide but surprisingly the height depiction is stellar at the same time, soundstage can be a very big factor in purchasing the IEM, but we recommend going for this IEM as an overall package is of great value.
BGVP DM8 Vs Moondrop Blessing 2 :
When it comes to overall unboxing and accessories, the DM8 punches way above Moondrop Blessing 2. Moondrop Blessing 2 lacks the accessories that DM8 comes with. DM8 comes with a balanced cable, better case and better tips overall. The build quality of Blessing 2 is far superior than that of DM8. They feel more expensive and tastefully done.
Bass :
The bass is obviously better on DM8, it makes the sound seem very rich and smooth, on the other hand moondrop does a very good job of portraying the neutral sound but it can sound thin sometimes due to that. Bass obviously goes to DM8.
Mids :
Vocals both come neck to neck but we would give the edge to the Blessing 2 as the overall instruments and vocals are inline which is not the case with the DM 8 which has the tendency to keep vocals in front in each of the songs played.
Treble :
Highs is the area where Blessing 2 easily defeats the DM 8, male and female vocals sound much better in comparison and the overall signature is slightly brighter which makes it reveal a lot more in terms of detail and sounds more sparkly, crisp.
Imaging :
Imaging is actually amazing on both but again instruments sound more realistic on Blessing 2 so a slight edge to be given on that to Moondrop for that alone, separation is almost same on both so it can be considered a tie.
Sound stage :
Moondrop has actually nailed this region and it is miles better if compared to any other competition leave alone DM 8, it is actually the very opposite of DM8, the stage and grandeur is huge to that extent that it blows away the competition.
Conclusion :
Considering both are almost similar in price we think they sound so similar yet so different in their own regards. It boils down to personal preference now, if you are someone who likes neutral sounding IEM then Blessing 2 can be your affair otherwise if you like a little warmer sound with great bass DM8 is the way to go!
Conclusion :
The latest flagship from BGVP, DM8 costs 350$ and it's definitely not cheap, they have entered a very competitive market in this price point where there are perfect contenders like Moondrop Blessing 2 and they do deliver up to the expectations. DM8 is a well accessorised, well tuned IEM and definitely ticks all the boxes. All genres of music sound fantastic on this pair and you cannot go wrong with it. While it certainly doesn't hold the title for "Best IEM under 500$" but it clearly does what it is supposed to do and that is to sound energetic, enjoyable and smooth.
Rated :
All grades are given keeping price to performance ratio in mind, better grade doesn't mean it's the best.
BGVP is a quite a known contender when it comes to making universal as well as customized in ear monitors. BGVP was formed in 2015 and they are famous for their “All BA” sets like DM6, DM7 and their latest flagshipmDM8 which is what we are reviewing here today. They have received a lot of positive feedback for DM7 in the past as well. BGVP makes IEMs ranging from 80$ to all the way up to 2,000$, their ArtMagic series are specialized electrostatic custom in ear monitors made for vocalists and working professionals.
Disclaimer :
The review was tested at 350$ and all the judgement was made keeping the exact same price in mind. We're not responsible for any price change that might alter this review.
This item was graciously provided by BGVP for review in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. The review was written by the team in our own accord and no thoughts or judgements were altered in any way.
Purchasable link :
HiFiGo (Global Market)
Penon Audio (Global Market)
Specifications :
Unboxing and Accessories :
When it comes to unboxing DM8, BGVP has nailed this one. The box is small yet packs accessories which are more than needed. The cover has fluidic shades of orange and blue which resembles the wood version of DM8 (which costs 30$ more). After sliding the cover you have a box which contains all the accessories fitted nicely in foam. Box accessory set includes:
- DM8
- IEM carry case
- 10 pair of tips
- 2.5mm MMCX wire
- 3.5mm and 4.4mm Adaptor
- Cleaning tool
The included adaptors make the default wire very versatile making it possible to pair with any DAP/AMP. The included tips are presented greatly in a holder. Memory foam tips do an amazing job and everything feels like quality. This type of unboxing experience is expected from other competitors as well and BGVP has set the benchmark at 350$ as they know how to provide accessories.
Cable :
Cable that comes with the box is a 2.5mm balanced cable along with adaptors which make it a really versatile cable to go along with any DAP or AMP. The only drawback of this cable is that it’s pretty heavy and the ear guides have sharp corners and lack a little bit of refinement. It’s a MMCX cable and material of choice BGVP went with, is copper. It has a rubberised texture to it, the cable braiding feels secure and tight. The Y-split is made out of aluminium and the chin slider works pretty well. The connector has an aluminium cladding on which “BGVP” is etched. There were a few microphonics with the provided cable.
Case :
Nothing fancy here, it’s a round case with BGVP branding on top of it. Inside is covered with micro fabric to protect IEMs. Its a very small and easily pocketable case and cannot fit anything apart from IEMs, sorry dongle DACs!
IEM quality and fit :
The IEMs are made out of acrylic which are hollow in nature unlike Moondrop Blessing’s 2 which are filled with resin that give them heft and sturdiness. The DM8 comes in two variants, Transparent clear and Stabilized wood. The faceplate had unpolished edges, the aesthetics and quality felt not so great for the price considering we have Blessing 2 which has solid build quality.
The fit of DM8 was great, nothing was uncomfortable for long usage neither did they create any sort of pressure inside ears.
Sound Isolation :
The DM8 are built from acrylic resin and do an amazing job blocking outside noise. With the default pair of eartips the seal achieved was satisfactory. They isolate sound very well considering the fact that they are made out of resin. One shouldn’t be concerned about isolation on this pair.
The Driveability and sources used :
BGVP DM8 are fairly easy to drive, with only 12 Ohms of impedance and sensitivity of 110dB they are easily driven off by any source. They are quite sensitive IEMs and you will be benefited from a clean signal output. A good DAC/AMP combination is recommended as it was quite evident in testing with FiiO Q5 on balanced it does scale really well. Being easy to drive we were still able to reach 70% on Q5 and they were steady as a rock, they didn’t increase in volume much but they did have an impact on both left and right extensions.
Sources used are :
- DDHiFi 3.5 mm to lightning
- FiiO Q5
- FiiO BTR5
Sound :
Bass (5/5) :
This came as a shocker, owing to its build and driver setup we were not expecting the bass to be this good, DM8 has a 8 BA setup and the overall reproduction of bass is punchy and crisp, the drum kicks and that deep engulfing bass almost feels life-like. The details and texture of the bass is on point, lower bass is present but never for a second we thought it overpowers the presentation, the bass extends very well and is satisfying overall. Mid bass packs a solid punch, instruments really pop out to life and if eyes are closed one can be fooled to be present on the stage listening to live music as the bass is so precise and fast, highly recommended to people who enjoy listening to instrumental music, believe us this IEM does justice to the music, this is the kind of bass that we expect from an IEM and this does a fantastic job of portraying the sheer perfection in terms of bass representation to sum it up - No More No Less, Perfect It Is !!!
Mids (4.5/5) :
One thing we have noticed during the trial of many IEM that if the all BA setup is tuned well the overall sound uplifts which is the case here right from the very beginning the bass being spot on it's time to talk about the vocals, just like the bass the vocal representation is very natural and slight front set. Lower mids are tuned so well that it does not make the vocals sound too hefty but also does not make the vocals sound thin and tinny as some of the IEMs out there do. Higher mids see a bit of dip due to which we think that female vocals experience slight warm sounding but nevertheless vocals sound very natural and does not feel artificial, as compared to the music and instruments that music has the overall perception of vocal are right in the center position of the staging right in the head which makes them sound very natural. For the given price what these offer, we think that it does check almost every possible box present. Slight change in upper mids and they can expect all 5 stars from Team EM.
Treble (4/5) :
The overall signature that we think is close to being warm and natural in the way this IEM portrays the vocals and highs, being a bit warmer we feel there is a slight dip on the higher side of the spectrum, there is an early roll off on the highs and it does not feel so sparkly and bright sounding as we expected on the basis the driver configuration, again shocked by the overall presumptions we had prior, but again the overall presentation is very natural and life like. Higher range of treble is lacking making the sound not exciting and we really want BGVP to work on this and if this gets fixed there is no stopping it to beat some big contenders in the market.
Imaging (4.5/5) :
The separation and placement of instruments feels like to be in a sphere and the detail retrieval is just beyond the words can describe. Vocals take center staging and the instruments sound exactly where they are being played, the most emphasizing thing about the imaging is top level instruments sound on top of head which is very rare to find but it does portray these according to the recording. In conclusion the imaging is stellar but if highs can be fixed a little bit then the imaging would also improve.
Sound Stage (4/5) :
Staging on these are the only thing that makes us think that this needs to be worked on. At the first go nobody can tell that these have average soundstage as the imaging is so good anybody can be easily fooled by that, but spending some time with the IEM and playing some various tracks it became evident that there is a lack in sense of space and grandeur. Playing Hans Zimmer's OST tracks from Inception and Interstellar it became evident that the width of the stage is not so wide but surprisingly the height depiction is stellar at the same time, soundstage can be a very big factor in purchasing the IEM, but we recommend going for this IEM as an overall package is of great value.
BGVP DM8 Vs Moondrop Blessing 2 :
When it comes to overall unboxing and accessories, the DM8 punches way above Moondrop Blessing 2. Moondrop Blessing 2 lacks the accessories that DM8 comes with. DM8 comes with a balanced cable, better case and better tips overall. The build quality of Blessing 2 is far superior than that of DM8. They feel more expensive and tastefully done.
Bass :
The bass is obviously better on DM8, it makes the sound seem very rich and smooth, on the other hand moondrop does a very good job of portraying the neutral sound but it can sound thin sometimes due to that. Bass obviously goes to DM8.
Mids :
Vocals both come neck to neck but we would give the edge to the Blessing 2 as the overall instruments and vocals are inline which is not the case with the DM 8 which has the tendency to keep vocals in front in each of the songs played.
Treble :
Highs is the area where Blessing 2 easily defeats the DM 8, male and female vocals sound much better in comparison and the overall signature is slightly brighter which makes it reveal a lot more in terms of detail and sounds more sparkly, crisp.
Imaging :
Imaging is actually amazing on both but again instruments sound more realistic on Blessing 2 so a slight edge to be given on that to Moondrop for that alone, separation is almost same on both so it can be considered a tie.
Sound stage :
Moondrop has actually nailed this region and it is miles better if compared to any other competition leave alone DM 8, it is actually the very opposite of DM8, the stage and grandeur is huge to that extent that it blows away the competition.
Conclusion :
Considering both are almost similar in price we think they sound so similar yet so different in their own regards. It boils down to personal preference now, if you are someone who likes neutral sounding IEM then Blessing 2 can be your affair otherwise if you like a little warmer sound with great bass DM8 is the way to go!
Conclusion :
The latest flagship from BGVP, DM8 costs 350$ and it's definitely not cheap, they have entered a very competitive market in this price point where there are perfect contenders like Moondrop Blessing 2 and they do deliver up to the expectations. DM8 is a well accessorised, well tuned IEM and definitely ticks all the boxes. All genres of music sound fantastic on this pair and you cannot go wrong with it. While it certainly doesn't hold the title for "Best IEM under 500$" but it clearly does what it is supposed to do and that is to sound energetic, enjoyable and smooth.
Rated :
All grades are given keeping price to performance ratio in mind, better grade doesn't mean it's the best.
