Revisiting Flat Earbuds: A Fresh Perspective with the BGVP DX7

I used to be a big fan of flat earbuds before I delved into the IEMs rabbit hole, like the the cheapest one o,g Vido and B40 from NiceHCK, as well as the Faaeal series and Yincrow, etc back in 2019. I recently had the chance to try earbuds again after a long break, i,e the DX7 the flagship flatheads from BGVP . I’d like to extend my gratitude for trusting me to evaluate it. However, please note that my review reflects my personal preferences.



After using IEMs for a long time and trying earbuds for first time again, the sensation is very different. With IEMs, they go into the ear canal, offering excellent isolation and a snug, secure fit. more intimate. 'Flat Earbuds' like this, rest on your outer ear and don’t go into the ear canal, so they offer less isolation and weaker subb-bass than IEMs. But i find earbuds have a wider soundstage compare to iems, kind of like mini open-back headphones..

Both offer distinct advantages depending on the listening environment and personal preferences. Before diving into the sound quality, let’s take a look at what BGVP includes in the packaging.

The package comes with a good range of accessories, inside:



- The earbuds themselves
- Two sets of filter tunings (silver and blue)
- One pair of full foam (red and blue), two pairs of full foam, and two pairs of donut foam
- MMCX cable
- Modular plugs (3.5mm and 4.4mm)
- White Case
- Two shirt clips
- One pair of earhooks

regarding the three types of foam: usually, the thicker the foam, the more bass it adds, such as the red/blue colored. Full foam maintains a warm sound, and donut foam offers a more open sound and is more mid-centric

Overall, the accessories are quite comprehensive. The cable uses MMCX connectors and is made of crystal copper silver-plated (OCC) material, with both 3.5mm and 4.4mm modular 

plugs. The cable quality is good; it’s lightweight and not too thick, which suits the earbuds well

Design, Build Quality, and Fitting:

In my opinion, the design of these earbuds is very cool, and they are detachable, which adds to their appeal. I have a colorful one, but it’s not tacky; the mix and combination resemble some mural art. The build quality is very good; they are made from 5-axis CNC-manufactured aviation-grade aluminum alloy from Germany. They are quite glossy, so they attract fingerprints and may scratch, so handle them carefully. As for fitting or comfort, this is subjective. The earbuds are very lightweight, but with smaller outer ears and each one has differ shapes, they might don’t fit snugly, so it’s really subjective. Nonetheless, they are quite comfortable and not painful like most standard earbud shapes. Additionally, these earbuds can be used over the ear, and there are earhooks included, which help with a better fit. 

Sound Signature:

Oh, and these earbuds have two tuning filters: one silver and one called blue filter

- Silver Filter: In my opinion, this filter produces a somewhat a bit muffled sound espesially on vocals, the midbass a bit more presence too. but with this kind of sound, it feels a bit restrained, which is not to my taste.
- Blue Filter: This filter, in my opinion, has a very fun sound with good dynamics, a more open, transparant mid, but bass quantity feel a bit thiner, this set suits my taste quite a bit.

Switching from IEMs to earbuds again, I appreciate this sound signature with the blue filter. It provides a good experience, so my impression below mainly uses the blue filter and double full foam. Somehow with just one pair of foam, I can't seem to get a good fit, but using double foam (i.e., two layers) adds a secure fit and prevents them from easily falling out of my ears.

The Sound signature of these flathead earbuds can be described as, well balanced near warm sounding on Silver filter, with Blue filter one focus more into clarity and smoothness. also, in my opinion, this are kinda source picky and demand a bit more power, so a better setup will reveal more of how they sound. However, something like the LG V60 Quad DAC chip works fine, even though you might need to raise the volume a bit higher than with standard IEMs (non-planar)

Initially, I noticed that the Bass is quite tight, with fast decay but in this Blue filter the impact is quite shy and subtle, i think using double foam and get good seal can add little bit more pressence. althought the Silver one has more impact and presence on midbass but still the subbass is a bit wanting. If you prefer more bassy, I believe the Silver filter would be more appropriate, but in my opinion, the vocals can sound a bit mussy. also, If you’re coming from IEMs, don’t expect the same level of bass even on silver filter, especially in noisy environments where it loses quite a bit of low end can sound a bit thin. 

With the Blue filter The Midrange is more open and cleaner. It’s neither thin nor dry sound but rather transparant and somewhat sweet as well.. listening both male and female equaly good, besides using double foam gives the lowmid more body too. The upper frequencies also don't spoil the overall atmosphere. In my opinion, in this set-up the mid is quite clean, without harshness or peaking from sibilance. It works well for K-pop or any songs that required clean upper, even on highly sibilant tracks such as "After Like" by IVE are enjoyable to listen to.

While the Treble are clear and resonate well, if you expect some crisps and snappy treble you wont find it here. but If you're someone who enjoys a smoother, cleaner treble, then you’re in for a treat with these. While this might not deliver that sharp, sparkling treble you might find in other model, this still handle things like guitar, violion strings with a nice level of resonance and engagement. The clarity in these buds with the blue filter has a sufficient portion for me. 

Technicalities of the BGVP DX7

Listening to classical or instrumental music is a treat with these earbuds. with a natural blend of instrument sounds from low to treble—thanks to the natural Timbre of these flatbuds. this buds excels in Soundstage performance as well. The open, expansive quality of the soundstage is notable, offering a sense of width and depth that surpasses many (IEMs), which is one of the advantages of flat earbuds that IEMs don't have. This expansive presentation is partly due to the flat design of flathead that rest on the outer ear rather than being inserted into the ear canal. This placement allows them to create a more open soundfield by reflecting sound off the ear and outer ear structures, mimicking the natural acoustic environment. which contributes to a more natural, open soundscape often reminiscent of openback headphones rather than the more constrained environment typical of IEMs. 

also just like its soundstage the Spactical imaging also notable good, Layering and Separation in this earbuds manage to maintain a clear distinction between various elements of the music, avoiding the muddiness that can sometimes plague less capable models. each individual components of a track easily discernible.

In terms of Dynamic range, since it’s a flathead, it has less isolation. When subjected to dynamic range tests, such as those involving simultaneous sounds of varying intensities, you can only hear sounds down to -48dB. So, in a noisy environment, it’s just like any flathead—it won’t be enjoyable and will be pretty much unclear.

Detail retrieval on the DX7 is quite impressive, It captures both high and low-level details with a commendable level of resolution. For instance, in a track like "Knock Knock (Who's There)" by Red Velvet, the DX7 handles subtle nuances such as the texture of the vocalist's low notes and the resonant quality of piano keys with clarity. This level of detail adds to the overall listening experience, allowing listeners to appreciate the finer elements of a recording.

Overall, With the right setup or source, these flat buds will sound quite rich across various music genres.

Pros:
+ Good dynamic sound with natural timbre with the blue filter
+ Lightweight and stylish design

+ High-quality build with 5-axis CNC-manufactured aluminum alloy
+ Multifunctional with detachable design, plus over-ear use
+ Includes multiple add-ons
+ Transparant and clean midrange

+ Expansive Soundstage
+ Excellent instrument separation and dynamic range

Cons:
- Glossy finish apt to get fingerprint and scratched
- May not secure fit everyone ears, like myself {fixed by using double foam}

- Subbass need more presence

- Silver filter sound a bit muffled, 'subjective'
- Source picky and for unlocking its true potential requires a bit more power. also it can slightly thin on dysergies source. 

Conclusion:

Going from IEMs to flathead earbuds has been a surprisingly enjoyable journey. Honestly, I didn’t expect to find this transition quite satisfying. At just $99, these flat buds offer a unique experience that stands out from what you typically get with IEMs in the same price range. They come with impressive accessories and a design that’s not only attractive but also practical. The sound, especially with the blue filter, is fun and rich, making for a very engaging listening experience. If you’re looking for something a bit different and want to try something outside the usual IEM territory, these earbuds are definitely worth a shot. They bring a lot to the table and deserve more recognition for what they offer.