When its not birds its mythological creatures. I suspect (but cannot be certain) that the BGVP Scale is something more like a dragon scale than a kitchen implement for measuring ingredients. Perhaps it is the BGVP Scale Pro that is a dragon and the normal BGVP Scale that tells you when you have too much flour. But I don’t know as I have never experienced the BGVP Scale Pro and today its all about the BGVP Scale (Amature?). So is this IEM mythical or utilitarian? well the Bartender has been finding out so lets get into the Bartender’s BGVP Scale Review.
BGVP Scale Review – The Cocktail:
It is strange that it has taken until now for me to review a dual dynamic driver IEM. I have done a few triple drivers such as the KZ Vader Pro and CVJ Nightelf. I have even done a five dynamic driver IEM (the KZ Decet). But until now dual dynamic drivers have eluded me. I think the BGVP Scale is probably a good place to start with dual dynamic drivers. I can’t remember seeing this driver configuration on anything cheaper than the Scale (it cost me £11) and so it makes sense to start at the bottom of the price ladder. (Actaully ignore all this about dual dynamic drivers I did the KZ Vibe X pretty recently)
There, is nothing particularly unusual about the BGVP Scale’s specs. The impedence is a little higher than is typical for an IEM as is the sensitivity. The Scale should be easy to drive but I haven’t really tested it with different sources and so am hesitant to state that they are.
- Drivers: 10mm Dynamic Driver & 6mm Dynamic Driver
- Frequency: 20 to 40,000 Hz
- Impedence: 29 Ω
- Sensitivity: 110 dB
BGVP Scale Review – The Taste Test Setup:
I think for the first time I have had to use the stock cable and therefore also only been able to use a 3.5mm output. This is because the BGVP Scale use MMCX connectors which despite the internet stating are very common have not featured on any of my previous IEMs and so I have not bought or acquired a 4.4mm cable. The impact of using the stock 3.5mm cable on the sound is likely to be minimal and therefore comparison with previously assessed IEMs is still valid. I cannot say for certain but it is likely the technical performance is slightly reduced (specifically the sound stage) by not using a balanced output.
- DAC/AMP: SMSL M20
- Cable: Stock Cable (3.5mm)
- Eartips: Stock (Silicon)
BGVP Scale Review – The Non-Audio:
The BGVP Scale come with a small cloth bag. This is certainly not a bag of holding. You definitely cannot store 64 cubic feet with in it. Then again I have no idea what 64 cubic feet is. Could be a mouse or an elephant as far as I know. I don’t really want to but either of these in a bag. The cable is better than many of those accompanying IEMs at this price range. Its a little stiff and a little thin (don’t say it). I would like something a bit softer and a bit thicker (don’t say it) but hey that just me. I like them thick and flexible (okay really walking into these now).
The BGVP Scale do have a style but its a little confusing. The faceplates remind me of honey comb and beehives. As far as I am aware (I am only a bartender and not a zoologist) bees don’t have scales. I do like the idea of armored bees protected by scales that make them look like mini knights off to battle but I don’t think such bees really exist (please let me know if I am wrong). I guess the pattern is meant to look like scales but the regular interlocking and non-overlapping design is certainly more beehive than dragon. All that said I like how they look. I definitely have a soft spot for clear resins and the hexagonal pattern is understated without being boring. So not a dragon but still kinda cool.
The build also feels and looks solid. There is no excess glue inside the shells. The join between the shell body and the faceplate is smooth. These are light and I wouldn’t expect them to survive any rough treatment but they should okay for everyday life. Don’t go dragon slaying in them but maybe they are suitable for beekeeping.
Certainly, if you chose to go dragon slaying or beekeeping you will find that these IEMs are no hindrance. They are very comfortable. Its easy to forget they are there, even with the stock eartips.
- Accessories: Drink Only (Nothing Else Worth Talking About)
- Style: Call Liquor (Haven’t Paid for the DLC But It Still Looks Good)
- Build: Washer Proof (Dragon Scale Armor)
- Comfort: Lounging on the Sofas (Ready for Those Long Adventuring Sessions)
BGVP Scale Review – The Audio:
I reviewed the BGVP Feather a few weeks (or maybe months) ago. I really enjoyed the bass of that IEM and the BGVP Scale does have a similar feel. The scale doesn’t slam as hard and isn’t as textured but it strikes a similar balance between mid bass slam and sub bass rumble that gives a rounded sometimes bouncy sound to the bass that maintains speed without sounding dull or hollow. There were some songs were I would have liked a little more bass but I do have a bass problem.
The mids are warm and thick. Sometimes there is a little bass bleed that gets in the way. But generally the mids are thick but not muddy and retain sufficient clarity. Its definitely a tuning that contributes to an enveloping sound that is easy to loose yourself in. However, the flip side is that the technicals and details are sacrificed a little to achieve it.
The treble is slightly softer and relaxed. The BGVP Scale are a good choice for long fatigue free listening sessions. If you are treble sensitive then maybe consider these. This softer approach to treble is pleasant but personally I like a little more sharpness and clarity. I also wouldn’t mind a little more air. Overall, for me I felt that some detail and force was missing from the treble.
The thick warm smooth sound carries over to the vocals which are never harsh or sibilant. There is really good weight to vocals which can at times favor male or deeper female vocals. I wouldn’t go as far as to say that these are specialized for male vocals but perhaps if you listen only to higher pitched female vocals you should consider another option. The lack of sparkle and shimmer in higher pitch vocals contributes to them sounding more recessed whilst the male vocals sound slightly forward however generally the vocals never move forward/backward much and are for the most part in a pretty neutral position.
As I have already eluded to the BGVP Scale are not the most detailed IEMs. The texture in the bass does contribute to a greater bass detail than might be expected but the restrained treble holds back details across the rest of the frequency range. My personal preference would be for more detail but I understand what they were going for with the Scale and it makes good sense.
Other technicals are also merely okay. The soundstage is pretty small and intimate. Imaging is generally not bad but never good enough to contribute to a holographic or fully immersive experience. For the price and tuning the technicals are probably better than expected but if you really value technical and detail performance that you should probably consider something else and maybe with the exception of the KZ Gale, TRN Dolphin or KZ Duonic consider spending a little more. That said none of those IEMs will get you the same sound so if looking for warm and relaxed you will defiantly need a little more cash (sorry to have to say it).
- The Base Spirit (Bass): 71.22 % (A Dragon’s Wing Beat)
- The Modifier (Mids): 64.89 % (The Adventure’s Lute)
- The Sweetener (Treble): 63.73 % (The Bard’s Flute)
- The Vocals: 64.91 % (The Chronicler of Your Story)
- The Garnish (Details): 66.79% (A Good Critical Hit Rate)
- The Presentation (Technicals): 63.94 % (The DM Has Set the Seen)
BGVP Scale Review – The AI Opinion:
This a new feature that I am trying out. How well will it work? I don’t know but here goes anyway.
In this section I have asked Google’s AI mode to predict a score for the to be reviewed IEM prior to publishing my review. To get this prediction I have asked that it predict a score based upon the scoring system employed by me here at the HiFi Mai Tai beach bar. That’s it. It is as simple as that. I could be doing myself out of the job here. But got to embrace the modern world etc. And if AI is gonna take my job I am going to go down fighting. Hopefully it proves itself rubbish and there is nothing to worry about.
So the BGVP Scale. What does AI think?
- The Base Spirit (Bass): 79.00%
- The Modifier (Mids): 68.00%
- The Sweetener (Treble): 66.00%
- The Vocals: 71.00%
- The Garnish (Details): 61.00%
- The Presentation (Technicals): 60.00%
This the closest AI and I have been in recent weeks. It was actually quite a challenge to get an answer from AI for this one. It kept insisting on reviewing the BGVP Scale Pro. Maybe its a fan of the Scale Pro. I had to very clearly point out (more than once) that I don’t care if it thinks the Scale Pro is the greatest IEM of all time I want an opinion on the Scale. Eventually we got past our communication barriers and reached an understanding.
AI believes that I should have rated the bass much higher and the vocals a fair bit higher but other than that we are within 5%. This 5% is actually quite big difference in my scoring system that only practically allows for scores between 50% and 100% and therefore 5% is actually 10% of the total range (You still with me?). Why I chose this approach I shall never know. But it makes sense to me now at least.
Anyway so whilst AI and I agree more than usually we are still not really on the same page.
BGVP Scale Review – Summary & Comparisons
As ever I have pretty much given away my comparisons before the comparison section. It is pretty hard to talk about IEMs particularly their sound without making comparisons. I guess this is an industry where everything is relative and their isn’t really a one true fixed reference. Its like the greatest footballer or greatest film. There are hard values you can use but ultimately your only justification is to say they are better than others. I guess I have just justified why the world needs IEMs reviewers, pundits and critics. Maybe when AI comes for those jobs they will hold up this paragraph in support of their own existence. Must be pretty desperate by the time they resort to that.
Anyway comparisons…
First up its the TRN Dolphin. The TRN Dolphin is brighter and more detailed than the BGVP Scale. The bass is pretty similar both being fast and relatively clean though the BGVP Scale has a little more shape to it. As the TRN Dolphin is brighter it is also thinner and clearer. Choosing between these two is very much a matter of taste. I appreciate the much more detailed and sharper treble of the TRN Dolphin. I also like the TRNs clearer, cleaner mids. But though the bass is similar the bright slant of the TRN Dolphin means the bass is less impactful and less dominate. Though I am certainly a bit of a bass head at heart I think I am going to have to go with the TRN Dolphin this time.
Second its the KZ Gale. The KZ Gale has much thinner vocals and though whilst neither IEM is vocal focused I very much prefer the vocals of the BGVP Scale. The sound stage and details of the KZ Gale are more impressive much of this is probably the result of a cleaner thinner sound. Tonally the BGVP Scale is much better than the KZ Gale. The mids not only have weight but sound much more natural. I think choosing between these is easy. Yes the BGVP Scale is basically double the cost but in this ultra budget world that really isn’t a lot and I think the BGVP Scale is worth it.
Thirdly its the Tangzu Waner Red Lion. Okay this is an interesting one. I didn’t really take to the Tangzu Waner Red Lion when I originally tested it. I was pretty disappointed by it. For this comparison I dug out the Red Lion and found that I had cannibalised its eartips for something else (don’t really know what but it is hard to keep track of these things). So I grabbed a pair of TRN T-tips stuck them on and started listening. I am so glad I did. I don’t want this to be a review of the Red Lion. I have already done one of those and will have to do so again. But I will say I am very impressed by the red lion. The sound is fairly similar to the Duonic below (I wrote the Duonic comparison first) but with more forward vocals and a treble that’s just as sharp but less fatiguing. Anyway I am meant to be comparing with the BGVP Scale so lets do that. The BGVP Scale is warmer and thicker but less detailed, has more recessed vocals and cannot match the layering/imaging of the Red Lion. Much to my own surprise I would take the Red Lion.
And finally as a bonus its the KZ Duonic. The KZ Duonic technically is significantly better than the BGVP Scale the soundstage and imaging are a significant step up. The treble of the Duonic is much sharper and the bass is a cleaner harder slam. Potentially the treble is too sharp for some but for me its closer to my preference. The BGVP Scale is defiantly thicker and warmer and I do like its bass texture more than that of the KZ Duonic. For easy relaxed listening the BGVP Scale is a sensible option but for an engaging dynamic sound the KZ Duonic is a clear winner.
So to wrap up. The BGVP is a warmer thicker sound that any other IEM I have reviewed in this price range. Its softer treble is sure to be appreciated by some and the bass focused tuning is fun. Though I enjoy the bass, the treble is too relaxed for me and needs a little more energy to give it some contrast. At a price of £11 it is an opposing tuning to the TRN Dolphin but for me at least it cannot match the KZ Duonic or rise to compete with the more expensive Tangzu Waner Red Lion.
- Best Song: 85.00% (Once Upon a Time in the West by Dire Straits)
- Vocal Preference: 2.40% Male (No Vocal Preference)
- Total Audio Score: 65.91 % (Somewhere Between a Fish & a Dragon)