BGVP Melody Review
Intro
Hello, this review covers a set that has been out for quite some time from the popular audio brand BGVP named the “BGVP Melody” ($119). The Melody actually came out in 2022 and was a set that I was curious about at the time but simply wasn’t able to get my hands on. That happens. Sets come and go and there are simply too many to hear them all. However, in a fortunate turn of events BGVP offered to send a set over for a feature at Mobileaudiophile.com. So in the spirit of #stillgoodchifi, I was able to check out this set. Which is still being sold HERE by the way. The Melody is one of those sets which was brought to market right in the middle of a boom of great sets and for whatever reason seemed to get entirely overlooked. What I’m trying to do is discover if this set has any hope to be one of those old school diamonds in the rough. I’d like to find out who the Melody is geared towards and if the Melody has some decent sonic value. Also, I have a small window between reviews to get my thoughts out on this one. We shall see.
#stillgoodchifi
You may ask why I would take the time to embark on such a set so long after its period in the limelight. Or maybe you don’t really care (probably more the latter). A few years ago, I had a not really “groundbreaking” idea to create a hashtag for everyone to share older sets which still hold up against the current market. Where everyone could search and see sets that are probably marked down in price quite a lot. No doubt there is a sea of older iems and audio devices which easily compete against newer sets. You see, we reviewers go from one set to the next in the blink of an eye and the hot thing from today is the forgotten set tomorrow. Quite literally. However, you aren’t a reviewer, you are a consumer looking for the best way to get music in your ears. You’re what this is about. #stillgoodchifi folks. Perhaps I could’ve come up with a better hashtag then #stillgoodchifi but, it basically means any set which could come out today and hang with the best of em in each respective price point. Don’t let the gatekeepers of this audio game convince you that sets from yesteryear are any worse. Folks, good sound… is good sound. No matter the time or date. Please don’t let anyone tell you differently. You can buy heavily marked down sets still on the market or second hand for far cheaper than MSRP and can quite easily have a fantastic collection of audio devices that you can enjoy and be proud of. #stillgoodchifi.
BGVP
The audio brand BGVP was apparently founded back in 2015, nearly a decade ago and have had some very nice success over the course of the last nine years. The fight for relevance within this overcrowded market is a tough one. Sometimes I wonder how any brand even stays afloat in the budget space not named KZ, Simgot, Letshuoer, Moondrop or Kinera. You either go really big or you stay small. Those seem to be your options anymore. However, BGVP has maintained through these years and still maintains a nice following. Kudos to BGVP. To be honest I’ve only ever reviewed the BGVP P05 (P05 Review) which I gave fantastic marks for how well built it is, how nice it is to look at, the accessories, and for how well tuned that set is. It was the P05 which put me on to this brand in a more inquisitive manner. I’ve never even listened to any other BGVP sets which seems like a slight tragedy at this point. Hopefully I can remedy that. At any rate, I am put onto this brand and so far, I like what I’ve seen, and I like what I’ve heard.
Okay, I’m not going to push this intro any further. I am going to give the melody some run-in for about five days, and I’ll begin the process of critically listening, runnin’ them through the gauntlet that is my massive index of review Playlist tracks and hopefully finding out where BGVP was going with this set. What was the goal, why this tuning, and if it still holds that relevance I mentioned earlier. So, without further ado, the BGVP Melody everyone…
Non-Affiliated Purchasing Link:
Disclaimer:
I received the BGVP Melody from BGVP as a review sample and in exchange I will conduct a full review and feature at Mobileaudiophile.com. I have not received any payment or any other form of compensation for this review. This set is a review sample iem. BGVP has not requested to pre-read any review and doesn’t have any control over “what” or “when” anything gets published to mobileaudiophile.com. All thoughts within this review are my own, though please take note that I will always have my own biases. This is impossible to get around. I try to be as objective as my subjective self can be, but this is an opinion piece folks. Thank you to BGVP, and thanks for reading.
Melody Pros
-Build Quality
-Sweet looking set!
-Unboxing/Accessories
-Three nozzle filters which do effect change in the final sound
-Cozy, milky sound with nice and warm undertones
-Nicely musical sound
-Punchy, impactful bass with “red” filters
-Nice note definition in the midrange (red filters)
-Smooth and velvet across the mix
-Easy-going treble region, non-offensive
-Above average soundstage with certain filters (red filters)
Melody Cons
-Fit may give some folks…fits?
-Bass can sound slightly muddy & one noted with certain nozzle filters
-Upper-mids can be too shouty for some
-Detail Retrieval sounds less articulate with certain nozzle filters
-Lacks treble bite, brilliance and extension for some folks
-Instrument separation
-Resolution isn’t the best
-Isn’t the most open and airy presentation
Gear used for testing
–iBasso DX240 with Amp8 MK2
Unboxing / Accessories
Unboxing
The BGVP Melody arrived at my home in a good-sized square box with a sleeve over top. Friends, this is a very nice presentation. Especially in relation to other $100 to $130 iems in its price point. I mean, BGVP really provided one of the best unboxings I’ve ever seen for under $250. I commend BGVP on this one, they really do know what the community likes. Anyways, the sleeve shows a picture of the Melody as well as some highlights and specs. Take the sleeve off and you are met with a small rectangular dark box which houses the accessories, cable, tips, tuning nozzles. Next to the box sitting in black felt covered foam cut-outs are the gorgeous Melody. Really this is a very nice-looking set. Once you pull out the felt/foam layer, underneath that you’ll find the large carrying case. Folks, I never do these unboxings justice. Mainly because I don’t enjoy writing about packaging and such. However, BGVP really does a very nice job with a 1st impression as the unboxing is simply a treat. All of the accessories are of good quality, which is very rare anymore. Most brands simply throw in different random tips, throw away cables, $1 cases. Not BGVP. Everything that is included is stuff which can be used with other sets and are of fine quality.
Eartips
BGVP provides some nice eartips with the Melody. They give you three pairs of their silicone BGVP A07 tips (S, M, L), which are basically KBear 07 tips. These are labeled “Vocal” tips on the eartips holder that comes with the Melody packaging. They also provide what they call their silicone “Bass” tips. Again, they give you three pairs (S, M, L). Now these tips have a wider bore than the A07 tips. Now, one thing I noticed is that the vocal tips seem to bring out the bass a bit more than the actual bass tips. Which is odd. The bass tips have a wider bore which tends to add a touch more emphasis up top whereas the vocal tips have the semi-wide bore similar to KBear 07 tips which usually will add some impact down low as well as propping up the upper midrange. I don’t know if they mixed this up in my unit or not, but these are simply some things I noticed. On top of the two different style silicone tips, BGVP also adds in two sets of foam tips. I don’t feel that the foam tips give me the sound I’m looking for. Personally, I want to open up the top end of the Melody as much as possible and the foam simply don’t do that. However, there will be those folks who have some fit issues that will need foam tips. This is another area where BGVP made a good decision as far as “what” accessories they package.
Carrying case
Now we get to the carrying case. This is the one area in most every review that I can’t wait to skip through the fastest. I did say “most”. However, when I opened the package for the Melody and saw that absolutely gorgeous carrying case, I was very surprised. Friends, you don’t get a case like this with $600 earphones, let alone $120 earphones. The case is luxury in every angle. I actually have the case in front of me as I type this and everything from the material used to the inscriptions on the top, to the perfect stitching, the large size, the snug closing mechanism (not really a “mechanism”) is all very nice. The case itself is a white leather (possibly a very realistic faux leather), about four inches long, three inches wide and two inches tall and is in the shape of a pill looking down at it. The inside has a microfiber covered foam to protect your earphones. “BGVP” is written stylistically on the top and the logo is in the top corner in an equally stylish manner. It’s just dope. I don’t usually speak too long on accessories, especially if they aren’t worth the time. However, this case is a very great case to look at and it’s a great case functionally. I may actually use it. At any rate, there is plenty of room for a couple earphones, or the Melody plus a dongle dac, nozzles, eartips too. It’s a nice size for simply throwing into a bag and not having to worry about it.
Tuning Nozzles
BGVP added in three tuning nozzles into the packaging which are there to help you dial in the sound to your preferences. I won’t go too long into these nozzles as there isn’t a whole lot to say. BGVP provides three different slight variations of the same sound signature. Rose gold= Balanced Nozzle, Silver= Hi-Fi Nozzle, & the Red= Pop Nozzle. The changes between filters are actually somewhat substantial. However, I found that I definitely enjoy the Red “Pop” nozzle the most. I don’t have a graph to show but I can tell you that the red nozzle does shed a few db’s down low while also slightly dropping the upper midrange quite a bit. In my opinion it’s the cleanest nozzle while still having a more impactful punch in the bass. The “balanced” nozzle adds quite a bit of bass emphasis and maintains the more emphasized and lifted upper mids and treble. Lastly, the “Hi-Fi” nozzle also adds an emphasis in the bass region but seems to also have a less relaxed upper midrange and treble. One thing which I have to give credit to BGVP for is that each nozzle is distinctly different. To a slight degree. The Pop filter is the most “different” of the three, by far. In fact, I’d say the “balanced” & “Hi-Fi” nozzles are actually relatively close with only very minor differences. Again, for me I really do enjoy the red nozzle. I like that it doesn’t have those screaming upper mids and I also like how the low end has that tight and pointed attack.
Cable
Another area where BGVP simply shined. Folks, this cable is clearly one of the best you can get at this price. Clearly. The included cable is a silver/gray colored MMCX cable with Interchangeable modular Jack’s which come in 2.5, 3.5, & 4.4. The modular fittings are very snug and well crafted. Now, the included cable is made of four strands or 560 cores of coaxial braided graphene wires. Truly a gorgeous cable. It’s just fat enough and looks very aesthetically pleasing to the eye when attached. It’s just a fantastic addition to this package and I am so impressed with the attention to detail. Also, I don’t mean intricate little details when I say “detail”. What I mean is the attention that BGVP gave to what they use with their earphone. Everything has purpose and works well towards the final goal of great sound. Let’s put it this way, I won’t need to go out and purchase an extra cable. This is saying something because 9 times out of 10 the brand will add in some second-rate joke of a cable that doesn’t go well with the earphones. So, I was happy to see one worth keeping. Nice work BGVP!
Build / Design / Internals / Fit
Build Quality
The build is very nice. Quite a lot of metal work has been done to achieve this nice build. BGVP promotional state that around 14 processes took place to get this stunning build. All done by CNC engraving, milling, atomization, and exposure development. Made entirely of what feels and looks like lightweight aluminum, the Melody is very structurally sound with no rough or pointed edges. The beautiful thing about using aluminum is that it’s light. This set weighs only 7 grams per side! That is very light. It’s all about comfort and ergonomics with a stylistic flair. You’ll notice one larger vent on the faceplates as well as four small vents at the top of the shell. Due to the fact that the Melody does have a dual cavity structure internally. I feel the nozzles are a hair longer than average but nowhere near intrusive.
Design
The actual design is where I really do feel the Melody begins to outclass some of the other iems in its price point. Looking at this set I find it great that BGVP was able to contour the faceplates for a 3D look with a sleek looking polygonal faceplate. I love the layers of this set and the intricate design language. Here is me patting the ones who designed the Melody in the back. Really a fantastic job! On the faceplates you’ll see the BGVP logo. Usually, I don’t like this, but BGVP does a nice job of making them look very classy. The Melody comes in either gray or silver. As you can see, the set I received is the gray set. I don’t have a lot more to say except… nice job on the design BGVP!
Internals
BGVP went with one especially large (self-developed by BGVP) 12mm lilin03 carbon-crystal polyurethane composite dynamic driver. Okay, that is a mouthful. Say that ten times fast. Anyways, I love that BGVP went with a larger dynamic driver which means greater surface area, more air, usually deeper/darker lows and more expressive dynamics. This isn’t always the case, but the potential is there with a larger diaphragm. This driver’s magnetic flux reaches upwards of 1.5 tesla with an external shell made of brass/gold plated materials. It also makes use of a large black aluminum clad voice coil. BGVP also designed the internal cavity with a dual chamber as well. To be honest, BGVP pulled out all the stops for this set, considering it’s a single dynamic driver earphone it’s pretty much as loaded as you can get for $120. Take everything I’ve written thus far and tell me I’m wrong. BGVP went for it on this one folks.
Fit / Isolation
The fit is likely going to give some folks some issues, I would imagine. It’s a rounded set and usually those don’t exactly hug your ears as well as other sets. That said, I have no issue at all so long as I use tips which seal well enough. Also, once I get the Melody in place, they are so light that they feel like nothing on the ear. Truly a nice fitting and comfortable iem. However, isolation is only about average at best. Those around me did hear some faint noise coming through and there were a few times my youngest child was able to sing along with what I was playing. So, keep that in mind.
Drivability
Rated with an impedance of 18 ohms and a sensitivity of 106 db’s, the Melody is very easy to drive from most any source. You really shouldn’t have a problem driving them from any 3.5 single ended jack on a simple smartphone. Even the ones not named LG. I even used them with my mmcx version Fiio UTWS3 and UTWS5 and both drove the Melody very easily with a boatload of headroom. The UTWS5 only pumps out 55mw @16 ohms and the UTWS3 only gives you a max of 34mw @16 ohms. Having said that, without question this is a set that will scale to the ability and to the output power of your source to a degree and within reason. Obviously, the Melody will sound a whole lot better attached to the Fiio Q15 then it will a $65 dongle dac. So yes, you certainly see a scaling with the actual sonic ability (as you should), however you also will see a definite scaling with actual output power. Without question the bass does feel tighter and more dynamic, crisper at attack with more power and the macro-dynamics are more overt and obvious in their vibrance. Not a night and day difference but my ears can hear it easily enough.
What do you need?
Folks, I usually go through most of my devices and give a quick synopsis of how the set I’m reviewing sounds with each source. However, I will just put it like this; if you enjoy a slightly crisper sound with more of a bite to notes and a bit more levity to the sound then use a colder or more neutral sounding source. If you enjoy a warmer sound with fuller notes and a smoother undertone then use a warmer source like the Simgot Dew4x, EPZ TP20 Pro, or the Hidizs S8 Pro. Now, all you actually need is a phone or a device with a 3.5 single ended jack. That said, to get the most out of the Melody for the least then I’d say you need at least a decently powerful dongle dac like the Aful SnowyNight, EPZ TP50, Hidizs S9 Pro Plus. You could even get away with a cheaper alternative like the EPZ TP20 Pro or the Moondrop Dawn 4.4 too.
Sound Impressions
Note: before I begin, I want to first state that I did burn the Melody in for roughly about 40 to 50 hours. Somewhere in that amount of time I did notice (could be dreaming this up) that the bass lost a hint of softness. A little more granite. Some call it tighter. Whatever you call it, I call it better. Also, I used the red “pop” nozzle through almost all of my critical listening except for moments of curiosity. However, just about all actual listening was with my favorite nozzle. I listen 100% to flac or better files stored in my devices. Also, I use the UAPP music app as my Android music player. At times I use Poweramp and Hiby Player too.
Preface public reminder…
I also want to preface this entire sound portion of this review by proclaiming a few things. First off, this set is almost two years old. It’s almost weird that I’m reviewing it if I’m being honest. In the past, I believe I’ve seen every review of this set because back in the day I never thought I’d review it. I was going to purchase it. I remember this set getting some pretty bad reviews and so I stayed away from purchasing. So, when I received this set from BGVP, I didn’t know what to expect. Friends, I’ve listened to many iems, reviewed many and have been judgmental towards many that you all don’t even know about because if it’s bad… I don’t review it. Plain and simple. Just by the fact that you are reading this should tell you that I think it’s a good set that “I” or “some sect of the community” will enjoy.
We are all different
I only say this to remind everyone that we are all different folks. The way hear music can be different, different music libraries, different sources, and about 50 other parameters and variables. This is why I tell you all to check out other reviews. Make sure to. I re-watched and re-read some of those worse reviews and folks… I really cannot disagree more. However, I also understand some people’s gripes too. In my opinion, this is NOT a bad sounding set by any stretch of the imagination. Yes, it has some hiccups and oddities… like any iem. I write this paragraph to simply remind you all that each reviewer is simply different. Here is my public reminder to you to not take what any one reviewer says as Bible. Me included. Don’t do that. Okay, I got that out of the way… Moving on.
What does it sound like?
The BGVP Melody will sound quite a bit different depending on what tuning nozzles you decide to use. Still, no matter the nozzle you can expect a slightly warmer sound with a slightly rolled-off treble region. Now, this is not the kind of warmth that comes across as veil, at all. With the red nozzle I hear a smooth sound, yet also a consistently clean sound with average resolution and good musicality in my opinion. There’s more of a warmth down low and you do have some nice luminance in the upper-mids to lower treble. Enough lift in those areas to add some much-needed levity to the sound. I find the red nozzle is clearly the best for technicalities while also owning the largest stage of the three.
That all said, I feel the Melody is somewhere near a slight V-shaped iem. There is an emphasis in the low-end as well as the upper-mids through the lower treble. This is a nice vocal set depending on what nozzle you use as some female vocalists can come across a hint sharp. Like I said, this is a smooth over crisp sound with a closer to velvet note body and good cleanliness throughout. Just a nice sounding iem folks. Really a fun sounding iem that has some very nice timbre and tonality. There are some hiccups in the narrower stage and imaging/separation aren’t perfect (closer to average), but for the most part this set is a musical earphone that is great for relaxing and listening.
Condensed Sound Between the 20’s
Looking at the bass region, the Melody has a snap to its bass. There’s a tight and convex boom which has very good sub-bass depth. Nothing soft about this bass. Depending on your nozzles, you can get the Melody close to a bass-Boi type listen though not exactly bass head. The red filter balances out the mix a bit and keeps the cleaner and better-defined bass. However, the other nozzles sound more like a wall of bass, fuller and less distinct. The midrange has some spill over from the low-end which gives it some density and weight to the lower half of the midrange. The upper mids walk the fine line of shout and controlled vibrance. Easily better and less shouty with the red nozzle. This is a very smooth rendition of a clean sound. Timbre is nice as well. Closer to organic than it isn’t and decently detailed too. The treble is as I said, slightly rolled off. Though there’s enough emphasis to provide some good vibrance in this region. Certainly not dark but definitely not ultra bright and brilliant either. Somewhere in between. Extension up top will leave a lot to be desired. It is a mostly non-fatiguing treble which still has some decent detail retrieval. Details are about average altogether. This is definitely not a detail monster. I’d call it musical over technical and have complete confidence in that. The stage is slightly narrow but also tall and has good depth. I don’t feel the stage is congested or small, per se.
Bass Region
The low-end of the BGVP Melody can be best characterized as punchy (red nozzle). If I were to label it with one word that would do it. The Melody has some nice lean density in this region with a pretty sharp and defined attack and quicker transient decay through release. That said, it also has a solid note delivery which has that note hugging density to it. As I said earlier the low-end has a certain roundness or convexity to it. This is not a flat plane or flattened-out bass with the red nozzle. Now, the other two nozzles will make a liar out of me as they do add a haze of one noted bass fullness. There’s some dimension to the sound, to a degree, along with some texture with the red nozzle. Bass guitars have some meaty grunt and kick drums can sound full, hollow, and resonant. Even more so when I use the other two nozzle filters whereas the red nozzle has a less robust boom.
Sub-bass
This is a very fun and authoritative sub-bass that reaches low in the pits of the sub-bass depths. I hear a nice and haptic recognition of my music which comes across as vibratory goodness. Yet at the same time I also feel that the lowest of lows is actually pretty versatile as well. Listening to “Paradigm” by The Head and the Heart, it begins with a very low droning bassline which most any set can sound pretty guttural on. However, the Melody actually adds some serious vibrational energy and knife-edged rumbles on this track. Beyond that, it isn’t a sloppy sort of rumble either, which can happen quite easily. Instead, I hear that abrasive bass line with a concrete hard density. Another track is “Mancey” by Andrew Bird. Once again the Melody surprises, even using the less “bass” intensive red nozzle. Very rumbly and full while never overstepping its bounds, becoming too muddy. Again, it’s a relatively clean sounding and deep sub-bass which can be very satisfying if you are into that sort of tuning.
Mid-bass
To my ears, I feel that the majority of low-end emphasis comes from the mid-bass. Of course, both the mid & sub-bass are emphasized. However, it’s the mid-bass that adds the nice boom and audible slam. In my opinion (with the red nozzles) the Melody’s mid-bass is actually very clean and tidy with a nice pregnant bump in this region that really serves bass guitar, synth, kick drums, and general bass drops very well. There’s an overall fullness that can’t be denied yet keeps pretty nice dynamic driver definition. Certainly not like any BA or planar sets in its transient response but I still consider it more on the peppy side of the aisle. Listening to “Billie Jean” by Weezer (Michael Jackson cover) it begins the track with some very meaty kick drums and the Melody reciprocates with a heavy and tight boom with a tactile edge. It’s one thing to hit hard on this track. Many sets can do that. But to actually deliver a clean and crisp snap at the attack with good note edge definition is another thing. The sound is deep and robust and this trickles down to any track which displays this region. Like I said, bass guitars have that growling weight to them, kick drums have the hollow boom and the tacky sounding initial strike. It’s all very nice to hear. Of course not everyone is a fan.
Tastefully done…
I’d also say that there is some slight spill over into the midrange. Now, with the other two nozzles this spill over is a little bit more exaggerated. However, the red nozzle really does keep a clean transition into the mids. Yes, there’s a little warmth but BGVP made sure to add no extra veil to the overall sound. It’s honestly pretty tastefully done. In fact, the bass is probably one of my favorite aspects of this iem.
Downsides to the Bass Region
If I were to come up with some issues that some folks may have, I’d first say that the bass will likely be a bit too much for some people. There are a multitude of people who don’t want a pregnant hump in this region. There’s a ton of folks who really only enjoy a snappy and ultra defined bass that never even dreams of getting in the way of other frequencies. Granted, BGVP actually did a very nice job with where they began the low-end descent into the mids. On the flip, I could also say that bass heads may not be totally thrilled either. It’s a two-way street but I do feel that the majority of hobbyists will like the output on this set.
Midrange
The midrange comes through with a smooth and warm styled fullness that is pumped up by the slight bass spill over. I think it’s very well done. I really do enjoy a meatier and more weighted lower midrange. After-all, I like men to actually sound like me when they sing. I like some fullness to the sound. At any rate, it is a slightly smoother sound overall and so midrange details aren’t the Melody’s forty exactly. That said, there is a more organic and prettier musical replay that I’m hearing which gives me some very nice listening sessions. Also, details aren’t bad at all, especially with the red nozzle. I’m hearing a good mix of the technical aspects of my music library along with a more weighty and full aspect as well. To add to that, the midrange is pretty darn clean in spite of its richer note weight. No this will not be to everyone’s liking either as it isn’t an ultra-expedient midrange with a vast amount of air in between instruments. That said, I actually do enjoy listening to a whole host of tracks with this set.
Lower-midrange
The low-mids have an ever-so-slight recession but the Melody makes up for that with a heftier and fuller note weight. The low-mids have that creamy smooth demeanor which borders on lush but doesn’t neglect clean note outlines. I don’t hear anything fuzzy or veiled. However, the bass does add just the right amount of warmth which does wonders for male vocals and lower midrange instruments. Like Zach Bryan in “Jake’s Piano” his voice seems to be pronounced even in the face of the slight recession. I feel there’s no lack of presence but in the same breath some folks may yearn for a hint more energy and vibrance in this region too. So it’s a give and take. Personally, I enjoy a fuller sound to plump up male vocals. The piano sounds very tuneful and melodic and very clean against Zach’s voice. Nothing cloudy, hazy, or grainy. It’s a clean smoothness which couples as crisp in the right tracks. I especially like deep baritone like Avi Kaplan in the track “First Place I Go”. His voice just resounds in resonant authority. I don’t know if this is natural or not, but I don’t really care, it sounds awesome. It’s very deep, bordering in the bass region with harmonics which reverb within the lower midrange air. Even slightly higher register males have good weight afforded to their voices like The Avett Brothers in “2020 Regret”. It’s nice to hear a slightly higher pitched voice come through with some note density. Honestly, this is a very good male vocal set folks.
Upper-Midrange
The upper midrange comes through with quite a bit more vivaciousness in comparison to the rest of the mids. We have the steep uphill climb of the pinna gain to thank for that. Of course, the red nozzle does a lot to level that peak out for a less shouty experience. With the red nozzle the upper midrange is much more calmed and more natural to the ear. Now, the upper-mids still have a good amount of crispness and bite to each note which comes across better defined and with more exuberance. Transients move along rather quickly, even in the face of slightly heavier note weight. I wouldn’t call it glass lined or ultra transparent, but I would say that the upper-mids resolution is better than most any other area of the mix in the Melody. Female vocalists do well as they are a bit more forward, front & center, and nicely highlighted. Listening to a singer like Taylor Swift in the track “The 1” from her Long Pond Studio Sessions album is a great experience on the Melody. You don’t have a ton of information being thrown at you in this track and her voice seems put on a pedestal. Her voice comes across centered, slightly weighted, but also there’s a liveliness to the inflections in her voice. There’s a certain energy which adds to the macro-dynamics of this set. Elle Henderson in the track “Everything I Didn’t Say” shows off her solemn and emotionally spent voice with good body to her vocals. Again, she sounds forward, but also very harmonious to my ears. There are instances of females coming across a bit too energetic and shout can happen at times. However, very few and far in between.
Downsides to the Midrange
I would first say that the upper-mids can come across too energetic and too lively for some. At times there’s just a tad too much emphasis in this region. It does help to swap nozzles to the “Balanced” nozzle as the bass is increased on that nozzle which seems to offset the upper mid peak a hair. However, you lose too much in the technical aspect of the sound for me. I deal with the occasional shout and I’m okay with that. Of course, some folks want a more dry, analytical and detailed approach as these are not the bright spots to the Melody’s tuning. It’s all about what you prefer though. I actually find the midrange to be very nicely done. It isn’t nasally, or too peaky, I rarely hear sibilance, and the sound doesn’t come across as abnormally congested. On top of that, the sound is an emotionally charged sound with plenty of musicality which makes the midrange perfect for loungin’ and simply listening.
Treble Region
When I think of the treble region on the BGVP Melody, I think of easy listening. Now, if you come across a track with a ton of lower treble activity then you may find the Melody a bit too energetic in that area, but those instances are few and far in between. There really isn’t a horrible moment with this set that I had to turn the volume down. Maybe I winced a time or two, but I’m used to that as many iems feature this. There really wasn’t a time that I was worried about sharpness or shrillness in the treble region. Partially this is due to the emphasis (or lack thereof) after 8k. The drop-off is slightly more abrupt after this point which does render the treble region less brilliant and slightly less energetic.
Not a weakness?
Having said that, when looking at the sound as a whole, I actually enjoy that BGVP crafted such a tuning without missing out completely on stuff like detail retrieval. Granted, I would say detail retrieval is about average for the price and for the tuning. Now, using either the “Hi-Fi” or “Balanced” nozzles you’ll find them even more on the warm side and possibly a bit duller in this region as well. The treble is less detailed, separation drops off a bit and the sound have a bit more treble congestion. This is one more reason as to why I choose the “Pop” nozzle which does have a pepper treble with more treble punch and bite. The “Pop” nozzle has less bass emphasis which in turn does uplift the treble enough to not sound completely boring or dull. Of all the regions I would say that the treble is likely the weakest link, but at the same time I don’t find it a weakness per se.
Not the quickest
This isn’t the quickest treble out there either. The transient attack through release doesn’t have the same reaction time and agility as some other sets. Even with the red nozzle and the vocal tips. I was listening to Billy Strings in the track “Ice Bridges”. This is a song I routinely use for my reviews among many others. However, it was this track that I realized that the treble doesn’t keep up as well as I’d like. Granted, it isn’t bad by any stretch, but it doesn’t really match what’s in the price point. Of course, the Melody is getting pretty long in the tooth at this point and so judging too harshly doesn’t make sense. However, there were moments in this track that Billy’s banjo is simply moving along quicker than the Melody can keep up. There’s an ever-so-slight blending happening. I should also state that this didn’t bother me at all. The sound is still musical, most certainly not a fatiguing treble.
Extension?
I’d also say that the treble region does lack some brilliance and extension past 10k. I would’ve liked to see more energy and good I fo in the air region. This would’ve stretched the stage and helped this set to feel more open and airier. Details, separation, Imaging and transient response would’ve been helped to a degree. So, I don’t want to proclaim that the treble derails the entire sound because in all honesty the Melody doesn’t sound bad as a whole. You will miss out in some harmonics past 10k. Stuff like the secondary harmonics of a cymbal strike simply don’t always sound as though they are complete. Muted to a degree. However, this is a nitpick. That’s it. Nothing sounds so bad that it’s off or odd sounding. Again, using the red nozzle does help a lot and I do recommend using the red nozzles. To be honest I don’t have a whole lot more to say about the treble. However, if you have any questions at all then please DM me and I’ll try to get back to you.
Downsides to the Treble Region
I feel you already know and understand what the problem areas are within the treble region. I can look past these issues and really enjoy this set but I’m sure there are many who cannot. Perhaps this is where some of those worser reviews came from. However, I have enjoyed every time I’ve listened. At any rate, due diligence must be accomplished. I’d say that the treble simply isn’t uplifted enough in the right places. Yes, the lower treble has an emphasis to it but the Melody isn’t emphasized enough past 8k in my opinion. This set could’ve been much better. Just some slight changes would’ve made the Melody a banger if an iem. The treble lacks some details making it average at best against the competition but there is a large segment of the audio population which will like this quite a lot.
Technicalities
Soundstage
The soundstage comes across a bit narrower than I’d like. Just out to my ears but nothing more. The height is pretty good and there is some depth to the sound as well. Nothing groundbreaking by any means but still a pretty full soundstage. Meaning, the sound field sounds more forward and intimate in that regard and with the tallness of the stage everything sounds full and in front of me. I wouldn’t call this a bad stage at all but it’s early average.
Separation / Imaging
As far as instrument separation goes the Melody will offer better delineation of instruments and voices using the red nozzle. Without question it’s better. However, this is not the case in more congested tracks. I do find the Melody cannot really keep up with more moving parts very well as there will be some blending happening. Also, in more bass heavy tracks there’s some masking obviously happening which will also be alleviated to a degree with the red nozzle. Again, it’s about average. Whatever “average” means. It’s average to me. I certainly wouldn’t call the Melody “bad” in this area. Imaging follows suit as well. Not bad, not earth shattering good, but not bad.
Detail Retrieval
Details come through better in less intensive songs. I’d think that would go without saying. Also, certain areas of the mix do better than other areas. I find the upper-mids illuminate subtle details much better than the lower-mids or bass. I’d also reiterate that in bass heavy tracks details will become blurred to a degree as well. Obviously in some tracks you’ll also hear very good detail retrieval. Let’s put it this way, the BGVP Melody simply isn’t tuned to be a detail beast. It was tuned to be melodic (hence the name) and to be an easy listening iem that doesn’t require the listener to constantly listen for every last detail.
Is it worth the asking price?
The answer to this question is yes. Yes, the Melody from BGVP is worth the asking price. However, that opinion comes with stipulations. As I would say with most any iem. That stipulation is that you have to really enjoy this type of sound signature. I know, rocket science. Seriously though, the Melody is a good iem and it is going to appeal to many potential buyers. The issue it runs I to is the other iems within its price point. I answered that yes, the Melody is worth the money that BGVP is asking. However, I would definitely purchase other iems before I would purchase the Melody. That’s just me being honest. The Melody doesn’t fit my exact favored sound signature perfectly. Is it my favorite? Um no. Is the BGVP Melody a nice single dynamic driver earphone? Absolutely it is. I feel that the Melody will be slightly polarizing in this regard.
The Why…
Because the Melody is quite literally the best accessorized iem within the price point. At least that I’ve seen. I have yet to see so many quality inclusions in one package for under $150. I truly am impressed by what you get. You have to figure the tips and cable alone costs roughly $40, if not more. Add in the carrying case and you are looking at a substantial amount just in accessories. I realize that BGVP probably has their own ways of shedding costs but seriously, great unboxing and great accessories. However, accessories aren’t ever going to be the main selling point. What sells in audio is sound. The BGVP Melody is a well-tuned iem for anyone who wants a fun and robust low-end, smooth and melodic midrange and a treble that will never become shrill or too shouty. It’s a nice iem folks. Again, there is a whole sea of iems priced slightly under, at, or slightly above the Melody too. An absolute ocean full of them. Shoot, for $40 less you can get the Simgot EA500LM for starters. And there’s so many more to name that I don’t have the heart to do so. However, maybe the Melody sounds as though it is right up your alley. If that’s the case, then there really aren’t many tuned exactly like it.
Ratings (0-10)
Note: all ratings are based upon my subjective judgment. These ratings are garnered against either similarly priced sets or with similar driver implementations or styles with the unique parameters of my choosing. In the case of the BGVP Melody ratings below, that would be $100 to $150 single dynamic driver earphones. Please remember that “ratings” don’t tell the whole story. This leaves out nuance and a number of other qualities which make an iem what it is. A “5-6” is roughly average and please take into consideration the “lot” of iems these ratings are gathered against. $100 to $150 single DD’s is a decent sized scope of iems and it is pretty competitive. It’s a large enough pool of iems that seeing a “9.0” for example, should mean something. My ratings are never the same and each set of ratings tells a different story. Each time you read one of my ratings will be unique to that review. Basically, I create a Rating that makes sense to me.
Aesthetic
–Build Quality: 9.6 Built well, HeyGears build.
–Look: 9.4 Tops in class.
–Fit/Comfort: 9.0 Fit and comfort is great for me.
–Accessories: 10.0 Accessories are not KZ’s fortay.
–Overall: 9.5🔥🔥
Sound Rating
–Timbre: 9.3 Decent timbre for a hybrid.
–Bass: 9.5 Deep, contoured, dense.
–Midrange: 8.7 Melodic
–Treble: 6.4 Could use some more emphasis.
–Technicalities: 6.5 Not the Melody’s strong suit.
–Musicality: 8.7 Very musical.
–Overall: 8.2🔥
Ratings Summary:
I really don’t feel that there is much to explain here and so I will keep that to a minimal. I could see folks thinking the bass is rated too high. Especially if they are the type who want a more technically savvy bass region. However, the bass is so deep and dense and has such nice definition for the quantity. I think a “9.5” is legit against the field of $100 to $150 single DD iems. You may disagree. You know what I say? We’re both right. I could also see some folks thinking my treble score is too low. There is certainly a huge swath of folks who would enjoy this treble region a whole lot. A “6.4” is about average and maybe a hint too low. However, I will say the same thing I always say; ratings are not good. They tell you almost nothing, no nuance, no explanation and they aren’t a good barometer for how good anything is because so many variables are at play. Basically, take every number above with a grain of salt.
Conclusion
To conclude my full written review of the BGVP Melody I want to first thank the good people over at BGVP wholeheartedly. I would have never had the opportunity to try this older iem and I was very fortunate and happy to be able to do so. To be honest, I really enjoy this set. It takes a minute of brain burn and then I’m locked in. It’s a pleasing and musical sound that can really tug on the emotional aspect of my music. I don’t think you’ll find a better accessorized iem within $50 above or below the price of $120 and I do feel it is more than worth the money to own it. Again, if the sound sig fits your preferences. So, thank you very much BGVP.
Other perspectives
I made sure to say it in my review earlier and I’ll make sure to say it again. Please check out other thoughts about this set. The Melody is like any other iem within the hobby in the wat that everyone will have a slightly different opinion about it. Thats the hobby friends. We are all so very different and each of us has our own taste and preferences. Not everyone has the same gear, same hearing, same musical library, likes & dislikes and not everyone has been down the same road in audio. It’s just the truth. So, before you throw down your hard-earned money on the Melody, please check out some other reviews and seek out other opinions. With that I think Im done. Please take good care, stay as safe as possible and always…God Bless!
