BGVP Astrum

BGVP Astrum

RRP: $699
Driver Configuration: 2x DD, 2x BA, 2x EST

Introduction

Around this time last year marked my first experience of BGVP with the truly fantastic ‘Phantom SE’ – a $1,099 set that has the same driver configuration as Astrum, but with the addition of 2x bone conduction drivers. The Phantom SE ranked in the best sets I tried in 2024, and one that absolutely represents incredible value for money. The pace of the hobby in the time since has meant I’ve not had time to revisit the Phantom SE, but I certainly intend to as part of this review to compare.

I also had the pleasure of reviewing the much cheaper NS10 Pro back in March, a $199 set that consists of 1x DD, 1x Planar, and 8x BA – another fantastic set that again displays a performance that offers excellent value for the $199 price tag.

Having had the great experience with both of these, I was only delighted to accept an offer from BGVP to review this latest set. Thank you as always to BGVP, appreciate your trust in me to evaluate your products! Usual disclaimer: all thoughts, images etc are mine and without any input from the brand.

The Astrum is available from many stores online, to include directly from BGVP HERE

About Me

I worked in the consumer electronics industry for a large part of my career and have been passionate about music and technology for as long as I can remember. Even as a small child, I would ask my mum to put records on the turntable (Abba, Supertramp, and Planxty if anyone is curious).

My music preferences are very varied—anything from classical to techno, indie rock to jazz, and everything in between. In my early teens, I was a big fan of bands like The Cure and The Smiths (still am all these years later). I was bitten by the dance music bug in the early 90s, becoming passionate about genres like techno, house, trance, and IDM. I amassed a huge collection of records and CDs, DJing at various parties and occasional pirate radio station slots. Although it remained a hobby, I still own thousands of records, and my trusty Technics 1210 turntables are still going strong 30 years later—a testament to Japanese engineering!

I am not a professional reviewer, just an enthusiast who loves music and the devices we use to listen to it. Over the last few years, I have become obsessed with IEMs and related gear. I’ve bought and sold many, and kept a select few—ranging from the $20 Moondrop Chu to kilobuck sets like the Aroma Jewel, Oriolus’ infamous ‘Traillii,’ UM Mentor, and various beloved single DDs. Through this exploration, I like to share my thoughts with the Head-Fi community, hoping they might be useful to others. However, remember that this is a highly subjective hobby, and your mileage may vary.

While I’ve been fortunate to own and try a variety of the TOTL sets on the market, I honestly enjoy lower-priced sets as much – especially as the gap continues to close, many much cheaper sets now offering significant value and further driving diminishing returns.

I’ll admit I do suffer from happy ears… rarely do I find an IEM that I genuinely dislike. At this stage, there are very few truly “bad” IEMs; it almost always comes down to individual preference. Since I listen to such a wide variety of genres, I nearly always find synergy with some part of my library. Where my scores reflect deductions is in areas like value for money, poor accessories, or an uncomfortable fit – things that genuinely detract from the overall experience, rather than subjective tuning differences.

About BGVP

BGVP – A pro headset brand founded in 2015, is the subordinate brand of Dongguan Nengjiang technology limited company, the company is located in Dongguan Town, Dongguan City. BGVP mainly produces and customizes various high-end HIFI earbuds, earphones and other electronic products. In the process of development, BGVP has never forgotten to master the core technology capabilities, independent research, development and sales. BGVP is committed to providing high-quality HIFI headsets for consumers around the world.

Music is the monologue of the soul. BGVP is committed to presenting you with higher quality, purer and more infectious sounds using advanced and professional acoustic technology. We hope that when you wear headphones made by BGVP, you can experience the joy of integrating music. BGVP is committed to creating outstanding and extremely versatile product dialogue users with exquisite engineering and rigorous testing systems. With the ingenuity of the company, the company insists to the ultimate in cost-effectiveness, and adheres to the principle of putting customers in the first place, and has the most cost-effective model at all prices.

BGVP is more focused on earbuds and flat heads. After years of research and development, BGVP insists on exploring the future and continues to introduce new TWS and electrostatic earbuds this year. We believe that sky is the only limit of us. BGVP is here to satisfy your critical auditory nerve.

Specifications:

• Impedance: 12Ω
• Sensitivity: 111dB
• Frequency Response Range: 20Hz~40kHz
• Connectors: 0.78mm 2-pin connectors
• Termination Plug: 4.4mm

Unboxing​

BGVP certainly know how to put on an unboxing show – this has been consistent with all three of my review units. The Astrum however takes it to another level, with not only a set of lights to showcase the IEMs upon opening, but an incredibly unique display of ‘sand’ or some sort of particles that fall away in a celestial theme in the upper lid to reveal the Astrum logo…

I know these things are somewhat gimmicky, but they equally leave quite an impression and provide some distinct brand identity. Certainly put a smile on my face anyway as I opened them up!

There is a plate on the bottom right corner of the top tray which denotes the number of the set you have purchased, or indeed in this case, denoting a demo unit.

There are three layers to explore once you conclude the initial opening performance – IEMs up top, followed by another double-take moment when the case is revealed, and finally on the third level where the very generous selection of tips are stored along with a cleaning brush.

Accessories​

BGVP are always generous with tips, and bundled with Astrum you get vocal, bass, balanced, and foam in S/M/L. You also get a cleaning brush and a cable organiser strap with a button closure. I would like to see a cleaning cloth also, a touch I always appreciate from brands that include these, but a very minor nitpick.

Case​

The case is ornate, beautifully designed, and made from solid metal. As such, it is quite heavy and certainly not pocket-friendly. For storage in a backpack however, it would be perfectly fine, and you could rest assured of no accidental damage once the Astrum is packed away. You could very likely drive a car over the case without any damage to the contents!

Cable​

The cable follows a similar theme, with again beautiful design and impressive attention to detail. It feels high quality with excellent build and a nice rubbery exterior that is easy to manage. I have noted in previous reviews that my personal preference is for lighter cables, and this is definitely on the heavier side of my preference, but that seems to be the norm with most IEMs these days. Also, I am not a fan of the colour purple, but that is entirely subjective…

The cable terminates in 4.4mm and does not have a modular system to switch to 3.5mm. Connection to the IEMs is via 2-pin, and the sockets are not recessed. Another nitpick, but I prefer recessed sockets for stability and finish.

I must say it does look pretty striking below, even with purple not being one of my favourite colours!

Design and Fit​

The celestial theme continues in the design cues of the IEMs, with a sort of nebular/galactic finish. I like the subtle ‘Astrum’ branding that really pops when caught in the right light. On that note, the colour/design can be a bit tricky to photograph.

They are incredibly light, and I would say a medium-sized shell, perhaps even the smaller side of medium. The nozzles are also about medium and allow for easy tip rolling. I have been using the Acoustune AET07 which give me a perfect fit.

They are vented so no pressure issues, and very easy to wear for extended listening due to the light weight and compact size.

Listening Impressions​

The more time I spent with Astrum in dedicated listening sessions (such as the countless hours this weekend while finishing this review!) has confirmed that its core focus lies in delivering a smooth, settled signature that allows you to ease into the music rather than analyse it. It is not chasing ultra-sharp resolution or explosive dynamics; instead it leans into warmth, body, and an analogue-tilted character that feels immediately inviting and immersive, and for me at time reminiscent of vinyl. Notes carry weight, vocals have presence without pushing too far forward, and everything flows with excellent coherence.

Bass sits in support rather than taking command, so certainly not a bass-head set. There is good depth and fullness, but the edges stay rounded and you do not get fast, carved-out punch or big sub-bass deep rumble. What you get instead is a foundation that complements the mids and fits the overall character/theme. Mids are the standout, carrying a relaxed richness that suits intimate vocals and anything with emotional tone… I’ll reference a sultry/intimate environment later on Treble keeps shape in the mix but does not chase sparkle or air, meaning long sessions are never an issue. You lose a bit of bite and definition as a trade-off, but the payoff is a fatigue-free signature that lets you just settle in and enjoy for long periods, and indeed it takes the edge off more challenging or aggressive tracks.

Imaging and layering are very good and there is enough space to avoid congestion plus enough structure to appreciate instrument placement, even if outlines are softer than sharper sets. While the stage doesn’t have a massively 3D or panoramic presentation, it still feels pretty spacious and again allows that imaging and layering to shine.

Overall, the Astrum offers I would say a relaxed and smooth take on hybrid tuning. It prioritises mood, flow, and immersion over detail retrieval and precision. For certain genres and sessions, it hits that mark very well, and indeed broadly speaking, a true all-rounder…

Track Analysis with Comparisons​

Always very interesting when jumping between sets like this to reveal how unique they can all be, and regardless of price, really show off their strengths and weaknesses.

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Comparison Sets​

• Thieaudio Oracle MKIII – $589 – 2x DD / 2x BA / 2x EST
• BGVP Phantom SE – $1099 – 2x DD / 2x BA / 2x EST / 2x BCD

Jessica Pratt – Better Hate

I feel like the Astrum was almost made for a track and indeed album like this. It has a smooth, sultry feel to the presentation – one that makes me feel I should be sitting in an intimate, smoky venue with Jessica just a few feet away on a stool signing to a small captive audience… not sure what drink I’d have in hand, perhaps a whisky of some sort – if I ever become a whisky drinker – or would scotch be more sophisticated?! Anyway, definitely made for this music – vocals sound lush, sultry, sat central and ever so slightly forward, just enough to direct my attention but not dominate – the instruments have again that smooth, sultry, captivating vibe where it isn’t necessary to go deep on detail. Everything sounds wonderfully cohesive too, and there is an analogue slant to the smoothness that is reminiscent of vinyl.

Vs Oracle MKIII

While there is a similar smooth theme, the Oracle leans a bit more towards clarity and this allows note definition to be crisper – notable in particular with vocals and guitars. The sub bass has a touch more extension also but marginal. Vocals step back very slightly versus the Astrum – this strips back that sultry sensation somewhat, yanking me out of my smoky bar and back to my living room. The Oracle needs a lot more juice too, I had to crank up my Sony 1ZM2 to the late 40s from the late 20s. Oracle shells are quite a bit larger too and I really notice this when switching.

Vs Phantom SE

Perhaps unfair with the price difference but I was eager to compare none the less. The clarity jumps out as an immediate difference, along with much more distinctive sense of instrument and vocal placement in the larger stage. While still smooth, we move more into a ‘hi-res’ signature territory rather than that smooth, analogue performance with Astrum. The shells are incredibly small and sink away into my ears… what strikes me the most is why the heck I’ve left these parked and unused for so long – oh yes, life etc.

Idles – I’m Scum

While eating my dinner earlier it occurred to me that I need to throw something challenging at Astrum to really test what my ears/brain has been telling me in terms of that smooth, analogue signature – if anything is going to test, it’ll be ‘I’m Scum’. Good news – it absolutely passes the test – nothing harsh in the climatic moments, some sets collapse here due to too much upper energy in both mids and treble but zero issues. It again has that almost vinyl-like tonality, and even though it is a much more aggressive/energetic track, it still comes off with an immersive smoothness.

Vs Oracle MKIII

Again I immediate note the step towards more clarity and again crisper/more distinct note definition – the complex climatic moments create more of a challenge here and I feel the need to drop the volume a couple of clicks to ease it up a bit – nothing painful and I could keep listening but we do move more into a danger zone.

Vs Phantom SE

It is quite incredible to note the big jump up in instrument placement and clarity here, and again I have that immediate sense of ‘hi-res’. The climaxes however bring further strain and I’d be hard pressed to keep listening for long – it becomes too harsh and put simply, not that enjoyable.

Steve Hauschidt – Forgetting in the Static

This features on the latest album from the brilliant Steve Hauschidt, an artist I’ve been following for a number of years now and I buy his albums immediately on release – without even a preview! This melodic, immersive, and incredibly captivating track I have no doubt will be rendered well on each set with a different flavour. The Astrum immediately does it thing, i.e. grabs hold of you with full emotion and sucks you into that smooth, lush tonality – it almost even reminds me of listening to cassettes once upon a time, let alone vinyl. The kick drum has good volume but with that softer rounded edge, the synths sound ethereal and deeply captivating.

Vs Oracle MKIII

Ok again, a shift towards enhanced clarity and the kick drum lands with greater impact, definition and authority – while it doesn’t dominate, there is a noticeable step up vs Astrum. Synths are more succinct and precise but still emotionally engaging. Sub bass for lower synth registers are felt with more of a rumble inside my skull.

Vs Phantom SE

The more sophisticated driver array really makes itself known here where again we have that incredibly distinctive sense of imaging and layering, a much more holographic presentation – the brighter tonality and increased resolution really emphasising note details with a by comparison almost surgical level of precision. This is a good example of a set that will allow you to go into a deeper analysis of the details, versus simply sitting back on a smooth journey with the Astrum.

Figueroa – Back to the Stars

The closing track on the excellent ‘The World as we Know It’ – Figueroa is perhaps better known as the brilliant Amon Tobin. This steps back to a more energetic arena, and introduces more of an instrumental mix along with solid percussion and a distinctive guitar focus. Again as I guess can be trusted at this stage, Astrum doesn’t falter and as expected serves up a smooth and immersive performance – I can picture a venue not too dissimilar to the one I mentioned on the opening track, but more of a standing gig with a small and well-trodden dancefloor – me loving it but also pondering I’m too old for this… Astrum does a wonderful job with bassline rendition, even with those smoother edges it still manages to have a nice sense of realism – it would be hard not to have your feet tapping while listening, as is the case now as I type – well attempt to.

Vs Oracle MKIII

Oh that bass is jumping out at me again – beautiful… it is immediately striking and while the Oracle is not necessarily a bass-head set, it certainly delivers a lot more than the Astrum. There is an overall sense of neutrality, coupled with a touch of warmth – it loses that smooth vibe that has me at some underground venue, and that clarity clears off what could be deemed a veil in comparison – but don’t take a veil as being ‘bad’, it serves its purpose wonderfully in the case of a set like Astrum in my experience.

Vs Phantom SE

Bass detail, definition again immediately captivates. Guitar here pushing a bit into a danger zone however, there is a noticeable lift to the upper mids which are sounding a touch jarring after the other two sets – not sure if this is something my ears/brain might adjust to. Vocals more dominant and occupy a larger segment of the stage, but actually lean slightly thin in comparison. As per other tracks, I can hear significant uplift in imaging and layering in a larger stage – yet for this track, I’m not feeling it as much – weirdly, it works better on the previous two sets, and I would say best of all on Astrum.

Conclusion

The Astrum has a very obvious aim and it delivers on it… not a set trying to impress through detail, bite, or scale – instead it leans into ease, warmth, and musical flow, and delivers that consistently across genres, definitely securing that ‘all-rounder’ box tick. It softens edges without dulling things to much, bringing a pleasing richness to vocals and instruments that suits relaxed listening and longer sessions. The stage and layering give enough space to avoid any sense of congestion, but the focus remains cohesion over precision.

And it is worth calling out the packaging and overall presentation again… BGVP clearly wanted Astrum to feel special, and it certainly does – from the unboxing to the build, it feels like a considered, premium experience from start to finish.

If you are in the market for a smooth (I’ve perhaps used that word too much!!!), analogue leaning listen with smooth (oops…) flow that works across most genres without fatigue, Astrum fits that role very well. A very enjoyable set, congrats to BGVP!