If you never heard of BGVP then you may have been living on another planet so far. DM6 was their most sensational product ever. Other than DM6, BGVP also has some good IEMs like DMG, DMS, DM7, DS1, etc. I have reviewed DM6 earlier and without any doubt can say it is a Giant-killer. BGVP knows how to deliver expensive sound with its simple and affordable products. Recently they have launched a bunch of new products, and T01 USB Type C DAC one of them. I would like to thank Penon Audio for sending me a BGVP T01 unit for this review.
Specifications of BGVP T01
- Model Number – BGVP T01,
- DAC Chip – Qualcomm WHS9415 ,
- Structure – Aluminum,
- OTG Plugs – Type C USB 2.0/ Micro USB using supplied adapter,
- Analog Output – 3.5 mm, 2.5 mm Balanced Gold plated,
- Cable – 4 strands 5N frozen version of single crystal copper wire,
- Length – 12.8 cm,
- USB Protocol – UAC 1.0/ 2.0/ 3.0,
- MAX decoding – 32 bit/384kHz; DSD64 / DSD128,
- SNR – 123 dB,
- Distortion THD+N – -105 dBFS, < 0.0003%,
- Crosstalk: -100 dBFS,
- Frequency Response – 20Hz-40 kHz,
- Output Impedance Range – 16 Ω – 600Ω,
- Rate power – 18-29mA, average 23mA,
- Compatibility – Windows, Mac OS, Android, IOS (I pad pro with Type C).
What’s in the Box of BGVP T01 ?
- T01 Type C DAC dongle,
- USB A (3.0) to type C converter,
- Type C Female to Micro USB male,
- Warranty card/ Manual,
- Quality Qualify Card.
Tested Sources with BGVP T01
Windows 10 PC, Oneplus 6T, RealMe C2.
Tested Gears with BGVP T01
TFZ My Love 3, LZ Z04A, HE 150 Pro Earbud, Sennheiser HD598.
Buying Link – Here.
Drivers
BGVP T01 is a plug and play device. No driver required. IOS /Android/ Windows 10 doesn’t need a driver, just plug and play. Make sure the OTG function is turned on. In both Android and Windows keep the volume low before playing any music; the 100% volume is very high. Another important thing; BGVP T01 only starts working after you plug your IEM in the 3.5/2.5 mm port. To use the ASIO function you need to install Qualcomm USB 2.0 driver.
Driver Link – Here.
Presentation
The presentation is simple; T01 comes in a small white box that has BGVP branding top of it. All specifications including preferred version (3.5mm/ 2.5mm), contact details and serial no are present back of the box. Inside that outer box, the device has been secured in a foam cavity. Beneath the foam a USB type A (USB 3.0) to C converter, a Type C (female) to micro USB (male) adapter, Quality Qualify Card and Manual are present.
Supplied Type C (female) – micro USB (male) adapter is an extra gain which most of the Type C DAC manufacturers don’t supply. This adapter is very useful when you want to use T01 with OTG enabled micro USB budget devices. This adapter separately sold for 10$ and very hard to find, available adapters don’t support OTG function and only works for charging.
Design & Build Quality
Design and build quality are good. Dark grey plugs and matched copper OCC cable complementing each other very well. 4 strands 5N frozen version of single crystal copper wires have been carefully woven but an 8 strands cable could have better options. The connectors have been wrapped in a thick aluminum shell to avoid any radio frequency interference. The overall presentation, design, and build qualities are good for the price.
Output power and Noise
The output power of T01 is very high. Though it is mentioned that it can drive 600Ω loads, which I think is a bit over-exaggerated. It could have 300Ω to 400Ω, and that is enough for most headphones and very good for such a small device. No noticeable noise when used with PC. Surprisingly no heating issue after hours of usage.
Battery Drainage
The Output power of BGVP T01 is very high but surprisingly, the input power requirement is very low. According to specifications, it is average 23mA. In simple words, the input power requirement is around 2% extra power from your smartphone for 1 hour of music playback.
Mic & In-Line Controls
Both the Mic and inline controls work just fine. As soon as you insert an IEM with Microphone, BGVP T1 detects and shows the logo in your Smartphone that it is a headset with mic. Call quality totally depends on the mic of your IEM. If your IEM supports 3 buttons inline control, then you can receive and disconnect the incoming calls by pressing the middle button. The middle button on the IEM cables also supports Play/Pause function when playing music. Vol+ and Vol- also work with 3 buttons inline controls.
Sound
For this review, I am using some of my favorite and frequently used IEMS/headphones so that I can easily evaluate the actual sonic characteristics of BGVP T01. Sonically BGVP T01 is almost balanced with a mild boost in Mids.
Bass
The lower frequency part in BGVP T01 is almost flat still, Mid-bass is more focused than sub-bass. Bass is fast, accurate and the decay is perfect. Both in terms of quantity and quality, BGVP T01 is capable of rendering a good amount of energy in tracks. The tight and punchy bass is enough, for even bass lovers.
Mids
The mid-range has been packed with lots of micro details and feels slightly forwarded. The details and texture in the Midrange are exceptionally good. Lower-Mids has been more forwarded than Upper-mids that’s why Male vocals are crispier than female vocals. Dull IEMs with BGVP T01 feel more energetic and fun to listen.
Treble
The higher frequency part has been beautifully extended and no such harshness is present. The treble part is airy and sparkling. Most of type C DACs available in the market sounds harsh, where BGVP T01 has been trimmed off unnecessary glares from highs; and sounding less fatigue.
Soundstage/ Instrument Separation
The soundstage is wide but not super wide. Instrument separation is excellent and can handle complex tracks too.
Comparisons
Venture Electronics Odyssey
Venture Electronics Odyssey is powerful than BVGVP T01 but sound-wise inferior. Odyssey feels congested and the lack of micro details can easily noticeable. Where Odyssey is bassy, T01 is almost neutral. I haven’t tried the Odyssey HD version but as per my assumptions, it is the same non- HD version but firmware unlocked for 24-bit decoding.
Tempotec Sonata HD/ Hidizs Sonata HD II
Tempotec Sonata Hd and BGVP T01 sound almost same. The main advantages T01 has, are its extended higher frequency,low noise floor, and better detail retrievals. Even when using with PC, no noticeable noise is present in T01. BGVP T01 is also cheaper than Tempotec Sonata HD.
DD TC 35
DD TC 35 is one of the best Type C DAC dongles available in the market. The comparison between BGVP T01 and DD TC 35 is very hard to tell. Both of them are well priced and sounding very good. I think the main difference between them is the sound signature. DD TC 35 is totally neutral with very low bass, but BGVP T01 can produce a good amount of mid-bass with decent IEMS. So the choice is yours.
Conclusion
Recently most of the Hi-Fi product manufacturers have been launching Type C DAC dongles but most of them share the same CS42L42 DAC chip from Cirrus Logic. BGVP T01 is an exception here, the use of Qualcomm DAC not only ensure high decoding bit rates but also most energy efficient. Sound signature is also different from its predecessors. Overall BGVP T01 is a well priced and good sounding device and works with budget micro USB equipped devices too.
Graphic Designer by Profession, and Music is my hobby. Can’t recall when I had started digging the Audiophile rabbit hole, but this Website was created in 2019 to showcase my passion for music. I am not an Audiophile, I call myself a Music Enthusiasts and my goal is to pass that enthusiasm to my readers.
BGVP T01 2.5mm balanced is what I have, but Windows 10 and Android recognize it below 192kHz, 384kHz could not be output. If you own the same item, does it have same problem? Let me know. Thanks.
I don’t have any 384kHz files, but I think with players like USB Audio Player Pro in Android can solve this issue. In Windows 10 may be you have to install the drivers to solve it.
Thank you for reply.
Looking at the USB Audio Player Pro log, 384kHz is not recognized. I tried it with HF player and Neutron Music Player, but the same result.
The driver is already installed. However, ASIO driver does not work. Because Qualcomm Control Panel does not detect the connection of BGVP T01. Instead, using WASAPI and trying upsampling to 384kHz with foobar2000, “Unsupported stream format: 384000 Hz / 32-bit / 2 channels.”
Let me check it and I will back to you. 🏃♀️
I would appreciate your help.
Hi there
Do you by any chance happen to know if BGVP T01 will work on Hiby R3 dap??
I already use on Hiby R3 dap, ibasso DC01 adaptor (AK4493 dac) using R3’s USB type c connection and everything works fine….
Is it the same case here as well?
Thanks, Alexandros
Yes, working with R3 too.
Thanks a lot
I’ve contacting BGVP official, finally I got a reply. They told me that 384kHz is not available because it is an early version.
Oh, ok. They should mention that, in the early products.
Palash can we play saavn, spotify content from phone through this dac. please guide.
Yes You can.
Very nice article. Very well done.
Have you try playing native DSD file ?
because i failed playing native DSD file through this BGVP T01
thanks
Yes, I have tried a DSD64 file and it worked well. I am using USB Audio Player to pay the file.
DSD does not work in Native or DoP bit perfect mode, only with PCM conversion.
Tested in many players like USB audio player, Neutron, HiByMusic Player, FiiO Music, Onkyo HF Player…quality is good though even with PCM conversion, it would go up until 32 bit / 192 khz max (not 384khz though)
Yes BGVP disabled the native DSD function in second batch, as the native DSD decoding was not stable.
Compared to ibasso dc01/02 which one would u recommend?
I have DC02 only and without any doubt the sound quality of DC02 is better, but keep in mind two things. First no mic input support in DC01/02 and second BGVP T01 is more energy efficient ( Use less power from your smartphone and doesn’t heat up like DC01/02).
Hello. I am from Russia. You can fix the link to the driver. USB audio device. The seller gave the driver, but they are not suitable for this device.
Driver Link
The driver provided in this article is not working. Qualcomm control panel cannot recognize the device. Any solution?
Try to install after disabling the windows driver signature. If still not working, after installing driver go to control panel-device manager and see if the yellow mark appears on the sound device. If Yes right click and select update driver- brows my computer … then let me pick…. then in the model are there should be two options, select first one and select next then reconnect the device and see if it works, if not follow the same process and in the model select the last one and press next. If still not working follow the same process and in the model select the first one and click ‘have disk’ and locate the driver. I hope it should work.
Driver is not working as it is designed to install devices with VID_05C6 and PID_PID_9602 – PID_9605, while my device has PID_960B, it does not start with any driver manually selected, remains with yellow triangle and with device not start. I have the BGVP T01 and not other device. Any idea ? What is your device PID ?
So far I can remember , BGVP revised the hardware and released ac completely new T1 from it’s second batch. I had the first batch unit. Please contact BGVP for updated drivers. I can’t tell you the device ID as, I don’t have the device any more, I lost it during transit.
First of all, thanks for the review. I’m stuck between two devices (BGVP T01 $27.45 – DD TC35 $20.90) I am a bit confused which dac should I buy.
DD TC 35 is clear winner here, better build quality and less price. Only advantage BGVP T01 have is its low power consumption.
I get it. Thanks. The situation has been changed because of winter sale on Aliexpress. I have 3 options with Aliexpress coupon:
BGVP T01 $19.88, DD TC35 $17.90, Meizu Dac Non Pro Version $19.66
I’ve used standard usb sound card for a long time.
I want to use this usb c dac on smartphone (Tidal with UAPP, Spotify), pc (watch movie, spotify) someting like that. My smartphone output sound volume a weak. I have until 10 Dec 2020 to decide what dac should I buy.
The BGVP T01 and Meizu Dac Non Pro Version looks good on paper(384 kHz) but you know that more than I. I couldn’t test anything.
I strongly suggest you DD TC35.
Ok, I bought it. Thanks.
you must review & compare to dac meizu hifi Pro version. because in website audiosciencereview.com, ibasso dc02 is not recomended. and meizu hifi pro is a winner compare to dc02.
you must try MEIZU HIFI DAC PRO. i just wanna know if compare to bgvp t01, who is the best SQ (low mid high freq, & Technicallity like separation, soundstage, clarity, microdetil)
Thanks. Waiting my Meizu to come. Other MQA playback supported Type C DAC like Audirect Atom Pro and zorloo ztella review is also coming soon.
I have found this one and dd tc35 at a same price. Which one is better? Less noise, slightly elevated bass and mids and extended treble.
And which one offers better Soundstage?
DD TC 35.
How do we recognize 1st o 2nd batch?
No such physical difference to identify. See the serial no present on the box. Also first batch units are only few of them.
I hooked up T01 into a Raspberry with Volumio. It gets recognized as “USB Audio Device”, ….. but now: Volume was 14/100 loud enough for me for a pleasent listening, at 19/100 it was the loudest I could bear and at 29/100 awful distorsion took place. Susprises me. Is this behaviour intended?
It did not work on my Oppo AX7 under Neutron, I hear only artefacts and no music. Sometimes it worked here only when it is already pluged into the phone and I start Neutron. Hot swapping did not work also. Under Onkyos HF it works fine, but again, only if I started the app with the dongle already inserted. Hot swapping did not work. Foobar under Android worked only the first time, after that try it did not work anymore. So mixed feelings here when used with my mobile phone.
Works fine with my Pioneer XDP-02U so I use this for IEM and I will use T01 for other cans, nevertheless this was not the main intended use. Works fine under W10.
The main problem with android is it’s implementation. Some manufacturer set limited rules for the USB Audio out feature and focuses only on the inbuilt audio drivers. Another problem is, exclusive usage permission. Each app has it’s own specific settings to access the hardware, once it unable to detect the device it sets the settings to inbuilt drivers and continue to use until the background process works. I have used USB Audio player pro with all my type C DACs and can tell that USB Audio Player pro is the only app that support most of external DACs and less buggy.
Can External DACs like these drive planar headphones like Audeze lCD 1 to its full potential.
It can drive but not to its full potential. Audirect Beam 2 can.
Is it really worth the money when considering the audio quality on the smartphone?Especially your realme c2.
Yes. In addition driving power is very high with T01 which is useful for headphones and power hungry earbuds.
Quick question.
Does this support android 10 device? Because I see some seller tell in the description of the product that this wouldn’t work for android 10 device.
Sorry I don’t have any android 10 device right now to test. But it should work, because the OS vary from manufacturer to manufacturer.
so can you clarify since I am hearing different things on the comment section here vs. the review vs. the item desciption. Is it capped at 192khz? Or is it 384khz? Why the difference? I am looking at the 2.5mm version…
Thanks in advance, love your passion btw!
There are several revision of BGVP T01, the unit I had was from the first batch. I have heard that BGVP revised the T01 in their second batch and it can’t decode more than 24 bit 192 khz.
Would you regard the t01 as a good purchase over the sonata hd? There are not many reviews on the t01; and most of the people in my community would rather recommend dac dongles with realtek/cirrus chip as a safer choice than trying out a qualcomm chip. I really prefer the build of the t01 than sonata for long-term usage. I’m so close to check out my shopping cart with the t01.
Also, does these dac dongle improve the loudness of audio output?
Yes T01 is a good purchase. T01’s output power is very high so loudness will increase too.
Thanks for your input! I’ve placed my order 🙂
Do you recommend this for earbuds? Been considering this and Odyssey hd, the advantage of t01 is the included microusb adapter which as you’ve said is rare and is perfect for my phone. On the other hand, Odyssey is cheaper and seemed designed specifically for earbuds. Thank you.
I have used Odyssey too, its sound quality is average. BGVP T01 is powerful and suitable for earbuds too. Yes the adapter is very useful.
I cant using BGVP T01 with my android 10 Redmi Note 8 Pro. The phone detect the DAC but no sound out from DAC. I connect it to others android 9 phone (Realme, Huawei, Samsung) and running well. Have anyone get this kind of problem?
Did you tried with some third party apps like Hiby music player in that Android 10 phone ?
I bought a BGVP T01 from China, which can only decode up to 192khz/32bit and doesn’t support “DSD over PCM”.
T01 have several revisions, some can’t play 32 bit files some can’t DSD.
can i use this for speaker? edifier r1700bt
Yes.
This DAC’s SQ is awesomeeeee
which one is better among dd t35 ,ICN TD3 AND BGVP TO1 IN IMAGING AND DETAILS IS IT SAFE TO BUY FROM ALIEXPRESS
BGVP T01 is better and available in India too. Hifinage sell it.
which one is better among bgvp,dd t35 and ICN TD3
BGVP T01 is better.
Rly loved ur dedication keep working hard but can u please give me a indepth view on this three specially of icn t3 and bgvp t01 in term of technicalities I have a flat sounding earphone which will be best ? And does having higher decoding rate matter as icn has 384 hz and bgvp to1 has 192 hz? And will bgvp t01 give a noticeable difference
Thanks. Don’t know what is ICN t3. BGVP T01 is enough for most of the earphones. But if you can spend a bit extra, look at Zorloo Ztella MQA one too. Nope the higher decoding doesn’t matter because most of the music are 16 bit 44kHz or 24 bit 192 kHz.
Wanted to know which is better between ICN audio td3 which u have reviewed and bgvp to1 which is better in term of sound quality ,soundstage and details also which will sound flater and is there any use of 384 hz decoding in android
That’s ISN Audio. I suggest you to buy BGVP T01. T01 is better sounding than ISN Audio. Don’t worry about 384 KHz decoding.
I just bought this today. It works perfectly on my phones however the microphone is not showing. Even in my windows computer, it doesn’t detect the microphone. What should I do? I have a HyperX Cloud Stinger and an SHP9500.
That’s strange, when I had tested it, T01 detected mic and was working properly. Ask the seller for replacement, if the problem still present.
Great review, I’m glad someone recommended it to me. I’m looking at either this DAC, or the or the Micca OriGen Micro. Do you have any experience with the Micca? Its using a ESS Saber 9018 Q2C. I need something inexpensive for my laptop. It’ll actually plug into a docking station. (I’m trying to clean up all the wired connections to my laptop). Would there be any problem with these type of DACs having a continuous connection with speakers plugged in permanently? Thanks for any advice and insight my friend.
Sorry for the late reply. Sadly Micca products are not available in my region. But their products have good user feedbacks. You can try IKKO ITX01, it is a complete solution for Laptop.