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Blon BL-03 Review (1) – Love Is Like Oxygen

Pros — Natural timbre and dynamics; good clarity; spatial cues; incredible value.

Cons — Poor accessories; needs tinkering with tips and cable to unleash its full potential; a bit bright; short nozzles.

Blon BL-03

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Blon BL-03 is a neutral to slightly warm, marginally bright single dynamic driver earphone that excels by its tonal accuracy, natural dynamics, clarity, authentic soundstage, and spatial cues that gives you the feeling of sitting in the first row of a concert.

You find more photos of the Blon BL-03 here: https://www.audioreviews.org/blon-bl-03-photography/

Blon BL-03

INTRODUCTION

Blon stands for Believe, Let the music burn, Opportunity, Never give up. I don’t know anything about the company other than their tuner Zhuo Hulang also tuned the highly acclaimed Tanchjim Oxygen at 10 times the price, and that both models sport the same driver…but, I cannot verify this.

Blon BL-03

SPECIFICATIONS

Product Name: BLON BL-03  
Drive Unit: 10mm Carbon Diaphragm Dynamic Driver
Impedance: 32 Ω
Sensitivity: 102 dB/mW
Frequency Range: 20-20000 Hz
Connector: 2 Pin 0.78MM 
Cable Length: 1.2 m ± 3 cm 
Interface: 3.5mm Gilded
Plug Type: L-shaped
Tested at: $28.49
Product Link:
Wooeasy Earphones Store

Blon BL-03

PHYSICAL THINGS AND USABILITY

There is not much in the rather huge box other than the earpieces, cable, three sets of eartips (S, M, L), and a storage bag made of jute…well, Woodstock was 50 years ago. The drop-shaped earpieces are made of kirsite (like the NiceHCK HCK EP-10), appear robust, and fit very well into my ears without sticking out…the Blon BL-03 may work well as sleep earphones, too. The earpieces are way ahead of stock cable and stock tips in terms of haptic and build. First, I threw out the cable, not because it sounded bad but because the memory wire strangled my ears and because it was so stiff (I replaced it with a $7 cheapo I had purchased in my earlier youth). No regret here as the stock cable was not the fanciest anyway. Next, I dumped the totally useless eartips which were way too flabby to achieve a seal with.

Blon BL-03
Blon
Blon BL-03

After a lengthy and unenjoyable period of tip rolling, I finally arrived at the solution: only the “inverted” Starline tips worked for me (the DIY process is described HERE). I also had to passively extend the nozzles by cutting out a ring from the inner tube of an old eartip (see photo). The SpinFit CP145 and some similarly shaped eartips that came with the iBasso IT01 generated too thin a sound as their canopies were not wide enough in combination with these particular earpieces. Results may vary for you, as everybody’s ear canals are different.

Blon BL-03
Blon BK-03 earpiece
Passive nozzle extension by adding a thin rubber ring. Tip is an inside-out “starline”.
Blon BL-03

Comfort is good and isolation depends on the eartips, but I never got fantastic results. As so often, I used low-impedance sources (iPhone 5S with and without AudioQuest dragonfly dac/amp) and the Shanling M0 dap. The Blog BL-03 has huge advantage over the likes of the Drop + JVC HA-FDX1 or the Moondrop Kanas Pro because of their small, light shells, that don’t stick out of the ear.

Blon BL-03

TONALITY AND TECHNICALITIES

JK’s tonal preference and testing practice

The Blon BL-03 is neutral with a tendency towards bright that excels by its clarity, good speed, tonal accuracy and homogeneity/balance. The sound details depends a lot on eartips used so that results may vary between listeners. Hence, please also look at the other quality reviews out there.

Blon BL-03
Frequency response of the Blon BL-03
Frequency response of the Blon BL-03 measured with an IEC711 coupler. Diagram courtesy of KopiOkaya.

Blon BL-03
My own measurement.
Blon BL-03

The Blon BL-03 has a rather subtle, balanced sound signature with my setup and for my ears with a tendency to a forward upper midrange, which gives it a margially brightish flavour….it is certainly a far cry from the previous generations of V-shaped single DDs. Nothing punches (too much) from the low end or pierces at the high end. It is a polite and refined earphone all around. The Blon BL-03 is primarily an earphone for “audiophiles” imo and only secondary for rockers and dance music fans as its strength lies in the authenticity of sonic reproduction. It largely lacks perfume: the bass is rather natural in quality and quantity…and not substantially boosted to prefer certain musical genres with a hard beat. Fitting to the low end, the dynamics are rather natural, too. Further, the stage is quite authentic (wider than deep, including a good height), and the spatial cues is good, too, so that you really think you are in the first row of a concert.

Blon BL-03

With the tips used, the bass is well extended and has the aforementioned decent but not unnaturally strong punch, it is well textured and adds subtle warmth to the image. It can be a bit slow at times but is never thick. A subtle sub-bass rumble is pleasant on my ears. Overall, bass is tastefully dosed. The midrange is clean and clear, organic, energetic, and maybe a bit on the bright side because of a lift in the upper midrange. It has good air but not as much density as the more expensive Drop + JVC HA-FDX1. There is no congestion anywhere, including the upper midrange. Treble is very well extended, well resolving, and never strident (but not smooth either). Cymbals are surprisingly realistic sounding as transients are surprisingly natural. Stage is rather wide and high with enough depth. Resolution and instrument placement on stage are almost incredible for a budget earphone. 3-D impression is very good. And then there is the timbre, which is absolutely spot on. No budget hybrid can keep up with the Blon BL-03, although the TRN V90 gives it a good try.

Blon BL-03

Condensing all these observations, the Blon BL-03 cater particularly to fans of classical music, folk, and jazz. I don’t usually give music examples (as most people don’t have access to them) but have a look at the recent John Williams re-recordings by the London Symphony Orchestra and the Los Angeles Philharmonic. A very fluid listening experience.

Blon BL-03

COMPARISONS

The fantastic Drop + JVC HA-FDX1 ($250/280) have more note weight and depth, and they are ultimately more substantial sounding…but not by much. A/Bing them with the Blon BL-03 still makes the Blons a great, enjoyful listen. The Blons are brighter trough more boost in the upper midrange and have more recessed vocals. The darker iBasso IT01 ($100) have more sub-bass but sound somewhat loose in comparison, and the thicker sounding Moondrop Crescent ($30; discontinued) are behind in terms of composition and definition. The Blon BL-03 are also more refined and more organic sounding than the astonishingly good Senfer DT6 ($20). I have to point out that all of the above earphones are quite enjoyable. The Sennheiser IE 500 PRO ($600) have a tighter bass than the Blon BL-03 but they fail by their missing upper midrange, which makes their sound muffled and muted. The Blon BL-03 are actually better in terms of air and soundstage than those premiums.

Blon BL-03

CONCLUDING REMARKS

Out of the box, this earphone was a cinderella. Once you get the Blon BL-03 going, they are an absolutely superb earphone that is unparalleled in its class in terms of tonal balance and accuracy, and resolution. It is good enough for serious listening at home, and the flat earpieces make it a good bedphone, too. I favour the Blon BL-03 over much more expensive earphones, simply because of its tonal accuracy, balance, and natural dynamics.

Keep on listening!

Sony MH755

You find an INDEX of all our earphone reviews HERE.

Blon BL-03

DISCLAIMER

The Blon BL-03 were supplied unsolicited by Wooeasy Earphones Store. I thank them very much.

Our generic standard disclaimer

About our measurements

BLON BL-03 Review II — Another (Unsolicited) Opinion

https://www.audioreviews.org/earphones-of-the-year-2019/

Blon BL-03

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Author

  • Jürgen Kraus (Calgary, Canada)

    Head-Fier since 2016. He has been known as “Otto Motor” to Head-Fiers, as “Dr. Schweinsgruber” to audiobudget.com users and Youtubers, and as “Brause” to Super Best Audio Friends and the Headphone Community. - For the purpose of confusion, he decided to pose under his real name Jürgen Kraus (“JK”) from now on. - This is a hobby. In “real” life, Jürgen is a professional geologist operating his own petroleum-exploration consulting company Franconia Geoscience Ltd. based in Calgary, Canada. He holds German and Canadian passports. Jürgen had a classical music education from childhood through high school in Germany and he has been following popular music developments since the late 1970s. His understanding of arts and crafts was influenced by Bauhaus pragmatism: “less is more” and “form follows function”.

Jürgen Kraus (Calgary, Canada)

Head-Fier since 2016. He has been known as “Otto Motor” to Head-Fiers, as “Dr. Schweinsgruber” to audiobudget.com users and Youtubers, and as “Brause” to Super Best Audio Friends and the Headphone Community. - For the purpose of confusion, he decided to pose under his real name Jürgen Kraus (“JK”) from now on. - This is a hobby. In “real” life, Jürgen is a professional geologist operating his own petroleum-exploration consulting company Franconia Geoscience Ltd. based in Calgary, Canada. He holds German and Canadian passports. Jürgen had a classical music education from childhood through high school in Germany and he has been following popular music developments since the late 1970s. His understanding of arts and crafts was influenced by Bauhaus pragmatism: “less is more” and “form follows function”.

17 thoughts on “Blon BL-03 Review (1) – Love Is Like Oxygen

  • KopiOkaya

    Nice one, Doc!

    BLON BL-03 is indeed my “IEM of the Year 2019” for under $100. With a bit of EQing, they can sound almost identical to Tanchjim Oxygen.

    Reply
    • Jesus

      Would you mind to share the EQ?

      Reply
  • KopiOkaya

    Sure,

    – 20Hz, -1.5dB
    – 400Hz, -1.5dB, Q=1.41
    – 3100Hz, +3dB, Q=1.41
    – 4,000Hz, +1.5dB, Q=1.41
    – 8,500Hz, +1dB, Q=3.00
    – 16,000Hz, +5dB, Q=3.00

    Reply
    • Hi do you happen to have an EQ for a 10 band EQ? Thank You.

      Reply
    • XerusKun

      Hello can I know what is the Q factor for 20 HZ, -1.5 dB?

      Reply
  • Mitrophan

    Hello, I am interested to start exploring higher tier iem and hope I can get a recommendation. I used to listen to KZ ZST Pro and KZ ZS6 and TRN V80 and MEMT X5. I listen mostly to classical/instrument based music and classic rock (van Halen, Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith, etc). Sometimes, I listen to contemporary pop musics and jazz. I am very interested in Blon BL-03, but perhaps wish to step up to higher tier.

    Any recommendation for a better upgrade to Blon BL-03 and other Chi-Fis such as TRN V90, KZ ZSX, etc?
    Since I am still a struggling grad student, I am actually eyeing used Final Audio E4000/E5000, Moondrops Kanas Pro/KXXS, Sony XBA N3AP, BGVP DMG/DM6, Fiio FH5, but cannot really decide.

    Thank you very much.

    Reply
    • Hi,
      You have to go quite a bit higher in price than the Blon to get a real upgrade. To me, they are the best thing since sliced bread and author KopiOkaya ranks them in the top 2% of 2019 iems. And they will be discontinued soon. I like the Blon mainly for classical music/jazz...and quite enjoyed the TRN V90 for rock and pop music (but needs amplifier and JVC Spiral Dots silicone tips to sound good).

      I did not like the Kanas Pro as they had too thin of a midrange...also too pricey....I prefer the Blon at 1/5 of the price. The alternative to the BGVP DMG would be the identical NiceHCK M6, which are the cheapest glimpse into premium you could get...see review. But they need third-party filters to sound good. The other alternative of a solid earphone for rock/pop are the Sennheiser IE40 Pro. At least, these work right out of the box. I also can recommend the Final Audio E1000 at $28.

      I don't like KZs (anymore) and heard that the KZ ZSX are merely ok.

      The very best bang for your buck used to be the Drop JVC HA-FDX-01 (see review) for $280, but you have to wait until they will be available again.

      What I am using right now:

      1. Blon BL-03
      2. JVC HA-FDX-01

      I like single dynamic drivers for their accurate timbre.

      Reply
      • Mitrophan

        Thank you very much for your reply. Wow… i have never heard some of these brand you mention. I will continue reading reviews here.

        Reply
  • Hi Otto, which one is better for classical enthusiast between blon bl-03 and pioneer ch3?

    Reply
    • Pfffffffff...the Blon are livelier if you get the right tips. The Pioneer CH3 have micro drivers that cannot create the body/volume of the Blon.

      Reply
      • Well, I already have pioneer ch3 ane it made me astounished by the sound it produce, and I have planned to buy another pair of headphone like jvc ha-rx700 or pioneer se-ms5t. But this really make me anxious to choose.

        Reply
        • I’d wait for the forthcoming Trident Diamond, a single DD that is much better resolving than the Blon, with a superb, natural timbre. It will be released on 12/12 at $79. I tested two betas.

          Reply
  • Amigo, Como vc compararia ele com o Tanchjim Oxygen?

    TRANSLATION:Friend, how would you compare him to the Tanchjim Oxygen?

    Reply
    • I don’t know the Tanchjim Oxygen, but it is a single dynamic driver. I expect the oxygen to sound more natural.

      Não conheço o Tanchjim Oxygen, mas é um único driver dinâmico. Espero que o oxigênio pareça mais natural.

      Reply
  • I finally pulled the (admittedly not hard to pull considering the price) trigger on the Blon bl03s. I’ve only had them a couple of days so I’m experimenting with fit which is a big issue. These iems are heavily dependent on getting the right fit. If they’re not in just the right sweet spot in my ears a lot of the low end and mid range are absent. To get the best sound out of them so far I’m finding myself pushing on them while I’m wearing them. That’s not a working option so I’ll keep messing with the ear tips until I find something that fits. Fit aside I think the sound lives up to the hype. There’s a clarity and brightness to them with a good balance of bass/lower mids and the treble. I have heard some low end blow outs if the volume gets high enough on some songs. I think jazz, acoustic, classical and better recorded rock highlights its strengths. The mid range is not the best. Details are fuzzier and it sometimes makes the headphones sound pretty plain to me. Pianos especially solo acoustic piano pieces sound really flat. When there’s a mix of higher and lower frequency sounds it seems like the mids can be overlooked. I like the sound stage alot. I read someone else’s review that said they sound like open back headphones and I agree. It feels pretty spacious. If I can find an ear tip fit that works these will probably be my every day use set. Right now that’s kind of a big if but it’s a pretty great iem for the money.

    Reply
  • I agree with you that fit is a major issue for me with my blon bl03. I did 2 things to make the fit & sound somewhat better: 1) changed to different tips from another brand I already had; 2) passively extend the nozzles by cutting out a ring from the inner tube of a bl03 eartip that I wont use (as shown in the pic in this article). Give it a try and hope it helps a bit.

    Reply

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