Disclaimer #1:
I bought the BLON BL-03 from Aliexpress at my own expense.


Disclaimer #2:
The stock eartips and cables are very poorly fitting (not only for myself but based on lots of feedback on headfi). My review is based on pairing with aftermarket eartips and cables (specifically spinfits and 8 core copper cable) and the sound signature may change with different eartips and cables,YMMV. I suspect some users who do not do tiprolling may think the sound quality of this set is poor out of the box.


Introduction:
The latest CHIFI hypetrain single DD IEM, the BLON BL-03, has rave reviews on headfi the past few weeks (as of the time of writing). Some headfiers and reviewers have said the BLON BL-03 is not too far away in sound quality from more established and more expensive DD sets like the Moondrop KXXS, Tanchjim Oxygen and JVC HA FDX01 (though I haven't heard these more expensive IEMs).
So does it live up to the hype, or will the hypetrain be derailed?

IMHO, I think this IEM may not suit all users. But for audiophiles that can appreciate its strengths, and can do tiprolling or cable changing, it will truly reward the effort put in. In a flood of bright CHIFI IEMs with a 2 - 4kHz harsh peak, the BLON BL-03 sports a truly refreshing tuning, with very natural timbre, tonality and dynamics.


Specifications:
- Driver: 10 mm carbon diaphragm dynamic driver
- Sensitivity: 102dB
- Cable: 2 pin detachable cable
- Frequency response: 20Hz - 20kHz
- Impedence: 32Ω


Accessories:
In addition to the IEM, it comes with:
- Sackcloth pouch
- Detachable 3.5 mm stock cable
- Multiple silicone tips





Pictured here is the BLON BL-03 with spinfit eartips and a NICEHCK 8 core copper cable, as the stock tips and cables were not optimal IMHO.


Forgive the spelling errors, but this was the stuff printed on the box. Indeed if you didn't give up with the BLON BL-03's stock tips and cables department, a musical dreamland will be revealed with your persistence!


Build/comfort:
So as per the above, the stock eartips won't do the BLON BL-03 any justice, as the nozzle of the IEM is short, so most headfiers and myself had poor sound and fit with the stock short tips OOTB. From the headfi CHIFI forums, longer nozzle eartips or a spacer mod seems to fix this issue. Indeed, out of the box with the stock tips, I thought the sound quality was subpar, but I got a magical sound once I attached spinfits to the BLON BL-03. YMMV.

The stock cable also is not too optimal for the BLON BL-03 as the earhooks are stiff and tend to yank the IEM out of the ears. From the CHIFI forums, there are other aftermarket 2 pin cables one can opt for to improve the fit, and some are even resorting to mods like cutting open the earhook or heating and reforming cables.

*From feedback from headfi forums, the stock eartips seem to be more problematic than the stock cables. Some folks have no issue with the stock cables, but it seems majority do have issues with the stock tips. So my suggestion is to get a set first and see if the stock cables suit you, but definitely have some standby eartips around. It seems later batches of the BLON BL-03 come with a grey stock tip instead of the older black ones, and the grey ones have longer nozzles, and it may be better fitting, YMMV.

Otherwise this IEM is actually very ergonomic, comfortable and light. I can wear it for hours without issues.

I did not note any driver flex.


Isolation:
Slightly below average compared to my other CHIFIs. I have tested it on the subway and buses and I would suggest to stick to home use with this. In fact, with strong wind blowing in my ears, there is a whirling sound heard. Perhaps foam tips may improve the isolation, but I have tried several pairs of silicon tips with not much improvement in the isolation department.


Sound:
I tested the BLON BL-03 with a Desktop -> Khadas Tone Board -> Fiio A3 and Ziku HK-X9. The BLON BL-03 is drivable from smart phones but definitely scales better with a DAC/AMP. It is quite a power hungry little beast despite the specs on paper, with amping improving the details, soundstage, dynamics and tightening up the bass. Also distortion in the BLON BL-03 is decreased with amping (see details in the bass section).
I didn't have any hiss with this IEM on laptops/PC/smartphones.

The BLON BL-03 has a slight L shaped tuning, with boosted bass, very slightly recessed lower mids, with some light roll off at the upper treble. I didn't notice any awkward peaks or troughs in the FR. I found the clarity, instrument separation and details to be good for a single DD driver, but it won't trump a dedicated multi BA/hybrid IEM in this aspect and it also loses in these areas to some single DD IEMs I have. With very complex instrumentation or in music with lots of competing riffs/melodies going on, the BLON BL-03 does have a bit of difficulty keeping up.
Neverthless, imaging is quite accurate in the BLON BL-03.

The best aspect of the BLON BL-03 has to be its excellent timbre, natural dynamics and very coherent tonality. It really paints the music very naturally and organically. My previous gold standard in timbre was the Toneking Ninetails, and the BLON BL-03 beats the Ninetails. Coming from multi BAs/hybrids with their occasional artificial timbre of acoustic instruments (like woodwinds, strings, and brasses), I was pleasantly surprised that the BLON BL-03 could recreate the sound of these instruments almost perfectly (I'm quite OCD about timbre as I've been studying music and playing in a band since my teenage years). With the BLON BL-03, I can truly imagine the sound of the horsehairs on the violin bow being bowed, the reedy sound of woodwinds being blown, and the waa waa of trumpets and trombones in my music.

As such, I would say that the BLON BL-03 would excel at slower genres which incorporate a lot of acoustic instruments, such as in classical, jazz and acoustic genres. Its strengths may not be so apparent if your choice of music uses synthetic instruments like in electronic/EDM, or if you wanted a hyperdetailed analytical signature.
In fact I gave away my **** and KZ ZS10 Pro after a few days with the BLON BL-03 as even though they were excellent in details and clarity, they lacked in the timbre department, and my mainstay music genres were jazz and acoustic.

Overall, the sound of the BLON is very analogue sounding compared to the usual sterile/surgical precision of the multi BA/hybrids out there, it's really as though it was an old school vinyl recording played thru tube amps.


Bass:
It is very typical of a well tuned DD driver, with good subbass extension and displacement of air. Bass is slow and bleeds a bit. Subbass has a very slight roll off compared to midbass. It has good timbre and quantity, but I wouldn't classify it at basshead levels. Nevertheless, I'm a basshead and I find that the bass was of adequate amount to not necessitate any EQing. I noted that in some songs with very complex bass movements, it generally managed to keep up with good control and details, but had occasional smearing.
I did notice a slight midbass bleed, but this seems to be quite source dependent as per some feedback on headfi. Indeed on my desktop setup (Khadas tone board -> Fiio A3) I had minimal midbass bleed, but I had some midbass bleed on my smartphone and Ziku HK-X9 DAP. Nevertheless, I felt the midbass bleed adds a bit of warmth to the lower mids which creates an "analogue" sound that can aid in classical and jazz genres. YMMV.

One thing to note is that some headfiers and myself found slight distortion at higher volumes at the midbass frequencies with a lowend source on the BLON BL-03. It can be fixed with a good source/amp, and in general for home usage, I wouldn't foresee most of us turning up the volume so much anyway.

Mids:
Very slightly recessed in lower mids. Note weight/density is very good and natural compared to most other multi BA/hybrid setups. The upper mids are slightly brighter than lower mids, hence female voices sound more forward than male ones. The BLON BL-03 doesn't have the typical 2 - 4 kHz harsh CHIFI peak and hence it is non fatiguing. The mids are detailed with good clarity and instrument separation, although dedicated multi BA/hybrid setups will trump the BLON BL-03 in these areas.

Treble:
Treble is smooth with no fatigue/harshness/sibilance. Very good for listening for long sessions and having a relaxing listen. Cymbals sound very authentic compared to the usual splashy cymbals heard in some budget CHIFI sets. I would class the treble as safe compared to the usual bright CHIFI treble tuning, and it extends quite well but has a slight rolloff at the upper treble. The lower treble is slightly boosted but not harsh. Overall, I didn't notice any spikes, and neither did I notice any grain on the treble.


Technicalities:
Below average in terms of clarity, instrument separation and details. Imaging is okay, but this set is not an analytical or technical set, but more for relaxing and chilling. Soundstage is just average.


Comparisons:
As detailed above, the BLON BL-03 won't beat most multi BA/hybrids in the clarity and details department by virtue of it being a single DD IEM. So I have compared it to a few other single DD IEMs that I currently own (TFZ No. 3, Semkarch SKC CNT1, Toneking Ninetails, Sony MH755):

1) Isolation
TFZ No.3 > Semkarch SKC CNT1 > BLON BL-03 > Toneking Ninetails > Sony MH755

2) Timbre + Tonality + Note weight
BLON BL-03 > Toneking Ninetails > Sony MH755 > Semkarch SKC CNT1 > TFZ No.3

3) Comfort/fit
All equally good fitting/comfortable IMHO (with aftermarket tips/cables for some of them). None causes any irritation or discomfort with long usage.

4) Clarity/instrument separation/details
TFZ No.3 > Semkarch SKC CNT1 = Toneking Ninetails > BLON BL-03 > Sony MH755

5) Soundstage width
Toneking Ninetails > BLON BL-03 > Sony MH755 > TFZ No.3 = Semkarch SKC CNT1

6) Bass (quantity)
TFZ No.3 > Semkarch SKC CNT1 (black filter) = Toneking Ninetails (both red bass filters on) > BLON BL-03 > Sony MH755

7) Sound signature
TFZ No. 3 - U shaped, most basshead of these single DD IEMs, with great subbass extension and quantity. Has elevated 2 - 3 kHz and 8 kHz frequencies, but has treble roll off at higher treble frequencies. Lower mids are recessed compared to higher mids.

Semkarch SKC CNT1 - V shaped, recessed mids. Has 2 tuning filter options, one for bassier sound, one for less bassier/more neutralish tuning. Lower mids more forward than higher mids. Also has higher treble roll off but better control of dynamic range than TFZ No. 3 with no obvious peaks/troughs. Non fatiguing. Subbass extension and quantity less than TFZ No. 3 with bass filters on.

Toneking Ninetails - 9 potential tuning filter configurations (front and back filters), from basshead to V shaped to more neutralish sound signature. Mids recessed on all configurations. Also has high treble roll off and is non fatiguing.

Sony MH755 - harmanish tuning

BLON BL-03 - L shaped as above (see sound section)



Conclusion:
So if you have read till this point, does the BLON BL-03 live up to its hype?

I guess it depends on what you look for in your music, and what are your music genre preferences. It probably will not be the cup of tea for everyone. It does most things well, but there will be other sets that excel at certain other areas compared to the BLON BL-03.

The BLON BL-03's best aspect is it's tonality, timbre and natural dynamics, and I would 100% recommend it for aficionados of jazz, classical and acoustic music. It has above average clarity/details/instrument separation (not comparing it with dedicated multi BA/hybrids of course) and it is non fatiguing with an atypical tuning compared to the usual CHIFI fare out there.

The sound of the BLON BL-03 really harkens back to an old school vintage "analogue" sound like in vinyl recordings, that's how I can best summarize it.

For those looking for a hyperdetailed analytical sound with brightness, you would be better off looking elsewhere for a multi BA/hybrid IEM. And perhaps if EDM and electronic music is your staple genre, other IEMs may fare better. Also it requires the effort to tiproll and possibly get another aftermarket cable, only then will you be rewarded with it's magical coherent sound signature.

Nevertheless, the BLON BL-03 does well in most areas, and for its price of $28 USD, it would be a good affordable entry IEM for those wanting a natural and coherent sound.

Disclaimer #1:
I bought the CNT1 from Ebay at my own expense.


Disclaimer #2:
The product insert for the CNT1 recommends 100 - 200 hours burn in. I thought the CNT1 sounded good out of the box, but nevertheless I have burnt it in for about 50 hours currently via listening. I honestly didn't hear much of a difference between the 0 hour mark and the 50 hours mark, but I will post any updates here if there are any changes subsequently beyond 100 hours.


Introduction:
The SKC CNT1 has been around for some time and had generally good reviews and a cult following. It was previously retailing at $95ish USD, but recently production has stopped and there was a fire sale of sorts on Aliexpress, Taobao and Ebay, with sets going as low as $28 - 35 USD. As of the time of writing this review, there are still some sets available on Aliexpress, Taobao, Ebay and Amazon.
I hesitated to get the CNT1 initially as I already had 2 single DD IEMs in the Toneking Ninetails and TFZ No.3, but I couldn't resist giving it a try at the fire sale prices.

At the time of writing, the current flavour of the month for CHIFI single DD IEMs is still the BLON BL-03 though, and I'm awaiting my set, but will post updates and comparisons here soon.


Specifications:
- Driver: CNT Dynamic driver
- Sensitivity: 108dB
- Cable: MMCX detachable cable
- Frequency response: 10Hz - 26kHz
- Impedence: 32Ω


Accessories:
In addition to the IEM, it comes with:
- Soft case
- Detachable 3.5 mm stock cable - very stiff and microphonic, I would say it is even worse than the usual budget KZ cables. I had to swap it out within a few minutes of use due to the microphonics.
- Multiple silicone tips
- Black and gold filters



The SKC CNT1 seen here with after market copper cables, as the stock cables were a no go for me due to the microphonics and stiffness.


Build/comfort:
The build is questionable in terms of QC. One side of the MMCX connector was extremely tight and I had difficulty connecting and removing various cables to that side. The seam in the middle of the IEM shell also makes it look a bit shabby. I read an account on headfi that one user's CNT1 shell fell apart at the seams too.

Otherwise the IEM is actually very small, ergonomic, comfortable and light. I can wear it for hours without issues. In fact I have fallen asleep with it in my ears on a few occasions.

I had some driver flex during insertion of the IEMs.


Isolation:
Above average compared to my other CHIFIs. I have tested it on the subway and buses and it manages to block out most noise once music is playing, though some subbass may be lost due to the incomplete isolation on the go.


Filters:
The filters do work and ain't gimicks.
a) Black filters - boosts the bass. My favourite filter as I'm a basshead but I would say it is just one level shy of true basshead levels.
b) Gold filters - makes the bass less pronounced, but does increase the treble and overall gives it a more neutralish tuning.


Sound:
I tested this with a Desktop -> Khadas Tone Board -> Fiio A3 and Ziku HK-X9. The CNT1 is quite easily drivable from smart phones but definitely scales better with a DAC/AMP. I didn't have any hiss with this IEM on laptops/PC/smartphones.

After tiprolling, I still found the stock tips to be the most suitable for me for isolation and comfort. I tested most of the 50 hours with the black filters on, so most of my impressions here are based on the black filter.

The CNT1 has a V shaped tuning, with recessed mids. I found the clarity and details to be good for a single DD driver, but it won't trump a dedicated multi BA/hybrid IEM in this aspect. Instrument separation is above average. I would say the CNT1 is quite an all rounder and suitable for most musical genres.


Bass:
As above, you can fine tune the bass quantity with filters, and with the black filters on, it is very typical of a well tuned DD driver, with good subbass extension and displacement of air. Bass is punchy and fast for a DD bass and hits hard in the midbass. Subbass has a slight roll off compared to midbass. It has good timbre and quantity and quality, but is just a level or two shy of jaw rattling basshead levels. I noted that in some songs with very complex bass movements, it generally managed to keep up. I didn't notice any midbass bleed.

Mids:
Quite recessed, typical of the V shaped tuning. Note weight/density is quite good. The lower mids are more forward than higher mids, hence male voices sound more forward than female ones. Nevertheless, the mids are detailed with good clarity and instrument separation. The timbre of voices and instruments from the CNT1 is very good, as typical of other dedicated DD IEMs, but may lose out a bit in this area to the Toneking Ninetails, which is my gold standard for timbre currently.

Treble:
Treble has no fatigue/harshness/sibilance. Very good for listening for long sessions and having a relaxing listen. I would class it on the slightly darker side compared to the usual bright CHIFI treble tuning, especially at the higher frequencies where there is a roll off. The lower treble is slightly boosted but not harsh. I didn't notice any peaks or spikes, and neither did I notice any grain on the treble.


Soundstage:
Average compared to my other CHIFI IEMs.


Comparisons:
As detailed above, the CNT1 won't beat most multi BA/hybrids in the clarity and details segment by virtue of it being a single DD IEM. So I have compared it to my 2 other single DD IEMs that I currently own:

a) TFZ No. 3
The clarity and details is a tinge better on TFZ No.3.
Instrument separation and imaging is better on TFZ No. 3.
Treble is brighter on the No. 3 especially the lower treble and 8kHZ area, which is not present in the CNT1. There is a roll off at higher frequencies for both of these IEMs.
Lower mids are more forward on the CNT1 compared to the TFZ No. 3, whereas higher mids are more forward on the TFZ No. 3.
The TFZ No. 3 bass and subbass extends deeper and has more oomph and displaces more air than the CNT1. The bass decay is longer on the TFZ No. 3 and it has a mild midbass bleed compared to the CNT1 (some people may not like it, but I like the midbass bleed for greater warmth in the lower mids). I would say the TFZ No. 3 has better bass quantity and quality compared to the CNT1.
Soundstage is better on the TFZ No. 3.
Isolation and timbre both are on par.

b) Toneking Ninetails
As the Ninetails has 9 customizable tuning filters, I have compared the CNT1 (on black filters for bassy sound) to the Ninetails with the red and silver combination filters (which gives it a more bassy sound signature):
The clarity and details is slightly better on Ninetails.
Instrument separation is better on Ninetails.
The treble on both are non fatiguing but maybe the CNT1 has slightly brighter highs.
The mids are equally recessed on both.
The bass is slightly muddier on the Ninetails (which has a longer decay), but otherwise they hit equally hard in the bass.
Timbre is more natural and organic on the Ninetails.
Soundstage much wider on Ninetails, but isolation worse on Ninetails.


I would consider the Ninetails and TFZ No. 3 to be sidegrades over the CNT1, with marginal improvements in areas like soundstage, clarity, instrument separation, details, but they are currently 2 - 3 times more expensive, so whether one would pay the extra dough for these slight upgrades is subjective.


Conclusion:
At the CNT1's original pricing of $95 USD, I would have hesistated to recommend it over other single DD IEMs around that pricing like the Toneking Ninetails or TFZ No. 3, but at the current fire sale price, it is good for price to performance ratio. It has 2 customizable sound signatures and I think bassheads like myself would like the kick it gives with the black filters. It is a great all rounder for most music genres, and has above average clarity/details/instrument separation (not comparing it with dedicated multi BA/hybrids of course). Tonality and timbre is very good. It is comfortable and non fatiguing and a great CHIFI addition for those looking for a cheap and good single DD IEM.
Get it while you can, since it is no longer in production (which is a pity).
Do get a better aftermarket cable, and we are all good to go.

Disclaimer:
I bought this IEM at halfprice off at the recent aliexpress sale at my own expense.






Specifications:
- Driver: 5 Balanced Armatures (Knowles)
- Sensitivity: 102dB
- Cable: MMCX detachable cable (there's an option to get a 2 pin connector on the shell for slightly extra cost)
- Frequency response: 20Hz - 20kHz
- Impedence: 20Ω


Accessories:
In addition to the IEM, it comes with:
- IP65 waterproof casing - seems to be a special offer during the August Aliexpress sale (usually it is a non waterproof one)
- X8 8 Core OCC cable - seems to be a special offer during the August Aliexpress sale (usually it is a 4 core SPC one)
- multiple foam and silicone tips of various sizes and bore sizes
- cleaning cloth






Build/comfort:
Excellent quality resin build. In fact Hisenior can customize the shell design and colour for you and whether you want the Hisenior logo on the shell. I got a plain black one without the logo.
It is light and the shell is on the larger side. A small bugbear of mine is that the nozzle is short. So with prolonged usage, I encountered the shell coming into contact with my ear and this causes a tinge of discomfort. I managed to mitigate this by using a longer nozzle eartip (spinfit CP100) so the shell is elevated away from contacting my ears. Though this comes at a small expense of changing the sound signature compared to the stock tips.
Hisenior also gives you an option to get a 2 pin connector on the shell for a slightly extra cost if you are worried about the durability of its stock MMCX connector.


Isolation:
Excellent, assuming you have a good fit and good eartips. The shell itself covers the ear and blocks out a lot of sound. I had no issues using this on the subway/bus. Their store claims with a good fit there is a -18dB isolation, and I think it is thereabouts. It loses in isolation to my gold standard of isolating IEMs (the Audiosense T800) by a bit, but I think it would be better than most budget CHIFI IEMs.



Sound:
I tested this with a desktop -> Khadas Tone board -> Fiio A3 and android -> Tempotec Sonata HD. The Hisenior B5+ is easily drivable and can be used on smart phones without any external amping. I didn't have any hiss with this IEM on laptops/PC/smartphones. It scales better with a good source and good DAC/AMP.

This IEM is very unique in that it is one of the rare midcentric CHIFI IEMs in the market. The bass and treble is rolled off at the extreme frequencies. Hence I would term it "n" shaped instead of the usual L/V/U shaped signatures we see nowadays in the consumer market.

Importantly, I would only recommend this IEM for genres that shine with a midcentric predominant sound signature, such as for vocals, acoustic/guitar songs, jazz. These are my mainstay genres that I listen to and hence I got this IEM for this reason. Even then, I am a part time basshead and I did need to EQ my subbass and midbass up by a few dB to really enjoy the music. The Hisenior B5+ takes to EQ very well, so no worries on that point. But I think for those that like a non fatiguing, somewhat neutralish tuning, this will suit you.
Bassheads and trebleheads will find the Hisenior B5+ boring and lacking. EDM and electronic music lovers would definitely not appreciate this IEM IMHO.

In fact, the Hisenior rep I spoke to says they can tune their custom and universal IEMs to their customers' liking, at no extra charge. I was initial thinking of boosting the bass when I ordered the Hisenior B5+ as the few reviews that are available mentioned the lack of bass. But I was worried that this may affect the lush mids that influenced me to purchase it in the first place, so I decided to just stick with the stock tuning, and maybe use EQ to boost the bass.

The Hisenior B5+ is very very tip dependent, and I found that widebore silicone ones would boost the bass, and foam tips made the music more lifeless. Unfortunately due to the short nozzle, the shell would press on my ear after prolonged listening, and hence I had to stick with using spinfits with it (as mentioned above).

It has very precise imaging and instrument separation despite its above average soundstage (see below). It has a very dark background that allows instruments and vocals to be projected clearly. Clarity and details are excellent as expected of a 5 BA knowles setup, but it loses in this area to my goldstandard pure BA setup, the 8 BA knowles Audiosense T800.


Bass:
The bass quality is excellent as per a BA Knowles bass, in terms of timbre, accuracy and speed. Unfortunately, there is a notable subbass roll off (in quantity and extension) and I felt the overall quantity of midbass was also lacking. But then again, I am a basshead so maybe those that prefer a neutralish tuned bass may appreciate it. I had to EQ the subbass and bass a few dB up to enjoy my music, YMMV.

Mids:
The mids are the best part of this IEM and the reason why I bought it. To me it seems the lower mids are more elevated than the rest of the frequency, with a dip in the lower treble/upper mids, contrary to the usual CHIFI peak in the lower treble/upper mids area. Lovers of acoustic guitars, vocals will have a field day listening to this IEM. Timbre of instruments and voices are very accurate, almost as good as some pure single DD IEMs that I have heard.

Treble:
There is a dip in the lower treble, but after that it extends quite well till a roll off in the higher frequencies. I didn't hear any sibilance or harshness and it is very non fatiguing. Due to the slight dip in lower treble, some details may be lost compared to other brighter multi BA/hybrid IEMs like the Audiosense T800, so this is a slight tradeoff I feel.


Soundstage:
Soundstage is above average compared to other hybrids/multi BA IEMs due to the midfoward signature.


Comparisons:
1) Audiosense T800
Both are knowles multi BA setups, but the Audiosense T800 has 8 BA compared to the 5 BA Hisenior B5+.
T800 is better in terms of clarity, instrument separation, details, bass (quality and quantity), fit, isolation and soundstage.
The Hisenior B5+ has lush boosted mids (especially lower mids) that are better than the T800.
Timbre wise the T800 is very slightly less accurate than the Hisenior B5+, but the two of them are definitely better in timbre than most of the CHIFI multi BA/hybrids out there.

2) KZ ZS10 Pro
Suprisingly, the ZS10 Pro (4BA + 1 DD) has better details and clarity due to its brighter tuning. Bass is also of better quantity than the Hisenior B5+, as expected of a DD bass, though quality is not as good as Hisenior B5+'s bass. Imaging and instrument separation is less precise on the ZS10 Pro, and timbre, soundstage, isolation and build is not as good as the Hisenior B5+.

3) Westone W30
The Hisenior B5+ is better in clarity, details, instrument separation than the Westone W30, which is a 3 BA setup. For a pure BA bass, the Westone W30 is not too bad in terms of quantity and quality, and maybe that area and the fit/comfort is the only aspect that is better than the Hisenior B5+ IMHO.


Conclusion:
This IEM is a specialist IEM that would suit midcentric lovers who like genres like jazz, vocals and acoustic songs. I wouldn't recommend it for trebleheads or bassheads for sure, and not for certain genres like EDM, techno, electronic music.
Imaging and instrument separation is outstanding. It's timbre and tonal accuracy is also excellent, maybe better than some DD type IEMs I have heard.
It does require a bit of work with finding a eartip that suits you, and may require EQ for some of us. But I think it is excellent if you know what sound signature and music preference this IEM truly shines with.
It won't displace the T800 as my endgame multi BA IEM for now, but it's a keeper for me for a non fatiguing sound and lush mids for my favourite jazz and vocal songs.

Disclaimer:
I bought this IEM at my own expense from Aliexpress when it was on sale and am not affiliated to any company.





Introduction:
I was searching for a good single DD driver IEM and am pleased to have bought the Nine Tails. It is a very well tuned single DD driver IEM, and the sound signature can be customized with many filters. This IEM has a cult following with generally good reviews, but hasn't gotten much mainstream attention, probably due to its very unconventional design.
The Nine Tails in actual fact is a Far Eastern "fox spirit" in Japanese, Korean and Chinese cultures, which can shapeshift to take the form of a human. Do the customizable filters let it live up to its namesake in changing the sound signature?

Here's my short review on it:


Specifications:
- Driver: Single Dynamic Driver
- Impedance: 16Ω
- Sensitivity: 100dB
- Frequency Response: 5 – 40,000 Hz
- Cable: MMCX detachable cable


Accessories:
Other than the IEM, it comes with:
- 1 detachable silver-copper MMCX cable
- 3 different pairs of rear filters, 3 different pairs of front filters
- 1 small pouch
- 1 shirt clip
- 2 pairs of foam eartips
- 3 pairs of black silicone eartips, 3 pairs of white silicone eartips




Build/comfort:
Let's get the big elephant in the room out of the way: the design is extremely unconventional to say the least. It took me a few tries to finally figure out how to put it into my ears. It is actually worn like a conventional overear IEM, but with the gourd shaped part downwards and the narrower tip of the gourd facing upwards at about 10 degrees anteriorly.
It is actually very comfortable once you get a good fit in, and very light. It is made of alloy and is very sturdy.
I suspect a lot of potential buyers might be put off by the design, fearing that they may be uncomfortable or not be a good fit, but I can assure you I have average sized ears and have no issue wearing it for hours.


Isolation:
IMHO, this is one of the weaker isolating IEMs, and I tried using it outside, but it failed to really prevent external noise from disturbing my music. I would personally only recommend it for use at home.


Filters:
I can assure you the filters ain't a gimick and they actually do change the sound signature. Based on my listening, the filters do the following modifications to the sound:
a) Silver filters - comes by default on the Nine Tails. Makes the sound V shaped.
b) Red filters - boosts the bass. I felt it does cause a mild mid bass bleed and muddiness when these were used, but it does pump up the lower frequencies by a few DB that is noticable, and is good for EDM. I would say it is just a level shy of true basshead levels when both front and rear filters are red.
c) Blue filters - makes the bass less pronounced but makes treble more extended and airy. I would say it makes the Nine Tails quite neutral sounding with it on.

There are both a front and back filter so they can be used independent of the coloured filters (ie u can use a blue front filter with a silver back filter etc). Generally it would make sense to use the same colour for both the front and back filter, or at least a silver one with either the blue or red. This makes many permutations for finetuning of the sound you want. In view of the three pairs of both front and back filters, there really are nine combinations of sound tuning one can tune the Nine Tails to, so it does live up to its namesake. In between the extreme both blue filters on one end, and the both red filters on the other end, the rest of the filter tunings are subtle changes along this spectrum.
Personally I liked both filters as silver for my general listening. Sometimes when I'm in a basshead mood, I'll use both red filters.

I've read reports in a the forums that the filters can drop out and be lost easily, but personally I haven't had the filters drop out on me, after screwing it on securely.


Sound:
I tested this with a Desktop -> Khadas Tone Board -> Fiio A3 and Android -> Tempotec Sonata HD. The Nine Tails is quite easily drivable from smart phones without any need for external amping. I didn't have any hiss with this IEM on laptops/PC/smartphones. It definitely scales better with a DAC/AMP.

Even on the most neutral tuning, it is mainly a V shaped tuning, with recessed mids.
I found the clarity and details/instrument separation to be very good for a single DD driver, just slightly worse than my other single DD driver IEM, the TFZ No. 3. But it would lose to some multi BA/hybrid IEMs in this area.

Bass:
As above, you can fine tune the sound signature with filters, but in general the Nine Tails bass is very typical of a well tuned DD driver, with good subbass extension and displacement of air with either the silver or red filters on. With the blue filters both on, the bass sounded neutral to me. With both red filters on, it is just a level shy of true basshead levels.

Mids:
Quite recessed, typical of most V shaped CHIFI tuning. I would have preferred a bit more meat in the mids personally. Nevertheless, the mids are detailed with good clarity and instrument separation. The timbre of voices and instruments from the Nine Tails is very organic and natural, one of the best I have heard in my collection of IEMs.

Treble:
Extends well with no fatigue/harshness/sibilance. Very good for listening for long sessions and having a relaxing listen. I would class it on the slightly darker side compared to the usual bright CHIFI treble tuning.


Soundstage:
Above average.


Comparisons:
a) Audiosense T800
As expected of a 8 BA driver IEM, the T800 trumps the single DD driver Nine Tails in the details/clarity/resolution/soundstage/instrument separation department. The clarity and details of the Nine Tails is no slouch, but the T800 is on another level.
The T800 is much more bright on the treble and may cause a bit of issues for the treble sensitive among us. Whereas the Nine Tails treble is very polite and non fatiguing and relaxing.
The mids are more recessed on the Nine Tails.
Although it is a DD bass, the bass (with red filters) of the Nine Tails is almost on par with the vented subwoofer BA bass of the T800 (IMO the BA bass of the T800 sounds very much like a DD bass).

b) TFZ No. 3
This is a more fair comparison as both are single DD driver IEMs.
The clarity and details is marginally less on the Nine Tails.
Imaging is sharper on TFZ No. 3.
Treble is slightly brighter on the No. 3 especially the lower treble. There is a roll off at higher frequencies for both of these IEMs.
Mids are more recessed on the Nine Tails, with less meat to vocals/instruments.
The TFZ No. 3 bass and subbass extends deeper and has more oomph and displaces more air than the Nine Tails (with red filters). I personally find the No. 3 to have the best bass in my stable of IEMs.
Having said that, with both bass filters on the Nine Tails and with a good DAC/AMP, it can hit almost close to bass head levels IMHO.
Soundstage is better on the Nine Tails.


Conclusion:
This is a great IEM that allows you to customize the sound signature you would like by changing the filters, giving many possible permutations, from a bassy sound to a more neutral signature. I hope more people would come to give the Nine Tails a try, even though it may look weird, it actually is super comfortable and well fitting.
It is very relaxing IEM to listen to, with little fatigue/harshness.
I found the isolation and mids lacking, but the many ways I can customize the sound to suit my mood or music genre more than makes up for this.
The tonality and timbre of voices and instruments are second to none on the Nine Tails.
If you are looking for a well tuned DD driver IEM, you can consider getting the Nine Tails. It may look for all intents and purposes to be an Ugly Duckling, but once you give it a try and look below its appearance, the Nine Tails may actually be a Beautiful Swan underneath it all.

Disclaimer: I bought this IEM at my own expense and am not affliated to any company.

Hi this is my 3rd review on this forum.

Out of the box, my initial impressions were not very favourable, I found the bass over boomy and the mids recessed, with some harsh treble, but having burnt it in and listened more extensively, I am really really loving this IEM. So in the future, I have learnt not to make any firm impressions of any audio gear till more extensive listening.
The TFZ No. 3 is quite a fun set that will appeal to bassheads (like me).





Specifications:
- Driver: 11.4mm Double magnetism, double cavity, double voice coil, tesla magnetic group
- Diaphragm: Diamond diaphragm
- Frequency Response: 5Hz-40000Hz
- Impedence: 20ohms
- Sensitivity:108dB
- Cable: 0.78mm 2 pin detachable cable


Build:
It is made of plastic, but is extremely light.

The stock cable is detachable and quite thick and of good quality with no microphonics. I tried a few different cables, such as the NICEHCK 8 braided cable, but decided to stick with the stock one in the end, due to the sound signature and fit. The stock cable has no chin clinch though.
Apparently some Headfiers have fedback that the cable connector is similar to some other TFZ models, and certain aftermarket cables may not fit the TFZ No. 3. You can still use a standard 2 pin cable but it sticks out of the IEM somewhat. (From what I know KZ para C type cables will not fit the TFZ No. 3, more info can be obtained from the forums on which cables won't fit the TFZ No. 3).

It comes with many stock tips and after tip rolling a bit, I still found the stock ones to still suit me better.

Isolation/comfort:
These are one of the more comfortable IEMs I have ever used. I can wear it for hours with no issues. It is extremely light and ergonomic.
The isolation is also excellent. I have used it in the subway or crowded areas with above average isolation. I did not find any driver flex on it.

Sound:
This IEM is easily drivable from smart phones, and doesn't really need any amping. I tested this with a desktop -> Khadas Tone board -> Fiio A3 and android -> Tempotec Sonata HD. There is a hiss with smartphones/PC but this resolves when the music is playing. The hiss can be fixed with a simple inline volume controller, impedance mismatch device, or even a DAC or AMP.

My initial impressions was that this was a V shaped tuning, but after extensive listening, it is more of a U shape, with mildly recessed lower mids (and boosted bass and slightly boosted lower treble/higher mids).
For a single DD set up, the imaging, instrument separation, clarity and details are very good. Most of the details in the music can still be heard, but IMHO as a single DD Driver, it loses out to some other multi BA drivers in this area. Among the pure DD setups I own, it is one of the better ones in the area of technicalities.

Bass:
Excellent bass (midbass and subbass) quantities. Subbass extends very well with great quantity, and will be suitable for bassheads. The timbre is spot on and has a decay typical of DD bass. It has a midbass bleed, but some may prefer this for an added warmth in the lower registers. It may be on the slightly bloated side in terms of quality. The bass is the most emphasized of the entire frequency spectrum, but I never found it overpowering other frequencies so far (having said that I'm a basshead). The bass is definitely my most favourite aspect of this IEM and it is just one level short of jaw rattling bass.

Mids:
It has slightly recessed lower mids, but a boost in the higher mids. As such, male voices sound softer than female ones to me. Vocals and instrument tonality/timbre is superb and make me feel like I am listening to singing from the first row of a stage. The upper mids can occasionally get fatiguing with longer listening sessions with female vocals.

Treble:
Lower treble is slightly boosted. I find sometimes horn and trumpet instruments may sound a bit harsh as there is a treble peak on the TFZ No. 3 at around the 8kHZ region. Otherwise the rest of the treble is non fatiguing, with minimal silibance. There is a slight roll off in the higher frequencies, so maybe treble heads may not appreciate it. But nevertheless, most of the details are there.

Soundstage:
Average.

Conclusions:
I initially wasn't impressed with TFZ No.3 out of the box, but after listening for almost a week, it has steadily grown on me and I love it now. The excellent bass and comfortable fit, and fun sounding signature make this a keeper set for me. The upper mids/lower treble can get occasionally fatiguing with longer listening sessions, but otherwise bassheads will like it for the great sub and midbass.

Disclaimer:
I bought this headphone at my own expense and am not affiliated with any company.


Hi this is my second review on this forum.

I have used about 15 pairs of IEMs/headphones so far in my fledging audio hobby journey, and by far, the M40x is the most neutral gear I have ever used.

It is quite cheap for its abilities and sound qualities, and is not as well known as its bigger brother, the M50x in audio circles. The M50x definitely boasts a more boosted bass, and is more for casual listening. The M40x on the other hand, is very neutral, and more for studio monitoring rather than leisure listening.


Specifications:
- Driver Diameter: 40mm
- Magnet: Neodymium
- Voice Coil: CCAW (Copper-clad aluminum wire)
- Frequency Response: 15 - 24000Hz
- Sensitivity: 98dB
- Impedance: 35Ohms
- Weight: 240g (without cable or connector)

Build:
It is a set of closed headphones. Mostly plastic, but seems quite sturdy. I have read reports of the headband snapping, but these issues seem to stem from the first few batches of the M40x. It seems audiotechnica has reinforced the metal sheets on the headbands for newer batches and it seems to be less of an issue.

It comes with 2 detachable cables that are propetiary (one straight and one curvy). So it would be difficult to find aftermarket upgrade cables. The stock cables are very long and have minimal microphonics.

Isolation/comfort:
The pads are one of the more uncomfortable ones I have used. Especially if you use spectacles, the clamp is pretty uncomfortable, and the pads are too small for average ears. It limits my use of the cans to < 1 hr each time, YMMV.
I have read forums where people buy other ear pads which are more comfortable to be used on the M40x due to this discomfort. I have personally changed mine to angled Brainwavz leather pleated ones, but this totally changes the sound signature of the cans, so I had to revert to the stock pads as for me sound is more important than comfort.
The pads are very important in headphones in influencing the sound that is percieved by our ears, so definitely changing the pads will have an effect on the sound unfortunately.

Isolation is below average for a closed set of cans. I tried using them on stage for live monitoring, but the isolation doesn't cut it for me compared to IEMs or other headphones. The isolation is also below average when I used them on the subway.
So these set of cans are truly meant for home studio monitoring IMHO.

Sound:
As above, if you use the stock pads, this is one of the most neutral gear I have used so far. It is truly flat, and doesn't amplify any frequency. This is perfect if you want to hear what the artiste intended for us to hear when they recorded their songs. Hence, it is excellent for studio monitoring. It gets boring when I use if for recreational listening though.

It is easily drivable, and doesn't require external amps. Most smart phones should be able to run it.

Instrument separation resolution/timbre/details/clarity/imaging are all above average. I have heard better gear for microdetails/resolution/soundstage, but for the price point, I don't have much complaints. Soundstage width is average.

Conclusions:
If you do want to buy these set of cans, do know that they are very neutral, and meant for studio monitoring. I find it boring for casual music listening, but of course you can always EQ some frequencies and YMMV. The discomfort of the pads also limits my use of these cans, but for the price, it is not too bad. I use them now and again on recordings to get a sense of what the music artiste truly intended for us to hear, but when I need a fun sounding pair of IEMs/headphones, these ain't my cup of tea.

Disclaimer:
This IEM was bought at my own expense and I am not affiliated to any company.

Edit: after using the ZS10 pro continuously for 2 months, I would like to add a small nitpick:
the treble timbre is slightly artificial, which has something to do with the budget BAs that are used by the ZS10 Pro. It is a small issue in the big scheme of things, considering that it is very cheap (~ 35 USD on sales) yet provides good details/clarity/instrument separation. Nothing much to complain at the cost.


Hi this is my first review at this forum.
I own a few KZs, including the original ZS 10, and I gotta say the ZS10 Pro is by far the best KZ so far.
It easily outperforms some of my Westones/expensive IEMs that I owned, and at only a fraction of the price. Truly amazing, I wonder how these CHIFI IEM company break even sometimes.


These pictures are with an aftermarket NICEHCK 8 core copper cable, which I preferred over the stock cable as it had no chin cinch. Also attached are a pair of spinfit CP100 eartips, which I found were better isolating than the stock tips.


Specifications:
- Driver: 4 Balanced Armatures and 1 Dynamic Driver (Hybrid)
- Sensitivity: 111dB
- Cable: 2 pin 0.75mm detachable cable
- Frequency response: 7 - 40kHz
- Impedence: 30Ω
- Weight of 1 earbud: 32g

Build:
The ZS10 Pro has 5 drivers each side, and comes in a good build with metal faceplate.
It comes with the standard KZ braided wire which is quite adequate, but I personally changed it to a NICEHCK 8 core copper one.
It comes with the usual KZ starline tips (small/medium/large), for which I also changed it to a spinfit as I found the isolation better.

Isolation/comfort:
The ZS10 Pro is very comfortable to fit and provides good isolation. Its predecessor the original ZS10 was very bulky and I had friends with smaller ears who complained about the poor fit.
I use this IEM on the subway with no issues. I also have tried it on stage for live monitoring in a band setting in a large hall and it provides excellent isolation without sacrificing musical details.

Sound:
This IEM is very sensitive and doesn't require external amping. I even found a slight hiss on my desktop while using it in the 3.5 mm jack due to the impedence mismatch/lousy desktop DAC. This can be easily fixed by using a volume controller or impendence mismatch device, or by using an external amp, and the hiss goes away.
It is easily drivable on my cheap smartphones.

The IEM features a V shaped sound profile, typical of other KZ brand IEMs.
The bass is very well controlled and has good quality/quantity. I personally like it a lot. The subbass and midbass are powerful but detailed and controlled, with no midbass bleed.
The mids are recessed, but still manages to maintain microdetails/seperation effortlessly. Vocals and acoustic guitars sound good and natural.
The highs are not bright or silibant, but manage to give fatigue free listening, but still maintain details and resolution.

Comparisons:
I owned the ZS6 and original ZS 10 before this, and this IEM outperforms them all definitely.

ZS6:
The original ZS6 had very harsh treble which is not the case with the ZS10 Pro. The ZS10 Pro still manages to get detailed treble across with no silibance or harshness. Microdetails/clarity/seperation/resolution are handsdown won by the ZS10 Pro. Maybe the bass is more authoratative on the ZS6, but it is not as clean/fast as on the ZS10 Pro.

Original ZS10:
The original ZS10 is totally different from the ZS10 Pro.
Probably the only area the original ZS10 is better is it has a slightly better soundstage and slightly better treble extension/details/timbre.
All other areas such as bass/mids/detail retrieval/clarity/responsiveness/technincallities are better on the ZS10 Pro. I found a very bad midbass bleed on the original ZS10, and this is not the case on the ZS10 Pro. The Pro also has better build and is more comfortable to wear as it is smaller. It has better isolation too.

Conclusions:
This is one of the best IEMs u can buy at this price point. I would say it measures up to some of my expensive westones, and at only a fraction of the price. IMHO to get a marginal improvement over the sound quality of the ZS10 Pro, you would need to pay hundreds more.
This is a very versatile IEM, provides good fit/comfort/isolation, with excellent sound quality. It is easily drivable.
I am very pleased with this purchase and this is going to be my daily driver from now on.