BLON BL-Mini
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BLON BL-MINI- THE MACARONY OF BLONS
BLON as a chifi company needs no introduction. The blons 03 made a huge wave in the audiophile world and it still is a great option. But now they have moved to newer models and hence comes from the bean (aka Blons 03
) to macaroni (aka BLON – MINI 
). So today we have “The Macaroni among Blon Familia in for review- THE BLON-BL-MINI”.
DISCLAIMER- THIS IS A LOANED UNIT FROM MY FRIEND AND ALSO OWNER OF THEAUDIO STORE AND ALL THANKS TO HIM TO LET ME TRY IT AND YOU CAN FIND MORE ON THE PRICE HERE
UNBOXING-
It is a simple cardboard box and rest the pics will dictate
SPECIFICATIONS-
Seems like a stainless-steel build with the shape of macaroni. It fit me fine with the stock tips but I would suggest to change tips. But after long hours (ahmm 1 hour), it did become slightly uncomfy with stock tips and hence I changed tips to what I use with blons (can’t remember the name of it though, but its good tips). Still, I needed to reinsert after an hour to prevent my ears. But it isn’t a bad fit just needs some getting used to that’s all.
CABLE-
It’s difficult but the cable is pretty good for me & it wasn’t microphonic at all. Though if you live in a humid climate this might stick to your skin a bit. The mic is okayish, it picks up a lot of background noise. Though using better cables would be a better idea since the stock cable compresses the dynamics a lot.
ACCESSORIES-
PRICE- 1890 INR
NOTE- MY SOURCE IS-
1) PORTABLE -N6II R01, BTR5 AND LG G8X
2) DESKTOP- DAC- N6II WITH T01 LINEOUT
3) AMP- TOPPING A30 MODDED WITH BURSON V5I D OR TOPPING L30 OR XDUOO MT602(NOT USED HERE FOR REVIEW BUT HEY IT DOES HELP TO ADD A BIT OF TUBE TOUCH)
4)Would like to add that my DAP N6ii ran it on Med gain at 30-40 on volume and on Topping a30s- low gain just 7-9 ‘O’ clock on volume wheel
5) The tips I used are the ones that came with Blon-MINI AKA Stock tips and also the tips that I use with Blon-03, I liked it more with my blon tips.
SOUND IMPRESSIONS- THIS IS SUBJECTIVE AND YOUR OPINIONS MIGHT NOT MATCH MINE-
BASS AND SUB-BASS-
This small 6mm DD iem really keep everything in check with a good deal of punch in the mids. The midbass and sub-bass have both great tonality and feel like a good-bodied DD sound, still feels a slight missing in that impact. They have too much controlled midbass with good energy and texture. The dynamics lack a bit and the inter-notes separation is okay for its price. The inter-instrumental separation is average though even for its price. The rumble is great of the sub-bass and I didn’t feel anything lacking. The bass though is tight lacks timbre and a natural decay, but for this price it seems to do good.
MIDS-
The mids are lovely. There's good tonality slightly on the neutral side with average but good for its price timbre. The dynamics lack a bit but they do have good enough separation. The decay is fast and transparency is good for its price. The microdetails are better than what I heard in this price. The notes have good beginning but the ends and body seems to be a bit lacking. The staging is great which gives it a small sense of layering but there is not much space among the instruments. I would like to see more changes in the heights of the instrument notes and more separation but at this price, I should not actually haha!!!
The vocals both male and female are decent. The vocals timbre is great and small microdetails albeit not many but they do come up. Air in the voice also comes up along with texture, not in a musical way though. They don’t feel lush but they have good presence and balance, so that I wouldn’t call them lean either. The different tonality when multiple singers are singing is presented pretty well altogether for the price.
TREBLE-
The treble has some good air and tonality in them. They do lack a bit of separation but for their price they seem really good. The tonality is okay but sometimes, the lower treble and mid treble becomes a little too bright. There is decent decay but timbre is too metallic for some instruments especially the bells. Treble don’t lack energy and has pretty good sparkle too. There is good dynamics here but still feels limited to some extent. There is okayish treble extension, but the detailed nature makes up for it and also the transparency helps. Overall, a very good experience for the price.
HEADSTAGE, RESOLUTION, SEPARATION AND IMAGING-
Head stage is good. There is good amount of width and stage depth but depth (-y-as if the bass is coming at you from your chin) is lacking. There is also very less height which makes this feel compressed (would suggest cable change here and tips change here). Notes height also are very less separated which makes it feel less dynamic. The separation is average even though it has a wide soundstage, the instruments feel like they are way too close to each other. The imaging is good though, its diffuse but the transparency helps here. The resolution is great everything it portrays comes up pretty nicely and there is good number of details for its price. All in all head stage is “V” shaped.
COMPARISON-
BLON –BL- MINI – THE BRO WHICH EVOLVED TO MACARONI
PROS-
Wider head stage and stage depth and layering
Better controlled bass
No midbass bleed (Blons had it a slight amount, without mod and tips)
More inter-notes separation
Slightly more details and transparency than Blon 03 not E1000C
BLON – 03 - THE BIG BROTHER YET A BEAN
(modded with slaters mod and uses a KBEAR mic cable + some tips I don’t remember the name of 
)
PROS-
More musical
More dynamic
Better bass
Taller and thicker notes with good depth.
Better air
Better vocals
More natural timbre and tonality
FINAL E1000C – THE BOY WHO CAN’T BE DETACHED
PROS-
Much wider soundstage
More detailed and balanced than either of this
More stage depth and depth
Better transparency
Better imaging
Less dynamic overall
No detachable cables and better tips.
SUMMARY-
Without the presence of BL03, I would have probably loved this more. But with that there and also E1000c, I would just choose them since BL03 is more fun and E1000 is more technical, this is like in between them. But at this price, any of the three would be pretty good for any beginner who wants both fun and some technical. Just try to find a good fit.
BLON as a chifi company needs no introduction. The blons 03 made a huge wave in the audiophile world and it still is a great option. But now they have moved to newer models and hence comes from the bean (aka Blons 03
) to macaroni (aka BLON – MINI ). So today we have “The Macaroni among Blon Familia in for review- THE BLON-BL-MINI”.DISCLAIMER- THIS IS A LOANED UNIT FROM MY FRIEND AND ALSO OWNER OF THEAUDIO STORE AND ALL THANKS TO HIM TO LET ME TRY IT AND YOU CAN FIND MORE ON THE PRICE HERE
UNBOXING-
It is a simple cardboard box and rest the pics will dictate
SPECIFICATIONS-
- One 6mm DD
- Impedance: 16Ω
- Sensitivity: 20Hz-20000Hz
- Interface: 3.5mm
- Cable length:1.2m silver cable
- Mic optional – mine had it
- Driver: 6mm dynamic driver
Seems like a stainless-steel build with the shape of macaroni. It fit me fine with the stock tips but I would suggest to change tips. But after long hours (ahmm 1 hour), it did become slightly uncomfy with stock tips and hence I changed tips to what I use with blons (can’t remember the name of it though, but its good tips). Still, I needed to reinsert after an hour to prevent my ears. But it isn’t a bad fit just needs some getting used to that’s all.
CABLE-
It’s difficult but the cable is pretty good for me & it wasn’t microphonic at all. Though if you live in a humid climate this might stick to your skin a bit. The mic is okayish, it picks up a lot of background noise. Though using better cables would be a better idea since the stock cable compresses the dynamics a lot.
ACCESSORIES-
- A WHITE typical blon cloth bag
- Tips 3 of those normal ones
- 1 ‘M’ pair of a slightly longer CP800 type tip
PRICE- 1890 INR
NOTE- MY SOURCE IS-
1) PORTABLE -N6II R01, BTR5 AND LG G8X
2) DESKTOP- DAC- N6II WITH T01 LINEOUT
3) AMP- TOPPING A30 MODDED WITH BURSON V5I D OR TOPPING L30 OR XDUOO MT602(NOT USED HERE FOR REVIEW BUT HEY IT DOES HELP TO ADD A BIT OF TUBE TOUCH)
4)Would like to add that my DAP N6ii ran it on Med gain at 30-40 on volume and on Topping a30s- low gain just 7-9 ‘O’ clock on volume wheel
5) The tips I used are the ones that came with Blon-MINI AKA Stock tips and also the tips that I use with Blon-03, I liked it more with my blon tips.
SOUND IMPRESSIONS- THIS IS SUBJECTIVE AND YOUR OPINIONS MIGHT NOT MATCH MINE-
BASS AND SUB-BASS-
This small 6mm DD iem really keep everything in check with a good deal of punch in the mids. The midbass and sub-bass have both great tonality and feel like a good-bodied DD sound, still feels a slight missing in that impact. They have too much controlled midbass with good energy and texture. The dynamics lack a bit and the inter-notes separation is okay for its price. The inter-instrumental separation is average though even for its price. The rumble is great of the sub-bass and I didn’t feel anything lacking. The bass though is tight lacks timbre and a natural decay, but for this price it seems to do good.
MIDS-
The mids are lovely. There's good tonality slightly on the neutral side with average but good for its price timbre. The dynamics lack a bit but they do have good enough separation. The decay is fast and transparency is good for its price. The microdetails are better than what I heard in this price. The notes have good beginning but the ends and body seems to be a bit lacking. The staging is great which gives it a small sense of layering but there is not much space among the instruments. I would like to see more changes in the heights of the instrument notes and more separation but at this price, I should not actually haha!!!
The vocals both male and female are decent. The vocals timbre is great and small microdetails albeit not many but they do come up. Air in the voice also comes up along with texture, not in a musical way though. They don’t feel lush but they have good presence and balance, so that I wouldn’t call them lean either. The different tonality when multiple singers are singing is presented pretty well altogether for the price.
TREBLE-
The treble has some good air and tonality in them. They do lack a bit of separation but for their price they seem really good. The tonality is okay but sometimes, the lower treble and mid treble becomes a little too bright. There is decent decay but timbre is too metallic for some instruments especially the bells. Treble don’t lack energy and has pretty good sparkle too. There is good dynamics here but still feels limited to some extent. There is okayish treble extension, but the detailed nature makes up for it and also the transparency helps. Overall, a very good experience for the price.
HEADSTAGE, RESOLUTION, SEPARATION AND IMAGING-
Head stage is good. There is good amount of width and stage depth but depth (-y-as if the bass is coming at you from your chin) is lacking. There is also very less height which makes this feel compressed (would suggest cable change here and tips change here). Notes height also are very less separated which makes it feel less dynamic. The separation is average even though it has a wide soundstage, the instruments feel like they are way too close to each other. The imaging is good though, its diffuse but the transparency helps here. The resolution is great everything it portrays comes up pretty nicely and there is good number of details for its price. All in all head stage is “V” shaped.
COMPARISON-
BLON –BL- MINI – THE BRO WHICH EVOLVED TO MACARONI
PROS-
Wider head stage and stage depth and layering
Better controlled bass
No midbass bleed (Blons had it a slight amount, without mod and tips)
More inter-notes separation
Slightly more details and transparency than Blon 03 not E1000C
BLON – 03 - THE BIG BROTHER YET A BEAN
(modded with slaters mod and uses a KBEAR mic cable + some tips I don’t remember the name of )PROS-
More musical
More dynamic
Better bass
Taller and thicker notes with good depth.
Better air
Better vocals
More natural timbre and tonality
FINAL E1000C – THE BOY WHO CAN’T BE DETACHED
PROS-
Much wider soundstage
More detailed and balanced than either of this
More stage depth and depth
Better transparency
Better imaging
Less dynamic overall
No detachable cables and better tips.
SUMMARY-
Without the presence of BL03, I would have probably loved this more. But with that there and also E1000c, I would just choose them since BL03 is more fun and E1000 is more technical, this is like in between them. But at this price, any of the three would be pretty good for any beginner who wants both fun and some technical. Just try to find a good fit.
DemolitionMan
BL03 or EarStudio HE100 for a bullet type IEM. Own KZ x Crinacle CRN for neutral sound signature, KBear OS1 Pro for cheap "fun" sound. Would either BL03 or HE100 add "something" to the stable other than just adding a bullet style?
Introduction
I have heard a lot about BLON IEMs, in particular, BL-03, BL-05 and its upgrade BL-05s; each of these three models has its own fans. I really cannot tell you which one I would like myself, as I never had the chance to try anyone of the three; however, BLON products were always in my radar.
I was quite impressed by the people standing behind this young company, which counts less than 10 years, since 2014; these are either people envying traditional Chinese art culture and modern music or experienced engineers, who combined forces to create some headsets that do not necessarily follow foreign manufacturers, but instead inherit Chinese cultural elements. It is very interesting that BLON are the initials of “Building the Legend Of Nobles”.
In BLON Mini’s User Manual there is mentioned that “Although BLON has not achieved great success,…”; well, I am not sure about that, because maybe with the Mini the time of (great) success has come! This is how good is the IEM that I am going to describe you, which I do believe that everyone should at least try. But let’s take things from the beginning.
Description
The first thing that attracts your attention about the Mini is its peculiar shape; it looks like a pipe that was bent and then turned on the one end; some would say it is a kind of a macaroni again turned on the one end. Whatever you say regarding its shape, it is certainly interesting, I would say nice looking and very comfortable. It is made from a Zinc alloy, which is quite rigid and at the same time quite lightweight, at least compared to stainless steel, and it comes in two nice colors, gunmetal and silver, referred to by BLON as “Light Colour” and “White Steel”.
The Mini’s diaphragm is a 6 mm one made of Poly Ether Ether Ketone (PEEK) + Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET). Although both are considered humble and quite inexpensive materials, the combination of PEEK+PET has proven to be very successful for use as a driver diaphragm, and with the right tuning it can give excellent results. It is enough to mention that the new f-CORE DU Final driver, used in the Final A3000 and A4000 IEMs (for a description of it see my review at https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/final-audio-a4000.24731/reviews#review-25928), has a diaphragm made of PET, and it is simply amazing.
The cable is a 2-Pin connector, following the highest versatility φ0.78 standard, made of oxygen-free copper (OFC) and silver plated. It is anti-tensile and anti-interference, and that way it can eliminate short circuit problems, it has a faster transmission rate and more transparent sound, while being more durable at the same time. At the point where the cable connects to the earpiece has an earhook, which is very helpful for keeping the earpiece on the ear.
All the above might seem pretty standard for a mid-range priced IEM, but what about if I tell you that Mini’s MSRP is $29.99-$30.99, depending whether it is without or with a microphone? Amazing? Amazing, but true!
Before I go on with the sound impression, let me mention that Mini is an easy load, having an impedance of 16 Ω, which is a good thing; however, it is also quite sensitive, having a sensitivity of 115 dB, which is not always an advantage.
The sound
The sound of Mini is balanced and natural, while I could not really find cases where I would call it sterile. The bass is mostly mid-bass, with a small dose of sub-bass, which is certainly not much; so, if you are a bass-head, then the Mini is not for you. However, both the sub- and mid-bass is tight and very well controlled. The Mids are very nice, and both female and male vocals are presented as they are supposed to, without any forwardness or recession. The tremble is also very good; it is not extremely extended, but not it is not in shortage either. Mini is very clean and, for an IEM having a 6 mm driver, it is quite transparent. It is not the most detailed IEM that I have heard, but I did not feel that some information was missing; so, the resolution is not top, but it is more than adequate. The soundstage is better than average; it is not really big, both in width and depth, by any means, but you don’t call it small either; there are IEMs which are better in this department, but this is an unfair criticism for an IEM costing $30.00. Mini’s image and separation are both good good, and what made an impression for me is its dynamics, which is one of Mini’s strong points. Overall, the presentation is very articulate, alive and fun, and I want to stress this last point, as it makes Mini a really enjoyable set. In some musical pieces, one might get the impression that the sound signature is what we call “U shape”, but this is not usually the case.
In testing Mini, I used more or less the musical pieces that I most usually choose. I started with the classic songs “The Look of Love” by Diana Krall, from the album with the same name, Verve, “Baby Can I Hold You” by Tracy Chapman from the album Fast Car, Elektra/Asylum Records, “You’ve Got a Friend” by James Taylor from the album Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon, Warner Records Inc., and “One More Second” by Matt Berninger from the album Serpentine Prison, Concord Records. All these beautiful vocals were performed by Mini very nicely, and although in the past I have certainly experienced better performances, there was not much about which I could complain in Mini’s presentation. “Move” by Hiromi (Uehara), from the album with the same name, Telarc International, is an very complex piece, with Hiromi on piano, Anthony Jackson on bass, and Simon Phillips on drums. It is very difficult to catch the powerful and fast playing of Hiromi, and Mini played the fast passages with ease. The same was the case with “Fanfare for the Volunteer” by Mark O’Connor, from the album with the same name, Sony Classical. This is a beautiful Orchestral piece composed by O’Connor, and played by him on the violin and London Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of Steven Mercurio. It is another demanding piece with many ups and downs, which is very common in Orchestral music. Mini went through all these sound level alterations without any problem, proving that on top of everything else it is fast and a wonderful all-rounder.
Selected comparisons
One of the IEMs that I am reviewing this period is the CCZ Coffee Bean, having an MSRP of $19.99. It utilizes a single 10 mm dynamic driver, operating on a dual magnetic circuit, which makes it more energy efficient. Its diaphragm is composed of a combination of Polyurethane and Polyether Ether Ketone. So, Coffee Bean’s driver is much bigger than that of the Mini, with a diaphragm similar in composition, and it is designed to provide rich, detailed audio. On the other hand, Coffee Bean’s housing is plastic and rather conventional in shape, while Mini’s housing is from a Zinc alloy with a shape which, whether you like it or not, it certainly does not go unnoticed. Both IEMs have a a 2-Pin connector cable, with Mini’s cable appearing to be of better quality. The sound of Coffee Bean is sufficiently detailed; it is not more than that of Mini, but it is not much behind either. The problem with Coffee Bean’s (sound) signature is that it is really heavy on bass; a lot of sub-bass and plenty of mid-bass, to the point that in some musical pieces the presentation is rather booming compared to the beautifully balanced performance of the Mini. Coffee Bean is clearly a set designed for bass-heads. Although I don’t like sterilize sound, and I do appreciate some warmth in an IEM’s tuning, Coffee Bean’s signature is not for me, and given the choice, I would certainly pay the extra $10.00 for the Mini.
Another IEM that I highly value is the Final E2000. This is a tiny IEM, having an MSRP of $44.90. It has a 6.4 mm dynamic driver, with a housing made of aluminum black alumite and a non-detachable cable of very good quality. E2000 has a beautiful balanced tonality, and this is what made it one of my favorite IEMs and a long-time companion. This tonality gives it a very easy going, clean and clear presentation, more clean and clear so than that of Mini. On the other hand, Mini has what I call alive and fun (sound) signature. So, at the end, it is a matter of choice depending on the person and maybe even on the moment; after all, it is good to have choices in life!
Accessories and fit
The Mini comes in a rather long cartoon box, where one would find, besides the two earpieces and their cable, a sufficient variety of eartips, a fabric case and a user manual. My only complaint is that the eartips are rather generic, so I preferred and ended up using Final’s eartips.
On the other hand, the Mini is lightweight and very comfortable, providing pretty good sound isolation, so ambient noise with Mini was never a problem. Also, the plastic cover, at the end of the cable, helps the user to place the cable over hisears, thus avoiding microphonics.
Finally, the cable is of very good quality for the price of Mini and, although not advertised, it is anti-tangling, as I never had a serious problem with it.he Coffee Bean utilizes a single 10mm dynamic driver operating on a dual magnetic circuit. This provides a unique advantage over otherenergy efficient. This leading
Conclusion
The Mini does so many things right, and you would be hard pressed to find things for which you would complain about. It has a sound that is balanced, natural and quite transparent sound, with good soundstage, image and separation and particularly good dynamics. Overall, the (sound) signature is very articulate, alive and most of all fun. If you add a great overall quality and a price as low as $30.00, then you have nothing else but a clear winner. Highly recommended.
Specifications
Housing: Zinc alloy
Driver: PEEK + PET Dynamic driver
Sensitivity: 115 dB
Impedance: 16 Ω
Frequency response: 20Hz-20 kHz
Connector: 2-pin + 3.5 mm plug to the source
Cable: Oxygen-free copper, silver-plated cable
Cord length: 1.2 m
Price: $29.99-$30.99 (without or with a microphone)
Reviewer’s note: The reviewer is particularly grateful to Mr. Wang Guanzhen from WGZBLON, for supplying a sample of BLON Mini.
I have heard a lot about BLON IEMs, in particular, BL-03, BL-05 and its upgrade BL-05s; each of these three models has its own fans. I really cannot tell you which one I would like myself, as I never had the chance to try anyone of the three; however, BLON products were always in my radar.
I was quite impressed by the people standing behind this young company, which counts less than 10 years, since 2014; these are either people envying traditional Chinese art culture and modern music or experienced engineers, who combined forces to create some headsets that do not necessarily follow foreign manufacturers, but instead inherit Chinese cultural elements. It is very interesting that BLON are the initials of “Building the Legend Of Nobles”.
In BLON Mini’s User Manual there is mentioned that “Although BLON has not achieved great success,…”; well, I am not sure about that, because maybe with the Mini the time of (great) success has come! This is how good is the IEM that I am going to describe you, which I do believe that everyone should at least try. But let’s take things from the beginning.
Description
The first thing that attracts your attention about the Mini is its peculiar shape; it looks like a pipe that was bent and then turned on the one end; some would say it is a kind of a macaroni again turned on the one end. Whatever you say regarding its shape, it is certainly interesting, I would say nice looking and very comfortable. It is made from a Zinc alloy, which is quite rigid and at the same time quite lightweight, at least compared to stainless steel, and it comes in two nice colors, gunmetal and silver, referred to by BLON as “Light Colour” and “White Steel”.
The Mini’s diaphragm is a 6 mm one made of Poly Ether Ether Ketone (PEEK) + Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET). Although both are considered humble and quite inexpensive materials, the combination of PEEK+PET has proven to be very successful for use as a driver diaphragm, and with the right tuning it can give excellent results. It is enough to mention that the new f-CORE DU Final driver, used in the Final A3000 and A4000 IEMs (for a description of it see my review at https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/final-audio-a4000.24731/reviews#review-25928), has a diaphragm made of PET, and it is simply amazing.
The cable is a 2-Pin connector, following the highest versatility φ0.78 standard, made of oxygen-free copper (OFC) and silver plated. It is anti-tensile and anti-interference, and that way it can eliminate short circuit problems, it has a faster transmission rate and more transparent sound, while being more durable at the same time. At the point where the cable connects to the earpiece has an earhook, which is very helpful for keeping the earpiece on the ear.
All the above might seem pretty standard for a mid-range priced IEM, but what about if I tell you that Mini’s MSRP is $29.99-$30.99, depending whether it is without or with a microphone? Amazing? Amazing, but true!
Before I go on with the sound impression, let me mention that Mini is an easy load, having an impedance of 16 Ω, which is a good thing; however, it is also quite sensitive, having a sensitivity of 115 dB, which is not always an advantage.
The sound
The sound of Mini is balanced and natural, while I could not really find cases where I would call it sterile. The bass is mostly mid-bass, with a small dose of sub-bass, which is certainly not much; so, if you are a bass-head, then the Mini is not for you. However, both the sub- and mid-bass is tight and very well controlled. The Mids are very nice, and both female and male vocals are presented as they are supposed to, without any forwardness or recession. The tremble is also very good; it is not extremely extended, but not it is not in shortage either. Mini is very clean and, for an IEM having a 6 mm driver, it is quite transparent. It is not the most detailed IEM that I have heard, but I did not feel that some information was missing; so, the resolution is not top, but it is more than adequate. The soundstage is better than average; it is not really big, both in width and depth, by any means, but you don’t call it small either; there are IEMs which are better in this department, but this is an unfair criticism for an IEM costing $30.00. Mini’s image and separation are both good good, and what made an impression for me is its dynamics, which is one of Mini’s strong points. Overall, the presentation is very articulate, alive and fun, and I want to stress this last point, as it makes Mini a really enjoyable set. In some musical pieces, one might get the impression that the sound signature is what we call “U shape”, but this is not usually the case.
In testing Mini, I used more or less the musical pieces that I most usually choose. I started with the classic songs “The Look of Love” by Diana Krall, from the album with the same name, Verve, “Baby Can I Hold You” by Tracy Chapman from the album Fast Car, Elektra/Asylum Records, “You’ve Got a Friend” by James Taylor from the album Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon, Warner Records Inc., and “One More Second” by Matt Berninger from the album Serpentine Prison, Concord Records. All these beautiful vocals were performed by Mini very nicely, and although in the past I have certainly experienced better performances, there was not much about which I could complain in Mini’s presentation. “Move” by Hiromi (Uehara), from the album with the same name, Telarc International, is an very complex piece, with Hiromi on piano, Anthony Jackson on bass, and Simon Phillips on drums. It is very difficult to catch the powerful and fast playing of Hiromi, and Mini played the fast passages with ease. The same was the case with “Fanfare for the Volunteer” by Mark O’Connor, from the album with the same name, Sony Classical. This is a beautiful Orchestral piece composed by O’Connor, and played by him on the violin and London Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of Steven Mercurio. It is another demanding piece with many ups and downs, which is very common in Orchestral music. Mini went through all these sound level alterations without any problem, proving that on top of everything else it is fast and a wonderful all-rounder.
Selected comparisons
One of the IEMs that I am reviewing this period is the CCZ Coffee Bean, having an MSRP of $19.99. It utilizes a single 10 mm dynamic driver, operating on a dual magnetic circuit, which makes it more energy efficient. Its diaphragm is composed of a combination of Polyurethane and Polyether Ether Ketone. So, Coffee Bean’s driver is much bigger than that of the Mini, with a diaphragm similar in composition, and it is designed to provide rich, detailed audio. On the other hand, Coffee Bean’s housing is plastic and rather conventional in shape, while Mini’s housing is from a Zinc alloy with a shape which, whether you like it or not, it certainly does not go unnoticed. Both IEMs have a a 2-Pin connector cable, with Mini’s cable appearing to be of better quality. The sound of Coffee Bean is sufficiently detailed; it is not more than that of Mini, but it is not much behind either. The problem with Coffee Bean’s (sound) signature is that it is really heavy on bass; a lot of sub-bass and plenty of mid-bass, to the point that in some musical pieces the presentation is rather booming compared to the beautifully balanced performance of the Mini. Coffee Bean is clearly a set designed for bass-heads. Although I don’t like sterilize sound, and I do appreciate some warmth in an IEM’s tuning, Coffee Bean’s signature is not for me, and given the choice, I would certainly pay the extra $10.00 for the Mini.
Another IEM that I highly value is the Final E2000. This is a tiny IEM, having an MSRP of $44.90. It has a 6.4 mm dynamic driver, with a housing made of aluminum black alumite and a non-detachable cable of very good quality. E2000 has a beautiful balanced tonality, and this is what made it one of my favorite IEMs and a long-time companion. This tonality gives it a very easy going, clean and clear presentation, more clean and clear so than that of Mini. On the other hand, Mini has what I call alive and fun (sound) signature. So, at the end, it is a matter of choice depending on the person and maybe even on the moment; after all, it is good to have choices in life!
Accessories and fit
The Mini comes in a rather long cartoon box, where one would find, besides the two earpieces and their cable, a sufficient variety of eartips, a fabric case and a user manual. My only complaint is that the eartips are rather generic, so I preferred and ended up using Final’s eartips.
On the other hand, the Mini is lightweight and very comfortable, providing pretty good sound isolation, so ambient noise with Mini was never a problem. Also, the plastic cover, at the end of the cable, helps the user to place the cable over hisears, thus avoiding microphonics.
Finally, the cable is of very good quality for the price of Mini and, although not advertised, it is anti-tangling, as I never had a serious problem with it.he Coffee Bean utilizes a single 10mm dynamic driver operating on a dual magnetic circuit. This provides a unique advantage over otherenergy efficient. This leading
Conclusion
The Mini does so many things right, and you would be hard pressed to find things for which you would complain about. It has a sound that is balanced, natural and quite transparent sound, with good soundstage, image and separation and particularly good dynamics. Overall, the (sound) signature is very articulate, alive and most of all fun. If you add a great overall quality and a price as low as $30.00, then you have nothing else but a clear winner. Highly recommended.
Specifications
Housing: Zinc alloy
Driver: PEEK + PET Dynamic driver
Sensitivity: 115 dB
Impedance: 16 Ω
Frequency response: 20Hz-20 kHz
Connector: 2-pin + 3.5 mm plug to the source
Cable: Oxygen-free copper, silver-plated cable
Cord length: 1.2 m
Price: $29.99-$30.99 (without or with a microphone)
Reviewer’s note: The reviewer is particularly grateful to Mr. Wang Guanzhen from WGZBLON, for supplying a sample of BLON Mini.
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ywheng89
100+ Head-Fier
Pros: Comfortable
Better and controlled bass quality and quantity
Price performance ratio
Good separation
Better and controlled bass quality and quantity
Price performance ratio
Good separation
Cons: Fit might be a problem which has plagued the previous BLONS, i am fine with it
None to nit pick at this price point
None to nit pick at this price point
Blon BL-Mini - Weird looking but functional
Curious about this new offering from BLON, I decided to make the plunge to try this little bean looking IEM.
Out of the box the impression is very positive,everything just sounds right, but I have decided to let it run for a few hours and listen to it again to see if there will be any audible changes in terms of the sound.
I’m not someone who judges by just looking at the graph and decides that it’s not good without listening to it first. After all, you can’t hear by just looking at the graph without actually listening to the device itself.
We’re here to enjoy music after all but not gear testing or measuring.
*I purchased this item off my own fund without any sponsorship nor getting this as a review unit. I made the plunge so that you guys can decide whether this is for you or not.
Product Specification
Impedance
16ohms (at 1 kHz)
Frequency responses
20–20kHz
Sensitivity
115dB/mW
Drivers Config
6mm Dynamic Driver
Cable
in 1.2m
Plug
3.5mm single-ended
Connectors
2-pin 0.78mm
Housing Material
Zinc Alloy Forming
Packaging and Design
It comes with the usual standard Blon style packaging. Clean white box with standard
silicone eartips and a Blon cloth carrying pouch to store your earphone. Nothing to brag about. Pretty standard. What is different this time is that the bundled cable is of higher quality than 01 and 03. The material and outlook is similar to Moondrop SSP’s stock cable.
The build quality of this definitely doesn’t feel cheap. It has got the premium-ish metal kind of feeling as they are using this material called Zinc Alloy according to BLON.
Comfort and Fit
Wearing it for several hours straight, the fit is pretty good even with the stock cable. I had trouble getting the right fit from 01 and 03 with the stock cable and had to resort to after-market cable in order for them to sit in my ears without jiggling around and having a good seal. Comfort and fit definitely got a major overhaul from BLON. I can even get a good seal with the stock eartip.
Sound
Low
-Not overly emphasized like it was in the 03. Good quality and quantity, but definitely not for basshead. This time around the sub-bass is definitely more controlled and tight. It will not give you the deep rumble that the basshead is looking for but it is sufficient and provides a perceptible sense of “boom boom”. It is also quite punchy rendering Metallica’s Master of Puppet in a very enjoyable manner.
Mid
-Nothing much to brag about the mid. Male and female vocals sounded natural. Timbre sounded fairly natural. However there’s one thing that I dislike about the rendition of the vocal. It feels a bit distant, not the in your face kind of rendition. However, I guess this is quite subjective as some might prefer this kind of rendition over the other.
High
-Not sibilant and fatiguing. I did not feel any perceptible peak from 7khz claimed by some youtube reviewer. Comfortable to listen for long hours. I know its shouty if my ears get fatigue listening to Unravel - TK, an anime opening song(Tokyo Ghoul). I did not feel fatigue at all listening to this track using BLON Mini. It is a lil warm at least to my ears when comparing this with Moondrop’s SSP
Separation and Imaging
-Instruments separation is above average as i can clearly pinpoint the percussion coming from left and right and also the synth riff that blend right in with the electric guitar’s strumming in A Cruel Angel’s Thesis - Yoko Takahashi (Evangelion’s Soundtrack). Quite a busy track i would say but it rendered it without any issue. Sense of imaging is average i would say, you do not get that Final Audio E series’s imaging, but it does give sufficient perception on the width and height.
Driveability
Rated at 16ohms and sensitivity level of 115db/mw, this thing is very very easy to drive even straight out from your mobile phone. However to achieve better audio quality and dynamic range, it is better to plug this into a dedicated DAP or better still a DAC/AMP combo.
Comparison
The closest competition within this price range that i have with me is the Moondrop SSP.
Both are pretty comfortable to wear to long hours. The difference in terms of sound quality is that SSP’s low punch harder and gives more rumble in a good and controlled manner of course. Soundstage is also wider on the SSP and SSP is also brighter. Both are tuned differently for different kinds of audience. It all boils down to what kind of sound signature are you looking for. Analytical or laid back listening session? Both are good in my opinion in their price category.
Source
This time I have decided not to list the tracks as I believe there is no “test” track to actually test your earphone/headphone. I have shifted my perspective in a sense that if you really enjoy your music, you should be able to tell the differences on how each and every earphones or headphones you listened render them.
Windows 10 -> Stoner Acoustics UD130 -> Tidal (MQA/HiFi)
Ipod Classic(5th Gen) Rockboxed
SONY NW-A55 running on MrWalkman’s firmware(A50z)
Conclusion
Based on my own rating from 1 to 10, I would rate this at a 8 based on the sound that it produced and the price that it is asking for. It is definitely not a neutral IEM but more like a fun kind of IEM where you want to just plug in and start enjoying right away, but of course with better gears you will be able to squeeze out a lil bit more from this little macaroni. I will recommend this someone who wants to enjoy music without breaking a hole in their pocket and also seasoned audiophile who intend to replace their daily driver.
Curious about this new offering from BLON, I decided to make the plunge to try this little bean looking IEM.
Out of the box the impression is very positive,everything just sounds right, but I have decided to let it run for a few hours and listen to it again to see if there will be any audible changes in terms of the sound.
I’m not someone who judges by just looking at the graph and decides that it’s not good without listening to it first. After all, you can’t hear by just looking at the graph without actually listening to the device itself.
We’re here to enjoy music after all but not gear testing or measuring.
*I purchased this item off my own fund without any sponsorship nor getting this as a review unit. I made the plunge so that you guys can decide whether this is for you or not.
Product Specification
Impedance
16ohms (at 1 kHz)
Frequency responses
20–20kHz
Sensitivity
115dB/mW
Drivers Config
6mm Dynamic Driver
Cable
in 1.2m
Plug
3.5mm single-ended
Connectors
2-pin 0.78mm
Housing Material
Zinc Alloy Forming
Packaging and Design
It comes with the usual standard Blon style packaging. Clean white box with standard
silicone eartips and a Blon cloth carrying pouch to store your earphone. Nothing to brag about. Pretty standard. What is different this time is that the bundled cable is of higher quality than 01 and 03. The material and outlook is similar to Moondrop SSP’s stock cable.
The build quality of this definitely doesn’t feel cheap. It has got the premium-ish metal kind of feeling as they are using this material called Zinc Alloy according to BLON.
Comfort and Fit
Wearing it for several hours straight, the fit is pretty good even with the stock cable. I had trouble getting the right fit from 01 and 03 with the stock cable and had to resort to after-market cable in order for them to sit in my ears without jiggling around and having a good seal. Comfort and fit definitely got a major overhaul from BLON. I can even get a good seal with the stock eartip.
Sound
Low
-Not overly emphasized like it was in the 03. Good quality and quantity, but definitely not for basshead. This time around the sub-bass is definitely more controlled and tight. It will not give you the deep rumble that the basshead is looking for but it is sufficient and provides a perceptible sense of “boom boom”. It is also quite punchy rendering Metallica’s Master of Puppet in a very enjoyable manner.
Mid
-Nothing much to brag about the mid. Male and female vocals sounded natural. Timbre sounded fairly natural. However there’s one thing that I dislike about the rendition of the vocal. It feels a bit distant, not the in your face kind of rendition. However, I guess this is quite subjective as some might prefer this kind of rendition over the other.
High
-Not sibilant and fatiguing. I did not feel any perceptible peak from 7khz claimed by some youtube reviewer. Comfortable to listen for long hours. I know its shouty if my ears get fatigue listening to Unravel - TK, an anime opening song(Tokyo Ghoul). I did not feel fatigue at all listening to this track using BLON Mini. It is a lil warm at least to my ears when comparing this with Moondrop’s SSP
Separation and Imaging
-Instruments separation is above average as i can clearly pinpoint the percussion coming from left and right and also the synth riff that blend right in with the electric guitar’s strumming in A Cruel Angel’s Thesis - Yoko Takahashi (Evangelion’s Soundtrack). Quite a busy track i would say but it rendered it without any issue. Sense of imaging is average i would say, you do not get that Final Audio E series’s imaging, but it does give sufficient perception on the width and height.
Driveability
Rated at 16ohms and sensitivity level of 115db/mw, this thing is very very easy to drive even straight out from your mobile phone. However to achieve better audio quality and dynamic range, it is better to plug this into a dedicated DAP or better still a DAC/AMP combo.
Comparison
The closest competition within this price range that i have with me is the Moondrop SSP.
Both are pretty comfortable to wear to long hours. The difference in terms of sound quality is that SSP’s low punch harder and gives more rumble in a good and controlled manner of course. Soundstage is also wider on the SSP and SSP is also brighter. Both are tuned differently for different kinds of audience. It all boils down to what kind of sound signature are you looking for. Analytical or laid back listening session? Both are good in my opinion in their price category.
Source
This time I have decided not to list the tracks as I believe there is no “test” track to actually test your earphone/headphone. I have shifted my perspective in a sense that if you really enjoy your music, you should be able to tell the differences on how each and every earphones or headphones you listened render them.
Windows 10 -> Stoner Acoustics UD130 -> Tidal (MQA/HiFi)
Ipod Classic(5th Gen) Rockboxed
SONY NW-A55 running on MrWalkman’s firmware(A50z)
Conclusion
Based on my own rating from 1 to 10, I would rate this at a 8 based on the sound that it produced and the price that it is asking for. It is definitely not a neutral IEM but more like a fun kind of IEM where you want to just plug in and start enjoying right away, but of course with better gears you will be able to squeeze out a lil bit more from this little macaroni. I will recommend this someone who wants to enjoy music without breaking a hole in their pocket and also seasoned audiophile who intend to replace their daily driver.
baskingshark
Headphoneus Supremus
Pros: Excellent fit and good built. Unique housing that works!
Good isolation.
Above average technicalities.
2 pin connector – better lifespan than MMCX in general.
Easy to drive.
Good isolation.
Above average technicalities.
2 pin connector – better lifespan than MMCX in general.
Easy to drive.
Cons: Overly boomy/nebulous bass with midbass bleed.
7 kHz area can be hot with some sibilance.
Timbral accuracy issues.
7 kHz area can be hot with some sibilance.
Timbral accuracy issues.
DISCLAIMER
I would like to thank Ann from KeepHIFI for providing this review unit.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The BLON MINI is a V shaped budget set with above average technicalities, but has some slight issues in timbre and tonality. It thankfully fixes the fit issues of previous BLON iterations. The BLON MINI looks weird, but actually has a very good fit and isolation to boot.
SPECIFICATIONS
- Driver configuration: 6 mm Dynamic Driver
- Frequency response: 20Hz – 20000Hz
- Impedance: 16Ω
- Sensitivity: 115 dB
- Cable: 2 pin
- Tested at $29.99 USD
ACCESSORIES
Other than the IEM, the BLON MINI packaging comes with:
- Silver plated cable- on the thin side, but very usable OOTB sonic wise. No microphonics.
- Silicone ear tips of various sizes.
- Sackcloth pouch – similar to previous BLON iterations!
I know some others would prefer aftermarket cables and eartips. But for the purposes of this review, the stock cable and tips were used, so as not to change the sound signature with aftermarket gear.
BUILD/COMFORT
The BLON MINI’s shell is super unconventional to say the least, so let’s discuss about this big elephant in the room. The BLON MINI is affectionately called the BLON macaroni in some audio forums. Some would even call the shell shape weird and dare I say, obscene, but to my surprise, the BLON MINI’s fit is actually very ergonomic and comfortable, so don’t judge a macaroni by its housing
Thus far, the reputation for BLON IEM housings/fit in audio forums isn’t the best, there’s even memes about the fit, just see the number of complaints and hoops that people have to go through, just to secure a good fit with the legendary BLON BL-03. I’m glad to report here, that despite (or perhaps in spite of the weird housing shape), BLON has finally gotten a good fitting IEM without needing to mess around with aftermarket tips, so whatever R&D they are doing for fitting purposes and ergonomics has hit a home run.
I didn’t find any driver flex for myself for the BLON MINI (but YMMV, as this is somewhat dependent on ear anatomy and types of ear tips used).
I liked that the BLON MINI uses 2 pin connectors, as I’m not a fan of MMCX connectors in general, as they tend to have shorter longevity especially if cables are swapped too much.
ISOLATION
The BLON MINI has good isolation, and is indeed, one of the better isolating single DD sets. This came as a pleasant surprise, and coupled with its easy drivability (see next section), this set can be easily used outdoors or on the train.
DRIVABILITY
I tested the BLON MINI with a Khadas Tone Board -> Topping L30 amp, Sony NW A-55 DAP (DMP-A50 FEv2 Classic Mr Walkman Mod), smartphone, Shanling Q1 DAP, Tempotec Sonata HD Pro, ESS ES9280C PRO DAC/AMP, and a Khadas Tone Board -> Fiio A3 Amp.
The BLON MINI is easy to drive, it can run off almost any weak source. It scales just slightly better with amping. Amping can increase dynamics, soundstage and perhaps microdetails, and also tightens the bass a tinge, but no biggie if you just have a non LGV smartphone as a source, as the returns for amping is not really that big.
SOUND & TECHNICALITIES
The BLON MINI has a classical CHIFI V shaped tuning.
For the bass department, the BLON MINI is just a level shy of true basshead quantities. The bass is definitely north of neutral with a great punch in the midbass. Subbass is more pronounced in quantity and decay than the midbass, this set can extend very well in subbass extension, and should please most bassheads. Bass quality wise, unfortunately due to the copious amounts of bass, there is midbass bleed, and the bass isn’t the most textured. The subbass rumble also decays quite slowly and can leave a hanging tail in subbass heavy tracks, this may impinge upon the mids and treble in some tracks. Of course subbass perception is to an extent dependent on eartips used, and how well the IEM seals, so YMMV as usual.
Lower mids on the BLON MINI are recessed, but this area contains some warmth from the aforementioned midbass bleed. Upper mids are smooth and not shouty, but I find the upper mids lack a bit of heft, so this isn’t a set for vocal or mid lovers, and is probably a consequence of the V shaped tuning. Nevertheless, the mids are rather transparent.
Treble is not the most extended, the lower treble/upper mids area is smooth, though there’s instances of sibilance, with some splashiness and harshness at the 7ish kHz region on some tracks.
Overall, technicalities in the BLON MINI are above average for a budget single DD, soundstage is good in width, though it is about average in depth and height. Music could at times sound a bit congested on the BLON MINI during very fast tracks or when there were complex instrumentation ongoing. Clarity and imaging are above average, while instrument separation and details are around average at this price range.
Timbral accuracy wise, vocals and acoustic instruments have a bit of an artificial sheen to them, but this perhaps may depend on the usual music genres you listen to. Don’t get me wrong, the timbre on the BLON MINI isn’t as artificial as the garden variety multi BA types in budget CHIFI, but when A/B comparisons are done against some other single DD sets, then the timbre issues do rear its head. This is an area of disappointment for me, as I appreciate that single DD types (in general) give better timbral accuracy than multi BA types, and so far of the other BLON drivers I’ve tried, all of them score high marks in timbre usually.
COMPARISONS
Here are some comparisons with some well regarded $20 – 30 USD single DD types. As hybrids/multi BA have their own strengths and weaknesses compared to single DD types, they were left out of the comparisons.
BLON BL-03 ($25 USD)
The legendary BLON BL-03 is a harmanish set with a midbass bump, boasting superb tonality and timbre at the sub $30 USD region. Compared to the BLON MINI, the BLON BL-03 is less V shaped and has a thicker note weight.
In terms of timbre and soundstage and technicalities, the BLON BL-03 is better, but the BLON MINI beats the BLON BL-03 in fit and isolation. The BLON BL-03 is also more difficult to drive.
Having said that, the BLON BL-03 may be closer to $40 – 50 USD if aftermarket tips/cables are factored in to secure a better fit for the BLON BL-03’s atrocious fit with the stock accessories, whereas the BLON MINI is ready to go OOTB, no need to mess around with aftermarket gear for it.
Tanchjim Tanya ($22 USD)
The Tanchjim Tanya is a new release, featuring a harmanish tuning. The Tanchjim Tanya is worn bullet shape (cable down) and its non detachable cable has some slight microphonics. This non detachable housing may be a deal breaker for some, so YMMV.
The Tanchjim Tanya is much more difficult to drive, though the Tanya has better timbre, better technicalities and layering and imaging. The Tanya has better accessories, though it has weaker isolation. The Tanchjim Tanya is more noticeably laid back in tuning, whereas the BLON MINI is more dynamic.
KBEAR KS1 ($20 USD)
The KBEAR KS1 is another V shaped set, and like the BLON MINI, it has boosted bass that bleeds. The lower mids are recessed in both sets, so they ain’t an ideal set for mid/vocal lovers, though the KBEAR KS1 has a slightly more forward upper mids region than the BLON MINI. Accessories are similar, technicalities are close, though the KBEAR KS1 has poorer isolation. Timbre is a tinge better on the KBEAR KS1.
CONCLUSIONS
The BLON MINI is a V shaped budget set with above average technicalities, but has some issues in timbre and tonality. It thankfully fixes the fit issues of previous BLON iterations. The BLON MINI looks weird, but actually has a very good fit and isolation to boot.
The BLON MINI is by itself a decent set, with good price to performance ratio. But the issue here, is that there is very heavy competition at this price bracket. CHIFI gear is being released on a weekly basis, a new hypetrain is hyped in forums almost daily, or maybe that hypetrain is already in transit to your house, even as I am typing this! So, the BLON MINI still needs that special something to stand out from the cut throat competition, some pizzaz that for example the BLON BL-03 had (in having superb tonality and timbre). Perhaps this special thing that the BLON MINI has, is the extremely unconventional design, and this design does work very well, I’m pleased to say, as it aces fit and isolation and comfort. I do commend BLON for finally fixing the fit issues of their previous sets (looking at you, BLON BL-01 and BLON BL-03!), and I do look forward to their next release, which hopefully aces timbre, tonality, technicalities and fit (is this too demanding to ask for hahaha?).
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Headphones and Coffee
Previously known as Wretched Stare
Pros: A great smooth signature, unique looks and all day comfort with the right tips.
Cons: Shape may not be for some , sparse accessories but decent cable, tips are meh.
The Mini comes in a BLON box only much thinner and while the tips and pouch are the same the Mini has a new silver plated braided cable that is the best thing ever offered so far from them. Construction is typical BLON metal goodness with a TRN connection and single Dynamic driver this time in a macaroni shape that just fits so well, these are the most comfortable BLON yet in my onion.
Sound:
Bass:
Has a fair amount of control with plenty of boom, Mid-Bass has a fast tight punch where as Sub-Bass digs down deep but rolls off fast. Mid-Bass does bleed into the lower Mids giving it a pleasant warmth without muddiness accept on highly boosted recordings.
Mids:
The Midrange is neutral/ Balanced with forward vocals and upper mids show a little brightness with female vocals none the less the Mids are clear and tonality in very good rich with details for something in this price range.
Treble:
Is well behaved and has a decent amount of details. Although there is a fast roll-off here it manages to get in enough sparkle to the highs without any harshness up here.
Soundstage:
Soundstage is good. The BL mini not as open as the BL03 but it still is above the average in wideness, imaging is very good too. Most should find its just right.
Conclusion:
The BL Mini is a budged performer from BLON in a series of pretty decent offerings it holds it own, offering a great listening experience with comfort and a cool looking design. I don't think its enough to knock the BL03 off its pedestal but for some they might find it better in many ways.
Chenkw
New Head-Fier
Pros: - Unique sleek & lightweight design & comes with silver braided cable.
- Perfect fit and tight seal in ear, good sound isolation.
- Warm low-mids, smooth treble, strong bass, good soundstage.
- Clean and balanced overall sound.
- Affordable.
- Perfect fit and tight seal in ear, good sound isolation.
- Warm low-mids, smooth treble, strong bass, good soundstage.
- Clean and balanced overall sound.
- Affordable.
Cons: - Sound resolution is just great but not very detailed.
- Vocals are not clear enough.
- Vocals are not clear enough.
Product:
BLON BL-Mini (silver)
Design:
On first look, I immediately fell in love with its unique sleek and lightweight design. The silver units are shiny, fingerprint proof and feel premium. Product comes with a 2-pin silver braided cable.
Comfort:
Definitely a perfect fit in the ear for me (depends on the tip size), hence creating a tight seal for external sound isolation.
Performance:
Overall above average sound performance with V-shaped sound signature, clean and well balanced. Average highs, warm lows and mids which are great enough, smooth tuned treble, strong and punchy bass which are unexpectedly good for a small slim product, wide soundstage. Sound resolution and vocals are just great but not very detailed and clear enough, but are acceptable.
Comparison:
KZ AS10 - Better bass than AS10, but sound are not as detailed. BLON BL-Mini is definitely good looking & more comfortable than AS10.
KBEAR KS1 - KS1 has slightly better and stronger bass, however BL-Mini has clearer vocals and details as compared to KS1.
Conclusion:
Overall a good product, highly recommended for those who are in a budget but looking for a great headphone.
Nealz
100+ Head-Fier
Pros: Bang For Buck, Unique Shape, Very Comfortable, Warm Sound with good amount of Sub Bass, Good Soundstage, clarity & details, Easy To Drive.
Cons: At this price point honestly nothing, If I had to be picky then those awful stock tips that Blon provides.
Source Used During Review: Shanling UP4
Tips Used During Review: Final E Tips
Cable Used During Review: Stock Cable
Introduction: Blon became extremely popular in the Chi-Fi audio world with their BL 03 model. People loved it cause after changing the stock cables & tips it could compete with much more expensive IEM's while being a fraction of the cost. Many wondered if the new comer Blon was going to be a one hit wonder or was it going to come up with some more brilliant gear? Well their follow up the BL 05 was more of a miss than a hit, the good part is Blon realized their mistake & their follow up model the 05s was quite an upgrade over the 05 in terms of sound but they were still lacking in the stock cable & tips department.
This was always one of the main reasons why I never got the BL 03, I did not want to invest in an IEM which had bad accessories & needed to be upgraded immediately in order to reach its full potential. Upgrading tips & cables felt like such a hassle to me, I wanted to do it on when I felt like it rather than being pressured in to it. During the start of 2021 images started leaking of the BL Mini, people affectionately named it the Blon Macaroni cause of its unique shape, many even trolled it. But as soon as I laid my eyes on it I knew I had to get it cause I always felt uncomfortable with the traditional shaped over the ear IEM's, they always felt a bit too heavy.
Build & Comfort: The Solid Zinc Alloy housing feels nice to hold, although there was dent in my first unit, it seemed to me like a production (factory) defect, my local retailer replaced it immediately once I pointed out this fault. The following unit was perfect & did not have any build quality issues. Though the BL Mini might look weird & awkward to some I found it to be really comfortable & light weight. I was able to use it for long listening sessions without any discomfort. I think Blon has hit a home run with the size & shape of the Mini's & would like to see similar shape & design adopted in to their future models especially the more expensive one's.
Accessories: Another major upgrade the BL Mini has over its siblings is the stock cable, it feels really nice & smooth in the hand & sounds really good as well. I didn't feel the need to upgrade the stock cable anytime soon, perfectly happy with it. What's still bad are those god awful stock tips. There are 3 pairs of silicone tips (S/M/L). 2 pairs of “Blonfits” (M/L) & all of the them are pretty bad, I couldn't even get a decent fit with them, & had to switch to my Final E Tips immediately.
Ok now coming to the main event of the evening, the "pièce de résistance," Sound:
Highs (Details): I found the high's of the BL Mini to be pretty average, no sparkle or airiness about them. Micro details also pretty average, I didn't find them to be too revealing of any background vocals or instruments. Due to the lack of air BL Mini sounds a bit dark & kinda reminds me of the tuning of TFZ My Love edition. The clarity & resolution seems to be very good considering the price point.
Mids (Vocals): The mids are warm & a bit recessed but sound very good in the mix. This will get the job done easily for genres such as pop, hip hop, Indie etc. For genres like acoustics & orchestra you might need to play around with EQ a bit to get better results.
Bass (Low's): I think the sub bass is more pronounced here than mid bass, it has that boomy effect but not to the point where the bass sounds cheap or unbearable. The BL Mini is definitely a bass head IEM, bass quality is very punchy & controlled. Although there is a slight bleed in to the mids.
Soundstage, Instrument Separation & Imaging: I think the sound stage is pretty average, its not wide or anything. Instrument separation is good enough, you can hear each individual instrument while listening to a track. Although sometimes instruments like the guitar & metal plate hits don't sound as revealing as I would like them to be.
Drivability: Its pretty easy to drive the Mini, although I did notice distortion at higher volumes while playing music directly through the 3.5 jack of K30 Pro & Galaxy S10+. While using my Shanling UP4 distortion was non existent at higher volumes, bass was tighter & the sound stage felt a bit more wider. But I wouldn't recommend getting a dedicated source for this minimal level of scaling.
Comparisons:
Blon BL 03: Although I don't own a Bl 03 I was fortunate enough to test it out from a friend. I think the Mini & 03 has very similar sound signatures, the major difference being that the 03 has a very slight V shape tuning compared to the aggressive V Shape tuning of the Mini. The mids sound a bit more forward with the BL 03 & a bit recessed with the Mini. The Mini is also more darker sounding.
Final E3000: The devil is in the details! Although during an initial listen these two might sound very similar bit giving them a side by side listen you can instantly tell the Final E3000 sounds much more smoother, The Mini sounds a bit harsh & coarse comparatively. E3k has a wider sound stage with better instrument separation. Detail retrieval is also better on the Final E3k. Mini wins in the Sub Bass department while E3k does better in mid bass.
Conclusion: Overall I think for the price of $20 the Blon BL Mini is a no brainer especially if you like a warm & bass boosted sound signature. I wouldn't call the Mini an all rounder but it certainly has the potential to give some of the big boy's with a similar sound signature a run for their money.
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NymPHONOmaniac
Headphoneus Supremus
Pros: Decent Bright basshead tonal balance, good overall clarity-details, surprisingly big soundstage, fast edgy attack, very easy to drive, sturdy construction, good fit, cheap price
Cons: Boomy resonant bass, dry uneven timbre, weightless bodyless mids, lack of sparkle and post attack snap, excited V shape is sooooo 2020
-BLON BL-MINI NO GIMMICK MINI REVIEW-
PROS: Wide deep airy soundstage, Good imaging, Great macro-resolution, fast attack, upper treble snap, V shape yet clear mostly well balanced sounding, clean mids, good transparency, great fit and sturdy unique construction, Price
CONS: A bit recessed mids with less dynamic impact, a bit shouty treble, overly boosted mid-bass with uncontrolled sub resonance, dry timbre that lack density and natural warmth, a bit artificial sounding.
TONALITY: 7/10
TECHNICALITIES: 8/10
CONTRUCTION&DESIGN: 8.5/10
SOUND VALUE: 7.5/10
I've been listening to those for enough time to conclude they are more than decent for the little price asked, but suffer from unbalanced U to V shape tuning that will be hit or miss depending music you listen too. These are strange IEM that might please both opposite camps: basshead and treblehead.
CONSTRUCTION:
The metal macaroni-like design is very interesting if not particularly esthetical, it act like a screw in your ears so the fit is great! Well, if it wasn't for the super thigh ear hook cable that unscrews the macaroni! Anyway, you can get rid of this ear hook but be cautious cause I discovered the cable is quite fragile and broke it trying to pull the plastic cover of the ear hook. This is the first time it ever happen to me, my nail can easily cut the cable if I want too, so while the cable is an upgrade to other BLON IEM, it's still a low-quality one. Packaging is minimal and I was heartbroken to see they change Music and driams lettering on the box for correct spelling DREAMS.
SOUND:
TONALITY is slightly excited V to U shape with boosted boomy mid-bass, airy sub-bass made of resonance and boosted lower-mid treble presence. This can sound like typical chifi tuning but overall clarity is quite good as well as transparency and attack speed-thanks to the capable 6mm micro dynamic driver used. Its neither too warm or too bright, but its agressive in its approach and timbre being dry and lacking a bit of pitch contour, will attack is fast it can become a bit shouty with music like fast rock due to lack of attack snap and edge.
SOUNDSTAGE is wide and open with good deepness. Imaging is above average for a single DD in this price range but not in a realistic way, more like an artificial medium-hall-like spatiality where the highs seem always in front stage. Resonance of bass or lack of wide space between instrument can hollow imaging too.
BASS (LOWS) hit very hard but doesn't have tactile well-rounded weight to it, so yeah a bit boomy as well as lacking in texture and sub-kick separation (sub line can swallow the kick drum) but quite clean and transparent, not muddy, so it doesn't really bleed on mids unless its a sub bass-heavy track. The bass is there to wow you, but fail to offer a natural extension, so it's fast food for bass head. To my ears, the bass is the worst part of the audio spectrum. For example, a duo of acoustic bass and world singer (TARA FUKI-V Dymu) is just unlistenable due to the bass drowning her vocal, literally sitting on her presence, hip hop too can be...well, basshead wet dream? Dunno, i don't dream about Cranked BOOMBOX.
MIDS (VOCALS) are quite clear, but thin and a bit recessed compared to mid-treble and bass. Lack of warmth and body stole some musical lushness, piano note are clear but lack impact feel as well as any instrument needing good amount of density. Sens of transparency is great for the price as well as how well centered the mids are in spatiality. Vocal can sound a bit honky or breathy for females and thin and dry for males, but they aren't harsh or sibilant being to shy in attack heft for that.
HIGHS (DETAILS) are better in macro-resolution rendering than micro-details delivering, this is perhaps due to some uneven section of boosted treble being overly tamed and a lack of air-sparkle-snap. Its fowards and can go a bit hot-shouty but not to the point of being splashy, trebly or plain horrific. We have an average amount of details even if percussions are crisp. Its really hit or miss in definition and a bit rough in timbre.
Side-note: The MINI sound better with warm yet well resolved audio source, I prefer pairing it with ES9280C or BEAM2 than Jcally JM20 (single CS43131 dac) or Ibasso DX90 (dual ES9018dac). Eartips choice will greatly inflict on soundstage size as well as bass behavior. Using good copper cable might thicken timbre a bit too.
COMPARISONS:
VS BLON BL-03:
The OPPOTY is better balanced, fuller sounding, less V shape and more W shape with more extended treble, denser more textured timbre, richer details retrieval, slightly less wide-deep soundstage and more saturated imaging that is more nuanced in layers. Bass is faster, thicker and more textured and controlled, extension is leaner and less resonant-rumbly but more realist and articulated in tonality. Vocal are a bit fuller-brighter, though more present and full. Treble is more snappy, informative and realistic BL03 is way harder to drive and the fit is way less secure and comfortable. To my ears, BL03 is from another league both in tonal balance and technical prowess.
VS DQSM HERMIT:
These two use 6mm micro dynamic driver and i wonder if its the very same one due to similar timbre. Still, its not the same tuning and again MINI is more V and berserk in boosted bass department, so it doesnt sound as delicate and airy as Hermit which have its bass better balanced with rest of spectrum. Mids are more open but a bit colder-leaner than MINI even if very similar in timbre, layering seems cleaner denser. Treble is a bit harsher, more vivid and detailed. MINI is more fun while Hermit is more neutral-analytical, both having their quirks.
CONCLUSION:
Though far from perfect, the BLON MINI is another refreshing offering from the only Chifi company that know how to ''let music burn''. If you were finding your BL-03 missing the OPPOTY to achieve your basshead ''driams'', the MINI might be the crisp boomy V shape macaroni-like IEM you were waiting for! Unlike warm V shape IEM that struggle to swim out of bass bleed and compensate it by sibilant upper mids and splashy or too dark treble, the MINI stand apart in term of vivid, bassy fun yet technically competent sound that deliver an open, concert-like musical presentation with great macro-resolution and fast attack speed.
PS: thanks to Keephifi for the review sample as well as accepting my honest unbiased audio impressions.
PROS: Wide deep airy soundstage, Good imaging, Great macro-resolution, fast attack, upper treble snap, V shape yet clear mostly well balanced sounding, clean mids, good transparency, great fit and sturdy unique construction, Price
CONS: A bit recessed mids with less dynamic impact, a bit shouty treble, overly boosted mid-bass with uncontrolled sub resonance, dry timbre that lack density and natural warmth, a bit artificial sounding.
TONALITY: 7/10
TECHNICALITIES: 8/10
CONTRUCTION&DESIGN: 8.5/10
SOUND VALUE: 7.5/10
I've been listening to those for enough time to conclude they are more than decent for the little price asked, but suffer from unbalanced U to V shape tuning that will be hit or miss depending music you listen too. These are strange IEM that might please both opposite camps: basshead and treblehead.
CONSTRUCTION:
The metal macaroni-like design is very interesting if not particularly esthetical, it act like a screw in your ears so the fit is great! Well, if it wasn't for the super thigh ear hook cable that unscrews the macaroni! Anyway, you can get rid of this ear hook but be cautious cause I discovered the cable is quite fragile and broke it trying to pull the plastic cover of the ear hook. This is the first time it ever happen to me, my nail can easily cut the cable if I want too, so while the cable is an upgrade to other BLON IEM, it's still a low-quality one. Packaging is minimal and I was heartbroken to see they change Music and driams lettering on the box for correct spelling DREAMS.
SOUND:
TONALITY is slightly excited V to U shape with boosted boomy mid-bass, airy sub-bass made of resonance and boosted lower-mid treble presence. This can sound like typical chifi tuning but overall clarity is quite good as well as transparency and attack speed-thanks to the capable 6mm micro dynamic driver used. Its neither too warm or too bright, but its agressive in its approach and timbre being dry and lacking a bit of pitch contour, will attack is fast it can become a bit shouty with music like fast rock due to lack of attack snap and edge.
SOUNDSTAGE is wide and open with good deepness. Imaging is above average for a single DD in this price range but not in a realistic way, more like an artificial medium-hall-like spatiality where the highs seem always in front stage. Resonance of bass or lack of wide space between instrument can hollow imaging too.
BASS (LOWS) hit very hard but doesn't have tactile well-rounded weight to it, so yeah a bit boomy as well as lacking in texture and sub-kick separation (sub line can swallow the kick drum) but quite clean and transparent, not muddy, so it doesn't really bleed on mids unless its a sub bass-heavy track. The bass is there to wow you, but fail to offer a natural extension, so it's fast food for bass head. To my ears, the bass is the worst part of the audio spectrum. For example, a duo of acoustic bass and world singer (TARA FUKI-V Dymu) is just unlistenable due to the bass drowning her vocal, literally sitting on her presence, hip hop too can be...well, basshead wet dream? Dunno, i don't dream about Cranked BOOMBOX.
MIDS (VOCALS) are quite clear, but thin and a bit recessed compared to mid-treble and bass. Lack of warmth and body stole some musical lushness, piano note are clear but lack impact feel as well as any instrument needing good amount of density. Sens of transparency is great for the price as well as how well centered the mids are in spatiality. Vocal can sound a bit honky or breathy for females and thin and dry for males, but they aren't harsh or sibilant being to shy in attack heft for that.
HIGHS (DETAILS) are better in macro-resolution rendering than micro-details delivering, this is perhaps due to some uneven section of boosted treble being overly tamed and a lack of air-sparkle-snap. Its fowards and can go a bit hot-shouty but not to the point of being splashy, trebly or plain horrific. We have an average amount of details even if percussions are crisp. Its really hit or miss in definition and a bit rough in timbre.
Side-note: The MINI sound better with warm yet well resolved audio source, I prefer pairing it with ES9280C or BEAM2 than Jcally JM20 (single CS43131 dac) or Ibasso DX90 (dual ES9018dac). Eartips choice will greatly inflict on soundstage size as well as bass behavior. Using good copper cable might thicken timbre a bit too.
COMPARISONS:
VS BLON BL-03:
The OPPOTY is better balanced, fuller sounding, less V shape and more W shape with more extended treble, denser more textured timbre, richer details retrieval, slightly less wide-deep soundstage and more saturated imaging that is more nuanced in layers. Bass is faster, thicker and more textured and controlled, extension is leaner and less resonant-rumbly but more realist and articulated in tonality. Vocal are a bit fuller-brighter, though more present and full. Treble is more snappy, informative and realistic BL03 is way harder to drive and the fit is way less secure and comfortable. To my ears, BL03 is from another league both in tonal balance and technical prowess.
VS DQSM HERMIT:
These two use 6mm micro dynamic driver and i wonder if its the very same one due to similar timbre. Still, its not the same tuning and again MINI is more V and berserk in boosted bass department, so it doesnt sound as delicate and airy as Hermit which have its bass better balanced with rest of spectrum. Mids are more open but a bit colder-leaner than MINI even if very similar in timbre, layering seems cleaner denser. Treble is a bit harsher, more vivid and detailed. MINI is more fun while Hermit is more neutral-analytical, both having their quirks.
CONCLUSION:
Though far from perfect, the BLON MINI is another refreshing offering from the only Chifi company that know how to ''let music burn''. If you were finding your BL-03 missing the OPPOTY to achieve your basshead ''driams'', the MINI might be the crisp boomy V shape macaroni-like IEM you were waiting for! Unlike warm V shape IEM that struggle to swim out of bass bleed and compensate it by sibilant upper mids and splashy or too dark treble, the MINI stand apart in term of vivid, bassy fun yet technically competent sound that deliver an open, concert-like musical presentation with great macro-resolution and fast attack speed.
PS: thanks to Keephifi for the review sample as well as accepting my honest unbiased audio impressions.
536129
Head-Fier
Pros: New Cheap bass head iem
Cool shell , best blon fit yet
Most (03) like tonality of all blons
Cool shell , best blon fit yet
Most (03) like tonality of all blons
Cons: Upper treble rolls off , bass can over power at high volume bass intense music
Blon BL-Mini
v shape with a rise at 6-8k in upper mids and lower treble but then rolls off after that
Mids and lower treble have good details
Slightly recessed mids , good vocals
Speedy 6mm dynamic driver
Cost of 29.99$
Dongle dac or amp gives fuller more controlled bass ( a tad much at times)
Low end is warm
V shape with more sub bass than mid bass , plays down very low , punchy powerful bass
Comfy fit , great build , upgrade spc cable! Same as Moondrop ssr , ssp
6mm dynamic driver , doesn’t need amp to play loud
Most similar in tonality to the bl03 of all the models.
New low cost bass head iem but mids and highs suffer at high volume.
v shape with a rise at 6-8k in upper mids and lower treble but then rolls off after that
Mids and lower treble have good details
Slightly recessed mids , good vocals
Speedy 6mm dynamic driver
Cost of 29.99$
Dongle dac or amp gives fuller more controlled bass ( a tad much at times)
Low end is warm
V shape with more sub bass than mid bass , plays down very low , punchy powerful bass
Comfy fit , great build , upgrade spc cable! Same as Moondrop ssr , ssp
6mm dynamic driver , doesn’t need amp to play loud
Most similar in tonality to the bl03 of all the models.
New low cost bass head iem but mids and highs suffer at high volume.
OspreyAndy
500+ Head-Fier
Pros: Coherent, Fun, Comfortable and Speedy
Cons: At this price point of $30 no cons observed. BL-Mini delivering quality well beyond the asking price
Prologue:
Day by day Chifi keep on progressing and progressing - delivering myriad of options especially in the In-Ear headphones that will cater for anyone with any budget range conceivable. From ultra budget to ultra expensive they have them all.
For this user impressions thread, I have with me my very own BLON BL-Mini purchased at the price of $30 (with express shipping) directly from China.
Technical Specifications:
- Single Dynamic Drivers (6mm)
- Impedance 16Ω
- 115db Sensitivity
- Frequency Response 20Hz-20000Hz
- 1.2m SPC Cable (2-pin 0.78mm)
- 3.5mm Single-ended Plug
The Build:
- Solid Zinc Alloy housing
- Big bore nozzle (5mm)
- Chrome or Gunmetal Finishing
The Sound:
BL-Mini overall timbre is biased towards neutral and natural signature, with hint of sterile coherent demeanor - transparent, which also mean lack of velvety lushness without any hint of being grainy. Exceptionally clean and disciplined.
Excellent piano tonality, not overly sharp, not dull. Realistic attack and decay. Similarly organic timbre for percussions. Very realistic female and male vocals with rare hint of peak sibilance on mid treble (fortunately not too frequent). Less than forward intimacy. Realistic sounding stringed instruments (acoustic guitars and banjos).
Treble extensions are 2-3 steps shy of flagship reference level. Rolls off earlier and shorter, however with guile and finesse which are difficult to complain unless you choose to nit-pick. BL-Mini also lacks airiness for upper treble and mids. The focus more on clear edged separated layers.
Very impressive technical ability. Handling of Macro details done with proper articulation. Micro details not shabby as well, not as pronounced as how a flagship reference would present it but very satisfying, nonetheless.
Modest and well controlled dynamics with mature presentation. Sub bass presented moderate strength seismic sensation with strong midbass punch. Very commendable bass texture that is tightly controlled and articulated. Zero hint of bass bleed even on bass heavy tracks. It is vibrant when the situation calls for it.
Sharp imaging with moderate capability on spatial staging. Placements are clearly audible but stereo soundscape is less 3 dimensional – things sound closer to each other. Commendable headstage, nothing spectacular. Pretty much similar to many respectable IEMs within the same range. But definitely better projected than Etymotic ER4SR and ER2XR.
Speed, one of the most important aspect I treasure in any IEMs/Headphones. BLON BL-Mini turned out to be quite adept at handling substantial speed. Prime example is the BL-Mini prowess to handle Slayer “Angel of Death”, a classic Thrash Metal song boasting the speed of 218 BPM with intense dual tremolo guitar riff loops, attack, and attack repeatedly before decay even have any chance to take place. On top of that, breakneck fast blast-beat drumming interlaced in the mix. Simply put, the whole thing would sound like a pile of muck for any less than capable IEMs/Headphones that responds at slower pace to the transitions from one note to the other. BL-Mini performed admirably awfully close to the prowess of ER4SR BA speed responsiveness and even some hint of Electrostatic dexterity. I am not into orchestral music that contains violins, I believe those composition at times will also demand speed especially on crescendo attacks that violin players love to perform – I am confident BL-Mini will handle that very well too. I think perhaps the smaller (and probably denser) 6mm DD that BL-Mini employ helps a lot with this speed capabilities.
Scalability, BL-Mini seems to be less scalable – a matter of saying, it already sounded good even running off a decent DAP without the aid of external DAC/Amp. However, it does exhibit some refinement when plugged to my laptop rig in balanced mode. General characteristics maintained, but audibly fuller bodied and with improved finesse.
Seal offered by BL-Mini is average at best, with the stock supplied tips at least. I have yet to try on foam type Comply or Fengru Chifi foamies. The stock silicone worked quite well for my taste and I was not compelled to swap it out as of yet.
Epilogue:
I am glad I made the decision to buy this macaroni of an IEM. The first time we saw the pics of it, we all had good laugh. However, there’s a lot more going on there than meet the eyes. The build quality is nothing short of excellent with the metal shells offering convincing heft and inspire confidence. Comfort is top notch as the purposely macaroni shape was designed to align with the outer ear canal contour. Kudos to BLON for this engineering and design feat, their effort in creating something fresh must be acknowledged. The shape also helps with ease of insertion and the looping of cable afterwards.
Sonically, BL-Mini defies the price to deliver near flagship quality. Falling short in offering better airiness, treble and bass extension, a bit more of micro detailing – it would have assuredly been able to stand side by side with many of those flagship IEM that are priced around $500.
BLON BL-Mini, it’s fun, it’s exotic, it’s polished. Totally no BS.
Side Notes:
Deezer Offline FLAC 44.1/16 Bit *
Equipment used:
Day by day Chifi keep on progressing and progressing - delivering myriad of options especially in the In-Ear headphones that will cater for anyone with any budget range conceivable. From ultra budget to ultra expensive they have them all.
For this user impressions thread, I have with me my very own BLON BL-Mini purchased at the price of $30 (with express shipping) directly from China.
Technical Specifications:
- Single Dynamic Drivers (6mm)
- Impedance 16Ω
- 115db Sensitivity
- Frequency Response 20Hz-20000Hz
- 1.2m SPC Cable (2-pin 0.78mm)
- 3.5mm Single-ended Plug
The Build:
- Solid Zinc Alloy housing
- Big bore nozzle (5mm)
- Chrome or Gunmetal Finishing
The Sound:
BL-Mini overall timbre is biased towards neutral and natural signature, with hint of sterile coherent demeanor - transparent, which also mean lack of velvety lushness without any hint of being grainy. Exceptionally clean and disciplined.
Excellent piano tonality, not overly sharp, not dull. Realistic attack and decay. Similarly organic timbre for percussions. Very realistic female and male vocals with rare hint of peak sibilance on mid treble (fortunately not too frequent). Less than forward intimacy. Realistic sounding stringed instruments (acoustic guitars and banjos).
Treble extensions are 2-3 steps shy of flagship reference level. Rolls off earlier and shorter, however with guile and finesse which are difficult to complain unless you choose to nit-pick. BL-Mini also lacks airiness for upper treble and mids. The focus more on clear edged separated layers.
Very impressive technical ability. Handling of Macro details done with proper articulation. Micro details not shabby as well, not as pronounced as how a flagship reference would present it but very satisfying, nonetheless.
Modest and well controlled dynamics with mature presentation. Sub bass presented moderate strength seismic sensation with strong midbass punch. Very commendable bass texture that is tightly controlled and articulated. Zero hint of bass bleed even on bass heavy tracks. It is vibrant when the situation calls for it.
Sharp imaging with moderate capability on spatial staging. Placements are clearly audible but stereo soundscape is less 3 dimensional – things sound closer to each other. Commendable headstage, nothing spectacular. Pretty much similar to many respectable IEMs within the same range. But definitely better projected than Etymotic ER4SR and ER2XR.
Speed, one of the most important aspect I treasure in any IEMs/Headphones. BLON BL-Mini turned out to be quite adept at handling substantial speed. Prime example is the BL-Mini prowess to handle Slayer “Angel of Death”, a classic Thrash Metal song boasting the speed of 218 BPM with intense dual tremolo guitar riff loops, attack, and attack repeatedly before decay even have any chance to take place. On top of that, breakneck fast blast-beat drumming interlaced in the mix. Simply put, the whole thing would sound like a pile of muck for any less than capable IEMs/Headphones that responds at slower pace to the transitions from one note to the other. BL-Mini performed admirably awfully close to the prowess of ER4SR BA speed responsiveness and even some hint of Electrostatic dexterity. I am not into orchestral music that contains violins, I believe those composition at times will also demand speed especially on crescendo attacks that violin players love to perform – I am confident BL-Mini will handle that very well too. I think perhaps the smaller (and probably denser) 6mm DD that BL-Mini employ helps a lot with this speed capabilities.
Scalability, BL-Mini seems to be less scalable – a matter of saying, it already sounded good even running off a decent DAP without the aid of external DAC/Amp. However, it does exhibit some refinement when plugged to my laptop rig in balanced mode. General characteristics maintained, but audibly fuller bodied and with improved finesse.
Seal offered by BL-Mini is average at best, with the stock supplied tips at least. I have yet to try on foam type Comply or Fengru Chifi foamies. The stock silicone worked quite well for my taste and I was not compelled to swap it out as of yet.
Epilogue:
I am glad I made the decision to buy this macaroni of an IEM. The first time we saw the pics of it, we all had good laugh. However, there’s a lot more going on there than meet the eyes. The build quality is nothing short of excellent with the metal shells offering convincing heft and inspire confidence. Comfort is top notch as the purposely macaroni shape was designed to align with the outer ear canal contour. Kudos to BLON for this engineering and design feat, their effort in creating something fresh must be acknowledged. The shape also helps with ease of insertion and the looping of cable afterwards.
Sonically, BL-Mini defies the price to deliver near flagship quality. Falling short in offering better airiness, treble and bass extension, a bit more of micro detailing – it would have assuredly been able to stand side by side with many of those flagship IEM that are priced around $500.
BLON BL-Mini, it’s fun, it’s exotic, it’s polished. Totally no BS.
Side Notes:
- The entirety of my impressions and usage were done on source components that are regarded as sterile, transparent, and sparkly. BLON BL-Mini seems to synergize very well with these. I have a feeling that if the BL-Mini are to be plugged into a warm tubey source, it can be bass heavy and outright V sounding.
- The unit has gone through over 48 hours of continuous burn in with a special Burn-In Track (Cascade Noise CD).
- The impressions were done from user POV. No FR graphs or anything like that. I describe what I hear, no more no less.
Deezer Offline FLAC 44.1/16 Bit *
- Diana Krall “Frim Fram Sauce”
- Alison Krauss “When You Say Nothing At All” (Live)
- Morissey “I’ll Never Be Anybody’s Hero Now"
- Kitaro “ Matsuri” (Live)
- Russian Circles “YoungBlood” & “Harper Lewis”
- Slayer “Angel of Death”
- Iron Maiden “The Evil That Men Do”
Equipment used:
- Laptop -> Deezer -> Topping D10s -> Topping A50s (Low Gain, Balanced)
- DAP – Android phone -> JCally JM20 -> Topping NX1s
- Cables – BL-Mini SPC (3.5mm), Tripowin C8 SPC (4.4mm) & Etymotic Stock SPC (4.4mm)
- Tips – BL-Mini Stock tips (L size)
Last edited:
cappuchino
Previously known as sub30
Pros: Excellent bass quality and quantity
Textured midrange
Crisp and controlled treble
Above average technicalities
Fast transients, particularly decay (preference)
Premium build
Attractive cable and decent tips selection
Textured midrange
Crisp and controlled treble
Above average technicalities
Fast transients, particularly decay (preference)
Premium build
Attractive cable and decent tips selection
Cons: Want more soundstage depth
In a very saturated price range
Dry timbre (preference)
In a very saturated price range
Dry timbre (preference)
Disclaimer:
I would like to thank KEEPHIFI for providing a review unit of the BL-Mini. Check their website out (KEEPHIFI)! Rest assured that my impressions written in this review are my own personal thoughts and opinions and in no way influenced by outside parties.
I am not an expert in this hobby nor claim to be an audiophile. I just love listening to music and am fond of writing articles.
Introduction:
Blon. Blon. Blon. The Megalodon of audio budget-fi. Is it your mission to disrupt the system every now and then with your releases? It is my first product from the company and I am quite sure it definitely won’t be the last. Today we have the Blon BL-Mini, a single micro-DD IEM available in silver or gun for ~30 USD or even less depending on the platform. It has a sensitivity of 115 ohms with an impedance of 16 dB. For connection, it utilizes the proprietary 2-pin from the company which can be modified to fit QDC. There have been memes due to its rather unique design choice, to say the least. I personally like it but I do have weird design preferences (e.g. MT300). You know what isn’t a joke? The way it sounds.
These were plugged to my Oppo Reno 4 with the Earstudio HUD100 MK2 (bypass, high power) for the review. There was a noticed slight improvement in note weight, driver speed as well as detail retrieval compared to in low power mode. No drastic change/s observed and I determined that the Mini will happily play with any device you plug it in.
Build and Comfort: Hate its shape or not, it works. Though it may look weird, it’s a very ergonomic and somehow practical design. No problem at all with wearing them - they fit securely into my ear, and feel light so as not to cause discomfort. I mentioned the light feeling but this is currently is my heaviest IEM shell. That combination with the build equates to this premium feel when they’re on your hands. Isolation-wise, it’s slightly above average. Insertion depth meanwhile is deeper than usual and having a shallow fit will change the signature for the worse. I only recommend using the “Blonfit” and not the other type of silicone tips included. Cable is literally the same as the SSP cable just with a better made splitter and jack. It handles well, is comfortable, and won’t require you to buy aftermarket cables. A round of applause for BLON’s improvements on the cable.
Package: 3 pairs of silicone tips (S/M/L). 2 pairs of “Blonfits” (M/L). Paperwork. BLON-branded sack pouch. 4-core cable (in 2-core fashion).
Now, onto sound:
For this review, the IEM was left in stock mode without mods, using the “Blonfit” M, with a listening volume of low-medium.
----------
Bass: The Mini utilizes a 6mm microdynamic driver that somehow reminds me of a BA because of the attack and decay speed with considerably better extension. Perfect for my preference. This is the highlight of the BL-Mini - it’s fast, satisfying, controlled and punchy. If you’ve seen the graph, the extension is bonkers going down to the deepest sub-bass region. However, people might expect differently/wrongly as the BL-Mini does not provide a lot of “bass” (the one that consumers usually look for – average attack and slow decay). Others might not like this characteristic of the Mini which might make them think it is “bright” sounding and has “few” bass quantity. However, when called upon, you’ll definitely be surprised by how deep it can go while still maintaining control (I always am just astounded). Texture shows and the Mini doesn’t suffer from the “one blob bass” as it is very tight sounding. Bleed is non-existent and drums are snappy and defined even with double kicks. It is very controlled as well, with sub-bass being represented in a non-wobbly manner.
Midrange: I’d say it’s a balanced presentation, not warm nor lean, just… balanced. Not shouty at all. I’m hesitating to call it recessed, but it is a tad further back than what I would’ve liked (midrange proper, particularly). Peaks close to 3 kHz which has now become my preference. Textured midrange with no thinness whatsoever on female vocals or hollowness with male. Note weight isn’t heavy nor thin, just right.
Treble: Has a bit of energy but doesn’t come off as sharp or piercing. Very well controlled and splash is non-existent. Extension is decent and there are no extreme dips resulting in serious lack of detail (other than the one found at lower treble). Crash cymbals have a realistic decay and rattle that doesn’t become strident. Treble, while extends quite well, isn’t as emphasized as what you’d usually expect in the “budget” segment – this tuning of the region actually results in a “balanced” presentation with enough treble presence and air to give a bit of zing to the music There’s a dip after 3 kHz, “extending” for the whole lower treble that makes it possible for the Mini to not sound harsh and fatiguing. I didn’t hear any sibilance even in badly recorded tracks. There's a reported peak at around 8 kHz, but for my non-treble sensitive ears, this wasn't issue. Do take that into consideration for your decision on whether to buy the Mini or not.
----------
Timbre: different than the past IEMs I’ve heard. It’s evidently drier in comparison. I don’t see it as bad but it’s not as pleasing or satisfying as say the analogue-ish timbre of the KB Ear KS1.
Soundstage, Imaging, and Separation: One would expect that an IEM of this setup would have a very in-your-head presentation, but that is not the case with the Mini. Soundstage is wider than deep. Layering, imaging and separation is above average.
Detail-retrieval: Because there is a dip in lower treble, some detail is lost. Further than that and it is registered – present but isn’t emphasized. If it’s about midrange/vocal detail, now we’re talking! Breaths and the subtle imperfections/crunches are heard and vocals in general isn’t unnaturally smooth sounding. The driver speed also plays a big role in detail-retrieval, in a very positive way.
----------
Conclusion:
For those that haven’t read my review of the KB Ear KS1, I basically just wrote about how I loved that IEM so much. Want an upgrade, preferably sub-30 USD? Look no further than the Blon BL-Mini. It’s a refined/perfected KS1, better in every way possible. Wanna know a bad thing about it? I want to try another BLON. My excitement for their next releases cannot be contained, and I am experiencing early symptoms of FOMO in that I want to buy the 01, 03, and 05s.
I would like to thank KEEPHIFI for providing a review unit of the BL-Mini. Check their website out (KEEPHIFI)! Rest assured that my impressions written in this review are my own personal thoughts and opinions and in no way influenced by outside parties.
I am not an expert in this hobby nor claim to be an audiophile. I just love listening to music and am fond of writing articles.
Introduction:
Blon. Blon. Blon. The Megalodon of audio budget-fi. Is it your mission to disrupt the system every now and then with your releases? It is my first product from the company and I am quite sure it definitely won’t be the last. Today we have the Blon BL-Mini, a single micro-DD IEM available in silver or gun for ~30 USD or even less depending on the platform. It has a sensitivity of 115 ohms with an impedance of 16 dB. For connection, it utilizes the proprietary 2-pin from the company which can be modified to fit QDC. There have been memes due to its rather unique design choice, to say the least. I personally like it but I do have weird design preferences (e.g. MT300). You know what isn’t a joke? The way it sounds.
These were plugged to my Oppo Reno 4 with the Earstudio HUD100 MK2 (bypass, high power) for the review. There was a noticed slight improvement in note weight, driver speed as well as detail retrieval compared to in low power mode. No drastic change/s observed and I determined that the Mini will happily play with any device you plug it in.
Build and Comfort: Hate its shape or not, it works. Though it may look weird, it’s a very ergonomic and somehow practical design. No problem at all with wearing them - they fit securely into my ear, and feel light so as not to cause discomfort. I mentioned the light feeling but this is currently is my heaviest IEM shell. That combination with the build equates to this premium feel when they’re on your hands. Isolation-wise, it’s slightly above average. Insertion depth meanwhile is deeper than usual and having a shallow fit will change the signature for the worse. I only recommend using the “Blonfit” and not the other type of silicone tips included. Cable is literally the same as the SSP cable just with a better made splitter and jack. It handles well, is comfortable, and won’t require you to buy aftermarket cables. A round of applause for BLON’s improvements on the cable.
Package: 3 pairs of silicone tips (S/M/L). 2 pairs of “Blonfits” (M/L). Paperwork. BLON-branded sack pouch. 4-core cable (in 2-core fashion).
Now, onto sound:
For this review, the IEM was left in stock mode without mods, using the “Blonfit” M, with a listening volume of low-medium.
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Bass: The Mini utilizes a 6mm microdynamic driver that somehow reminds me of a BA because of the attack and decay speed with considerably better extension. Perfect for my preference. This is the highlight of the BL-Mini - it’s fast, satisfying, controlled and punchy. If you’ve seen the graph, the extension is bonkers going down to the deepest sub-bass region. However, people might expect differently/wrongly as the BL-Mini does not provide a lot of “bass” (the one that consumers usually look for – average attack and slow decay). Others might not like this characteristic of the Mini which might make them think it is “bright” sounding and has “few” bass quantity. However, when called upon, you’ll definitely be surprised by how deep it can go while still maintaining control (I always am just astounded). Texture shows and the Mini doesn’t suffer from the “one blob bass” as it is very tight sounding. Bleed is non-existent and drums are snappy and defined even with double kicks. It is very controlled as well, with sub-bass being represented in a non-wobbly manner.
Midrange: I’d say it’s a balanced presentation, not warm nor lean, just… balanced. Not shouty at all. I’m hesitating to call it recessed, but it is a tad further back than what I would’ve liked (midrange proper, particularly). Peaks close to 3 kHz which has now become my preference. Textured midrange with no thinness whatsoever on female vocals or hollowness with male. Note weight isn’t heavy nor thin, just right.
Treble: Has a bit of energy but doesn’t come off as sharp or piercing. Very well controlled and splash is non-existent. Extension is decent and there are no extreme dips resulting in serious lack of detail (other than the one found at lower treble). Crash cymbals have a realistic decay and rattle that doesn’t become strident. Treble, while extends quite well, isn’t as emphasized as what you’d usually expect in the “budget” segment – this tuning of the region actually results in a “balanced” presentation with enough treble presence and air to give a bit of zing to the music There’s a dip after 3 kHz, “extending” for the whole lower treble that makes it possible for the Mini to not sound harsh and fatiguing. I didn’t hear any sibilance even in badly recorded tracks. There's a reported peak at around 8 kHz, but for my non-treble sensitive ears, this wasn't issue. Do take that into consideration for your decision on whether to buy the Mini or not.
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Timbre: different than the past IEMs I’ve heard. It’s evidently drier in comparison. I don’t see it as bad but it’s not as pleasing or satisfying as say the analogue-ish timbre of the KB Ear KS1.
Soundstage, Imaging, and Separation: One would expect that an IEM of this setup would have a very in-your-head presentation, but that is not the case with the Mini. Soundstage is wider than deep. Layering, imaging and separation is above average.
Detail-retrieval: Because there is a dip in lower treble, some detail is lost. Further than that and it is registered – present but isn’t emphasized. If it’s about midrange/vocal detail, now we’re talking! Breaths and the subtle imperfections/crunches are heard and vocals in general isn’t unnaturally smooth sounding. The driver speed also plays a big role in detail-retrieval, in a very positive way.
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Conclusion:
For those that haven’t read my review of the KB Ear KS1, I basically just wrote about how I loved that IEM so much. Want an upgrade, preferably sub-30 USD? Look no further than the Blon BL-Mini. It’s a refined/perfected KS1, better in every way possible. Wanna know a bad thing about it? I want to try another BLON. My excitement for their next releases cannot be contained, and I am experiencing early symptoms of FOMO in that I want to buy the 01, 03, and 05s.
****If you have other questions/concerns with the IEM mentioned, feel free to message me****
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Strifeff7
request some comparison, 
cappuchino
@Strifeff7 , I don't have a lot to compare to, but which one do you want ?
?