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BLON BL07
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senfi
New Head-Fier
Pros: Best overall sound within its price-range
Above-average details
Punchy lows
Clear mids
Great treble extension
Above-average details
Punchy lows
Clear mids
Great treble extension
Cons: Sound? At this price-point none (subjectively speaking)
Accessories? Yes, eartips are horrible
Accessories? Yes, eartips are horrible
BLON BL-07 - The Best BLON
Disclaimer : This unit was won on a raffle between my audio peers. No money was involved during this review, rest assured that everything written on this review will be unbiased.
BLON has been around ever since I started this hobby and the BL-03 is the first BLON unit I had way back the late 2018s and I honestly liked my BL-03s before. Now, in my hands is the BL-07 which had a very unique design and I really like its color.
BLON also found ways to improve their packaging, I remember the BL-03 having some kind of gibberish and alien words on the package like the infamous "oppoty" and "driams". Anyways enough of the overview and let's start the review.
PACKAGING
The Packaging is smaller and has a generous amount of accessories that includes a pouch which is similar to the older models, an instruction manual, three pairs of silicone eartips, cable, and two cone-shaped eartips. These cone-shaped eartips makes way for deeper
insertion and the capability to fit into smaller ears compared to the regular silicone eartips. Overall, the eartips is still low-quality. I am currently using a BGVP A08 tips. As forthe cable, this is a great improvement compared to the BL-03.
SOUND :
Lows
Lows are definitely the star of the show here and is a very bassy IEM. The decay has average length, bass has good dynamics with deep reaching sub-bass and thick midbass. Compared to the BL-03, the BL-07s lows are more controlled and the over all sound
is not as dark as its older brother.
Mids
Mids are surpisingly clear and natural. I don't recognize any harsh experiences with the higher mids, vocals are lush and forward.
I am actually impressed with the mids of the BL-07 considering it is a bassy IEM, then again I cannot vouch that this is a bass heavy IEM which explains why the midrange still has good tonality.
Highs
Highs are well-presented with good clear and detailed resolution. No sibilance is observed and no harsh peaky instances. The highs has good amount of air distributing a fair amount of space for instruments and vocals.
Soundstage
The soundstage of the BL-07 is above average. Better than most IEMs for its competing price.
Imaging
BL-07 has good imaging, micro-details can be heard on some tracks in my experience. Instruments and vocals are well-placed.
Pros
Best overall sound within its price-range
Above-average details
Punchy lows
Clear mids
Great treble extension
Cons
Sound? At this price-point none (subjectively speaking)
Accessories? Yes, eartips are horrible
Conclusion
BL-07 is definitely a great leap from BL-03, I haven't tried the BL-01, BL-05, the weird macaroni BLON, and the BLON-Max that looks like an oversized tick to progressively commend
BLON on their sound quality and if consistency is a word, BLON is an opposite of that word. Yes, the BL-03 during that time is a huge hit and miss with different reviews and sound coming from that unit. Sound ranging from
U shaped to V- shaped to absurdity. It also doesn't have the best accessories around. So hearing the BL-07 is definitely a saving grace and I commend BLON with their improvements in the competition. Personally, I like my BL-03 since it came from the first batch
before the inconsistent wreck happened to new batches of BL-03s. After that, I never received another BLON IEM again until BL-07 arrived. But, I also have to commend BLON again for one element that most Chi-Fi budget markets never had. It's creativity, I have never seen similar designs
from BLON units and each unit will either satisfy me, make jokes of it, or laugh at it especially the one that looks like an elbow macaroni. But those remarks are what makes BLON unique and not mundane and each iteration is another whole new world for BLON. Therefore, I leave a good remark and
kudos to BLON for this improvement.
BL-07 is definitely a great leap from BL-03, I haven't tried the BL-01, BL-05, the weird macaroni BLON, and the BLON-Max that looks like an oversized tick to progressively commend
BLON on their sound quality and if consistency is a word, BLON is an opposite of that word. Yes, the BL-03 during that time is a huge hit and miss with different reviews and sound coming from that unit. Sound ranging from
U shaped to V- shaped to absurdity. It also doesn't have the best accessories around. So hearing the BL-07 is definitely a saving grace and I commend BLON with their improvements in the competition. Personally, I like my BL-03 since it came from the first batch
before the inconsistent wreck happened to new batches of BL-03s. After that, I never received another BLON IEM again until BL-07 arrived. But, I also have to commend BLON again for one element that most Chi-Fi budget markets never had. It's creativity, I have never seen similar designs
from BLON units and each unit will either satisfy me, make jokes of it, or laugh at it especially the one that looks like an elbow macaroni. But those remarks are what makes BLON unique and not mundane and each iteration is another whole new world for BLON. Therefore, I leave a good remark and
kudos to BLON for this improvement.
Attachments
suicideup
New Head-Fier
Pros: - Decent sound quality for its asking price
- Rumbly sub-bass
- Very good mids in terms of presentation
- Sparkly and clear upper mids
- Smooth treble extension without being too mellow
- Wide soundstage for an IEM in this price point
- Very good fit and isolation, better than any of their offering I’ve personally tried before
- Hefty metal shell (subjective)
- Finally, its connectors aren’t Blon proprietary. You can use an NX7/NiceHCK/TFZ cable with it (see pictures)
- Easy to drive, can be fully driven with a smartphone/non-hifi source.
- Rumbly sub-bass
- Very good mids in terms of presentation
- Sparkly and clear upper mids
- Smooth treble extension without being too mellow
- Wide soundstage for an IEM in this price point
- Very good fit and isolation, better than any of their offering I’ve personally tried before
- Hefty metal shell (subjective)
- Finally, its connectors aren’t Blon proprietary. You can use an NX7/NiceHCK/TFZ cable with it (see pictures)
- Easy to drive, can be fully driven with a smartphone/non-hifi source.
Cons: - Bass could be punchier (subjective)
- Midbass bleed presence
- Instances of upper mids peak are present on some tracks
- Technicalities, particularly on the separation and imaging could be better in this price point.
- Silver and Gun models may be prone to scratch and smudges just like the previous BLON IEMs.
- Midbass bleed presence
- Instances of upper mids peak are present on some tracks
- Technicalities, particularly on the separation and imaging could be better in this price point.
- Silver and Gun models may be prone to scratch and smudges just like the previous BLON IEMs.
BLON BL-07 Review!
Video review here:
Good day! After 4 days of casual and critical listening, here’s my written review for the Blon BL-07. The “best” BLON yet!
Disclaimer:
- KeepHiFi sent over this unit to me in exchange for an honest, unbiased review. Rest assured that the following observations and findings will be away from bias/es as much as possible.
- The following remarks and observations shall be made and owned only by me.
- No monetary compensation is/was involved before, during, and after the period of creation of this review.
- Your mileage may (and always, will) vary.
Source/s used:
- Hidizs AP80
- Not-By-VE Avani Realtek Dongle
- Samsung Galaxy S3 (WM1811 DAC)
- Non-HiFi smartphone (realme 5i)
- Local Files via Foobar and Roon, YouTube Music, Deezer, and Qobuz with UAPP.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sound signature:
- U-shaped warm sound signature. Can sometimes sound W or U-shaped on some sources. Soft rumbly bass, recessed or sometimes linear mids, slightly elevated highs.
- Lows are elevated and soft. Subbass has greater quantity than the midbass The decay is slightly slower than normal, and the texture is medium to below average. Overall, the lows are present, packs a good sub-bass rumble, and can cater EDM and bass-heavy tracks quite well.
- The mids are mostly recessed, with rare instances of linearity on particular songs and sources. There is a presence of midbass bleed on the lower mids, making the presentation warm and bodied for male vocals. Upper mids are much elevated compared to the BL Max but not as elevated and aggressive compared to BL05s. which makes the presentation warm and bodied for male vocals. Upper mids are substantially higher than on the BL Max, but not as high or aggressive as on the BL05s. As a consequence, the upper mids have superb clarity and sparkle, with occasional peaks on select tracks, notably Ariana Grande's and K-Pop. tracks. Overall, the mids on the BL07 are warm, nice, and maybe the "best" mids from a BLON IEM (I haven't personally experienced the A8 Prometheus yet, so there's that) among all of the BLON IEMs I've tried and reviewed.
- When compared to the competition, the highs are boosted with a tinge of brightness. It is well-extended and has a good amount of air. Detail retrieval is just adequate, but it will be enough for most individuals who listen to music casually. Despite the fact that it is raised, the presentation is smooth and has just the proper amount of presence. In terms of quality, the treble on the BL07 is "just right" given the asking price. It's not as aggressive as the BL05s, but it's also not as mellow as the BL-Max.
- The soundstage is wide, with average expansion. It is wider than deep. Separation is also average, with instances of congestion in busy tracks, particularly in JPop and Metal tracks. Imaging is also average, accurate, and can present instrument and vocal positioning decently.
Pros:
- Decent sound quality for its asking price
- Rumbly sub-bass
- Very good mids in terms of presentation
- Sparkly and clear upper mids
- Smooth treble extension without being too mellow
- Wide soundstage for an IEM in this price point
- Very good fit and isolation, better than any of their offering I’ve personally tried before
- Hefty metal shell (subjective)
- Finally, its connectors aren’t Blon proprietary. You can use an NX7/NiceHCK/TFZ cable with it (see pictures)
- Easy to drive, can be fully driven with a smartphone/non-hifi source.
Cons:
- Bass could be punchier (subjective)
- Midbass bleed presence
- Instances of upper mids peak are present on some tracks
- Technicalities, particularly on the separation and imaging could be better in this price point.
- Silver and Gun models may be prone to scratch and smudges just like the previous BLON IEMs.
Verdict
It's official: the BLON BL-07 is the "best" BLON IEM in terms of price to performance. It still has the BLON house sound, but it's done nicely in the upper frequencies, and it can compete in its price range. It still needs some development on the technical aspects in order to stand out in its asking price. Aside from that, I would recommend this to anybody looking for an alternative IEM under 45 USD that can be used as an all-rounder and easy to drive on most sources.
It's official: the BLON BL-07 is the "best" BLON IEM in terms of price to performance. It still has the BLON house sound, but it's done nicely in the upper frequencies, and it can compete in its price range. It still needs some development on the technical aspects in order to stand out in its asking price. Aside from that, I would recommend this to anybody looking for an alternative IEM under 45 USD that can be used as an all-rounder and easy to drive on most sources.
Thank you for reading!
Additional Photos:
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senfi
Great review
suicideup
Thank you for the support!
adriansticoid
New Head-Fier
Pros: Solid, hard hitting lows
Great midrange clarity
Satisfying level of details
Great midrange clarity
Satisfying level of details
Cons: Unconventional 2 pin design
Stiff cable
Stiff cable
Introduction:
BLON is a company from China that produces in-ear monitors and headphones. Over a short span of time, BLON released a handful of gears that utilizes dynamic drivers exclusively. The BL-07 is the latest product in their BL series of IEMs, which thankfully now has a more ergonomic shape compared to their previous releases. The BL-07 currently retails for 45 USD, and was provided to me for free by KeepHiFi in exchange for this review.
International purchase link
Specifications:
Driver unit: 10 mm dynamic
Impedance: 16 ohms
Sensitivity: 115 dB
Frequency response range: 20 Hz - 20 kHz
Source:
Poco X3 paired with FiiO KA3, Tempotec Sonata E35 and Zishan U1
Test tracks:
Africano - Earth Wind and Fire
Dark Necessities - Red Hot Chili Peppers
Gurenge - Lisa
The Chain - Fleetwood Mac
Monsters - All Time Low
Ours - Taylor Swift
Stay - Mayday Parade
Snuff - Slipknot
Yesterday Once More - Carpenters
So Slow - Freestyle
Aurora Sunrise - Franco
Attention - Pentatonix
Blue Bird - Ikimono-gakari
You're Still The One - Shania Twain
Anyone Who Knows What Love Is(Will Understand) - Irma Thomas
Salamin - Slapshock
AOV - Slipknot
Hey Jude - The Beatles
The Way You Make Me Feel - Michael Jackson
...and a lot more.
Unboxing and Accessories:
The BL-07 comes in the traditional BLON rectangular white box. Opening will reveal the earphones nesting on foams. Right below it is a smaller box that contains the cable, cloth storage pouch, instruction manual, three pairs of regular silicone eartips, and another two pairs of cone shaped silicone eartips.
Build:
The shells are made of metal. It is quite hefty but doesn't feel all that heavy when worn. The variant that I have is the purple one, and the shells are coated in glittery paint with a smooth and glossy finish. At the rear side of the shell, there are two relatively large vents. The nozzle has a lip to hold eartips in place and a mesh filter to keep foreign objects out. It is also worth mentioning that BLON now switched to a more common 2 pin design compared to the one they used in the BL-Max. However, this is not the usual QDC-type design. BLON used the same pin design that TFZ and CCZ use.
The cable is a basic silver plated copper. The cable on each channel is soft and pliable, but it becomes stiff at the main cable, primarily due to its thick insulation. The angled male 2 pin connectors are made of hard rubber, while the splitter and 3.5 mm gold plated plug are made of metal.
Now let's get to the sound.
Lows:
The lows are energetic but shows great control. Subbass has more focus than the midbass and exhibits great depth; it is able to reach those really deep rumbles accompanied by a slightly above average length of decay. Midbass sound thick and impactful but instances of it bleeding into the other frequencies are very minimal.
Overall, BLON finally decided to tone the lows down with the BL-07, especially the midbass which was really bloated in their previous releases. There is still an additional amount of vigor in the subbass, but the midbass is not as bloated as before which is definitely a good thing.
Mids:
The mids have a slightly forward presentation with an average weight. Articulation and clarity is great, instruments sound open and well-defined. However, there is a very slight bump somewhere in the upper mids that may sometimes give a hint of shoutiness but it is pretty minor and negligible most of the time.
Overall, the BL-07 has that clear and natural sounding mids. Voices and instruments are reproduced with a good sense of space. One of the better tuning of the mids I heard from BLON.
Highs:
The highs are reproduced in a clear and crisp manner. Treble reach, along with its decay, are both slightly above average. The highs give a very good amount of air and sense of space in the instruments, and also able to present minor details without difficulties.
Overall, another huge but welcome change by BLON. The highs are now more vibrant and lively than their previous releases. Subtleties in every track are now appreciated with ease and instruments sound more open and airy.
Soundstage and Imaging:
The stage is sufficiently spacious. The width and the height are just about equal in terms of expansion. Imaging has a slightly above average accuracy and clarity. Instruments are pleasingly layered and well separated. Congestion is very minimal even in busy tracks.
Comparisons:
BLON BL-07 (1 DD, 45 USD) vs. BLON BL-Max (2 DD, 37 USD)
The BL-Max has more quantity in the lows. It has a louder rumble and slightly longer decay in the subbass. Midbass also has more weight and more boomy in the BL-Max. Meanwhile, the BL-07 has better depth, texture and control. With the mids, the BL-07 has way better transparency, has more air, and sound more natural than the sometimes nasal and boxy sounding mids of the BL-Max. The BL-07 also has more details, sparkle, and longer decay in the highs. Cymbals and lead guitar sound livelier and more energetic. In terms of the soundstage, the BL-07 is wider and taller. Instruments are separated better and imaging is much clearer in the BL-07.
Conclusion:
BLON has a tendency of being hit or miss with their releases, and with the BL-07, they definitely hit it big time. It's great to see that they are now back to a more ergonomic shell shape, but it's still questionable as to why they did not use the more common female 2 pin designs. Now going back to the sound quality, this is where BLON displayed the biggest improvement over the previous lackluster BL-Max. If BLON can keep this up, while improving other aspects such as the cable and other accessories, they are gonna be the brand to look out for this year.
BLON is a company from China that produces in-ear monitors and headphones. Over a short span of time, BLON released a handful of gears that utilizes dynamic drivers exclusively. The BL-07 is the latest product in their BL series of IEMs, which thankfully now has a more ergonomic shape compared to their previous releases. The BL-07 currently retails for 45 USD, and was provided to me for free by KeepHiFi in exchange for this review.
International purchase link
Specifications:
Driver unit: 10 mm dynamic
Impedance: 16 ohms
Sensitivity: 115 dB
Frequency response range: 20 Hz - 20 kHz
Source:
Poco X3 paired with FiiO KA3, Tempotec Sonata E35 and Zishan U1
Test tracks:
Africano - Earth Wind and Fire
Dark Necessities - Red Hot Chili Peppers
Gurenge - Lisa
The Chain - Fleetwood Mac
Monsters - All Time Low
Ours - Taylor Swift
Stay - Mayday Parade
Snuff - Slipknot
Yesterday Once More - Carpenters
So Slow - Freestyle
Aurora Sunrise - Franco
Attention - Pentatonix
Blue Bird - Ikimono-gakari
You're Still The One - Shania Twain
Anyone Who Knows What Love Is(Will Understand) - Irma Thomas
Salamin - Slapshock
AOV - Slipknot
Hey Jude - The Beatles
The Way You Make Me Feel - Michael Jackson
...and a lot more.
Unboxing and Accessories:
The BL-07 comes in the traditional BLON rectangular white box. Opening will reveal the earphones nesting on foams. Right below it is a smaller box that contains the cable, cloth storage pouch, instruction manual, three pairs of regular silicone eartips, and another two pairs of cone shaped silicone eartips.
Build:
The shells are made of metal. It is quite hefty but doesn't feel all that heavy when worn. The variant that I have is the purple one, and the shells are coated in glittery paint with a smooth and glossy finish. At the rear side of the shell, there are two relatively large vents. The nozzle has a lip to hold eartips in place and a mesh filter to keep foreign objects out. It is also worth mentioning that BLON now switched to a more common 2 pin design compared to the one they used in the BL-Max. However, this is not the usual QDC-type design. BLON used the same pin design that TFZ and CCZ use.
The cable is a basic silver plated copper. The cable on each channel is soft and pliable, but it becomes stiff at the main cable, primarily due to its thick insulation. The angled male 2 pin connectors are made of hard rubber, while the splitter and 3.5 mm gold plated plug are made of metal.
Now let's get to the sound.
Lows:
The lows are energetic but shows great control. Subbass has more focus than the midbass and exhibits great depth; it is able to reach those really deep rumbles accompanied by a slightly above average length of decay. Midbass sound thick and impactful but instances of it bleeding into the other frequencies are very minimal.
Overall, BLON finally decided to tone the lows down with the BL-07, especially the midbass which was really bloated in their previous releases. There is still an additional amount of vigor in the subbass, but the midbass is not as bloated as before which is definitely a good thing.
Mids:
The mids have a slightly forward presentation with an average weight. Articulation and clarity is great, instruments sound open and well-defined. However, there is a very slight bump somewhere in the upper mids that may sometimes give a hint of shoutiness but it is pretty minor and negligible most of the time.
Overall, the BL-07 has that clear and natural sounding mids. Voices and instruments are reproduced with a good sense of space. One of the better tuning of the mids I heard from BLON.
Highs:
The highs are reproduced in a clear and crisp manner. Treble reach, along with its decay, are both slightly above average. The highs give a very good amount of air and sense of space in the instruments, and also able to present minor details without difficulties.
Overall, another huge but welcome change by BLON. The highs are now more vibrant and lively than their previous releases. Subtleties in every track are now appreciated with ease and instruments sound more open and airy.
Soundstage and Imaging:
The stage is sufficiently spacious. The width and the height are just about equal in terms of expansion. Imaging has a slightly above average accuracy and clarity. Instruments are pleasingly layered and well separated. Congestion is very minimal even in busy tracks.
Comparisons:
BLON BL-07 (1 DD, 45 USD) vs. BLON BL-Max (2 DD, 37 USD)
The BL-Max has more quantity in the lows. It has a louder rumble and slightly longer decay in the subbass. Midbass also has more weight and more boomy in the BL-Max. Meanwhile, the BL-07 has better depth, texture and control. With the mids, the BL-07 has way better transparency, has more air, and sound more natural than the sometimes nasal and boxy sounding mids of the BL-Max. The BL-07 also has more details, sparkle, and longer decay in the highs. Cymbals and lead guitar sound livelier and more energetic. In terms of the soundstage, the BL-07 is wider and taller. Instruments are separated better and imaging is much clearer in the BL-07.
Conclusion:
BLON has a tendency of being hit or miss with their releases, and with the BL-07, they definitely hit it big time. It's great to see that they are now back to a more ergonomic shell shape, but it's still questionable as to why they did not use the more common female 2 pin designs. Now going back to the sound quality, this is where BLON displayed the biggest improvement over the previous lackluster BL-Max. If BLON can keep this up, while improving other aspects such as the cable and other accessories, they are gonna be the brand to look out for this year.
Headphones and Coffee
Previously known as Wretched Stare
Pros: Built well, cool looking shell, better cable than the 03 , a safe but non fatiguing V-shape with some good bass control.
Cons: Recessed mids at times, safely tuned V-shaped signature may not be as technically good as others in its price range.
The packaging is what you would have come to expect from WGZBLON minus the famous and cryptic writing of the past. inside the newer BLON cable, its thin but durable and looks good too a big step up from the past. you get the cone tips in three sizes and more rounded tips too. Me personally I don't like the extended cone shape and what it does to the sound. The round ones are okay, but I prefer after testing to use my favorites, JVC spiral dot, TRN, Spinfit and good old KZ tips. The build is good as most Blon are well made but the shape is often hit or miss. This time it's more traditional IEM shape is good fits comfortably and even though they feel heavy in the hand they are not in the ear for me.
It should be noted that https://keephifi.com/collections/wgzblon sent the BLON out for review, I call it like I see it and if its sent , or I buy it at a discount or with my money... it will never influence me as I will not recommend something I find to be of poor or defective quality. I personally like a good mature V-shape, a Harman curve, neutral and less bright IEMs and headphones but my personal preference also doesn't influence my reviews as everyone likes something different and I'm just here to give my assessment on whatever I test out. "Things are always tested stock no mods, I find this the only way to be fair"
Sound:
Bass: Bass here is good, falling somewhere between the 03 and Max. There is definitely good control to the Bass and Sub has a more impactful response than the Mid-Bass, Sub-Bass has a nice rumble to it but is a little on the slow side. Mid-Bass is faster it seems a little thick but not bloated. The Bass does bleed into the lower Mids giving them some warmth.
Mids: Midrange is forward, has warmth but can be natural and pleasant with vocals sounding clear on most types of music. Classic rock did present with some recession but still remained clear and rich. The upper mids get spicy but this is mild and recording dependent and most may not notice this at all. Still Mids are good and almost as good as the BL05s in some respects.
Treble: Treble sounded natural and airy sounding with an above average sparkle up top. They present with more emphasis and a decent number of details. No harshness was detected making them pleasant to most listeners.
Soundstage: Soundstage had a wider spread than its depth but still sounded open and better than average. Separation and imaging are better than average too on all but the busiest of tracks, it was good enough for mobile gaming.
Conclusion: I think BLON has had a few lackluster tries but each one has had a few redeemable features, The BL07 provides much of the 03's pleasantries with some better tuning and less Bass fatigue of the MAX. I can see many liking this one. I think while its rather safely tuned it's fun and can be listened too for an extended time. This said there is a lot of competition this price range so it will come down to personal preference, Vshapes are fun and go well with popular music.
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