BLON x HBB Z300 IN-EAR MONITOR

I wrote that I would give 3.5 / 5 points for the z 300 in the thread, but I decided to give it 4 / 5. The reason is probably that the burning times of the silicone diaphragm can be a little longer. After listening more, the bass got a little more textured, yet the fuzzy bass response remains.
putting an unexpectedly good cable in the box caused me to change my mind a bit.




blon is a well-known brand from a few years ago. The bl 03 model was one of the best budget models for that period. Oddly enough, blon couldn't find any success after bl 05. The success of the bl 05 is also debatable, as a result it did not sell as much as a bl 03. Anyway, let's see if the z 300 can beat the success of bl 03.

I ordered the iems from yaoyaotiger in exchange for an honest review. I'm thinking of adding the store address at the end of the review. Thank you yaoyaotiger for the z 300.


box contents;

The box is a classic blon box, white, and the iems shipped with a small box. The cable that came out of the box surprised me, I'll talk about it in another chapter.

- a pair of iems
- a good cable
- 6 pairs of silicone tips
- user manual
- fabric storage case













iems and cable quality;

first-class craftsmanship and good pattern. There are patterns on the iems, it is good in appearance. The z 300 has probably already entered the list of my favorite designs. I will touch on some things about the structure of the z 300 in the comfort section, now let's move on to the cable.
If you come to the cable part, the blon brand has deviated from its classical line and put a good cable in the box. normally blon cables are awful, maybe even worse than goose cables. The cable of the z 300 is good, especially for the budget segment. As a result, there is a cable and structure, which can be called a reference for the price, in the z 300.










sound quality;

The z 300 focuses more on a fun sound character rather than a technical sound, which makes the z 300 more fun than some models, while losing it to some of its competitors in technical matters. To mention a little more, the z 300 is a bass boosted model. mid frequencies are safe, and trebles are lightly textured.


low frequencies;

The region of the z 300's most dominant frequencies, the basses are quite voluminous. The mid-bass is pretty good too. i have to say the silicon driver needs some burning, the bass bleeds a bit until i get enough listening times. Bass bleed lessens when you spend some time with the iems, and there is almost no bass bleed on most slow tracks. The z 300's bass isn't too tight, it's a little too long. If the music has too much bass, the bass response gets a little blurry and feels slightly muddy. nevertheless, the z 300 is a fun model with its bass.


medium frequencies;

A safe setting is preferred, there is a tune that is a little thicker than the average. You can't listen to stringed instruments as lively as the bl 03, but for the budget segment, there's not much to criticize here. The point to be noted is that if you like to listen to the mid frequencies, you need to turn up the volume a little more, which causes the low frequencies to overshadow the mid frequencies a little.



trebles;

They have slightly textured trebles, a good choice for a iems with increased low frequencies. maybe it could be a little more natural, like in bl 03. still, it is worth saying that it has more balanced trebles than most models in the similar segment.




sound stage;

It is above average in width and not bad in height, but you feel a lack of depth. the sound sounds more superficial.


resolution;

If it was 2 years ago, I wouldn't have criticized it, but now we are in 2023. Technically successful models are now down to the 20 band. details are a bit blurry, which causes slight muddying in fast music.


comfort;

it's a bit of a personal issue, comfort, my understanding of comfort is different from other people and this means that the consistency of my comments on comfort will only be right for me. anyway, the z 300 is a heavy iems. it's not that big of a model, it's heavy. It fits surprisingly well, but I have to say the nozzles are a little short for my ears. If you don't mind the weight there is no problem, I
I can't listen for a long time.


comparisons;

comparisons may reflect my own musical taste


vs zhulinniao z 4;

bass;

z 4 - % 25
z 300 - % 75

You can see how weak the bass is on the z 4, if you like bass it's hard for the z 4 to compete with the z300


mids;

z 4 - % 55
z 300 - % 45

The reason why the z4 is a bit better is that the mid frequencies are smoother due to the depth of the scene. they are very similar but the mid frequencies of the z 4 are much more elegant


treble;

z 4 - % 60
z 300 - % 40

At least one of the models with the best treble among the dozens of models that I have experienced is the z 4. The treble of the z 4 is highly textured and it is possible to interfere with the treble level thanks to the replaceable filter. If you love highs, even a treble-heavy model like the ivipq can be beaten against the z 4, at least in the budget segment. Like most models, the z 300 is losing to the z 4 when it comes to treble.


sound stage;

z 4 - % 60
z 300 - % 40

While the z 300 has almost no soundstage depth, the z 4 is the opposite.


resolution;

z 4 - % 60
z 300 - % 40

In terms of resolution, the z 4 is above average and has very good treble resolution for its price band. The z 300 isn't bad either, but it gets muddy with fast music.


comfort;

z 4 - % 55
z 300 - % 45

The z 4 fits better, but is a bit heavier, though not as much as the z 300. However, there is a difference in comfort. Not to forget that the z 4 was brilliant, the z 300 was better in listening comfort


preference;

two different models, it depends entirely on preferences. If you like highs, the z 300 is very difficult to choose over the z 4, but most budget segments can easily beat the z 4 in bass. out of bass, the z 4 is a more successful model





vs blon bl 03;

bass;

bl 03 - % 50
z 300 - % 50

I don't want to tire myself, almost equally, if I remember correctly, the bass of 03 is a little tighter. Z 300 has one click more voluminous bass


mids;

03 - % 55
z 300 - % 45

There's a slight difference, but the 03's timbre accuracy turns it into a midrange beast. It is a pleasure to listen to stringed musical instruments with the 03. z 300 is better as mid frequency resolution


trebles;

03 - % 55
z 300 - % 45

Even though the 03v is loud, its highs are quite soft and not tiresome. The z 300's treble might be a little more textured, but it lacks a bit of naturalness. If I'm sure I remember 03 correctly, I think 03 has slightly better treble.


sound stage;

03 - % 60
z 300 - % 40

The 03 has an in-depth soundstage and feels like it's out of your ears. Except for the feeling I mentioned, bl 03 is a bit better, I may not be neutral about it.


resolution;

bl 03 - % 40
z 300 - % 60

The 03 has pretty mediocre resolution, even lower than average. The z 300's macro details are much better


preference;

We are no longer living in 2020, it is difficult for any headset without a specific technique to compete in the 2023 market. moreover, you have to order the bl 03 with the cable, which means that the price of the 03 is the same as the z 300. I would still choose bl 03, but this is due to my sympathy for 03. in a standard comparison, the z 300 makes much more sense


last word;

the z 300 is not as successful as the bl 03, it is still a successful model. I was not very impressed with the sound character, but I was impressed by the appearance. If you're looking for a fun and well-built iems in the price range, the z 300 is a good choice. If you are looking for a more detailed model, I recommend you to evaluate different options.


yaoyaotiger store;

https://a.aliexpress.com/_ExOqPf1

The Blon Z300 x HBB was bought with my own money, I will try to be as objective as possible and being a common audio enthusiast I will use simple words in this review.



I would have liked to own the Blon-03 for a comparison but it has never convinced me, plus I’ve always read very conflicting opinions probably due to its shape and very short nozzle. These Blon Z300 in gold with a decidedly more ergonomic shape piqued my interest.
I want to clarify that I am not an audiophile, I’m just a guy that likes to test out different IEMs/DACs and spends a lot of time listening to music.
So I’m not going to be super technical but I will do my best to describe them.

Tech Specs:​

• Driver: 10mm Silicone diaphragm DD
• Sensitivity: 115dB
• Impedance: 28ohm
• Cable: 4-core high purity copper cable (no microphone version)
• Connector proprietary: QDC/NX7 0.78mm 2-pin

Blon Z300 Packaging:​

The Blon Z300 box is the classic one we see with all KZ, TRN, Kbear models, quite standard and cheap but if it helps keep the price down that’s fine. The range of accessories, on the other hand, I would say is decidedly good. Personally I prefer to have higher quality accessories rather than a luxury box.

Blon Z300 Accessories:​

• Nice fabric bag
• 4N copper cable
• 2 set of tips
• Manual + warranty

What surprised me the most is definitely the quality of the cable. It is very difficult to find a similar cable at this price point. Take a look to the details!

Blon Z300 Design/Build Quality:​

If I think that the Blon Z300 only cost about 35 USD, their build quality does not reflect its price at all. The construction is absolutely perfect.




The thickness of the metal shell is out of mind, they weigh much more than the average but are not annoying (personal opinion).




The fit is pretty standard and I think I can fit most ears. I recommend changing the tips with something more performing like the Kbear07 or Nicehck07.




Pay attention to the connector because it is not the classic QDC but something different. So changing the cable is not that simple and immediate but it may require some connectors mod.

Initial sound impression:​

Right out of the box they already sound good, or rather they reflect my tastes. I would say a warm sound with good bass without losing too much detail in the treble area.




As for the tuning I would say V-shaped (HBB target in this case) with smooth high frequencies, while the mids seem a little bit recessed. Pretty good for a single DD!
I did about 50 hours of burn-in and then I went back to listening to them.

Final sound impression:​

Equipment used for testing above.


Device:

• iMac
• Redmi Note 7 (MIUI Based)

Software:

• Foobar2000 24bit 192khz (iMac)
• Amazon music UHD 24bit 96khz (Both)

DAC:

• F.Audio KS01 3.5mm (ESS ES9038Q2M)
• EPZ TP20 3.5 mm (Dual Cirrus 43131)
• Hidizs XO 3.5mm (Dual ESS ES9219C)

I’m not listing the tracks because they’re too much.
Stock tips were good but I’ve instantly swapped it with some Nicehck07 tips.

How does it sound?​

I confirm my first impressions adding that it has a certain musicality but in some tracks the sound seems to get mixed up a bit.
Considering HBB’s target as regards tuning, the importance given to the weight of low frequencies is definitely felt.
The most emphasized are the mid-bass which are very pleasant, also the sub-bass is well represented. You can physically feel the bass weight!
It’s dark timbre doesn’t help the recessed mids. The stringed instruments sound slightly warmer than they should while the female vocals I still like anyway.




About the trebles they are on the safe side, it’s quite hard to hear some harshness also on high volume. Decent air and extension.
Personally I would have dared something more on the high frequencies in order to have some more detail but it’s completely fine and already so good.
I have noticed a better synergy coupled with slightly brighter DACs like ESS.
This target sound can fit most people so probably it’s the best choice. Treble sensitive and bass lovers this set suits your tastes.

Blon Z300 Soundstage & Imaging:​

The Blon Z300 soundstage is average (or slightly above average) and is mostly given by the bass, which being well pronounced gives a sense of envelopment.
However, these sensations vary with the quality of the recordings, so at least make sure you have good quality files.




Even if the timbre is dark, it maintains a certain clarity in the medium and high frequencies which makes it pleasant.
The separation is also good, it’s not hard to distinguish the details. I have to say that personally I really like them especially for the kind of music I listen to most often, like EDM, Chill, House, R&B.

Conclusion:​

I’ve had HBB branded iems in the past but this is definitely the best after QKZxHBB Khan. Aside from the KZ DQ6S which was a scam, I recently bought the KZ PR2 V2 but to be honest these Blon Z300s are better. They sound good and you don’t need a powerful DAC to drive them. The high frequencies and sound timbre are better on the Z300. Considering the price and the quality of the materials used as a direct alternative there are the Tripowin Piccolo (I haven’t had the chance to try them yet) which should be more detailed.

Puff, The Magic Dragon lived by the sea, And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called Honalee.

--a line from the song, Puff The Magic Dragon by Peter, Paul & Mary.

Click to expand...

So how is that quote supposedly related to this product? Well, BLON is known as Bao Long in the Chinese market which means "Jeweled Dragon" or "Treasure Dragon" (But not a magical one like Puff, so forgive my unnecessary and unrelated insertion of this one). We already know BLON with their famed BL03 and a misspelt tagline "Oppoty & Driams" which leave me flabbergasted despite that they corrected it on the Z200 (Please check out the review of this one later after this assessment, there's a provided link below).



This is Z300, BLON's latest offering and it is a collaboration effort between them and Chris Ballard also known as a Hawaiian Bad Boy (HBB) as we know him as one of the sought-after portable audio reviewers in YouTube. We in the audio community are quite familiar with his preferred type of tuning on which he believes that it suits well with his library of tracks like classic rock, hip hop and some classicals like Vivaldi. And to think that those types of music genres are also my preferred ones and are also in my library playlist.



Like all BLONs, starting from the BL03 up to Z300's predecessor, The Z200, They always utilises a single dynamic driver set-up and a metal alloy shell chassis which became their staple pattern on producing their models. But this time, Z300 uses a different type of dynamic driver which has a silicone diaphragm instead of Carbon Nanotube on which previous models have.



Its 10mm dynamic drivers are housed in metal alloy made of zinc-magnesium which offers an excellent strength and corrosive resistance with good malleability and machinability. The shells have a gold-plated dragon (Bao Long) on its faceplate which really suits BLON's product theme and identity. The Z300 uses a NX7/TFZ-type 2-pin connector as its detachable mechanism. The stock cable of this one is an improvement over its predecessors as it has



As for fitting and comfort, BLON Z300 probably has the best fitting among the BLON sets that I have tested so far and it decently sits pretty well into my lugholes albeit it's a bit of a heft. It has decent passive noise isolation as it is able to block some external noises from outside surroundings.



The product packaging of BLON Z300 is rather pedestrian as it is unvaried to most products in similar price range. It has a simple, white-coloured small rectangular box with its contents inside the box.



Here are the following contents inside:

● BLON Z300 IEMs

● 4-core SPC cable in a 3.5mm termination plug.

● a cloth sack IEM pouch.

● 3 pairs of grey-coloured balanced bore ear tips of different standard sizes.

● 3 pairs of white-coloured balanced bore ear tips of different standard sizes.

● Instruction/user's manual.



BLON Z300 is an easy to amplify set that a source with decent power output will be able to deliver a sufficient performance. And it also noted that this set scales well on other devices with high performance DAC/amp chips as it gives even more dynamics and a substantial solid note weight.



As for its tonality and sonic profile, BLON Z300 is a warm, V-shaped sound signature with boosted bass, recessed midrange and just a slightly elevated treble region particularly on the upper-mids up to the presence part.


Here are some of my observation regarding its overall sound characteristics.


LOWS/BASS:

Since I'm quite familiar on HBB's tuning target curve, he wants a more warmer tuning and low frequencies should have solid and well-texture note weight to give more authority and tactuality on drum bass kicks and basslines.

I perceive the general presentation of its bass that focuses more on the mid-bass rather than to carry through a rumbling sound from its lowest bass region. It gives a more emphasis on note weight on bass drum kick to sound full but it sounds a tad hollow and dull sound while on bass guitars, they have this mellow and hollow sound which give that lack of growl and roar. Bass-baritones fare a bit better as it has that weight that can deliver that dim and wool-like sound characteristic of this particular vocal type. It is also noted that its low frequencies really smudge across to other frequencies that make it really veiled and murky sounding.



MIDRANGE:

Like the previous BLON models, due to that inherent bass smearing, it overwhelms the quality and quantity of the midrange and Z300 still has those characteristics. It warms up a bit too much to the point it affects the clarity, energy and vividness of some female vocals and instruments like strings and woodwinds. The presentation of the midrange frequencies are notable recess on this one.

Males vocals especially on baritones will have its plush and rich characteristics and female vocals like contralto and some lower register mezzo-soprano vocals have its husky, heft and dark tone. Don't expect the sound quality of tenors, countertenors and sopranos as Z300 will not render them properly as they sound dull, lifeless and lethargic.

On instruments, Z300's also affects the tonal quality of instruments especially on strings like violins and guitars as they sound a bit too warm, buttery, austere and soft in my liking. Same with woodwinds like concert flutes sounds too mellow, aspirating and dull as I listen to some orchestra tracks and also some random Jethro Tull tracks. Percussives are somehow decent on this one as toms and snare drums have that hard and booming sound from them while chordophones like pianos have a more warmer and sombre sound. Bass trumpets and bass trombones fare better on this one as they sound fuller and warmer with darker timbre.



HIGHS/TREBLE:

This particular frequency that this set has projects a rather smooth and relaxed quality from the upper mids to the presence part of the treble region. This will also give you a non-sibilant and zero-harshness that will give us a pleasant listening session but there's an underlying caveat on this one. Due to its leaning towards a more darker sound, it will not have that crisp, clarity and detail that detail lovers and analytical-type of listeners will prefer to.

Cymbals sound soughing and dull on how I perceived it but portrays well the sound of hi-hats with its shortened buzzing quality. The brilliance treble on this one was rather mediocre as it has a modest amount of air that has less sparkle and impeded harmonics.



SOUNDSTAGE, IMAGING AND OTHER TECHNICALITIES:

I'll be straight on this one, like its previous predecessors, it has a rather meagre technical performance. It has a narrow to average soundstage width but somehow it has a decent height ceiling and an acceptable depth from front to rear.

It has a two-dimensional, typical basic two-channel stereo panning presentation where you will be able to locate the arrangement of instruments and singers but not in a well-pinpoint manner. It has rather a modest separation but layering is apathetic and poorly executed as it is incompetently defining the tonal and frequency layers within its sonic canvas that will be badly performed on more complex music genres like jazz ensemble, movie scores and orchestras.

As for coherency, it performs decently as it delivers a moderate transient speed and decay, and at least I don't encounter any out of phase issues. Regarding its resolution capability It has a more solid macro-dynamics but micro-detail retrieval is a scant one due to its blunted definition on extracting nuances and subtleties from the audio tracks.



PEER COMPARISONS:


KIWI EARS CADENZA

■ While Z300 have a shell chassis made of metal alloy shells, Cadenza shells are made of medical-grade resin. They have a similar amount of inclusions but the product presentation of Cadenza is a bit better.

■ Compared to Z300, Cadenza sound profile has a more neutral approach as it has mild-U shaped tonality. It has less punchy and tighter bass response but it has cleaner quality, it has a more neutral and a transparent midrange with just a sufficient warmth on it and a similar treble response but it has a tad shimmer to give a sense of clarity and detail.

■ On technical performance, Cadenza has a tad better soundstage lateral span, similar imaging aspect, a bit better separation and detail retrieval though it has less solid macro-dynamics compare to Z300.



BLON-03

■ For shell design as both sets have metal alloy shells, BLON-03 has a rather peculiar shell design that proper insertion is impossible to achieve due to its too short nozzle length and fitting will be problematic. Cable is also a mediocre one too.

■ As for tuning, it has warm V-shaped sound signature as it has more boomy and bloated bass response, too warm and too recessed midrange and darker treble that treble air is almost non-existent.

■ Both these models have a mediocre technical performance in my opinion and BLON-03 has a narrower sound field that gives me a congested presentation.



SIMGOT EW100P

■ EW100P shells are made of composite materials and have a smaller size compared to Z300. It takes a leaf-like form factor with a teardrop design on its face plate, it has a lesser amount of inclusions but the product presentation is way better.

■ Its tuning is more of a Harman-ish one which has a leaner U-shaped sound signature. It has more emphasis on the sub bass, a tad recessed, spare note weight and transparent midrange presentation and a more accentuated upper mids to presence treble region which makes a contrasting sonic profile with Z300.

■ When it comes to technical capabilities, EW100P has an edge as it has average sound/speaker stage and better separation and layering. Even detail retrieval on EW100P is even better than Z300.


It seems that BLON still takes some cues from their previous products. But finally, they made a good decision to take a sensible approach on implementing an improved shell chassis design which gives better wear to its users. So what does this product mean to us as audio enthusiasts? Well, BLON Z300 will not give us a very technical and high fidelity experience as it performs poorly on those aspects but it gives you that fun, engaging and musical for a more casual listening enjoyment.


BLON Z300 is now available at LINSOUL, you can visit the provided unaffiliated link below.


★★BLON Z300 - LINSOUL★★


You can check out my reviews on other BLON product:


● BLON Z200

SPECIFICATION:

MODEL: BLON Z300
IMPEDANCE: 28Ω
SENSITIVITY: 115dB
FREQUENCY RESPONSE: 20Hz – 20KHz
CABLE LENGTH: 1.25M
PIN TYPE: 2-PIN CONNECTOR
PLUG TYPE: 3.5MM
DRIVER UNIT(S): 1 DYNAMIC DRIVER


Some Tracks Tested: ( * = 16-bit FLAC, ** = 24-bit FLAC, *'* = MQA, '*' = DSD, *'= .WAV)

Alison Krauss -When You Say Nothing At All *
Jade Wiedlin - Blue Kiss**
Led Zeppelin - When The Levee Breaks **
Mountain - Mississippi Queen *
Queen - Killer Queen **
Guns N' Roses - Patience *'*
Eric Clapton - Tears in Heaven '*'
Sergio Mendes- Never Gonna Let You Go '*'
Pearl Jam - Daughter **
Roselia - Hidamari Rhodonite *
Assassin - Fight (To Stop The Tyranny)*
Celtic Frost- Visual Aggression *
New Order - Blue Monday *
The Corrs- What Can I do (unplugged version) *
Jimi Hendrix Experience - Voodoo Child *
The Madness- Buggy Trousers *
Metallica - Motorbreath **
Mariah Carey- Always Be My Baby *
Destiny's Child - Say My Name *
Malice Mizer- Au Revoir *
Mozart - Lacrimosa *
New York Philharmonic Orchestra - Dvorak- Symphony 9 " From the New World." *
Eva Cassidy - Fields of Gold (Sting cover)*
Michael Jackson - Give In To Me *
Exciter - Violence and Force *
Diana Krall - Stop This World **
Debbie Gibson - Foolish Beat *'*
The Sisters of Mercy – Lucretia My Reflection**
Suzanne Vega – Luka **
Lauren Christy – Steep *
Ottoman Mehter - Hucum Marsi *
Diana Damrau - Mozart: Die Zauberflöte*
Type O Negative - Black No.1 *
Felix Ayo - Vivaldi: Presto **


P.S.

I am not affiliated to LINSOUL or BLON nor receive monetary incentives and financial gains as they provide me a review unit for an exchange of factual and sincere feedback from yours truly.

Once again, I would like to send my gratitude to Daniel Miguel a.k.a @Berry108 for lending his review unit to me. I truly appreciate his generosity and trust towards me and other reviewers.