thaslaya's star rating system:
☆☆☆☆☆ - Fantastic!
☆☆☆☆ - Recommended
☆☆☆ - There are buyers but not for me
☆☆ - Can't see the appeal
☆ - Product is a failure
Disclaimer:
This product was purchased by me and all opinions are my own.
Gear used:
● LG v30+
● Samsung Galaxy s22 Ultra
● Hiby FC4
Source:
Listening was done through Amazon Music HD or Ultra HD.
Introduction:
Hawaiian Bad Boy (HBB) is an audiophile YouTuber and reviewer. He has done quite a few tuning collaborations with different iem manufacturers. Most of his sets are very bass heavy and oriented toward the low end. The Blon x HBB Z300 contains a single dynamic driver and is indeed very bassy. It is currently priced at $35 on Amazon. Let's break it down and see what $35 can get you.
Build, fit, ergonomics:
The shells are constructed of metal and have a nice heft to them. They feel very premium and have a great durable build for only $35. They are available in 2 color options (gold or cobalt blue) and feature an artistic dragon design on each faceplate. The stock cable has a premium look and feel and is available in 3.5 or 4.4mm termination (I opted for 4.4). It's one of the nicer stock cables I've recieved with an iem under $50. There are 6 sets of silicone tips and a small carrying bag also included. Overall the accessories are adequate and about what I'd expect for the price tag. The nozzle length is on the shorter side which might cause fit issues for some. I did have to do a fair amount of tip rolling and settled on medium Penon Liquer orange tips for the best seal.
Sound impressions:
The soundstage has good depth but the width is just average. It could benefit from more width to have better separation and allow the frequencies room to breathe. They aren't great at detail retrieval or very resolving but to be fair that's not what this specific tuning was made for.
●Lows - The bass hits right away and seems to never let up. If bass is your thing then the Z300 are probably right up your alley. Sub bass rumbles deep and mid bass has good punch and impact. There is a fair amount of bloat and bleeding into the mids on certain tracks. It's not a very fast bass and has a slower decay that seems to linger. Usually I associate a fatiguing profile with too much treble but in this case the bass wears me down over time and my ears need a break. It's not the quantity but rather the quality. I enjoy big bass but it needs to stay in it's lane and not completely dominate the other frequencies. Even with more easy listening tracks from Adele and John Mayer, the bass is constant and never let's up.
●Mid - I was afraid the big dominant bass would push the mids back too far but to my surprise they aren't actually that recessed. Vocals are clear and positioned just a bit forward on the stage. There can be a hint of shoutiness in the upper mids at times depending on listening volume. The bass bleeds and muddles up the whole lower mid range.
●Highs - To be fair if you're listening to an HBB collaboration you're probably not interested in the best treble presentation. There are a few problems here. The highs roll off too early. The lack of extension hinders the overall presentation of the treble. It makes the sound more congested. Also, there is sibilance at times. Treble sensitive folk like myself will find the S's and cymbal crashes to be harsh on certain tracks.
Summary:
At $35 the Blon x HBB Z300 lies in a crowded tier. If you're a basshead on a budget these might be a good one to try. The build quality is very nice and competes with iems double and triple the cost. They deliver a big bass experience but don't expect the best technicalities, treble extension, or overall tuning in this price bracket. In my case they worked best with rock, hip hop, and chillhop. If the budget can be pushed higher to $50, I would reccomend checking out the Juzear Clear. In my opinion, the Clear are superior across all frequencies, have better technicalities, a more premium design, and one of the best stock cables under $100.
Presentation
Hello, friends. The one I bring you is the BLON Z300, a phone that was kindly sent to me by Linsoul for review, without any commitment or obligation to speak highly of the phone, just providing my opinions about it. Xiè xiè, Linsoul.
Note: This review was originally posted at avaliasom.com, my website.
Belief, Let Music Burn, Oppoty PT2, Never Give UP. Oppoty & Driams Pt 2. The errors in the BL03 box , which would have had everything to become a laughing stock, ended up becoming the hallmark of BLON's return to the market. By the way, BLON is the acronym formed by the phrase at the beginning of this paragraph.
The BLON Z300 was tuned by HBB , and as is inherent to Hawaiian tuning , this is a headphone with a lot of bass weight, but we'll talk about that later. First let's focus on the unboxing, which although it comes in a discreet cigarette box, it features a very interesting dragon on the front, and details about the phone on the back.
On the inside, a discreet cradle for the headphones, and just below BLON managed to store a fabric bag (the brand's good old corn bag), which contains two silicone tip kits, a black tips and another in white, with no difference in the mouthpiece. Furthermore, there is a beautifully constructed cable, with four cores, metal connector and splitter, and a metal chin slider. The only point that clashes is the 0.78 mm QDC connection for the headphones. As for the source, the pin is 3.5 mm. Optionally, it can be purchased with a microphone on the cable, or with a 4.4 mm termination cable.
The phone can come in gold, 18K gold plated, or in the beautiful matte blue color of this test model. Its entire body is made of zinc alloy, with the dragon on the case printed on the faceplates with gold paint. Its nozzle seems to be made of resin, and it has a very restrictive metal filter at the tip.
And its sound is generated by a 10 mm dynamic driver, with a silicone diaphragm.
Comfort
I used the BLON Z300 without any discomfort. Its body is smooth, with no sharp corners, and although the short nozzle forced me to use L-tips with a shallow insertion, I don't consider this a problem. Its seal is very good, and there is no pressure on the ear canal.
Musical Sound
I tried the phone on different sources, which are: iPhone SE (my “DAP”), Dell Laptop, Apple Dongle, Truthear Shio, Cayin RU6 , Topping G5 and Topping DX3 Pro+.
By the way, I invite you to check out my headphone test playlist on Spotify . This is a dynamic playlist, and the songs can change at any time, but they will always follow the purpose of presenting all the points I mention in my musical evaluation of the headphones.
Regarding sources, the BLON Z300 plays smoothly on any source, scaling well with better sources. It pairs better with colder sources, such as the Topping mentioned above.
There is a lot of vigor in the drums of a “Drum Solo” , at the same time that it is sublime in presenting Champignon's fantastic bass line on CBJR tracks . Cellos and double basses also sound with a lot of weight and intensity, a delight for bassheads.
However, the driver with a silicone diaphragm proved to be very slow for the kick drums of Blind Guardian's “Valhalla” , while at the same time it makes any complex track quite messy. It reminded me exactly of the BL03 in this aspect, and I recommend that fans of Capiroto's music stay away from this headphone.
However, there is a bit of mud on tracks like “La Bohéme” , where everything sounds very dragged and doesn't seem to progress. Intense voices like Amy Lee 's , while not attacking, also sound lifeless, less than expected. They're not mids that are too far back in the spectrum, they're just mids that are kind of muzzled.
Regarding the instruments, there is little clarity and a warmer tone than expected in everything. Not even the solo of “This I Love” escapes this curtain of heat, sounding less vivid and intense than we might expect. This headphone here is, without a doubt, a nightmare for midheads and the like.
Of course, he doesn't deliver infinite dishes in a “September in Montreal” , but there's an extension that I really didn't expect. By the way, he also takes care of the splash and timbre of these cymbals. Another highlight of the phone is the timbre and the presence of triangles in a forró, and when it comes to violins , once again the BLON enchants in timbre, and also delivers a good dose of airiness.
Something to keep in mind is that the Z300 is a headphone with safe, comfortable, non-fatiguing highs. However, there is a slight peak at 8 kHz that can hurt ears sensitive to this frequency region, especially at higher volumes.
The image formed on this stage is very confusing, with a noticeable overlap of instruments, which affects the performance on complex tracks. Its layering is weak, and the separation of instruments also leaves something to be desired. In terms of details, it delivers macro details and even some micro details well, while the phone's resolution is good, but nothing more.
The verdict on the technicalities is that the Z300 works best as a headphone to listen to music passively, without worrying about technical details, and ends up working better as a headphone to play music in the background, perhaps a headphone to use when driving or at the gym.
Sound in Games
For battle royale games like PUBG, the Z300's lack of three-dimensionality is evident. The perception we have is that sound emitters teleport from left to right, and vice versa, there is no gradual transition.
In FPS games, such as CS2 ( without changing the sound settings ), the Z300's bass causes problems in understanding the communication of its companions, as well as tending to mask steps in more intense exchange situations. It's possible to play well with it, but it's not the best option.
In casual games, like the Brazilian 171 , the Z300's tuning is very interesting for explosions and other chaotic situations, and is very pleasant for nature sounds in Genshin Impact. However, a more adequate sense of a three-dimensional world is missing.
In simulation games, the redemption of the Z300 occurs. From Project Cars to Forza, this headphone proved to be fascinating for bringing the sound of engines, and at around 35 USD there is no headphone that makes Mercedes AMGs sound like trumpets of the apocalypse as well as this BLON is capable of doing.
Sound in Films, Series and Podcasts
“These bass match a Suckerpunch ”, I thought, but I ended up opting for “The Fast and the Furious Tokyo Drift” , and I confess that this headphone was able to drive me crazy with the sound of engines. A “Ford vs Ferrari” was also very interesting to watch with the Z300, as long as you don't mind the somewhat muddy sound in some dialogues.
With this in mind, I do not recommend the Z300 to anyone looking for a headset to listen to podcasts or to study/work, as the heavy bass of the headset can be a problem in understanding voices well, especially when the recording/transmission is poor.
Conclusion
Music and driams, again. I have a special affection for BLON, after all the BL01 was the first hype that I got into audiophilia, spread by my friends Pombo and Caito. I believe it was my third or fourth headphone in my life, and that soft and cozy sound immediately enchanted me, so much so that I keep my BL01 with affection to this day. It is, perhaps, one of the best background headphones I have ever heard.
When I had the opportunity to listen to the BL03 and BL07, I was able to better understand the brand's idea, even though the BL07 is slightly more technical than any other BLON that has ever passed through my ears. By the way, the Z300 reminded me a lot of the BL03, although it is more comfortable and more beautiful (although this criterion is more subjective than the subjectivity already inherent to the hobby).
However, it is impressive how the chi-fi market has changed since BL03. Cheap headphones are getting better and better, and even comfortable-sounding headphones can be technical enough to please you all the time, like a Tripowin Piccolo for example . And I even understand that the Z300 wasn't created to be an exponent in the category, but compared to a Kiwi Ears Cadenza , the poor BLON is light years behind in every aspect except one: the ability to play background music on your day-to-day.
By the way, as repetitive as I'm being in saying this, this seems to have been BLON's goal with the Z300: to make a beautiful background phone. And maybe that's enough of a selling point for BLON, but it wouldn't make me buy it.
Big hug!
Hello, friends. The one I bring you is the BLON Z300, a phone that was kindly sent to me by Linsoul for review, without any commitment or obligation to speak highly of the phone, just providing my opinions about it. Xiè xiè, Linsoul.
Note: This review was originally posted at avaliasom.com, my website.
Belief, Let Music Burn, Oppoty PT2, Never Give UP. Oppoty & Driams Pt 2. The errors in the BL03 box , which would have had everything to become a laughing stock, ended up becoming the hallmark of BLON's return to the market. By the way, BLON is the acronym formed by the phrase at the beginning of this paragraph.
The BLON Z300 was tuned by HBB , and as is inherent to Hawaiian tuning , this is a headphone with a lot of bass weight, but we'll talk about that later. First let's focus on the unboxing, which although it comes in a discreet cigarette box, it features a very interesting dragon on the front, and details about the phone on the back.
On the inside, a discreet cradle for the headphones, and just below BLON managed to store a fabric bag (the brand's good old corn bag), which contains two silicone tip kits, a black tips and another in white, with no difference in the mouthpiece. Furthermore, there is a beautifully constructed cable, with four cores, metal connector and splitter, and a metal chin slider. The only point that clashes is the 0.78 mm QDC connection for the headphones. As for the source, the pin is 3.5 mm. Optionally, it can be purchased with a microphone on the cable, or with a 4.4 mm termination cable.
The phone can come in gold, 18K gold plated, or in the beautiful matte blue color of this test model. Its entire body is made of zinc alloy, with the dragon on the case printed on the faceplates with gold paint. Its nozzle seems to be made of resin, and it has a very restrictive metal filter at the tip.
And its sound is generated by a 10 mm dynamic driver, with a silicone diaphragm.
Comfort
I used the BLON Z300 without any discomfort. Its body is smooth, with no sharp corners, and although the short nozzle forced me to use L-tips with a shallow insertion, I don't consider this a problem. Its seal is very good, and there is no pressure on the ear canal.
Musical Sound
I tried the phone on different sources, which are: iPhone SE (my “DAP”), Dell Laptop, Apple Dongle, Truthear Shio, Cayin RU6 , Topping G5 and Topping DX3 Pro+.
By the way, I invite you to check out my headphone test playlist on Spotify . This is a dynamic playlist, and the songs can change at any time, but they will always follow the purpose of presenting all the points I mention in my musical evaluation of the headphones.
Regarding sources, the BLON Z300 plays smoothly on any source, scaling well with better sources. It pairs better with colder sources, such as the Topping mentioned above.
- Bass: Level 5/5, Extension 3/5, Speed 2/5, Texture 4/5
There is a lot of vigor in the drums of a “Drum Solo” , at the same time that it is sublime in presenting Champignon's fantastic bass line on CBJR tracks . Cellos and double basses also sound with a lot of weight and intensity, a delight for bassheads.
However, the driver with a silicone diaphragm proved to be very slow for the kick drums of Blind Guardian's “Valhalla” , while at the same time it makes any complex track quite messy. It reminded me exactly of the BL03 in this aspect, and I recommend that fans of Capiroto's music stay away from this headphone.
- Midrange: Level 3/5, Presence 3/5, Clarity 1/5, Voices 4/5
However, there is a bit of mud on tracks like “La Bohéme” , where everything sounds very dragged and doesn't seem to progress. Intense voices like Amy Lee 's , while not attacking, also sound lifeless, less than expected. They're not mids that are too far back in the spectrum, they're just mids that are kind of muzzled.
Regarding the instruments, there is little clarity and a warmer tone than expected in everything. Not even the solo of “This I Love” escapes this curtain of heat, sounding less vivid and intense than we might expect. This headphone here is, without a doubt, a nightmare for midheads and the like.
- Treble: Level 3/5, Brightness 3/5, Airiness 2/5, Extension 2/5
Of course, he doesn't deliver infinite dishes in a “September in Montreal” , but there's an extension that I really didn't expect. By the way, he also takes care of the splash and timbre of these cymbals. Another highlight of the phone is the timbre and the presence of triangles in a forró, and when it comes to violins , once again the BLON enchants in timbre, and also delivers a good dose of airiness.
Something to keep in mind is that the Z300 is a headphone with safe, comfortable, non-fatiguing highs. However, there is a slight peak at 8 kHz that can hurt ears sensitive to this frequency region, especially at higher volumes.
- Technicalities: Sound Stage 2/5, Image 2/5, Layering 1/5, Separation 2/5, Details 3/5, Resolution 3/5
The image formed on this stage is very confusing, with a noticeable overlap of instruments, which affects the performance on complex tracks. Its layering is weak, and the separation of instruments also leaves something to be desired. In terms of details, it delivers macro details and even some micro details well, while the phone's resolution is good, but nothing more.
The verdict on the technicalities is that the Z300 works best as a headphone to listen to music passively, without worrying about technical details, and ends up working better as a headphone to play music in the background, perhaps a headphone to use when driving or at the gym.
Sound in Games
For battle royale games like PUBG, the Z300's lack of three-dimensionality is evident. The perception we have is that sound emitters teleport from left to right, and vice versa, there is no gradual transition.
In FPS games, such as CS2 ( without changing the sound settings ), the Z300's bass causes problems in understanding the communication of its companions, as well as tending to mask steps in more intense exchange situations. It's possible to play well with it, but it's not the best option.
In casual games, like the Brazilian 171 , the Z300's tuning is very interesting for explosions and other chaotic situations, and is very pleasant for nature sounds in Genshin Impact. However, a more adequate sense of a three-dimensional world is missing.
In simulation games, the redemption of the Z300 occurs. From Project Cars to Forza, this headphone proved to be fascinating for bringing the sound of engines, and at around 35 USD there is no headphone that makes Mercedes AMGs sound like trumpets of the apocalypse as well as this BLON is capable of doing.
Sound in Films, Series and Podcasts
“These bass match a Suckerpunch ”, I thought, but I ended up opting for “The Fast and the Furious Tokyo Drift” , and I confess that this headphone was able to drive me crazy with the sound of engines. A “Ford vs Ferrari” was also very interesting to watch with the Z300, as long as you don't mind the somewhat muddy sound in some dialogues.
With this in mind, I do not recommend the Z300 to anyone looking for a headset to listen to podcasts or to study/work, as the heavy bass of the headset can be a problem in understanding voices well, especially when the recording/transmission is poor.
Conclusion
Music and driams, again. I have a special affection for BLON, after all the BL01 was the first hype that I got into audiophilia, spread by my friends Pombo and Caito. I believe it was my third or fourth headphone in my life, and that soft and cozy sound immediately enchanted me, so much so that I keep my BL01 with affection to this day. It is, perhaps, one of the best background headphones I have ever heard.
When I had the opportunity to listen to the BL03 and BL07, I was able to better understand the brand's idea, even though the BL07 is slightly more technical than any other BLON that has ever passed through my ears. By the way, the Z300 reminded me a lot of the BL03, although it is more comfortable and more beautiful (although this criterion is more subjective than the subjectivity already inherent to the hobby).
However, it is impressive how the chi-fi market has changed since BL03. Cheap headphones are getting better and better, and even comfortable-sounding headphones can be technical enough to please you all the time, like a Tripowin Piccolo for example . And I even understand that the Z300 wasn't created to be an exponent in the category, but compared to a Kiwi Ears Cadenza , the poor BLON is light years behind in every aspect except one: the ability to play background music on your day-to-day.
By the way, as repetitive as I'm being in saying this, this seems to have been BLON's goal with the Z300: to make a beautiful background phone. And maybe that's enough of a selling point for BLON, but it wouldn't make me buy it.
Big hug!
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
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
Equipment used for testing above.
Device:
Software:
DAC:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
GoneToPlaid
Your review is the closest to my overall impressions of the Z300. The Cadenza, the Hola and the Wan'er all provide noticeably better details and have rather similar tunings for the same or lower prices. Although the Cadenza remains my favorite of all of the budget IEMs, I do enjoy listening to the more relaxing sound of the Hola when it is late at night and I am tired. For people who enjoy some extra bass and like to listen to music all day long while not being distracted by the music at all, the Z300 might be just the ticket.
Disclaimer: Linsoul loaned me with a review unit. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Unaffiliated product link.
Introduction & Packaging
BLON X HBB Z300 ($35) is another entry to the long list of collaboration IEMs from HawaiiBadBoy (or otherwise known as Bad Guy Good Audio Reviews on Youtube). I have owned several others of his collab IEMs in the past and even reviewed one of them here. I have to say, unlike Crinacle, who are very strict with his target signature, HBB took a wider range of sound signatures, ranging from neutral-balanced like the Tangzu Heyday or Tripowin Olina, warm-dark like QKZ x HBB, V-shaped with KZ X HBB PR2, and more. So, where does Z300 lie in this spectrum? I would say... at the root of it all.
It's no secret about HBB's love for BLON BL03, which is in fact reflected by his very first collab, the Tripowin Mele as an attempt to recreate the magic of BL03. Alas, while I think Mele was a good IEM, it did not really recapture BL03's musicality and timbre in my opinion. My short time with Mele was enjoyable nevertheless. Now with the 'oppoty' to work with BLON directly, this is HBB's second attempt to do what he set out to do in the first place. And, spoiler alert, I think he did way better than his previous attempt.
The packaging is simple, with the IEM, cable, 6 pairs of tips, and a cloth carrying case. Nothing much to really point out about the eartips and the carrying case. The biggest highlights are definitely the cable and the IEM itself. The cable is a beautifully braided 4-core copper cable, which is decently thick and feels very premium in hand. The IEM housing is all metal, 18K gold-plated zinc alloy for the gold colourway option which I have for review. There is another blue colourway which is also made out of zinc alloy with matte painting. Honestly, having it on my hands, I really thought it's way more expensive than it is.
Now, with the competition under $50 getting so heated up, how does Z300's sound stack up?
Sound Impression
Sources: Topping D90SE/A90D stack, Fiio M11S, L&P W2-131 (all single-ended)Setup: Large stock eartips (white large), stock cable
Music Sources: Local FLAC (redbook/hi-res), Tidal Masters, Apple Music Lossless
Listening impression is a very subjective experience depending on individual ear shape, choice of eartips, music library, and personal preferences, so your experience may vary.
Z300 can be described as a relaxed, warm-dark tuned IEM with a slight V-shaped profile. It has good extensions on the subbass, but has a slight roll-off at the upper treble region. The mids are not perfectly neutral, but that's not the aim of the tuning direction after all. The Z300 is all about fun and musicality.
While Tripowin Mele was trying to get close to BLON BL03 in terms of raw graph tuning, I feel that Z300 is trying to get to the spirit of BL03, focusing on the smoothness of the sound presentation while keeping the richness of the tones. What I find lacking in Mele was the lack of tightness in the notes and overall sluggishness, which are thankfully addressed in Z300. However, I do think that it is indeed targeted to a specific set of music libraries like slow rock, classical, jazz, or hiphop, making it less all-rounder in my opinion. That said, for theese genres, Z300 is indeed very enjoyable.
Bass
I find the bass in Z300 to be its strongest point. Its subbass extends very well, gliding smoothly into midbass. The bass is tight enough to render decent textures, but not so tight to make it sound too dry. The bassline in "Seven Nation Army" by White Stripes are reproduced beautifully, with enough energy and details of each twang of the distorted guitar.Midrange
There are a fair amount of bleed from midbass into the mids, but not to a degree where it affects the listening experience. Vocals do suffer a bit here, especially with female vocals. Male vocals fare better with quite an oomph whenever the right low notes are hit. I personally like vocal jazz with the Z300 here, something like "Hajimete no Chuu" by Platina Jazz feat. Niklas Gabrielsson. This is, again, another example of genre specificity that Z300 excels in.Treble
The treble is leaning slightly towards dark without losing ground too much from the bass. It does have enough contrasting energy to provide decent amount of details without being piercing or sibilant. It does have adequate extension and air up top, but not fantastic. However, treble is definitely not the main focus here and I doubt this will affect the listening enjoyment that much.Technicalities
For the price point, Z300 is quite above average in technicalities overall. Soundstage is medium-wide, still pretty much sounding near to your head in one giant blob. Imaging is surprisingly good (plus point for those who want to game with this). The layering is actually good due to the pretty responsive driver. Details retrieval is quite average. With a more complex track like "Change" by Monkey Majik feat. Yoshida Brothers, I do find the Z300 does not overly mush the instruments together and I can still piece out the shamisen from the rest of the bands.Select Comparisons
BLON BL03 (about $28 at the time of writing):I do find BL03 is less technical compared to Z300. Resolution and layering are certainly better with Z300. However, there is something about BL03 where the musicality seems to be in the right spot, and that is probably the reason why it leaves so much good impression from people who experienced it (might be a rose-tinted nostalgia glasses here). That said, Z300 still managed to come close to BL03's experience while providing a more updated technicalities to compete with current models, as well as a less awkward form factor compared to BL03. I do think Z300 is a worthy successor to BL03.
Kiwi Ears Cadenza ($35):
This is a bit more complicated personally. Cadenza is pretty much my favourite set under $50, with amazing price-performance ratio and good build quality. I personally think that Z300 has a better build quality and accessories, however I do like Cadenza's genre flexibility better. Cadenza's tuning is more of neutral with bass boost, which tends to be the more versatile one. I do think, however, in the genres like jazz, slow rock, or classical, Z300 does perform much better. Overall, if you like Cadenza and wish for something a little darker than it, Z300 might be your answer.
Venture Electronics SIE ($99):
This is quite a bit of a leap in terms of price, but hear me out... I think Z300 does sound like SIE's little brother. The tuning direction is similar, the build is similarly all-metal, and it seems that the only differentiating point here is the technical performance. VE SIE has a better treble extension and resolution. Additionally, due to SIE's driver superiority, I find it less limited in the genre pairing too. However, as I alluded many times earlier, with correct genre pairing Z300 can easily match others in much higher price bracket, SIE included.
Conclusion
Z300 is a very fine IEM, balancing musicality and technicality at a very competitive price point. With the included accessories and build quality, I do think we have a hit on our hand here. While its staying power is yet to be proven against BL03 as of writing, I do have confidence that this will be a nice addition to anyones collection in a long time.
Introduction
If there is a brand that has been guilty of having created one of the best known hypes of recent years, it is BLON, or WGZBLON, rather. Founded in 2014, its catalogue includes the BL-03, a model that it has not yet been able to surpass. But, with that in mind, the brand is announcing new models. On this occasion, it has had the tuning help of the omni-present HBB, to create a new $40 model that stands out for its metal construction and good cable. The Z300s come in a choice of two colours: a gold and a dark matte blue. Both choices have the same dragon pattern on their outer face. Their body is made of zinc alloy, while inside, a 10mm dynamic driver with a silicon diaphragm has been chosen, which is designed to be rigid and flexible at the same time, with the intention of producing a sound with high precision and detail. In the following review we will see what these new IEMS created by WGZBLON, together with reviewer HawaiiBadBoy of "Bad Guy Good Audio Reviews", have to offer.
Specifications
Packaging
The WGZBLON x HBB Z300 comes in a small white box, size 103x75x34mm, whose main side is decorated with a dragon drawn in blue. The HBB logo is located on the top left. In the centre is the brand name. At the bottom, at the bottom, is the motto "Oppoty & Driams Pt.2", written without a hint of regret. Finally, in the bottom left-hand corner is the model name. On the back is the name of the brand, reminding us that it has been active since 2014. In the centre are the specifications, in Chinese and English. Underneath are the brand's contact details, while a headquarters in Dongguan (China) and another in Leipzig (Germany) are highlighted.
After removing the sliding cover from the box, a transparent plastic lid protects the product. The capsules are housed inside a white foam base, lined with white cardboard. The letters R and L are written under the IEMS and, below, in the centre, is the name of the model, followed by the other slogans that have made the brand famous. Below this layer are the rest of the accessories. In a nutshell:
Without a doubt, the best feature is the cable, along with the build quality and design of the capsules. A zipped pouch is missing, but the classic fabric pouch with the Blon logo is added.
Construction and Design
Undoubtedly, if there is one thing that has characterised Blon, it has been its build quality. It is clear that its design has wanted to be distinctive, moving away from common shapes. But, on this occasion, the capsule does have a more classic and regular shape, and the difference lies in the golden dragon drawn on the outer face. There are two models, one golden, 18-carat gold-plated and the other dark blue matt, spray-painted. In my case, the model for this review is the dark matte blue one. The dragon is painted in gold ink. The outer face is shaped like an equilateral triangle with rounded corners, or that classic African continent shape. The size of the capsules is medium, with a very nice matte/rough finish, which keeps digital smudges away. They are not very thick. The brand name is inscribed on the rim, along with the lettering that identifies the channel. The 2Pin 0.78mm connection is surface mounted on a rigid, translucent plastic plate. The inner side has a first flat part, in the half furthest from the nozzles. There is a hole in it. After a slight rise is the second half, which is the base of the nozzles. On this rising face there is also another hole. The nozzles are located on a flat, inclined face, forming part of the same body. The nozzle starts with a smaller diameter cylinder of 4.55mm. The outer edge of the nozzle is larger at 5.5mm and is protected by a metal grid. The approximate length is about 4mm. It should be noted that the construction is quite good, as is the detailing, but the capsules are heavy in the hands.
If there is one thing that has also improved significantly, it is the cable. Made of 4 strands of high purity copper, it is notable for its inner braiding. The plug is gold-plated and 3.5mm SE. The sleeve is a mirror-finished metal cylinder, slightly depressed in the middle. The splitter piece is another cylinder, completely regular, in this case, with the brand name inscribed inside. The pin is a small ring with the same mirror finish. The cable has over-ear guides and the 2Pin 0.78mm connectors are internal and are inside a whitish plastic sleeve.
It is clear that the cable and its shiny copper colour have raised the quality of the set, and the more common capsule design also helps, both in terms of ergonomics and attractiveness.
Sometimes you don't have to invent the wheel to offer quality and a nice, attractive design. I believe that Blon has taken wise and sound advice.
Adjustment and Ergonomics
With a more classic and common capsule shape, ergonomics are less critical. In fact, the design of the inner side in two planes is noticeable as it favours the coupling in the pinna. The insertion in my ears is immediate, there is hardly any friction. The curves fit well, avoiding rotation. The inclination of the nozzles is correct and the only drawback is that they are a bit short. Their diameter is not large, with the top diameter being 5.5mm. With a length of 4mm, the insertion is simply shallow, very suitable for my large foam-filled tips. The level of isolation I get is high, with a fairly durable fit. The downside is the weight, although the fit is very good, the weight of the capsules could have a negative influence on the weight of the capsules, if you are doing active sports activities. For walking, though, there would be no problem. The over-ear cable guides are effective and hardly annoying, which guarantees a long-lasting use without any problems.
Sound
Profile
In my opinion, the BLON x HBB Z300s have a warm tuning, with a good lift in the sub-bass area, while the mid-highs are sustained and the treble has a good balance between presence, extension and energy level, but without breaking the equilibrium and maintaining a certain level of smoothness.
Bass
The bass colour has a tendency towards darkness, which adds to the warmth of the sound. However, there is also a touch of fuzziness in its execution. The definition is not very high, but the tone is realistic. Certainly, in the pure tone test, one feels that the bass is more sensory and is executed with naturalness and realism. In this sense, its reproduction becomes very pleasant and uncoloured.
Texturally, it has a good to remarkable amount of it. It is not a very rough or descriptive bass, but it is not soft or smooth either, which adds a rougher and more enjoyable point, very much in keeping with that dark colour. Although the punch is consistent and relatively restrained, it lacks a bit of viscerality, but it enjoys good dryness and recovery, but not quite a remarkable one. There is a little bit of savoury aftertaste that lingers just long enough to add a hint of fun and juice. But, in the end, technically speaking, the level of definition and resolution is not outstanding, but it holds up quite well. Perhaps, the sense of darkness penalises a more skilful and descriptive rendering. The generation of layers and the reproduction of complex lines tends to shy away from a simplistic presentation, trying to offer more planes and an effort when executing complicated basses. However, the end result remains "good".
Mids
The warmth and darkness is transferred to the midrange and is coupled with a somewhat diffuse feeling in the sound. This is not a transparent or luminous representation, but is accompanied by some haze, which limits the technical capabilities of the ensemble. Edges and details do not feel defined, but rather soft, by no means sharp. This perception helps to generate a musical and relaxed impression of the mids, with a more marked sense of density, body and physicality, but without edges, or delicacy of detail. The note weight is thicker, rounded, without sharpness. In this way, the nuances are more noticeable on a macro level. With a darker sound and a more diffuse representation, the background is less discernible and the uniqueness of the details is more complex to notice. Even so, there is a certain quality to trying to express and tease out some of the hidden mid-frequency detail that is eloquent and noteworthy. That's right, despite the thick weight of the notes and that dark, fuzzy feel, the Z300s do have a few tricks up their sleeve, in the form of incipient, though not obvious, detail.
The presence of the voices is average, while the sense of body allows the male voices to possess a more powerful base, though without standing out in closeness or projection. The female voices, devoid of marked brightness, feel closer, thanks to the sustained tuning of the mid-highs. But even so, they are controlled, even soft. That feeling carries over to the sibilance, completely at bay, though with some grace, not to say sparkle. Overall, the second half of the mids possesses a certain excitement, though perhaps more controlled than necessary, something that calms the sound, but also limits the clarity, the light, the sense of transparency and separation.
Treble
Again, my surprise is in the treble. I like the extension ratio up to the air zone and the level of energy it possesses. This combination gives a realistic feel, a natural and fuller sparkle. I like to think that the inexpensive dynamic drivers are not only winning in the low end, but they also offer good performance in the treble, adding a more appropriate, accurate and balanced timbre to the sound. It's not a nuanced or filed down sound, but the treble has its own life and representation, not just serving the rest of the band. Realistically, though, no one is looking for bold flare, crisp treble or sharp, thin notes. The finesse of the notes is at that familiar, pleasing point, with a soft and gentle tendency, but with a little bit of sparkle to border on the non-boring neutrality of the high end. The limit is in the air zone, a point where almost all end up perishing in the same way.
Soundstage, Separation
The Z300s excel in depth, with bass that is capable of delivering good volume, flooding the scene on a physical level and expanding the sound a little beyond the average. Thus, although the performance is predominantly front-firing, there is a good lateral range that does not exceed 180 degrees, although there is a good level of presence on both sides. Headroom is good and there is a subtle volatile point despite the mixed sense of density, darkness, haze and warmth. It is never flat, bland or lacking in dynamics. Clearly, with such a background, the sense of transparency is not very evident, the notes don't feel far apart, but there is no sense of congestion or oppressive density. Without being particularly technical, the Z300s manage to come out quite well in these technical matters, even though, at first, it might seem quite the opposite. In short, a sum of slightly negative features does not limit a level of detail, scene and separation that is more than acceptable for their price and technical abilities. With such an approach, I have seen worse.
Comparisons
TinHiFi C3
The TinHiFi C3 is one of TinHiFi's C-series IEMS based on a similar curve within the latest IEMS the brand has released. Specifically, the C3s have the most sub-bass-emphasised curve of the set, something that enhances their fun factor. In terms of price, the C3s retail for $49, while the Z300s are priced at $39. The C3s are constructed of smooth, polished resin, weigh very little and have very high ergonomics, superior to the Z300s, which are slightly less well integrated and heavier. A quick switch between the two reveals how much more comfortable the C3s are than the Z300s. As for the cable, it's good on both, silver on the C3s, with fatter connectors, made up of 4 strands as well. Whereas on the Z300s, the cable is a striking copper. I could say that the cable on the C3s, although I'm not a big fan of silver plating, is softer and more manageable. And, on a personal note, I would add copper to the C3s and silver to the Z300s.
In terms of sound, the C3s are subtly more sensitive, a higher volume is achieved with the same energy.
The profile of the two is not the same, with much more light, transparency and clarity in the C3s. While the Z300s are characterised by a clear veil and a feeling of darkness. Comparing the two graphics, the differences are clear. While the low end has similarities, the C3's bass is cleaner, slightly more visceral and better executed, with more resolution, definition, a cleaner and clearer punch, as well as a more discernible texture. It is clear that the difference in light is also noticeable in the bass. You even feel that the bass is faster and more concise in the C3s.
But it is in the mids where the difference between the two is most apparent. The graph reveals this. While the Z300s are warm and dense, the C3s are clearer, more transparent and energetic. Their sound is brighter and cleaner, details are more perceptible. Male vocals feel less lively on the Z300s, slightly more recessed. The liveliness of the C3s is more forward, revealing a greater amount of nuance, giving a more natural and accurate timbre, although it is also thinner and more delicate. The harmonic quality is more remarkable in the TinHiFi. And this is also noticeable in the female voices. They, on the Z300s, are not able to stand out with the level of presence, clarity and transparency that they do on the C3s.
If you look at the graph, you might think that the trebles have a similar tuning. But, in practice, the Z300's treble is softer, while the C3's has more energy, more crunch, more presence, but also more danger, because it is sharper and punchier. The Z300s are softer and I could say that, for many, they are sufficient. If you want more presence in the upper zone, the C3s have it.
The increased sense of dynamics, brightness, transparency and clarity bring more separation and a more ethereal feel to the C3 scene. There is better detail and a more discernible dark background gives you a more perceptible level of separation, as well as more precise and concise positioning.
Are the WGZBLON x HBB Z300 the warm and dark version of the TinHiFi C3? They could be, but they are also less detailed and soft, veiled, even nuanced. Only in their weight and build level could they be superior. But to each his own. You might also think that the C3s can be a bit excessive and tiring in some cases.
Conclusion
WGZBLON resists being a "One-Hit Wonder" brand. This time, it has chosen the famous reviewer HawaiiBadBoy of "Bad Guy Good Audio Reviews", to achieve a new success.
This time, the Z300s have improved in design and ergonomics. It's a more traditional shape with a finish in two options, a matte blue and a shiny, polished gold finish. The capsules are slightly heavy, but the ergonomic improvement is evident and the design moves away from previous risks. The cable is also an improvement, while the packaging remains traditional. In terms of sound, the BLON x HBB Z300s have a warm, slightly dark, subtly veiled midrange profile, with soft, but well-represented and extended treble. The low end is the most energetic range, while the mids feed on density, darkness and warmth to deliver a somewhat fuzzy, mid-distance presentation that lacks some brightness, clarity and transparency. Fortunately, the treble avoids sinking into the sound, helping to maintain balance and homogeneity throughout the sound range. The result is a subtly L-shaped sound, where the mids don't quite stand out, nor do the technical qualities. However, there is an incipient level of detail, a relatively wide and deep soundstage, as well as fun, effective and harmonious aspects, which make for long, even pleasurable, listening.
Sources Used During the Analysis
Purchase Link
You can read the full review in Spanish here
If there is a brand that has been guilty of having created one of the best known hypes of recent years, it is BLON, or WGZBLON, rather. Founded in 2014, its catalogue includes the BL-03, a model that it has not yet been able to surpass. But, with that in mind, the brand is announcing new models. On this occasion, it has had the tuning help of the omni-present HBB, to create a new $40 model that stands out for its metal construction and good cable. The Z300s come in a choice of two colours: a gold and a dark matte blue. Both choices have the same dragon pattern on their outer face. Their body is made of zinc alloy, while inside, a 10mm dynamic driver with a silicon diaphragm has been chosen, which is designed to be rigid and flexible at the same time, with the intention of producing a sound with high precision and detail. In the following review we will see what these new IEMS created by WGZBLON, together with reviewer HawaiiBadBoy of "Bad Guy Good Audio Reviews", have to offer.
Specifications
- Driver Type: 10mm dynamic driver with silicon diaphragm.
- Frequency Response: 20Hz-20kHz.
- Sensitivity: 115dB
- Impedance: 28Ω
- Capsule: Gold-plated (18-carat gold plated). Matte blue (spray-painted).
- Jack connector: SE 3.5mm gold-plated.
- 3.5mm 4-core high purity copper cable (non microphone version)/3.5mm silver-plated cable (microphone version, with single button).
- Cable length: 1.2m.
- Capsule Connection Type: 2 Pin 0.78mm.
Packaging
The WGZBLON x HBB Z300 comes in a small white box, size 103x75x34mm, whose main side is decorated with a dragon drawn in blue. The HBB logo is located on the top left. In the centre is the brand name. At the bottom, at the bottom, is the motto "Oppoty & Driams Pt.2", written without a hint of regret. Finally, in the bottom left-hand corner is the model name. On the back is the name of the brand, reminding us that it has been active since 2014. In the centre are the specifications, in Chinese and English. Underneath are the brand's contact details, while a headquarters in Dongguan (China) and another in Leipzig (Germany) are highlighted.
After removing the sliding cover from the box, a transparent plastic lid protects the product. The capsules are housed inside a white foam base, lined with white cardboard. The letters R and L are written under the IEMS and, below, in the centre, is the name of the model, followed by the other slogans that have made the brand famous. Below this layer are the rest of the accessories. In a nutshell:
- The two Z300 capsules.
- The classic cloth bag.
- 3 pairs of black silicone tips, sizes SxMxL.
- 3 pairs of white silicone tips, sizes SxMxL.
- One 4-core high purity copper cable with 3.5mm SE plug (non microphone version).
- One instruction manual.
Without a doubt, the best feature is the cable, along with the build quality and design of the capsules. A zipped pouch is missing, but the classic fabric pouch with the Blon logo is added.
Construction and Design
Undoubtedly, if there is one thing that has characterised Blon, it has been its build quality. It is clear that its design has wanted to be distinctive, moving away from common shapes. But, on this occasion, the capsule does have a more classic and regular shape, and the difference lies in the golden dragon drawn on the outer face. There are two models, one golden, 18-carat gold-plated and the other dark blue matt, spray-painted. In my case, the model for this review is the dark matte blue one. The dragon is painted in gold ink. The outer face is shaped like an equilateral triangle with rounded corners, or that classic African continent shape. The size of the capsules is medium, with a very nice matte/rough finish, which keeps digital smudges away. They are not very thick. The brand name is inscribed on the rim, along with the lettering that identifies the channel. The 2Pin 0.78mm connection is surface mounted on a rigid, translucent plastic plate. The inner side has a first flat part, in the half furthest from the nozzles. There is a hole in it. After a slight rise is the second half, which is the base of the nozzles. On this rising face there is also another hole. The nozzles are located on a flat, inclined face, forming part of the same body. The nozzle starts with a smaller diameter cylinder of 4.55mm. The outer edge of the nozzle is larger at 5.5mm and is protected by a metal grid. The approximate length is about 4mm. It should be noted that the construction is quite good, as is the detailing, but the capsules are heavy in the hands.
If there is one thing that has also improved significantly, it is the cable. Made of 4 strands of high purity copper, it is notable for its inner braiding. The plug is gold-plated and 3.5mm SE. The sleeve is a mirror-finished metal cylinder, slightly depressed in the middle. The splitter piece is another cylinder, completely regular, in this case, with the brand name inscribed inside. The pin is a small ring with the same mirror finish. The cable has over-ear guides and the 2Pin 0.78mm connectors are internal and are inside a whitish plastic sleeve.
It is clear that the cable and its shiny copper colour have raised the quality of the set, and the more common capsule design also helps, both in terms of ergonomics and attractiveness.
Sometimes you don't have to invent the wheel to offer quality and a nice, attractive design. I believe that Blon has taken wise and sound advice.
Adjustment and Ergonomics
With a more classic and common capsule shape, ergonomics are less critical. In fact, the design of the inner side in two planes is noticeable as it favours the coupling in the pinna. The insertion in my ears is immediate, there is hardly any friction. The curves fit well, avoiding rotation. The inclination of the nozzles is correct and the only drawback is that they are a bit short. Their diameter is not large, with the top diameter being 5.5mm. With a length of 4mm, the insertion is simply shallow, very suitable for my large foam-filled tips. The level of isolation I get is high, with a fairly durable fit. The downside is the weight, although the fit is very good, the weight of the capsules could have a negative influence on the weight of the capsules, if you are doing active sports activities. For walking, though, there would be no problem. The over-ear cable guides are effective and hardly annoying, which guarantees a long-lasting use without any problems.
Sound
Profile
In my opinion, the BLON x HBB Z300s have a warm tuning, with a good lift in the sub-bass area, while the mid-highs are sustained and the treble has a good balance between presence, extension and energy level, but without breaking the equilibrium and maintaining a certain level of smoothness.
Bass
The bass colour has a tendency towards darkness, which adds to the warmth of the sound. However, there is also a touch of fuzziness in its execution. The definition is not very high, but the tone is realistic. Certainly, in the pure tone test, one feels that the bass is more sensory and is executed with naturalness and realism. In this sense, its reproduction becomes very pleasant and uncoloured.
Texturally, it has a good to remarkable amount of it. It is not a very rough or descriptive bass, but it is not soft or smooth either, which adds a rougher and more enjoyable point, very much in keeping with that dark colour. Although the punch is consistent and relatively restrained, it lacks a bit of viscerality, but it enjoys good dryness and recovery, but not quite a remarkable one. There is a little bit of savoury aftertaste that lingers just long enough to add a hint of fun and juice. But, in the end, technically speaking, the level of definition and resolution is not outstanding, but it holds up quite well. Perhaps, the sense of darkness penalises a more skilful and descriptive rendering. The generation of layers and the reproduction of complex lines tends to shy away from a simplistic presentation, trying to offer more planes and an effort when executing complicated basses. However, the end result remains "good".
Mids
The warmth and darkness is transferred to the midrange and is coupled with a somewhat diffuse feeling in the sound. This is not a transparent or luminous representation, but is accompanied by some haze, which limits the technical capabilities of the ensemble. Edges and details do not feel defined, but rather soft, by no means sharp. This perception helps to generate a musical and relaxed impression of the mids, with a more marked sense of density, body and physicality, but without edges, or delicacy of detail. The note weight is thicker, rounded, without sharpness. In this way, the nuances are more noticeable on a macro level. With a darker sound and a more diffuse representation, the background is less discernible and the uniqueness of the details is more complex to notice. Even so, there is a certain quality to trying to express and tease out some of the hidden mid-frequency detail that is eloquent and noteworthy. That's right, despite the thick weight of the notes and that dark, fuzzy feel, the Z300s do have a few tricks up their sleeve, in the form of incipient, though not obvious, detail.
The presence of the voices is average, while the sense of body allows the male voices to possess a more powerful base, though without standing out in closeness or projection. The female voices, devoid of marked brightness, feel closer, thanks to the sustained tuning of the mid-highs. But even so, they are controlled, even soft. That feeling carries over to the sibilance, completely at bay, though with some grace, not to say sparkle. Overall, the second half of the mids possesses a certain excitement, though perhaps more controlled than necessary, something that calms the sound, but also limits the clarity, the light, the sense of transparency and separation.
Treble
Again, my surprise is in the treble. I like the extension ratio up to the air zone and the level of energy it possesses. This combination gives a realistic feel, a natural and fuller sparkle. I like to think that the inexpensive dynamic drivers are not only winning in the low end, but they also offer good performance in the treble, adding a more appropriate, accurate and balanced timbre to the sound. It's not a nuanced or filed down sound, but the treble has its own life and representation, not just serving the rest of the band. Realistically, though, no one is looking for bold flare, crisp treble or sharp, thin notes. The finesse of the notes is at that familiar, pleasing point, with a soft and gentle tendency, but with a little bit of sparkle to border on the non-boring neutrality of the high end. The limit is in the air zone, a point where almost all end up perishing in the same way.
Soundstage, Separation
The Z300s excel in depth, with bass that is capable of delivering good volume, flooding the scene on a physical level and expanding the sound a little beyond the average. Thus, although the performance is predominantly front-firing, there is a good lateral range that does not exceed 180 degrees, although there is a good level of presence on both sides. Headroom is good and there is a subtle volatile point despite the mixed sense of density, darkness, haze and warmth. It is never flat, bland or lacking in dynamics. Clearly, with such a background, the sense of transparency is not very evident, the notes don't feel far apart, but there is no sense of congestion or oppressive density. Without being particularly technical, the Z300s manage to come out quite well in these technical matters, even though, at first, it might seem quite the opposite. In short, a sum of slightly negative features does not limit a level of detail, scene and separation that is more than acceptable for their price and technical abilities. With such an approach, I have seen worse.
Comparisons
TinHiFi C3
The TinHiFi C3 is one of TinHiFi's C-series IEMS based on a similar curve within the latest IEMS the brand has released. Specifically, the C3s have the most sub-bass-emphasised curve of the set, something that enhances their fun factor. In terms of price, the C3s retail for $49, while the Z300s are priced at $39. The C3s are constructed of smooth, polished resin, weigh very little and have very high ergonomics, superior to the Z300s, which are slightly less well integrated and heavier. A quick switch between the two reveals how much more comfortable the C3s are than the Z300s. As for the cable, it's good on both, silver on the C3s, with fatter connectors, made up of 4 strands as well. Whereas on the Z300s, the cable is a striking copper. I could say that the cable on the C3s, although I'm not a big fan of silver plating, is softer and more manageable. And, on a personal note, I would add copper to the C3s and silver to the Z300s.
In terms of sound, the C3s are subtly more sensitive, a higher volume is achieved with the same energy.
The profile of the two is not the same, with much more light, transparency and clarity in the C3s. While the Z300s are characterised by a clear veil and a feeling of darkness. Comparing the two graphics, the differences are clear. While the low end has similarities, the C3's bass is cleaner, slightly more visceral and better executed, with more resolution, definition, a cleaner and clearer punch, as well as a more discernible texture. It is clear that the difference in light is also noticeable in the bass. You even feel that the bass is faster and more concise in the C3s.
But it is in the mids where the difference between the two is most apparent. The graph reveals this. While the Z300s are warm and dense, the C3s are clearer, more transparent and energetic. Their sound is brighter and cleaner, details are more perceptible. Male vocals feel less lively on the Z300s, slightly more recessed. The liveliness of the C3s is more forward, revealing a greater amount of nuance, giving a more natural and accurate timbre, although it is also thinner and more delicate. The harmonic quality is more remarkable in the TinHiFi. And this is also noticeable in the female voices. They, on the Z300s, are not able to stand out with the level of presence, clarity and transparency that they do on the C3s.
If you look at the graph, you might think that the trebles have a similar tuning. But, in practice, the Z300's treble is softer, while the C3's has more energy, more crunch, more presence, but also more danger, because it is sharper and punchier. The Z300s are softer and I could say that, for many, they are sufficient. If you want more presence in the upper zone, the C3s have it.
The increased sense of dynamics, brightness, transparency and clarity bring more separation and a more ethereal feel to the C3 scene. There is better detail and a more discernible dark background gives you a more perceptible level of separation, as well as more precise and concise positioning.
Are the WGZBLON x HBB Z300 the warm and dark version of the TinHiFi C3? They could be, but they are also less detailed and soft, veiled, even nuanced. Only in their weight and build level could they be superior. But to each his own. You might also think that the C3s can be a bit excessive and tiring in some cases.
Conclusion
WGZBLON resists being a "One-Hit Wonder" brand. This time, it has chosen the famous reviewer HawaiiBadBoy of "Bad Guy Good Audio Reviews", to achieve a new success.
This time, the Z300s have improved in design and ergonomics. It's a more traditional shape with a finish in two options, a matte blue and a shiny, polished gold finish. The capsules are slightly heavy, but the ergonomic improvement is evident and the design moves away from previous risks. The cable is also an improvement, while the packaging remains traditional. In terms of sound, the BLON x HBB Z300s have a warm, slightly dark, subtly veiled midrange profile, with soft, but well-represented and extended treble. The low end is the most energetic range, while the mids feed on density, darkness and warmth to deliver a somewhat fuzzy, mid-distance presentation that lacks some brightness, clarity and transparency. Fortunately, the treble avoids sinking into the sound, helping to maintain balance and homogeneity throughout the sound range. The result is a subtly L-shaped sound, where the mids don't quite stand out, nor do the technical qualities. However, there is an incipient level of detail, a relatively wide and deep soundstage, as well as fun, effective and harmonious aspects, which make for long, even pleasurable, listening.
Sources Used During the Analysis
- Aune X8 XVIII Magic DAC + EarMen ST-Amp.
- Aune Flamingo.
- Hidizs AP80 PRO-X Red Copper LE.
- TempoTec Variations V6.
- Xduoo Link2 BAL.
- Burson Audio Playmate.
Linsoul Audio Store, offered me this model, in exchange for writing an honest review. I want to make it clear that all my opinions written in this review have not been conditioned by this fact, nor will I ever write anything that I do not really think or feel here. I will only write about my personal opinion in relation to the revised product.
Purchase Link
You can read the full review in Spanish here
Review OF The Blon X HBB Z300
Introduction
It is not surprising that most audiophiles have positive opinions of the Blon Company when it comes to their influence on the audiophile community, their influence on high-quality sound at reasonable prices, and especially their infamous Blon BL03 which attracted the attention of many seasoned audiophiles. Blon has released other IEMs, such as the BL05 and BL05s, which have a different signature than their typical V-shape tuning, in contrast to the tuning of the BL03 model. And now, for the first time, they have partnered with Hawaiian Bad Boy, a well-known audiophile reviewer and YouTuber who has recently released another project called the Blon X HBB Z300. Hawaiian Bad Boy is known throughout the audiophile community for his successful collaborative projects. And today I'll be doing a review of the Z300, but first I'd like to clear up a few things.
Disclaimer
*I am thankful to HBB himself and the kind staff at Linsoul for setting up this unit for review. The same is true for this evaluation as it has been for all of my evaluations: all of the ideas I've discussed below are wholly my own, original thoughts that haven't been influenced by anyone. If interested, go to this link.
*I am not associated with the connection, and I receive no financial assistance from anyone.
*For the remainder of the review, I will refer to these IEMs as "Z300."
*I am using different Ear-tips for convenience and better versatility.
*Finally, I will only evaluate the Z300 based on their performance, even though I will explain how it feels and seems physically and aesthetically.
Specification
The Z300 is an IEM with a single dynamic driver that employs a 10mm silicone diaphragm and powerful magnets. The faceplate has a design inspired by dragons, and the shells are made of zinc alloy with a surface that is tough 18K gold plated. Despite feeling heavy in the hands, the shells are simple to put in and secure in the ears. There is never any discomfort, not even after extended use. The shells' sturdy construction feels promising. A 4 strand braided high purity cable wire with distinctive 2 pin connectors and a 3.5mm straight termination plug is included in the package. The 2 pin connectors on the cables included with BL03 and BL05 feel identical to this cable's connectors. The cable has a great quality feel and is pleasant to hold. The Z300 Package also includes a blon jute-like storage pouch and two different types of eartips in various sizes. Regarding the technical details, the sensitivity is 115dB, and the impedance is 28 Ohms. The range of the frequency response is 20Hz to 20kHz.
Sound
This is the first time I've heard a tuning like this from Blon; I've heard their BL03, BL05, BL mini, etc., and they typically sound exciting or bright. The Z300 sounds balanced and has a smooth presentation, in contrast to the Bl03, which has a lot of mid bass and sub bass and seems to have a lot of energy in the upper mid range and lower treble. Basically, even though I was aware that HBB tuned it, Blon's unconventional tuning surprised me. The Tripowin Z300's sound is similar to the Tripowin Piccolo's in terms of perceived performance, with the exception that the Z300 has a less energetic upper midrange and lower treble than the Piccolo. The Z300, in my opinion, is more resolved and tonally superior even after being less energetic because of the balance between the two regions. The treble comes across as nicely expansive and full of good details, the mid range sounds forward and lively, and the bass responds with enough warmth to make up for the natural timbre that permeates the entire mix. Let's learn more about Z300's audio output.
Treble
When comparing the Z300's response to other IEMs in this price range, it is impossible to do so fairly. However, I can say that it is smoother than the Kiwi Ears Cadenza, denser than the Tin Hifi C2, more expansive and spacious than the QKZxHBB Khan, and more detailed than the Tripowin Piccolo. The treble is silky and smooth, and the notes' details are more than sufficient. The notes don't distort or become single notes or cause any noticeable or avoidable sibilance because the upper treble has nice extension. The vocals definitely stand out and sound complete, while still maintaining a natural sound throughout. Of course, the instruments sound playful, with good notes that are less sharp and produce lovely details. While Cadenza will likely respond similarly, this one sounds softer and more comforting. The C2 displays more details, but at the expense of note weight and lean note quality. The response fills and sounds more personal because the QKZxKhan is way too energetic. In comparison to the Piccolo's off balance in the lower and upper treble, the Z300 sounds even. To keep the energy balance between the upper and lower treble smooth and consistent, the Z300's lower treble sounds sufficiently energetic. The vocals stand out in the mix while the instruments are audible and distinct. Of course, no one in the area sounds in any way offensive. In conclusion, the treble region is presented in a seamless, comforting, and satisfying manner overall.
Mid Range
When compared to other IEMs, the midrange sounds forward and musical in the mix, and the transient flow of energy feels constant and intact. Upper midrange and lower treble energy are essentially equal in intensity. In comparison to other IEMs in this price range, I find the response to be more melodious and aesthetically pleasing. Obviously, the Cadenza outperforms every other IEM in terms of tonality, especially in the mid range, but the Z300's response is more precise and nuanced. The C2 and the Khan are either perceived as being more airy and lean or as being overly spirited or forward. Similar to the others, but with a more personal tone, is the Piccolo. The vocals in this rendition sound forward and possess enough energy to come across clean and pleasing. The upper mid range of the Z300 sounds realistic and clear. Instruments, on the other hand, sound more expressive and resist the tendency to sound metallic. The vocals and the instruments sound their best in this region, which maintains the organic timbre. I'd say the mid bass leaks in the lower mid range and by how much determines how dull or clean it can sound. The lower mid range builds the foundation of the natural characteristics of every note in the upper frequencies. Similar to how all other IEMs sound in this area, the bass' influence causes the response to behave differently. The C2 and the khan sound clear, compared to the dense and thick Cadenza and piccolo. The Z300 strikes a better balance between sounding dense and clean; the instruments and vocals sound thick and dense as they should while maintaining clear, easily recognisable notes. The bass notes also appear to be thick and organic, which is how they might actually sound. The mid range is presented overall in a lively, musical, and pleasant manner.
Bass
To be completely honest, I'd say that the bass hits HBB's target preference perfectly. There is just enough bass to bring out the warmth and organic timbre while still being effective. Because the bass response of the Piccolo is one or two dB less than that of the Z300, the bass is more expansive and explosive than the Piccolo. However, because the Piccolo puts out a lot more impacts and hits, the bass may not feel as full on the Piccolo. However, the Khan's response is more explosive and quick, which some people may find overwhelming. If I were to discuss the control, the C2 would be the best-suited to handle it. Candenza excels in its ability to sound dense and organic while still being enjoyable to listen to. Although the presence of the mid range is really good, the bass on the Z300 is more prominent in the sub bass region. Similar to how the mid bass's slams are impactful and sound straightforward, the sub bass's response is well extended and induces a supple sensation of rumble in the ear canal with hard hitting punches. Sometimes, but usually when listening to bass-heavy tracks, the bass can become boomy. When compared to instruments like Piccolo or Cadenza, the bass is more textured and the note details are good. Even the bass guitar sounds natural with that thick and slamming response, thanks to the impressively realistic vibe that kick drum or toms produce. Overall, the bass response is powerful, punchy, and well-done.
Technical Performance
Regarding technical performance, the Z300 does face off against other IEMs in this price range, so I consider its capabilities to be higher than those of an average IEM. The imaging is sharp and the stage is wide enough to sound spacious. The notes are really well separated from one another as well. The resolution is good, particularly how expressively the macro details appear, and the speed of resolvability is comparable to other IEMs in this price range.
Soundstage, Sound Imaging & Separation
The stage set is effectively organised and constructed, and it is both wide and far. The notes' distant and distinct characteristics make them easy to distinguish, so the separation is really nice. Even though the imaging could be sharper, I still think it is better than the Piccolo and the Khan and can bring clarity to the mix.
Speed & Resolution
The resolution is also good, making it simple to approach macro details while finding enough interest in the micro details. Even though the attack and decay of notes could have been resolved more quickly, they are on par with other IEMs.
Sound Impressions
Sources
Tempotec V6 - The response of the Z300 sounds more clear and detailed when coupled with the V6. The mid range sounds forward and balanced, while the treble is more exuberant and full of good details. Because the bass is well-controlled and doesn't overpower the other tones, it sounds lively and crisp. I really like the pairing with the V6 because, aside from the imaging being sharper and the stage being larger, the technical performance feels the same.
iFi Hipdac - Because of the aggressive forwardness of the vocals and the instruments' attempts to respond more sharply, the treble becomes reserved and slightly dull when paired with the Hipdac, while the midrange completely takes over as the mix's main star. In the mix, the bass is given more prominence, and the mid-bass response may even increase. Except for the stage becoming a little bit smaller, I didn't notice any changes to the technical performance. Although this pairing provided a fun and exciting response, I still prefer V6 pairing to the Hipdac.
Megatron - I noticed that the response from the pairing with Megatron was becoming more transparent and lucid as I listened to it. While the bass response became more sub bass obsessed, the details and energy in the treble and mid range became more sophisticated. The stage got a little bit narrower while the imaging and resolution got better. The way the notes were divided up still felt the same. The technical performance felt the same aside from that. The treble region has sibilance, but it is rarely audible. I like the details, but I'd still rather pair the Z300 with the V6 because the transparent response lowers the tonality and makes the IEM sound generic.
Tracks Used
Luna Haruna - Glory days
Luna Haruna - Overfly
Rokudenashi - The Flame of Love
LMYK - 0 (zero)
ORESKABAND - Jitensya
Marina Horiuchi - Mizukagami no Sekai
RADWIMPS - Suzume
Indila - Love Story
Indila - Tourner dans le vide
Earth, Wind & Fire - September
Tom Petty - Free Fallin'
Fleetwood Mac - Everywhere
Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit
Blue Oyester Cult - (Don't Fear) The Reaper
Guns 'N' Roses - Sweet Child O' Mine
The Police - Every Breath You Take
Gojira - Amazonia
TV on the radio - Wolf Like Me
Bring Me To The Horizon - Can You Feel My Heart
Bring Me To The Horizon - sTraNgeRs
Avril Lavigne - Dare To Love Me
Travis - Love Will Come Through
Gotye - Somebody That I Used To Know
DJ Shadows - Six Days (Remix) [feat. Mos Def]
Lady Gaga - Just Dance
Lil Wayne - Lollipop
Flo Rida - Low
Sebastian Lopez & Flug - Electronic Measures
Federico Mecozzi - Blue (Da Ba Dee)
Wayve - Not Enough
Kai Wachi & TeZATalks - Ghost
NGHTMRE, Zeds Dead & Tori Levett - Shady Intentions
Zeds Dead, DNMO & GG Magree - Save My Grave
Skrillex, Noisia, josh pan & Dylan Brady - Supersonic
Skrillex & Nai Barghouti - Xena
Skrillex, Missy Elliott & Mr. Oizo - RATATA
Kaifi Khalil, Eva B & Wahab Bugti - Kana Yaari
A.R. Rahman, Javed Ali & Mohit Chauhan - Kun Faya Kun
Conclusion
To be completely honest, I'm not as enthusiastic about many of the audiophile collaborations as I am about the Z300 to recommend them. Their price point is reasonable, their build quality is promising, their sound is excellent for the money, and their tuning is excellent, with a great balance between the bass and higher frequencies. I would still say that these perform better than they are priced, even with my slight bias in favour of the tuning because it perfectly matches my preferences. So, yes, I wholeheartedly advise anyone who appreciates a balanced sound signature and a sound that sounds more natural than detailed and bright to invest in the Blon X HBB Z300.
BLON X HBB Z300
$39.99
https://www.linsoul.com/products/blon-x-hbb-z300?variant=43874951987417
For just a penny under $40.00 we have a both pleasant build and even/correct tone. Seemingly joining forces with past luminary BLON, and on-going phenomena HBB to collaborate in making something fun. This is suppose to be a review, so you expecting some critical talk, and we will get there. Except there are very few ideas and build consequences to take offense with. As with many HBB collaborations we have the HBB signature, that while slightly varying from product to product still showcases his ideas of (correct) sound. And in fact the Z300 does do rock-n-roll to the finest, it’s not a one trick pony either, showing itself to be wonderfully well rounded in other genres. Has BLON redeemed itself through this collaboration, well if your wondering if this is better than the Z200…….yes, but unfortunately I haven’t heard BLON’s claim to fame, the BL03.
We can still go back in time, to a time of innocence when Chinese production lines were a tiny-bit slower. When a then unheard of manufacture made a mark. Well more than a mark, it was truly a party. A party because many found the BL03 is satisfy their wanting for a new IEM, a lusting after improved sound. And the BLON BL03 was there for the taking……in early September of 2019 a new contender for the budget realm arrived. A 10mm carbon diaphragm dynamic driver affair for all of $39.99. In todays money $39.99 (from September 2019) is worth $47.25.
Build:
So what do we have today?
The Z300 is slightly heavy with these medium size (vibration absorbing) solid metal shells, coming in at 12 grams a piece. 12 grams a piece, that’s twice the weight of my normal medium weight IEMs.........yes, Jimmy you’re right. Yet, when you fully get them in place a unification takes hold, due to the cable ear-guides, the size and shape and the partial semi-custom build. I would report here (right here) if there was any cause for weight concern! Though you may encounter surprise when holding the Z300 in your hands for the first time, as they are heavy. Due to the form of everything the Z300 sit inside your ear, balanced and feel great!
You as the consumer have a choice of either black or gold. Supposedly 18K gold, ahh you have to love marketing script, you’re actually reading it now. The dragon design which embellishes the faceplate is a mirror image from right to left. Both dragons are identical except for a small magical symbol difference, almost not seen. Secret magic?
The cable:
The cable…….since the very start of this review (a few lines up) I wanted to blab about the cable include. Yep, that’s what this hobby is about……the feel goods. We are in fact paying for junk (well not really junk) in order to experience pleasure. And pleasure it is, as reported by others, this cable should not come with a IEM priced like this? The cable is nothing short of spectacular. A pure copper affair seemingly holding world-class ergonomics and tone? The cable in simply nice, asking to be commandeered into use (quite possibly) with every IEM you listen to?
1) Tripowin Piccolo IEM Black
2) SIMGOT EW100P Silver/gray
3) BLON X HBB Z300 Copper
Technical Details
MODEL BLON x HBB Z300
DRIVERS 10mm Silicone diaphragm
SENSITIVITY 115dB
IMPEDANCE 28ohm
CASE COLOR Gold (with 18K gold-plated case); Matte blue (with spray-painting case)
CABLE 3.5mm 4-core high purity copper cable (no microphone version)/3.5mm silver-plated cable (microphone version, with single button)
CONNECTOR 0.78mm 2-pin
CABLE LENGTH 1.2m±5%
The packaging:
While nothing outrageous, the cable is outrageous, in fact transferring the cable to other IEMs confirmed just how lucky I was to own this fabulous cable. As one example placing it momentarily on the Triptowin Piccolo IEM arrived at a noticeable increase in fidelity from the (before) included Triptowin Piccolo cable. The only issue is the Piccolo qdc 2 Pins are slightly too short for it to stay on in regular use........though keep in mind this cable is fine for use with pretty much every other IEM you own. It's just that nice, both in construction and choice of materials.
One set of ear-tips comes placed onto the IEMs.
The sound:
Offering a thick yet provocative lower midrange, a few years ago many of use found this was the key to doing Rock. Believe it or not ear-tips make a huge difference with how the midrange and upper midrange are perceived here. As using the Softears shown in the pictures, I was able to obtain a perfect air-tight fit, but things after a while sounded off. Meaning there can be very subtle differences between ear-tips that can throw you for a loop. First-off, I am in full-agreement that most reading this review have purchased another IEM before, and own the IEM ear-tips that came with that IEM to experiment with. While the included ear-tips are nice, and the Z300 fits great regardless of ear-tips, most of the time, still I encourage experimentation. As for me after a lunch break, and a tip-change-out to (regularly used) wide-bore silicone ear-tips, all was well. The slight tonal/timbrall issues somehow aligned into their subsequent correct nature? Ear-tips are the only thing between you and the IEM. They focus the tone, and can add soundstage perception (with width) also they can change bass perception, with narrow hole tips. The ear-tip can allow a better fit due to materials as well as shape. Each ear-tip is actually a different length which creates a subtly different distance from the driver to your ear-drum. Such distances actually change the sound-waves maturity and area of impact. So maybe I’m just too into my regular ear-tips? Whatever the reason, there is a message here. That at first if you have an issue with the tonal response into which way the midrange and upper-midrange is perceived, go ahead and take the freedom to experiment with different ear-tips. Much of the time this will not be about getting air-tight fit, though that can be a concern with using different ear-tips. Though the point of this rambling is to address the tonal perception and (for what ever reason) it seemed to be tip-sensitive, more sensitive than you would believe.
Sequencing:
The other factor is sequencing. This means trying a $39.99 IEM directly after trying a $1000.00 IEM will sometimes lead to trouble. As reviewers we are attempting to gain as much objectivity as possible, to arrive at the correct assessment of an IEMs build and sonic performance. And while the Z300 is slightly technically challenged, I was able to understand just what could be of value to the under $100.00 realm of this hobby. That’s the thing, a $39.99 IEM is never going to bring the realism of a $2000 IEM to your ears. But there can be a style of listenability to happen.............when there are no sonic mishaps to take offense with. Meaning there is a chance that the $39.99 actually offers a smoother and more accessible tonal response and is quite possibly more enjoyable than an off-toned $1000.00 IEM. This is why they say that frequency response is 80% of the game, because it is. You are more prone to enjoying (your) frequency response over technical attributes. This is exactly what HBB was trying to do when he invented the Z300.
The tuning thing:
While tone can come in many colors and flavors, I would like to state that the Z300 does many things correctly. This tone is readily accessible the moment you put the Z300 in your ears. As with many IEMs there will be a lop-sided attention to an aspect of the tuning. Meaning they get 50% of the equation right, but drop the ball on the other 50%. Here we are gifted with a 100% balanced signature. Where yes, it’s bass heavy but the forwardness of the mids and the spice in the treble provide balance. This was still present with my wrong ear-tip experience, it is just that even, correct and complete tone…….needs to be just that, even, correct and complete. We find this out by rotating in a variation of sources and musical genres. Yep, eventually the cream rises to the top, and this here, this Z300 offers some smooth response to those asking for a ride.
Bass:
While blended together to a point, our main issue is the pace found. While this 10mm is getting down and exploring the lower realms with adequacy, there is a PRaT issue that after a while you learn to ignore. This is a technical issue with the driver and is partially due what we are asking the driver to do, at the threshold of its abilities. Other IEMs like the SIMGOT EW100P offer a faster more technically clean bass, though where you lose is the EW100P is missing that emotional displacement from the warm tone arrived at with the Z300. Also the issue with such bass personalities as the SIMGOT EW100P, is we are not given the foundation to battle any forwardness obtained by the upper midrange. Such unbalanced sound is very crucial in that as a whole the SIMGOT signature is balanced, only due to this lack of lower emphasis, comes off upper-mid forward and leaving such frequencies out in the open to hear and take offense to. Where the BLON X HBB Z300 may not have the most even upper frequencies, yet they are supported by the overall balance and whatever imperfections are there are slightly buried.
Meaning there is a guilty pleasure that HBB was going for a night-out-on-the-town, style of sinfulness. Such an IEM tonal choice exemplifies mood and musicality, offering note-weight and smoothness which by itself conquers many a subtle issue.
Mids:
In many ways this tune showcases exactly what HBB is I think? Meaning if you glanced at his target curve you would be remiss to guess this IEM in tuned any different. It’s just target curves aren’t everything, and often IEMs don’t sound exactly like they measure. Though I can’t help but think this is equal to Crinacle's 7Hz Salnotes Zero. Not at all the midrange of the Zero, please don’t get that impression. But the embodiment of a luminarie’s ideas put forth into a sound reality. And it is those technicalities that go along with the FR to bring about success. So with the above stated, Crinacle's $19.99 Zero is more my cup of tea. But that is just because I enjoy the (Zero) midrange more, and seem to gravitate to more subdued bass?
The problem with the above analogy is Crinacle's Zero IEM is almost all midrange, a neutral exploration into just what value priced midrange can be. So we are ordering two fully different styles of meat from the restaurant here. One is roasted chicken and the other prime-rib. Where I will get to it more later, but the Z300 has even more of a finite treble allocation, needed to balance out and show texture into the treble. So to put the two into perceptive, the midrange makes the Z300 more contrasty and in-a-way more vibrant. But what comes with that is a slight steeliness that the Crinacle's Zero bypasses. I mean the Zero’s treble is way more rolled-off and subdued. And for those looking to bask in contrasty affairs............ the sound Z300 provides. This in-fact makes the Zero and Z300 1,000,000 times complementary in nature. Yep they are opposites, total opposites, as only a L shape response, and subtle neutral could be. Z300 vocals gain just enough positioning outside into the stage holding both separation positionally and frequency wise.
Treble:
Probably the most surprising thing occurs in that there really is a form of detail up here. Regardless of any trashing I have done to the Z300 up to this point in time the treble is nice for a $39.00 IEM. Still this area also holds the most partial uneven tonally. Ahh I must get to it…….I must disclose the truth here. There is a slight (ever-so-slight) hollowness to the upper-midrange and lower treble. Though I will have to say, this is a creature-feature that you can almost get over, almost. Meaning the more you listen, the more you can start to forget about this issue. As complex as perception can be, this one feature can almost go away then return with certain styles of music. To discover it, go ahead and find real instruments and have real instruments played in a song you know, forward and backwards, there is a good chance it will show-up, but only slightly.
The 7Hz Salnotes Zero:
In many ways the 7Hz Salnotes Zero is the opposite of the Z300. This is perceived by the way the Salnotes Zero is all midrange and the Z300 an exploration of a L or V shaped response. While the Z300 offers slightly more clarity in the treble, you will note a very slight steeliness present which gets covered-up by the Zero in its note-weight and roll-off. Nether is wrong just different ways of tuning, and while missing is much of the Zero low-end, we have almost more than we need with the Z300. It is a question of what style of evening your after and what your goals are. Personally the 7Hz Salnotes Zero can't be beat and even though maybe missing some bass presence, it just goes to show how balance isn't always everything. That politeness and resolvability can come into play deciding for you what you want. Such timbral success is allowed to be heard for just what it is, without excessive bass in the way.
From left to right, the Triptowin Piccolo, the SIMGOT EW100P and BLON X HBB Z300.
Contemporary comparisons:
While maybe not being a phenomena release like the 7Hz Salnotes Zero was in August of 2022, obviously time will tell. But my money is still on the 7Hz Zero to out shine these contemporary offerings. With the subjectivity encased in this hobby, it may mean that you will pick a different flavor? And while coming-out at almost the same time, all are priced under $40.00.
https://www.linsoul.com/collections/all/products/tripowin-piccolo?variant=43855443329241 $35.00
https://www.linsoul.com/products/simgot-ew100p $19.99
https://www.linsoul.com/collections/all/products/blon-x-hbb-z300?variant=43874951987417 $39.99
With such differences, I would put the Tripowin Piccolo and the Z300 closer to the same and the odd man out the EW100P. The SIMGOT EW100P showcasing a lighter almost non-existant bottom end in comparison. While that affords a more midrange focus found, the Tripown Piccolo is probably my actual choice of the three? It’s simply more my tune….more to come in my Piccolo review to follow this one. The Piccolo offering a thinker note-weight than the EW100P, yet also adding midrange over the Z300. But remember I’m just a guy on the internet, and just like back-sides, everyone has one same as opinions.
Conclusion:
While arriving just when you had some pocket-change to unload, the BLON X HBB Z300 is built tough, the cable is a dream-come-true, and fit and finish aren’t too shabby either. Slightly on the dark-side, the treble still balances the sonic bass proportions all the while giving the midrange its due. Does it get my recommendation? Sure! And while not exactly bringing anything new to the table (except the cable add) the Z300 performs in such a way as to not cause trouble. If you asked a friend to try the BLON X HBB Z300, they would smile coming to realize the vibrant bass and treble this L or V shape signature provides. While not the most technical, it is smooth and the Z300 finds itself a rewarding listen.
$39.99
https://www.linsoul.com/products/blon-x-hbb-z300?variant=43874951987417
Linsoul website: https://www.linsoul.com/
Linsoul Aliexpress Store: https://ddaudio.aliexpress.com/store/2894006
Linsoul USA Amazon Store link: https://www.amazon.com/s?i=merchant-items&me=A267P2DT104U3C
Disclaimer:
I want to thank Kareena of Linsoul for the love and the BLON-X-HBB Z300 Universal IEM review sample.
Disclaimer:
These are one persons ideas and concepts, your results may vary.
Equipment Used:
Sony WM1Z Walkman DAP MrWalkman Firmware 3.5mm and 4.4mm
Sony WM1A Walkman DAP MrWalkman Firmware 3.5mm and 4.4mm
Sony TA-ZH1ES DAC/AMP Firmware 1.03
Electra Glide Audio Reference Glide-Reference Standard "Fatboy" Power Cord
Sony Walkman Cradle BCR-NWH10
AudioQuest Carbon USB
Shanling UA3 Dongle DAC/Amplifier 3.5mm and 4.4mm
Samsung Android Smartphone 3.5mm output
TONALITY: 8.5/10
TECHNICALITIES: 8.2/10
CONSTRUCTION: 9/10
SOUND VALUE: 8.5/10
INTRO
BLON is an IEM company from China that get lucky with the BL03 release which become some kind of legend. Since then they have mostly launch questionnable earphones, betting either on the look or even trying to be controversial launching an infamous IEM call "Fat Girl''. Before this they launch an IEM using a mythological God name, Prometheus. Let's say it's hard to take this earphones company seriously and I loose hope about their release until a well known tuning collaborator call HBB aka Bad Guy Good Audio Review came in. WHy? Because he see an opportunity (oppoty) and decide to take BL03 dream (driam) in it's hand and well, never-give-up for the sake of it's wallet and the one of Linsoul I guess.
And their come the Blon Z300 I will review today because of my hope revival that HBB can help Blon to achieve a decent tonal balance, something they struggle alot with numerous post-BL03 release.
Priced only 35$, the Z300 use a 10mm silicone diaphragm dynamic driver and promise high sound value.
Let see in this review if these will mark they end of Blon company, or will be indeed the revival some of us are still wishing for.
CONSTRUCTION & ACCESSORIES
The construction is all metal, feel sturdy and have an elegant look. It make me think of Moondrop Aria design and built but with a dark blue color that appeal my eyes more. The dragon design on back plate is refreshing and quite well made and eye appealing. The built feel durable and offer good sound isolation. It's a bit heavy but don't fall from the ear and offer good fit. 2pin connectors are QDC which I find annoying, I would have prefer slightly recessed 2pin connector but all in all, nothing to complain for 35$.
The cable included is surpringly good too, it's a 4 cores high purity copper cable, only drawback is QDC connector which mean I will never use it apart for the Z300. About these connector, the plastic used seem cheap and even fragile...but easy to cut too if you wan't to transform it into normal 2pin!
Unboxing is nothing to write about and include minimal accessories like 6 pairs of silicone ear tips, a nice cable and a cheap pouch, all this in a KZ like mini box.
SOUND IMPRESSIONS
"We are all driamers.
I have to driam and reach for the stars,
and if I miss a star then I grab an handful of clouds.''
-Mike Tyson
This beautiful quote translate well the Blon oppoty tuning of HBB, which doesn't reach the original star and choose to grad cozzyness of clouds instead.
The Z300 aren't BL03 upgrade, nor about pushing the bundaries of it's tuning DNA, nope, it ''cloud'' it instead, polish the balance to make it smoother and more ethereal.
While I need to underline this, it doesn't mean these are bad IEM at all! In fact, tonaly wise, it might be more musical for alot of us, including myself which tend to enjoy warm and dense vocal as well as not too bright or grainy timbre, which the Z300 deliver.
But i'm sensitive to bass punch too, which is clouded by sub bass boost here. The Z300 are quite bassy, but in a mellow rumbly way. This lower bass extension, slam and rumble is very addictive since it's dense and vibrant, but a bit slowed in attack too, so it will be more appropriate for soul, R&B and Rap than fast rock, where the kick drum will be hard to perceive or felt in impact, this tend to annoy me since I can't separate properly the acoustic instrument, we have good amount of bass warmth here which have pro and cons depending of music genre.
So, warm bass, with good flexibility in sub bass that can render bass line beautifully apart if it need lot of texture, which is a bit lacking here, but again, this extend deeeeeep and this is rather rare in a non resonant way, because thats the thing, it's not a clear, clean or transparent sub bass presentation, its about physical slam and juicy rumble.
All in all, the silicone dynamic driver is a marvelous one when it come to low end flexibility, rumble authority and density as well as well layered sub bass line and slam, the rest is a matter of tuning choice it seem, but for bass lover this diaphragm material should be noted.
Then the mid range is surely my favorite part of the Z300 even if we are into guilty pleasure territory when it come to critical listening since it's not an open, crisp or well resolved mid range. Without being plain dark, its softed in texture and a bit boosted in lower harmonic so we have full sounding vocal with a creamy, breathy feel to it, which is very plesant and musical and tend to make the presence wide and polished, not concentrated in energy and dynamic loudness.
Natural timbre is very subjective in perception and I tend to prefer a hint of warmth coloring, so I get extra density and note weight instead of presence brightness and attack bite. This is exactly what the Z300 deliver, lush and smooth mids with good note weight but not the fastest nor tighest attack since as a whole it's a bit ''cloudy''. But the layering capacity isn't that bad and the transparency is kept minimaly even if foggy way we can perceive piano in the back of saxophone, but not in a sharp way.
And piano sound good, warmed way, sax too, as well as other woodwind instrument that aren't shouty at all nor thin, the tone is right while the resolution is softed in sharpness.
The piano extend well after the warm note impact, it's not a dry and compressed sustain-decay like we often have with Harman target IEM. So while thick, the mid range isn't dark and muddy, it's open but fullfill with dense sound layer so it favor macro presentation cohesion over a clinical presentation that will boost micro details and each instrument presence. It doesn't feel very recessed for a L shape balance too.
And now the treble, which will be perhaps the controversial aspect of Z300 for BL03 fan base. Firstly, it's not plain dark but it's very softed, yet not exactly what I would call buttery smooth. We have a bit of spice on top that permit minimal brilliance and snap, which is hit or miss depending of instrument or sound, it make me wonder if it should have gone plain dark in fact but this permit the sound to be open and guitar to have slight sparkle. This will tend to extract upper register percussions and tame cymbals crash, snare too will lack a bit of proper snap, so it's not a treble that is exciting or highly captivating, nor that magnify the sens of speed of drummer. We are in lukerwarm territory, which is hard for a reviewer to dig in. But don't expect the Z300 to extract micro details that your never heard, don't expect lot of air or varied and well shaped instruments. Texture is very polished and organic here and while the bass and mids sound dense and bodied, highs sound a bit thin as wella s forced in fake brilliance where guitar and clavichord will not be fully restitute. I still find the treble refined for it's price range, non fatiguing and not too dull too.
The soundstage is quite wide and tall, but lack deepness and isn't airy nor very holographic. It's a wall of sound that surround you that lack air and clarity to make us travl freely into it's spatiality.
This mean imaging is rather poor even if the layering have proper speed to be well articulated. Here, bass and vocal will be easiest part for positioning, then percussions and multiple instrument will become harder, this can go plain impossible with very speedy and busy track.
SIDE NOTE:
While not particularly hard to drive at 28ohm of impedance and 115db of sensitivity, the Z300 will scale up with amping power as well as clean audio source. I don't suggest pairing those with warm, dark or lean in dynamic source since it will make them sound dull and all about bass.
The included eartips don't work well for me, I use the BGVP A08 which balance the sound while keeping spatiality wide open enough....as well, it match the dark blue housing very well.
COMPARISONS
VS BLON BL03
The Z300 doesn't have BL03 DNA, it's notably more U shape and warmer, thicker in mids and less spiky in treble. The BL03 offer a brighter W shape with more boosted presence grain and more snappy and crunchy treble. The sub bass of Z300 is more boosted, have longer, chunkier more vibrant rumble, but the mid bass is lacking for proper kick drum punch as well as texture is more creamy, affecting even more the kick presence perception. So we can say Z300 have more warm heavy slam and rumble sustain but less thumping and well rounded punch than BL03.
Mids is where the Z300 differ quite alot, it's fuller, warmer, smoother with a more natural timbre and less upper mids sibilance and texture brightness-grainyness than BL03. But it's darker and less open sounding thant BL03 too, definition edge is more blurry and softed and overall resolution is less transparent. Mids dynamic is leaner with the Z300 too, vocal and instrument being less agressive in loudness.
Then the treble is where the Z300 might feel underwhelming, and even a bit imprevisible due to slight spice added to permit minimum energy to snare and percussion, for better and the worst.
The BL-03 have faster and more snappy treble response, it's more open and airy and deliver higher amount of micro details, it's sharper and more agressive too. Violin and high pitch instrument willl sound thicker with Z300, but not as abrasive in attack bite, sure it make the BL03 more prompt to splashyness but it mean acoustic guitat will like sparkle decay and crispness and electric guitar will sound too blunted in texture. As well, percussions of Z300 are half cook, just extracting metallic part of it, not the fullness of its harmonic.
The Soundstage is inferior too with the Z300, it's similar in wideness but less deep and tall, resulting in a less open and airy spatiality.
Which does inflict on imaging capacity, which is inferior with the Z300 due to darker instrument definition and slower attack speed. BL03 have cleaner wider instrument separation and sharper more accurate postioning, the layering too is more spacious due to more articulate dynamic amplitude.
All in all, the Z300 isn't a BL03 upgrade nor a Driam following, it's a new Oppoty for a smoother balanced and more laid back musicality for those who complaint about BL03 treble vividity. But technical performance is superior with BL03, attack speed being faster and more controled, imaging and resolution being superior, it's hard to lie to ourself about that. So, Z300 offer more natural tonality and timbre as well as more sub bass rumble, it's a good complement to BL03.
VS SIMGOT EW100P
So while not complete opposite, these aren't similar in tonal balance, the Z300 is notably bassier and warmer while EW100P brighter, crisper and more neutral.
The bass is more textured and bright with EW100P, it's more rolled off and tamed in sub bass so you dont have any rumble nor chunky slam like the Z300, the separation with mids is better since mid bass definition is less blurry and more edgy in impact.
The mids are thinner and brighter, more transparent and resolved, cleaner too but less wide in presence a bit compressed in energy as well upper mids loudness is notably higher so it's more prompt to shoutyness or hearing fatigue than the smoother darker Z300, here the EW100P favor presence and high pitch instrument while it's the opposite for the Z300, so cello will sound more natural and dense but violin will have a cello feeling to it, while cello will have violin feel ot it with the EW100P and make soprano female vocal more screamy and fowards, less laid back and polished than Z300.
So again, the treble is very different here, we have typical budget harman treble with the EW100P, quite similar to the Moondrop Chu in fact, so it's dryer and brighter, it's more edgy in attack lead but not as natural in decay than Z300 which offer a fuzzy and grainy treble but while the sustain decay is more natural, the attack lead is more softed too so at they end EW100P is both more abrasive and snappy for percussions, snare, clavichord or guitar.
Soundstage wise, Z300 is wider and taller, but less deep and clean than EW100P which offer more accurate and sharp imaging.
All in all, i prefer musicality of Z300, but at 2 times the price of the Simgot, it doesn't really impress technical performance wise.
CONCLUSION
While far from perfect, I like the Z300 and this is mostly due to the mid range since piano, female vocal, saxo, cello and violin all sound full and lush, without texture spike that distract me or loud upper mids that make me jump from my seat.
This make me forgive the lack of mid bass punch and questionnable bass separation, since the sub bass is captivating, fun and musical too.
But I can't overseen the fact that BL03 energic magic isn't there, so perhaps the marketing choice was bad in the sens it make people think it's a follow up of this very IEM.
In fact, Blon rarely go warm balanced tonality and to me this is the refreshing take and it's well done, very refined and musical and unlike all those harman wannabe IEM we see invading the Chifi market, it's not lacking in bass slam authority, it isn't shouty and thin in mid range and we even have a hint of crispness to add minimal excitment and sens of openess.
Blon can't get lucky anymore and need help for proper tuning, but does this mean it's their revival? Not really, it will be their next release that will decide if this company worth being followed since the technical performance is more than OK in sub-100$ range but doesn't impress me that much.
All in all, the Z300 offer great musicality and above average sound performance for it's asking price and is well worthy of consideration for those that favor sub bass and mid range fullness before treble.
-----------------------------------
PS: I want to thanks Linsoul for sending me this IEM after i manifest my interest to try them. I'm not affiliated to this audio distributor and even wonder why I'm still collaborating with them....but hey, sometime it's usefull to be able to test cheapies marvel with a snap of finger!
You can order the Z300 for 35$ here:https://www.linsoul.com/products/blon-x-hbb-z300?variant=43874951987417
DISCLAIMER
I would like to thank Linsoul for providing this review unit.
The BLON X HBB Z300 can be gotten here: https://www.linsoul.com/products/blon-x-hbb-z300 (no affliate links).
SPECIFICATIONS
ACCESSORIES
Other than the IEM, these are included:
- 3 pairs of wide-bore silicone eartips (S, M, L)
- 3 pairs of narrow-bore silicone eartips (S, M, L)
- Sackcloth pouch
- Cable
The accessories are par for the course for a budget pair of IEMs. The packaging has a dragon motif with BLON's self-professed Oppoty and Driams tag line, which hasn't changed all these years from when the BLON BL-03 first came out! Some good old catch phrases are worth keeping it seems!
There are no foam tips provided. The white (wide-bore) eartips boost soundstage and the higher frequencies, whereas the black (narrow-bore) ones compress soundstage but increase bass. Do tip roll to see what suits you in terms of fit, isolation and sonics.
The stock cable is a 4-core high-purity copper cable, and is one of the best stock cables I've tried for a budget pair of IEMs. This cable is well-braided, thick, and tangle-free, with no microphonics. There's also a chin cinch for added grip. If a shop sold this cable separately for $30 USD, I think there would even be buyers! Considering that some $30ish USD IEMs in this day and age do not have detachable cables, it is really nice to see that BLON didn't skimp on this part.
Additionally, with the cable terminating in a 2-pin connector, it should be more robust than budget MMCX cables in terms of longevity, especially if you swap cables often.
There's also BLON's usual sackcloth pouch included in the packaging, which is quite superfluous and will probably not be used by most consumers.
The rest of this review was done with the stock cable and stock wide-bore tips. No aftermarket accessories were used, so as not to add any confounders to the sound.
BUILD/COMFORT
During ordering, one can opt for a gold or a dark blue shell. Both variants have the dragon motif emblazoned on the shells, which is really cool.
BLON advertises that the shells are fashioned from 18K gold-plated zinc alloy, and build-wise, they are absolutely solid, with the housings akin to a tank. In fact, due to these metal furnishings, the earpieces are quite heavy. Even though ergonomics are excellent, the heavy shells may unfortunately add to fatigue during longer listening sessions.
As per most vented sets, isolation is average. I did not encounter any driver flex but this is partially dependent on ear anatomy and type of eartips used, so YMMV.
INTERNALS
The Z300 utilizes a 10 mm silicone diaphragm dynamic driver.
DRIVABILITY
I tested the Z300 with the following sources:
- Apple dongle
- Colorfly CDA M1 DAC/AMP dongle
- Creative Sound Blaster X5
- E1DA DAC/AMP dongle
- Hiby R3 Pro Saber 2022 DAP
- Khadas Tone Board -> Schiit Asgard 3 amp
- Khadas Tone Board -> Topping L30 amp
- Questyle M15 DAC/AMP dongle
- Sony Walkman NW A-55 DAP (Walkman One WM1Z Plus v2 Mod)
- Sony Walkman NW A-55 DAP (Walkman One Neutral Mod)
- Sony Walkman NW WM1A DAP (Walkman One WM1Z Plus v2 Mod)
- Smartphone
The Z300 is quite easy to drive, but amplification will tighten the bass and improve dynamics. As the Z300 is a warm IEM, pairing it with analytical, neutral or brighter sources would provide better synergy than using it with a warm or analoguish source. Warm + warm may give a muddy signature!
SOUND & TECHNICALITIES
Graph of the BLON HBB X Z300 using an IEC711 compliant coupler. 8 kHz area is a coupler artefact peak.
Tonally, the Z300 is a warm and bassy L-shaped set. Timbral accuracy is very organic, with the Z300 offering a thick note weight with a full and lush tone.
Sadly, technicalities are below average. The Z300 isn't very detailed, and clarity takes a hit due to the darkish tuning. Imaging is quite well done, though soundstage is intimate. The Z300 fairs well with slower or less complex tracks; however, once fast tracks with competing riffs come out to play, the Z300 struggles, and instruments may sometimes blend into a nebulous blob.
The Z300 is just one level shy of being a true basshead set. Bass is definitely north of neutral, with the bass mostly focused at the sub-bass. There's a decent rumble and extension to the lower registers, but bona fide basshead sets would give a greater jaw-rattling visceral vibration (eg 7Hz Legato). When it comes to bass quality, texturing is average, though speed is above average, with the mid-bass decently punchy. Inevitable for the copious bass amounts on tap, there's some mid-bass bleed.
The lower midrange is warmed by this mid-bass bleed, adding a lot of heft and note weight. The midrange isn't that transparent as such, with a veil and some analoguish colouring added. The upper mids are extremely restrained, and this translates to fatigue-free vocals with nary an ounce of shoutiness. However, on the flip side, vocals are pushed back, so mid and vocal lovers might want to look elsewhere.
There's a small lower treble mound, but the upper treble rolls off thereafter. The Z300 has minimal sibilance, but there's a distinct lack of air and sparkle. As such, clarity, micro-detailing and resolution are not class-leading, though the Z300 promises smooth and pleasant upper frequencies - as such, the Z300 is a great pair for our treble-sensitive brethren.
COMPARISONS
Comparisons were made with other budget single DD IEMs. Planars, hybrids and pure BA types were left out of the equation as the different transducers have their pros and cons.
BLON BL-03
The venerable BLON BL-03 has more mid-bass quantity (with less sub-bass), though the bass isn't as fast and textured, with the BL-03 having a more obvious mid-bass bleed. The BL-03 has more treble and is a bit brighter and airier.
Timbre-wise, the BL-03 has a thinner note weight with a leaner tone. Surprisingly, the BL-03 is slightly better in technical chops - imaging, soundstage, micro-detailing and instrument separation are conveyed better on the Bl-03.
The BL-03 has horrendous fit due to too short nozzles, with most users needing to spend more on longer aftermarket tips or doing mods, whereas the Z300 is well-fitting OOTB.
I won't call the Z300 a sequel to the BL-03 actually, as these two dragons sound quite different, and are complementary rather than competing.
BLON Z200
It is a bloodbath when comparing the Z300 against its predecessor, the Z200. Firstly, the Z200 has non-detachable cables, which may be a deal-breaker for some.
Secondly, the Z200 is tuned to a very old school V-shaped curve, with an ultra recessed midrange. The big bass is slow and ponderous, and smears everywhere, and in contrast, there is a huge 5kHz spike in the treble to cause an ice-pick pierce to the ears.
The Z200 has a metallic timbre, and downright mediocre technicalities. When compared to the Z300, the Z200 is unrefined and forgettable, and the Z300 is a true upgrade and worthy sequel that corrects all the wrongs of its predecessor.
Kiwi Ears Cadenza
The Kiwi Ears Cadenza is a warm Harmanish set. The Cadenza has a hair less bass, though the bass isn't as agile or tight as on the Z300, with more mid-bass bleed. The Cadenza has more upper mids - it can be shoutier for vocals - but it has less treble.
The Z300 has a bit more natural timbre. In technical aspects, imaging is about on par, but the Z300 has a tinge better soundstage, with superior instrument separation and clarity.
Truthear HOLA
The HOLA is also L-shaped, but is darker than the Z300 in the treble.
The HOLA has a slightly faster bass, but in other technicalities (imaging, instrument separation, micro-details, soundstage), the Z300 is superior.
The HOLA has a slightly thinner note weight and a less natural timbre.
CONCLUSIONS
In the ultra competitive budget segment, the Z300 holds its own.
Build and aesthetics are impeccable, and it has good value proposition for the coin. The stock cable is notable, and the Z300 brings a very organic and lush sound to the budget CHIFI table, with zero fatigue or harshness.
The Z300 is no technical tour de force, and it is more of an IEM to sit back to chill to music, rather than to critically analyze every minute nuance in the recording. The gentle and warm tuning of the Z300 assures a relaxing and pleasant afternoon of music, though understandably, trebleheads and detail freaks might want to consider alternatives.
I've owned most of the BLON IEMs, including some of the BL-03's predecessors like the BLON Cardinal, and BLON has been trying to capture lightning in a bottle ever since the success of the BL-03. Sadly, since the heydays of the BL-03, the company has regressed, churning out mostly mediocre and tepid sidegrades. Arguably, only the BL-05s (not the original BL-05 without an S) did okay, with the other BLONs relegated to footnotes in audio forums after their 15 minutes of hype.
In fact, BLON's last release - the Z200, was an abysmal fail, and I'm quite chuffed that the Z300 manages to not only fix the issues of its predecessor, but shine in timbre and an agreeable soundscape. Indeed, after today, I would consider the Z300, the BL-03, and the BL-05s to be the trinity of the company's success stories.
Oppoty Knocks Again, and thankfully, this Oppoty is worth getting!
I would like to thank Linsoul for providing this review unit.
The BLON X HBB Z300 can be gotten here: https://www.linsoul.com/products/blon-x-hbb-z300 (no affliate links).
SPECIFICATIONS
- Driver configuration: 10 mm silicone diaphragm dynamic driver
- Impedance: 28 Ohms
- Sensitivity: 115dB
- Cable: 2-pin, 0.78 mm, 4-core high-purity copper cable
- Tested at $39.99 USD
ACCESSORIES
Other than the IEM, these are included:
- 3 pairs of wide-bore silicone eartips (S, M, L)
- 3 pairs of narrow-bore silicone eartips (S, M, L)
- Sackcloth pouch
- Cable
The accessories are par for the course for a budget pair of IEMs. The packaging has a dragon motif with BLON's self-professed Oppoty and Driams tag line, which hasn't changed all these years from when the BLON BL-03 first came out! Some good old catch phrases are worth keeping it seems!
There are no foam tips provided. The white (wide-bore) eartips boost soundstage and the higher frequencies, whereas the black (narrow-bore) ones compress soundstage but increase bass. Do tip roll to see what suits you in terms of fit, isolation and sonics.
The stock cable is a 4-core high-purity copper cable, and is one of the best stock cables I've tried for a budget pair of IEMs. This cable is well-braided, thick, and tangle-free, with no microphonics. There's also a chin cinch for added grip. If a shop sold this cable separately for $30 USD, I think there would even be buyers! Considering that some $30ish USD IEMs in this day and age do not have detachable cables, it is really nice to see that BLON didn't skimp on this part.
Additionally, with the cable terminating in a 2-pin connector, it should be more robust than budget MMCX cables in terms of longevity, especially if you swap cables often.
There's also BLON's usual sackcloth pouch included in the packaging, which is quite superfluous and will probably not be used by most consumers.
The rest of this review was done with the stock cable and stock wide-bore tips. No aftermarket accessories were used, so as not to add any confounders to the sound.
BUILD/COMFORT
During ordering, one can opt for a gold or a dark blue shell. Both variants have the dragon motif emblazoned on the shells, which is really cool.
BLON advertises that the shells are fashioned from 18K gold-plated zinc alloy, and build-wise, they are absolutely solid, with the housings akin to a tank. In fact, due to these metal furnishings, the earpieces are quite heavy. Even though ergonomics are excellent, the heavy shells may unfortunately add to fatigue during longer listening sessions.
As per most vented sets, isolation is average. I did not encounter any driver flex but this is partially dependent on ear anatomy and type of eartips used, so YMMV.
INTERNALS
The Z300 utilizes a 10 mm silicone diaphragm dynamic driver.
DRIVABILITY
I tested the Z300 with the following sources:
- Apple dongle
- Colorfly CDA M1 DAC/AMP dongle
- Creative Sound Blaster X5
- E1DA DAC/AMP dongle
- Hiby R3 Pro Saber 2022 DAP
- Khadas Tone Board -> Schiit Asgard 3 amp
- Khadas Tone Board -> Topping L30 amp
- Questyle M15 DAC/AMP dongle
- Sony Walkman NW A-55 DAP (Walkman One WM1Z Plus v2 Mod)
- Sony Walkman NW A-55 DAP (Walkman One Neutral Mod)
- Sony Walkman NW WM1A DAP (Walkman One WM1Z Plus v2 Mod)
- Smartphone
The Z300 is quite easy to drive, but amplification will tighten the bass and improve dynamics. As the Z300 is a warm IEM, pairing it with analytical, neutral or brighter sources would provide better synergy than using it with a warm or analoguish source. Warm + warm may give a muddy signature!
SOUND & TECHNICALITIES
Graph of the BLON HBB X Z300 using an IEC711 compliant coupler. 8 kHz area is a coupler artefact peak.
Tonally, the Z300 is a warm and bassy L-shaped set. Timbral accuracy is very organic, with the Z300 offering a thick note weight with a full and lush tone.
Sadly, technicalities are below average. The Z300 isn't very detailed, and clarity takes a hit due to the darkish tuning. Imaging is quite well done, though soundstage is intimate. The Z300 fairs well with slower or less complex tracks; however, once fast tracks with competing riffs come out to play, the Z300 struggles, and instruments may sometimes blend into a nebulous blob.
The Z300 is just one level shy of being a true basshead set. Bass is definitely north of neutral, with the bass mostly focused at the sub-bass. There's a decent rumble and extension to the lower registers, but bona fide basshead sets would give a greater jaw-rattling visceral vibration (eg 7Hz Legato). When it comes to bass quality, texturing is average, though speed is above average, with the mid-bass decently punchy. Inevitable for the copious bass amounts on tap, there's some mid-bass bleed.
The lower midrange is warmed by this mid-bass bleed, adding a lot of heft and note weight. The midrange isn't that transparent as such, with a veil and some analoguish colouring added. The upper mids are extremely restrained, and this translates to fatigue-free vocals with nary an ounce of shoutiness. However, on the flip side, vocals are pushed back, so mid and vocal lovers might want to look elsewhere.
There's a small lower treble mound, but the upper treble rolls off thereafter. The Z300 has minimal sibilance, but there's a distinct lack of air and sparkle. As such, clarity, micro-detailing and resolution are not class-leading, though the Z300 promises smooth and pleasant upper frequencies - as such, the Z300 is a great pair for our treble-sensitive brethren.
COMPARISONS
Comparisons were made with other budget single DD IEMs. Planars, hybrids and pure BA types were left out of the equation as the different transducers have their pros and cons.
BLON BL-03
The venerable BLON BL-03 has more mid-bass quantity (with less sub-bass), though the bass isn't as fast and textured, with the BL-03 having a more obvious mid-bass bleed. The BL-03 has more treble and is a bit brighter and airier.
Timbre-wise, the BL-03 has a thinner note weight with a leaner tone. Surprisingly, the BL-03 is slightly better in technical chops - imaging, soundstage, micro-detailing and instrument separation are conveyed better on the Bl-03.
The BL-03 has horrendous fit due to too short nozzles, with most users needing to spend more on longer aftermarket tips or doing mods, whereas the Z300 is well-fitting OOTB.
I won't call the Z300 a sequel to the BL-03 actually, as these two dragons sound quite different, and are complementary rather than competing.
BLON Z200
It is a bloodbath when comparing the Z300 against its predecessor, the Z200. Firstly, the Z200 has non-detachable cables, which may be a deal-breaker for some.
Secondly, the Z200 is tuned to a very old school V-shaped curve, with an ultra recessed midrange. The big bass is slow and ponderous, and smears everywhere, and in contrast, there is a huge 5kHz spike in the treble to cause an ice-pick pierce to the ears.
The Z200 has a metallic timbre, and downright mediocre technicalities. When compared to the Z300, the Z200 is unrefined and forgettable, and the Z300 is a true upgrade and worthy sequel that corrects all the wrongs of its predecessor.
Kiwi Ears Cadenza
The Kiwi Ears Cadenza is a warm Harmanish set. The Cadenza has a hair less bass, though the bass isn't as agile or tight as on the Z300, with more mid-bass bleed. The Cadenza has more upper mids - it can be shoutier for vocals - but it has less treble.
The Z300 has a bit more natural timbre. In technical aspects, imaging is about on par, but the Z300 has a tinge better soundstage, with superior instrument separation and clarity.
Truthear HOLA
The HOLA is also L-shaped, but is darker than the Z300 in the treble.
The HOLA has a slightly faster bass, but in other technicalities (imaging, instrument separation, micro-details, soundstage), the Z300 is superior.
The HOLA has a slightly thinner note weight and a less natural timbre.
CONCLUSIONS
In the ultra competitive budget segment, the Z300 holds its own.
Build and aesthetics are impeccable, and it has good value proposition for the coin. The stock cable is notable, and the Z300 brings a very organic and lush sound to the budget CHIFI table, with zero fatigue or harshness.
The Z300 is no technical tour de force, and it is more of an IEM to sit back to chill to music, rather than to critically analyze every minute nuance in the recording. The gentle and warm tuning of the Z300 assures a relaxing and pleasant afternoon of music, though understandably, trebleheads and detail freaks might want to consider alternatives.
I've owned most of the BLON IEMs, including some of the BL-03's predecessors like the BLON Cardinal, and BLON has been trying to capture lightning in a bottle ever since the success of the BL-03. Sadly, since the heydays of the BL-03, the company has regressed, churning out mostly mediocre and tepid sidegrades. Arguably, only the BL-05s (not the original BL-05 without an S) did okay, with the other BLONs relegated to footnotes in audio forums after their 15 minutes of hype.
In fact, BLON's last release - the Z200, was an abysmal fail, and I'm quite chuffed that the Z300 manages to not only fix the issues of its predecessor, but shine in timbre and an agreeable soundscape. Indeed, after today, I would consider the Z300, the BL-03, and the BL-05s to be the trinity of the company's success stories.
Oppoty Knocks Again, and thankfully, this Oppoty is worth getting!
Introduction
BLON, a lesser-known Chinese company recognized primarily for their BL-03 IEM, has teamed up with the renowned IEM reviewer on YouTube, Hawaii Bad Boy (HBB). HBB has been collaborating with various brands at a prolific rate and shows no signs of slowing down. In addition to the BLON collaboration mentioned earlier, he has also partnered with KZ to develop the KZ PR2 IEM, which I have in my possession and will be reviewing soon. HBB's collaboration projects seem to be coming out left and right, and he is definitely on a roll.
If you're not interested in reading the entire review, let me sum up by saying that the Z300 IEMs are, in my opinion, one of the best options in terms of both sound quality and aesthetics at their price point; I personally feel that they can even compete with some IEMs that are priced at around $100. The exterior design is impressive, featuring a beautiful and heavy Zinc alloy construction with an 18K gold-plated dragon motif on the face plate that looks exquisite. While I view the weight of the Zinc alloy as a positive attribute that adds sturdiness to the overall build and does not cause me any discomfort or fit issues, it's important to note that those with smaller ears may experience a different outcome - if you don't get a good seal, these IEMs may fall out frequently.
Information
Driver setup: 1 Dynamic Driver (DD)Price: US$35.00
Connection: TFZ/NX7 0.78mm 2-pin
In Box:
- BLON X HBB Z300 IEM
- Copper 4 core braided cable with 3.5mm straight termination
- Cloth pouch
- 3x normal-bore white silicon tips
- 3x normal-bore black silicon tips
- Warranty card
Comfort and Fit: Fits well, no discomfort over long durations. Average isolation.
Tips used: Spinfit W1 (M); I recommend wide-bore tips for the Z300.
Source: Ifi Zen DAC v2, Tempotec E44
Case: You get a cloth pouch with the Z300. While I don't hate it, obviously it is not particularly impressive either. It is portable but not very protective. However, the sturdy exterior Zinc alloy construction of the IEMs may make up for the lack of protection offered by the pouch.
Cable: The cable is of excellent quality and feels really good in the hands. Despite their low price point of $35, they surpass the quality of many cables that come with IEMs that are priced above $300. The cable has a nice weight to it and is flexible without having any kinks. The quality of the cable is truly impressive, especially given its low price point. I am grateful that I don't have to spend a lot of time searching for a replacement cable with this unique pin connection. The only downside is the chin slider being a bit tight and hard to move but at least it feels secure.
Packaging & accessories: Packaging is minimalistic and meets the expectations of a typical IEM unboxing. It's not fancy, but it does come with two sets of ear tips and the excellent cable that I mentioned earlier.
Sound
Squig
Bass
The bass on the Z300 IEMs is brilliant and has a physicality that can be felt. The bass has excellent extension and a linear decline into the mids. The sub bass has a strong rumble, while the mid bass has an impactful and speedy punch that is just enough to satisfy some bass heads. The Z300 easily outperforms many other more expensive IEMs in the lower frequencies with its authoritative yet controlled bass, while also delivering great texture and depth. The only downside is that there is some noticeable bass bleed, which can overshadow the rest of the frequencies and I foresee some people getting fatigued by the bass over long durations of listening.Mids
The midrange on the Z300 is average, offering quite clear and resolving instrumentals. Despite the mids being somewhat thick, it can sound awkward at times. The lower midrange instruments can sometimes be overshadowed and veiled by the powerful bass while the upper midrange is lackluster. Vocals were uncoloured with male vocals having more breath than female vocals due to the presence of the lower midrange but left female vocals sounding more evil than innocent. Overall, the midrange lacks the necessary sense of structure for it to be enjoyable for some mid-centric listeners, particularly myself and has a dark and wet presentation that can either be a hit or a miss for some. Overall, these IEMs may not be the best choice for those who value vocal quality and midrange clarity.Treble
Treble has a decent extension and air, it never sounded fatiguing to my ears because of how timid the lower treble is. As an individual who is treble sensitive, despite me appreciating the non-fatiguing treble, I felt that it lacked a bit of sparkle that could enhance the overall musical presentation. I perceived some very minimal sibilance, but I had to make a conscious effort to detect it. Overall, the treble is decent, but not outstanding and these are definitely not for treble heads. The treble are definitely not the main focus of this IEM, rather a complementary element to the powerful bass.Technicalities
The Z300's imaging, layering, and soundstage are subpar, resulting in a sound that feels cluttered and centered - everything just feels mashed and served to you. The IEM's main focus seems to be on flexibility rather than catering to a specific niche, as evidenced by the common and safe tuning. While it isn't particularly analytical, the Z300 performs slightly better than average when it comes to detail retrieval, allowing for the discernment of certain micro details within tracks. Additionally, the IEM has excellent timbre, with all of the instrumentals sounding very natural.Personal
As someone who values midrange and listens to punk rock, I find the Z300 IEMs to be a great fit for my music library. They have a dark warm V-shaped siganture that is versatile enough to work well with many modern genres like pop and hip hop. These IEMs are fun and deliver great tonality, especially for casual listeners and teenagers who enjoy bass and may be more sensitive to higher frequencies. For the price of $35, they offer impressive performance and are sure to end up in many school bags and on desktop setups. However, if you are an analytical listener, these may not be the best choice for you and you may want to save your money for something more suitable to your preferences or treat yourself to a nice meal. Despite the objectively low grading that the Z300 may receive by me, I personally find them to be excellent and highly recommend them to anyone looking for a budget-friendly and enjoyable listening experience.Test Tracks
Sweater Weather - The Neighbourhood
The Z300 IEMs execute this song effortlessly, with kick drums, electric guitars, and bass all sounding distinct and masterfully presented in the lower frequencies. The vocals are clear and have just enough presence to never sound veiled. While the presentation could be a little more layered and detailed, overall it was a really enjoyable and fun listening experience.
Image via Spotify
Image via Spotify
Hallelujah - Pentatonix
The lower frequencies on these IEMs are deep and black, while the mids have enough energy to them. However, I found that female vocals were a bit too relaxed for my liking, and I wished they felt more forward in the mix. Overall, the replay was decent, but could have been better with improved layering and resolution.
Image via Spotify
Image via Spotify
High Hopes - Kodaline
The piano and acoustic guitar sounded slightly recessed on the Z300, and occasionally felt a bit lean. However, the male vocals were excellent and carried emotion well. While the Z300 tried to make this relaxing and chill song more fun, I felt that it didn't quite capture the intended mood of the song.
Image via Spotify
Image via Spotify
Everything Has Changed - Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran
Acoustic guitar again felt faint compared to the kick drums at 0:32 and similar to the previous song, the Z300 tries to make this heartfelt song sound upbeat. While Ed Sheeran's vocals were passionate and impactful, Taylor's vocals could have been more intimate and forward to make me enjoy this song better. I am loving the hefty Cello at 1:38 though.
Image via Spotify
Image via Spotify
Here to Stay - State Champs
This is where the Z300 shines, a fun song played on a fun IEM. The overall balance of the song is just right, with the kick drums and electric guitars emphasized at the appropriate times. Though I wished the vocals were a bit more energetic, it felt a bit dull. Otherwise, a really good replay.
Image via Spotify
Image via Spotify
Gee - Girls' Generation
The sound wasn't too bright or tiring, but I did feel that the vocals were too laid back. The lower synths and background instruments had more energy, which created an imbalance with the bland vocals. The presentation of the song had a dark tone, which felt a bit strange for a cutesy and kawaii style song. Otherwise, it was a pretty decent presentation.
Image via Spotify
Image via Spotify
Conclusion
I highly recommend the BLON Z300 for those who seek an affordable, yet enjoyable listening experience with a dark and bassy signature. You will definitely appreciate this set if that's your preferred sound profile. With the exception of the relaxed upper midrange and lower treble, there are no major flaws to speak of, making these a wise choice for anyone seeking an affordable option with excellent tonality, especially younger listeners who may appreciate the emphasis on bass and sensitivity in higher frequencies. However, if you're a more analytical listener or a treble head, these may not be the best choice for you. On the outside, the BLON Z300 features a fantastic cable and beautiful shells that are sure to turn heads. While the included case/pouch could be improved, this is easily remedied with a $5 aliexpress/taobao case. Overall, the BLON Z300 has become one of my favorite budget earphone sets, and I'm impressed with what BLON and HBB have accomplished with this set. I hope that BLON will continue to produce high-quality products in the future, as their IEMs seem to have fallen out of the spotlight recently.
TLDR version on YouTube: TDLR - Blon x HBB Z300
The Blon Z300 have been sent to me by Linsoul in exchange for the publication of this review. Linsoul have made no specific requests or comments and, as always, I will do my best to be as unbiased and sincere as humanly possible.
I will leave a link to the Z300 via Linsoul on my blog, which you can access by following the link at the end of this review.
(As with all links I share, this is a non-affiliate link).
To avoid being repetetive in my reviews, you can find all the info about how I create the reviews, equipment used, how I receive the products and how to interpret my reviews by visiting: About my reviews
Intro…
So we have another collaboration, once again by HBB (of Bad Guy Good Audio Reviews) but this time with Blon. I have actually lost count of how many collabs there have been by HBB but I know that there are a lot
Honestly, while I have understood the appeal of previous HBB tunings to a vast amount of people, I haven’t really fallen in love with any of them. I think that, out of the ones I have tried, the KAI was probably my favourite. It is not that I think the others have been bad, they just don’t suit my personal tastes, usually due to an excessive presence in the lower ranges.
Upon receiving the Z300, I had (have) quite a backlog of stuff but for some reason it ended up in my bag and when I arrived at the office after a long weekend, it was the only set I had with me. So, I decided to give it a whirl (jumping the queue of other items) and I have to say, the first listen was impressive.
Usually I put all new arrivals on the burn in rig for at least 150 hours, not because I am a strong believer in burn in but because it doesn’t cost me anything to do so while they wait their turn. In this case, no burn in was done (
) but I really don’t think that should be a concerning factor for those who feel it is necessary, as my opinions are positive, so unless it was supposed to get worse… 
Anyhow, the Blon Z300 costs around 30€ at the time of putting together this review, placing it firmly in the ultra budget category (that I consider under 50€) and, in my opinion, it places high in the ranking of said budget IEMs, competing with some of my favourite IEMs in this price bracket, such as the Kiwi Ears Cadenza.
So, let me try and explain what makes me like the Z300 and how I find it to perform.
Presentation…
There is really nothing spectacular about the presentation of the Z300, as is usual with Blon, and it really shouldn’t be expected at this price range anyway.
A simple white box with slide out tray is the packaging used, with a monochromatic image of a dragon on the front and the text “Oppoty & Driams Pt.2”. While the majority will know what this refers to, for the newcomers to the IEM world, “Oppoty & Driams” was the caption which became famous with the release of the Blon BL03, a set of IEMs that received a huge amount of praise and set the bar of ultra budget IEMs at a new level at the time (if you could get them to fit that was). Later Blon obviously found spell check and the well known catchphrase was dropped.
Funny thing is that, in my opinion, Blon really hasn’t done anything worthy of high praise since the “Oppoty & Driams” was dropped, and the return of this slogan with a set that is actually worth praise is very fitting.
But anyway, I digress…
Inside the box we get the IEMs, the cable, a small drawstring bag (like a miniature potato sack, another Blon clasic) and 6 sets of silicone tips in two types. Blon have never really been great with their tips and usually I don’t even bother to use them on the sets that I receive but, as these were the only IEMs I had with me, I used them for the first day and either my memory is fading or these are actually better than those of yesteryear (at least the white ones).
As far as contents and packaging, that is all we get but it has inspired a trip down memory lane
Build and aesthetics…
The build uses a zinc alloy shell which is published as being 18K gold-plated. I have no idea if they are gold-plated or not but they are certainly very gold, at least the model I received. The IEMs are available in two colours, blue and gold, and luck would have it that I received the gold version (I am not really a fan of gold).
However, I have to say that the aesthetics are very good and judging by the photos, I think the blue may be even more impressive in person.
The build seems to be very well done, with no apparent issues on my set and while I don’t know how the gold finish will hold up, I can do nothing but praise these IEMs for build and aesthetics at this price range.
Comfort is also very good for me personally, without the issues of some of the previous Blon models (which actually were ok for me but were problematic for many). They are lightweight and the shape fits well, meaning I experienced no discomfort even after hours of wearing them.
Last but not least, the cable. It is nothing extraordinary but it is a good cable that is far better than some of the cables received with IEMs that cost 10 times or more than the Z300. I have absolutely no complaints about it so, as far as build and aesthetics in general, full praise in this category from me.
Sound…
All tracks mentioned are clickable links that allow you to open the reference track in the streaming service of your choice (YouTube, Tidal, Qobuz, Spotify, etc.)
As I mentioned previously, I didn’t intend to review these IEMs. Even when I put them on originally, my intention was to use them for the day and then take them home and throw them on the burn in rig until it was their turn. Yet, straight away I found myself enjoying the music and ended up spending all week with them. This is already positive from my side as I found I enjoyed them and didn’t just “have” to use them to review them (which does happen with many sets).
Over the week I have listened to plenty of genres of music, finding them to be a pleasurable listen with almost all of them. Yes, there have been certain tracks/albums where I found them to be a little too warm and even too bassy on occasions, but those have been limited to certain things and not the majority (like with some of the other HBB collabs).
But let’s get on with my usual process using my normal detailed listening playlist (which can be found in full on my blog BTW) and starting off, as usual with the graph in comparison to my personal preference target.
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I have said many times before that my reference target is just as a guide, it is not an indication that I will definitely like or dislike something, many other factors come into play. In fact, the Z300 graphs very similarly to some other models that I have enjoyed (and some that I haven’t). You can see how it compares to other IEMs by visiting the Acho Reviews Squig Link (link at the end of this review).
So… starting off with the subbass and my usual (almost obligatory) workout with “Chameleon”, we get off to a fairly good start. The lowest notes do not present as much rumble as on some other sets yet there is still more than enough for the track to be appreciated for what it is. The subbass is also clean and nicely defined, as far as subbass goes, showing the subtleties of these notes in tracks like “Royals”.
In the midbass range, there is a bit of a boost above what would be my personal preference, however, as the bass range is well controlled, keeping notes fast when they need to be and without interfering with other sounds happening around them, I find the midbass to be quite enjoyable.
Anyone who has followed my reviews over time will know that excessive and uncontrolled midbass is something that fatigues me, even causing me to feel nauseous at times. My quick test for this is “[Crazy](https://songwhip.com/daniela-andrade/crazy)” by Daniela Andrade, where the low end of the guitar can become a uncontrolled and overly reverberant, something that is not the case with the Z300. Yes, there is still a trace of it being overly boosted but I don’t find it to affect me negatively like it does on so many other sets.
Knowing that HBB has a library that consists of a lot of rock, and that I have found many of his other collaborations to be overly boosted in these ranges for my personal preference as far as rock bass is concerned, I found the bass guitar in “Whole Lotta Love” to be nicely present in the tuning of the Z300. There is a presence that gives it a bit of warmth but still keeps the notes clear and precise in this rather old recording. The same can be said for the bass guitar in “Bombtrack”, although I did find the kick drum to be a little too present on this track. I am really being picky here and the air that the kick drum moves is impressive, without even considering price.
Focusing on something more electronic, such as “Sun Is Shining”, I think the bass range works fairly well and while it may not be enough for those who like skull rattling bass, personally I feel it has a decent balance with the rest of frequencies to place the focus on those bass notes without taking over the whole spectrum.
Moving on to the mid range, I find that acoustic guitars and other similar instruments have a nice timbre to them, seeming very realistic with just a hint of extra warmth. The lower ranges of vocals, particularly deep male vocals such as Leonard Cohen in “Happens to the Heart” have a nice smoothness in the lower mids, with a decent amount of detail.
As we move to the higher midrange, here things are not quite as forward as on other sets, something that I find can make certain vocals come across as rather dull, again referring to tracks like “Happens to the Heart” or Raelee Nikole in “Dreamin’”. On the other side of the coin, it can work well for vocals that are overly harsh in these ranges, such as Beth in “Don't You Worry Child”, who comes across a lot tamer on the Z300, although it does dull the piano of the song a little at the same time. It can also work well to tame overly harsh brass instruments but, again, on tracks where the brass has been recorded well, it can dull them a bit too much.
Moving into the upper ranges, extension is not bad but is not really excellent either. There is a bit of a lack of air in these higher notes but it is not the worst I have heard. I do find that on tracks that are dulled by the slight lack of 3 to 4kHz, then the sensation of lack of air can be more apparent.
Sibilance is fairly well controlled but not eliminated, at least on “Code Cool”, where I would place Patricia Barber quite close to neutral. Again, this can seem to be a little less sibilant due to the slight lack of presence and of air. Using Paul Simon in “Diamonds on the Soles of her Shoes”, the result is very similar or, in fact, I find sibilance to be slightly reduced from neutral.
Detail in general is decent yet that slight lack of presence and air does make the upper ranges sound slightly less detailed than they are. Focusing on the details in these ranges proves that they are indeed there but just not as apparent. The details in the lower and mid ranges are much more apparent and impressive at this price point.
Sound stage is around average for a set of IEMs, in my opinion, with decent placement of images without being millimetric but good nonetheless. The Z300 are not going to win any award in this category but then we have to remember the price of these IEMs to make fair judgement, in which case, they are pretty good.
Conclusion…
While doing the detailed listening tests of the Z300, I found myself picking out slight flaws and areas where they are not amazing, then I would remember that these IEMs are 30€. If considering price, the Z300 are a very good set of IEMs that compete with the best in the sub 50€ range and even with other models at higher price points. The only place I ever give scores to IEMs is here on Head-Fi, as it is obligatory, but what you get with the Z300 for 30€ is certainly worth 5 stars.
However, I don’t often give 5 stars and 4.5 stars is the maximum I have ever given to a set of budget IEMs, which I think I gave to the Cadenza, the CRA and the CRA+. Are the Z300 better than those 3 sets in order to give them a higher score? Well, “better” is very subjective and I’m afraid that, for me personally, they are fighting at a similar level and the preference of each person will sway the scales one way or the other, so I am going to keep them at a 4.5, as I don’t think they are perfect. Certainly still a 5 star as far as value for money though!
Until now, the Cadenza have been my reference for the top spot in the under 50€ range and while I feel that the Z300 are good enough to trade blows, they don’t remove the Cadenza from the top spot for me. It is all going to depend on personal music tastes and what everyone prefers to listen to, as the Z300 work much better than the Cadenza for certain things but, due to the fact that I listen to a lot of acoustic and vocal centric music, I prefer the upper mids presence on the Cadenza. Again, personal preference.
What I am happy to say is that Blon have finally, with the help of HBB, brought something new that puts them back in the spotlight of budget IEMs, something that has not happened for a long time. I am glad that the Z300 are the IEMs that have brought the “Oppoty and Driams pt.2” tag.
____
As with all my reviews, this is also available in Spanish both on my blog (www.achoreviews.com) and on YouTube (www.youtube.com/achoreviews)
All FR measurements of IEMs can be viewed and compared on achoreviews.squig.link
All isolation measurements of IEMs can be found on achoreviews.squig.link/isolation
𝑩𝑳𝑶𝑵 𝑿 𝑯𝑩𝑩 𝒁300: 𝑨𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝑶𝒑𝒑𝒐𝒕𝒚 𝑭𝒐𝒓 𝑺𝒖𝒄𝒄𝒆𝒔𝒔?
|| 𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗥𝗢𝗗𝗨𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 ||
BLON, the infamous company that made the BL03 years back, which is highly regarded by many to be a great set and even some claiming it to be TOTL, is now back with a new released together with Bad Guy Good Audio Reviews(HawaiiBadBoy) for a new iteration of their Z series with the all new Z300.
The Z-series of BLON hasn't been receiving positive press as of late with their previous release. Many were disappointed and that includes HBB, which in a weird twist of fate is the one in collaboration with BLON with the product we’re taking a look at today.
Sporting a 10mm silicone diaphragm at an attractive price tag of under $50, let’s see if BLON will make a comeback after being absent from the limelight for so long.
|| 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀 ||
I don’t fancy confusing lingo, therefore, the reviews will simple without too much confusing terminologies
This set is sent in exchange for an honest review. There is no material or financial incentive for me to do this review and I guarantee no exchange has been done by both parties to influence or sway our opinions on this product.
My thoughts and opinions are of my own. My experience will entirely differ from everybody else. The contents of this review should not be considered factual as this hobby heavily leans on subjectivity. YMMV.
** 𝐇𝐮𝐠𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐬 𝐭𝐨 Linsoul Audio 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰. 𝐃𝐨 𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐨-𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭 𝐰𝐞’𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐰𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠.**
| 𝗣𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 |
You can’t expect much for $50, hence the packing on this one is similar to those budget offerings with the same box and layout, only differing in the illustration and branding.
The box is compact and in white with a neat illustration of a dragon, a couple of branding, and the signature tagline BLON had been synonymous with(Oppoty, LetMusicBurn, Dreams)
It’s nice to see for them to embrace this funny mistake even though there are multiple people pointing it out,
| 𝗨𝗻𝗯𝗼𝘅𝗶𝗻𝗴 & 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 |
The unboxing experience is really straight-forward. You’ll be immediately greeted with the IEMs themselves and some text. The IEMs are encased in foam for protection and underneath is the assortment of accessories.
BLON provides a nice looking and great feeling 4-core cable with a chin cinch (albeit kind of tight), 2 sets of normal-bore ear tips(S,M,L) and their signature sack-like pouch for you to store your IEMs in. Great to see BLON changing the cable included from in their offerings as previous releases have cables that were an issue for some people. I also like that they still provide the pouch for this price and at this small of a package.
𝗜𝘁𝗲𝗺 𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻:
Paperwork
IEM drivers
4-core High purity copper cable
2 Sets of normal-bore ear tips(S,M,L)
Sack Pouch
| 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 & 𝗗𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗶𝗴𝘂𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 |
The Z300 is made out of a zinc alloy shell that feels really nice and with a nice amount of heft too. This is what I liked with my previously owned BLON IEMs, a good amount of heft that feels great. The overall shape is of a universal fit without pronounced curves and the faceplate has this rose gold dragon design that is very similar to the box art.
The nozzle seems to be at a proper length this time as this was an issue with some of their models which is nice to see. Speaking of the nozzle, right beside is the only vent on the IEMs, once of each driver.
As for the connection type, one can say that it’s quasi-QDC because of the protrusion, but a weird thing with BLON is that they have this non-standard connection type that looks like QDC, but it actually isn’t. I’ve seen some weird reports of people having to sand down the corners just to make QDC cables fit. 2-pin still works, but that configuration looks fragile as the protrusion and the 2-pin can create a potential weak area. The nearest connection in the market is the NX7 typically used by TFZ products. However, even that doesn’t go the full length of the port.
| 𝗜𝘀𝗼𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 |
Because of the relatively slim and low-profile form factor the Z300 has, isolation is below average in blocking out outside noise. It does get better with if you try get a deeper insertion depth
| 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁 |
I find these comfortable because of the form factor and the great finish it has. I never felt uncomfortable for long periods of time using these and even though it only has one vent, pressure is managed greatly and doesn’t suffer an incredibly bad occlusion effect.
There’s no wing/protrusion on the shape of the IEM hence a much safer fit. Some people may find the weight to be annoying, especially those who are used to plastic or resin-based IEMs.
** 𝑻𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝑴𝒐𝒐𝒏𝒅𝒓𝒐𝒑 𝑺𝒑𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒊𝒑𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒁𝒊𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒏 𝑼1 **
|| 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 ||
At first listen, This reminded me of my beloved BLON BL03. Sound is really meaty with the bass being upfront and center during playback. As much as I appreciate other tunings, my taste for sound definitely changed a lot since first acquiring the BL03 back in 2019. The Z300 however struck me similar to what I experienced at that time and then some.
This type of sound performance may not be for everyone though. Some people may find this a bit too warm for their tastes whilst some will adore this set very much
| 𝗗𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 |
These are quite efficient in general, however I do sometimes find myself pushing to volume more to make the vocals audible.
| 𝗕𝗮𝘀𝘀 |
The forte of the Z300. As we all know, HBB is a person who tends to like warm sets that have a bass performance that works greatly with his library and this set along with all of the Collab IEMs he’s done also fits the category.
Mid-bass has an amazing body and fast attack and the sub-bass despite being less prominent than the aforementioned Mid-bass, rumble is still present as per my experience. You can clearly hear and feel the note weight on this set purely because of its execution of the low-end.
| 𝗠𝗶𝗱𝘀 |
The mids on these are somewhat reserved despite the sheer amount of low-end present. Instruments though, feel bodied but I do, however, find myself bumping the volume a tad to hear vocals on certain songs.
Male vocals are more forward than their female counterparts with a hint of mild sibilance on both sides and the absence of the ethereal feeling of female vocals in certain occasions. I would also like to say that there was no instance of it being metallic sounding during testing.
| 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘀 |
The treble here is quite decent, it doesn’t sound as sparkly as other sets that could be either a pro or con depending on your stance and tolerance treble. I still hear the harshness of peaks around the 8khz area on this but it is very tolerable. This issue is non-existent during low volume listening. Details are average, allowing to pick them up during playback with no issue and air is also decent but could be better.
This is definitely not the highlight of the Z300, but considering the target market for this kind of tuning and its tuner’s preference, I wouldn't consider this such a deal breaker.
| 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 |
Because of how especially warm it is, you may have a hard time pinpointing audio sources clearly especially in the presence of an instrument or something that generates the tons of low-end, therefore hindering your experience during those types of passages during songs. Layering is decent and the staging is quite intimate than average.
For other uses other than music playback for example, professional audio work or even gaming, the warm signature may deter consumers that are looking for a more analytical set for more involved listening.
|| 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 ||
The BLON x HBB Z300 may not fit my current preferences at the moment, I do believe that it has its place in the market, especially for those looking for a bassy set. This set is clearly made to appease a certain category of people, and to that I do think it delivers quite well.
There are still some areas of improvement though like the seemingly present treble roll-off, the quiet intimate staging and the non-standard connection type.
|| 𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗥𝗢𝗗𝗨𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 ||
BLON, the infamous company that made the BL03 years back, which is highly regarded by many to be a great set and even some claiming it to be TOTL, is now back with a new released together with Bad Guy Good Audio Reviews(HawaiiBadBoy) for a new iteration of their Z series with the all new Z300.
The Z-series of BLON hasn't been receiving positive press as of late with their previous release. Many were disappointed and that includes HBB, which in a weird twist of fate is the one in collaboration with BLON with the product we’re taking a look at today.
Sporting a 10mm silicone diaphragm at an attractive price tag of under $50, let’s see if BLON will make a comeback after being absent from the limelight for so long.
|| 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀 ||
I don’t fancy confusing lingo, therefore, the reviews will simple without too much confusing terminologies
This set is sent in exchange for an honest review. There is no material or financial incentive for me to do this review and I guarantee no exchange has been done by both parties to influence or sway our opinions on this product.
My thoughts and opinions are of my own. My experience will entirely differ from everybody else. The contents of this review should not be considered factual as this hobby heavily leans on subjectivity. YMMV.
** 𝐇𝐮𝐠𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐬 𝐭𝐨 Linsoul Audio 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰. 𝐃𝐨 𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐨-𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭 𝐰𝐞’𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐰𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠.**
| 𝗣𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 |
You can’t expect much for $50, hence the packing on this one is similar to those budget offerings with the same box and layout, only differing in the illustration and branding.
The box is compact and in white with a neat illustration of a dragon, a couple of branding, and the signature tagline BLON had been synonymous with(Oppoty, LetMusicBurn, Dreams)
It’s nice to see for them to embrace this funny mistake even though there are multiple people pointing it out,
| 𝗨𝗻𝗯𝗼𝘅𝗶𝗻𝗴 & 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 |
The unboxing experience is really straight-forward. You’ll be immediately greeted with the IEMs themselves and some text. The IEMs are encased in foam for protection and underneath is the assortment of accessories.
BLON provides a nice looking and great feeling 4-core cable with a chin cinch (albeit kind of tight), 2 sets of normal-bore ear tips(S,M,L) and their signature sack-like pouch for you to store your IEMs in. Great to see BLON changing the cable included from in their offerings as previous releases have cables that were an issue for some people. I also like that they still provide the pouch for this price and at this small of a package.
𝗜𝘁𝗲𝗺 𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻:
Paperwork
IEM drivers
4-core High purity copper cable
2 Sets of normal-bore ear tips(S,M,L)
Sack Pouch
| 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 & 𝗗𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗶𝗴𝘂𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 |
The Z300 is made out of a zinc alloy shell that feels really nice and with a nice amount of heft too. This is what I liked with my previously owned BLON IEMs, a good amount of heft that feels great. The overall shape is of a universal fit without pronounced curves and the faceplate has this rose gold dragon design that is very similar to the box art.
The nozzle seems to be at a proper length this time as this was an issue with some of their models which is nice to see. Speaking of the nozzle, right beside is the only vent on the IEMs, once of each driver.
As for the connection type, one can say that it’s quasi-QDC because of the protrusion, but a weird thing with BLON is that they have this non-standard connection type that looks like QDC, but it actually isn’t. I’ve seen some weird reports of people having to sand down the corners just to make QDC cables fit. 2-pin still works, but that configuration looks fragile as the protrusion and the 2-pin can create a potential weak area. The nearest connection in the market is the NX7 typically used by TFZ products. However, even that doesn’t go the full length of the port.
| 𝗜𝘀𝗼𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 |
Because of the relatively slim and low-profile form factor the Z300 has, isolation is below average in blocking out outside noise. It does get better with if you try get a deeper insertion depth
| 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁 |
I find these comfortable because of the form factor and the great finish it has. I never felt uncomfortable for long periods of time using these and even though it only has one vent, pressure is managed greatly and doesn’t suffer an incredibly bad occlusion effect.
There’s no wing/protrusion on the shape of the IEM hence a much safer fit. Some people may find the weight to be annoying, especially those who are used to plastic or resin-based IEMs.
** 𝑻𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝑴𝒐𝒐𝒏𝒅𝒓𝒐𝒑 𝑺𝒑𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒊𝒑𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒁𝒊𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒏 𝑼1 **
|| 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 ||
At first listen, This reminded me of my beloved BLON BL03. Sound is really meaty with the bass being upfront and center during playback. As much as I appreciate other tunings, my taste for sound definitely changed a lot since first acquiring the BL03 back in 2019. The Z300 however struck me similar to what I experienced at that time and then some.
This type of sound performance may not be for everyone though. Some people may find this a bit too warm for their tastes whilst some will adore this set very much
| 𝗗𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 |
These are quite efficient in general, however I do sometimes find myself pushing to volume more to make the vocals audible.
| 𝗕𝗮𝘀𝘀 |
The forte of the Z300. As we all know, HBB is a person who tends to like warm sets that have a bass performance that works greatly with his library and this set along with all of the Collab IEMs he’s done also fits the category.
Mid-bass has an amazing body and fast attack and the sub-bass despite being less prominent than the aforementioned Mid-bass, rumble is still present as per my experience. You can clearly hear and feel the note weight on this set purely because of its execution of the low-end.
| 𝗠𝗶𝗱𝘀 |
The mids on these are somewhat reserved despite the sheer amount of low-end present. Instruments though, feel bodied but I do, however, find myself bumping the volume a tad to hear vocals on certain songs.
Male vocals are more forward than their female counterparts with a hint of mild sibilance on both sides and the absence of the ethereal feeling of female vocals in certain occasions. I would also like to say that there was no instance of it being metallic sounding during testing.
| 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘀 |
The treble here is quite decent, it doesn’t sound as sparkly as other sets that could be either a pro or con depending on your stance and tolerance treble. I still hear the harshness of peaks around the 8khz area on this but it is very tolerable. This issue is non-existent during low volume listening. Details are average, allowing to pick them up during playback with no issue and air is also decent but could be better.
This is definitely not the highlight of the Z300, but considering the target market for this kind of tuning and its tuner’s preference, I wouldn't consider this such a deal breaker.
| 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 |
Because of how especially warm it is, you may have a hard time pinpointing audio sources clearly especially in the presence of an instrument or something that generates the tons of low-end, therefore hindering your experience during those types of passages during songs. Layering is decent and the staging is quite intimate than average.
For other uses other than music playback for example, professional audio work or even gaming, the warm signature may deter consumers that are looking for a more analytical set for more involved listening.
|| 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 ||
The BLON x HBB Z300 may not fit my current preferences at the moment, I do believe that it has its place in the market, especially for those looking for a bassy set. This set is clearly made to appease a certain category of people, and to that I do think it delivers quite well.
There are still some areas of improvement though like the seemingly present treble roll-off, the quiet intimate staging and the non-standard connection type.
HiFiRobot
Thanks for pointing out the weird non standard 2-pin connector. The Z300 connectors looks square compared to QDC rounder edges.
