Blox BE3

Used with Sansa Clip +, no amp.

The Blox BE3 were my third foray into the enthusiast earphone market, first being Yuin's OK3, second Yuin's PK3.

Design is clean, refined, nothing flashy. Housing is the clone of Sennheiser MX400.

The earpiece is fairly large at 16.83mm diameter and won't fit some ears well. In my case, if I am chewing they tend to work themselves out of the ear, but otherwise fit is OK

Cable is of good quality and not causing microphonics. Stress relief does not seem adequate since it allows the cable to bend sharply - I have modded mine with heatshrink tubing.

Worn with rubber/silicone rims - this provides a good seal and significantly increases bass presence.

Mostly listening to Metal, Electronic and Ambient.

Soundstage is very impressive, up there with Yuin OK3.

Bass is deep and smooth but mid-bass presence is lacking. Particular basslines are hardly audible.

Mids are detailed, no complaints.

Treble seems to lack "sparkle", has a hissy/fuzzy quality. Was like this from the start and "burn-in" made no difference.

I strongly recommend the Blox BE3 over Yuin's PK3 if you are in the ~$30 range. Yuin's OK3 definitely beats them both, but they cost twice as much.

this is a great pair of earbuds. I have owned many in ear and cans. The earbuds definitely needs break in, as the treble was too harsh and bass almost non existent.
Afterwards they sounded superb out of my ihifi960. Very accurate and decent bass. Never powerful, but enough that you are not wishing for more though im not a bass head. I do like the bass of ttpod t1-e and definitely the xiaomi piston, bit its the airiness and accurate control that draws me into these. And with the sly built of el cheapos, it reminds me of sleepers with huge engines.

Gteat buy, just sound stage isnt very defined for big, but at this price, nothing to cry about, and not going to try to ask for soundstage like from my k702

*edit as of 15th feb 2015* : after so many hours passed with BE3, I decided to grab some weeks ago a pair of Edifier H180, and I found it even better than the Blox one. BE3 has more a V sound signature especially with more highs but less bass. H180 is the contrary, even thought it has also a V sounding signature, it brights in bass domain but highs sounds more true because has much more fidelity of source. Both pairs looks equals to me in mids part. BE3 has some problems with reproducing low frequencies, it sounds weird in some rare musics which is not the case of H180. Soundstage is more neutral and transparent on H180. Comfort is also much better with H180, very good body and may fit much more ears than BE3 housing. For now, definitely my best earbud is currently H180, no more BE3, that's why I reduced a bit some stars. I also edited bottom personal comparison with H180.

Some people may remember my Mrice E100 review which tells about being the best 2014 earbud king ? … with Blox BE3 .. you can forget that ! welcome to the new earbud that comes from another world !
Be careful, since 25th december last, Blox released a new tuned version, which we will call "mk2". This review is about the first (mk1) version.

(as usual, sorry for my English, will try my best).

PACKAGING :

Very simple…

Earbuds comes with a small and very lightweight carton box. Mine arrived a bit splashed (during shipping) but earbuds themselves remained intact and was very protected by plastic bag on it.

Comes with the earbuds themselves and 1 pair of black classic foams (which I never tried since I directly put my donuts foam on them to gain some kind of clarity).

The box itself.

BUILD QUALITY :

Very good. Overall very well finished. Nice matte black body housing. Cable is black also and one of the best I’ve ever seen although very simple, but I really prefer this cable than Mrice E100 ones, which was in triangle form and have a weird touching aspect. The plug (gold plated) looks very solid and robust, if my memory is good, it looks to be the same as Blox TM7, seems like Blox use every time the same (but efficiency) configuration, so why not continuing in this way?

The black Y-cord is very small and discrete.

BODY DESIGN :

While the major problem of the E100 was the fit into (many) ears, the Blox won’t disappoint you anymore. They finally have the real and good fit (I would say) that many was waiting. It’s the same Blox body series since TM7 (BE7/BE5). A classic but efficiency one. This classic body already made some proved miracle, so I guess Blox company understood it and so, keeps this body.

I didn’t tried yet but I’am sure that (walk for sure but) sport lovers will appreciate them since their fit looks solid into ears.

Due to this body, I can feel some much better isolation than with Mrice E100 (and even other earbuds in general). Overall, I really appreciate this body.

Had to put some patafix to get them stuck in this position

SOUND PART :

(This review is based after 5 days of full proper pink-noise burning and tested with FiiO E11 pocket amp).

To make short, on E100 listening was very nice once correctly pointed into ear canal, but with BE3, it’s literally another world. It’s like you listen a REAL high fidelity earphone. You even have this feeling without the need to be burned. I already faced this kind of feeling with Yuin PK1 first and with my old (sold) Blox TM7, but only those, until BE3 appears.

E100 sound quality was really good already, but BE3 outperform them so far in every domains. While the E100 is clearly a more mid centric earbud (very good for vocals btw), BE3 is more neutral IMO and with a slight V sounding but absolutely not exaggerated. Overall very technical earbud, speed and accurate. Mids are here also, although not as boosted as E100, they are clear and present and does not kill some tracks like E100 do. From the first time I can see this, concerning bass and mids : BE3 definitely does not need any bass boost from amp to sound their best, where all my other buds needs to Bass has impact and can kill easily your ears (if you don’t be careful), the most bass impact earbud I listened, I did not even tried yet to add any bass boost from my E11 amp, my EQ already do a job that I never seen before from any pair. I found only some very very few highs EQ help to sound perfect. For me, they are the most amazing and fun listenable earbuds, definitely. Highs are amazing, not sibilant, every details are here. I really suggest to put donuts foams into BE3 directly to appreciate all track details. Listening BE3 remembers me a bit like Yuin PK1 about his fun touch but slightly more neutral and better overall control.

I found them great for every kind of music tastes, from classical to electronic, the speed and accurate make them appreciating in everything I tried from my collection.

My actual Blox BE3 configuration (with my Dasetn MX760 donut foams)

SOUNDSTAGE :

Much better than E100 which was too thin. On BE3, it’s wide (although not wide and exaggerated like Dasetn M760). Probably the best mix found between Yuin PK1 and M760 I would say. A very pleasant listening.

MISC :

I did not found any cons or lacking in any part for BE3. They shines directly out from box but shines even better (especially highs and mids) after 5 days of full burn.

They don’t requires especially to be amped, I would say they are even slightly more sensitive than Mrice E100 and so, easier to drive. Of course (like all earbuds) they shines even better coupled with an amp.

My personal comparison by performances/capabilities categories :

- Bass :
H180 > BE3 > E100 > PK1 > ES10 > M760 > TG-38s

- Mids :
E100 > H180 > BE3 > M760 > TG-38s > PK1 > ES10

- Highs :
BE3 > E100 > H180 > TG-38s > M760 > PK1 > ES10

- Overall soundstage :
M760 > H180 > BE3 > E100 > TG-38s > PK1 > ES10

SUM-UP :

Blox BE3 is a masterpiece.

Definitely my best earbud yet. Don’t look any further, the new king of earbud is this one. Go buy a pair if you don’t already did, because (as many knows), Blox company is known to sell very fast their products, generally speaking.

I already bought myself a second/rescue pair. I’m even not sure that future Blox flagship will be better than this BE3, or at least the work will be very hard to do so.

For 37$, this is THE must-have earbud from the planet and THE deal of the century at the same time. Currently, I did not found anything better at September 2014.

Click to expand...

Any question is welcome, feel free, I will answer with pleasure.

@nofarewell

@nofarewell : They absolutely not needs any amp at all to shine, but as all earphones : it's always a bit more appreciated with one

@subwoof3r

@subwoof3r : Thanks very much for the info

Review edited as of 15th feb 2015.
Cheers'

Blox BE3

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