Blon in ear monitors impressions thread
- Thread starter FastAndClean
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Like some of the guys mention above, to better provide recommendations that would meet what you are looking for, I would recommend that you describe the type of sound (& music style) you want, how you intend to use it (stationary vs mobile), and a budget amount (in $).
Examples: stationary at home on a computer, at work on a computer with a noisy background, mobile while riding a bus to work, mobile to exercise, etc; listen to classical music and want to hear the details, enjoy Club music with a lot of bass, etc; need to keep the cost under $300,etc.
Hopefully that gives you an idea of what to describe so you can get better recommendations.
I love the sound signature of the blons, they are my first iems coming from an HD650 but I guess I would like something more detailed but with same bass presence
thanks for your reply
I'd deffo try some different tips or maybe even the Cardinal. The AZLA earfits give the blon more detail by maybe 5%. The Cardinals have probably 10% more detail.
then maybe you can try TFZ T2
I used the stock tips and cables yesterday. I am gonna try a few options today and will report back!
If it is just single CHIFI DD IEMs like the BLON, based on your requirements I would recommend you to check out:
1) TFZ No. 3 - more subbass extension and midbass quantity than the BLONs. Better technicalities (instrument separation, clarity, details, imaging) also. Soundstage and timbre slightly less good as the BLONs, but isolation is much better. It may be a bit brighter than the BLONs in the 2 - 4 kHz and 8kHz areas, but this gives it more sparkle and details than the BLON as such, so it's a tradeoff.
2) Semkarch SKC CNT1 - there's 2 filters, the gold one makes it more neutralish/brighter, whereas the black one makes it more bassy. It has better technicalities than the BLON, better fit. With black filters, the bass quantity is thereabouts, but it is faster in the bass than the BLONs. Also the lower mids are boosted relative to upper mids so male voices are more forward than female ones. But it is quite a nicely tuned set, no harsh peaks/valleys. BLON's timbre is slightly better.
3) Toneking Ninetails - has front + rear filters to give 9 tuning options, from V shaped to basshead to neutralish. On the 2nd most bassy filter config, it sounds a bit like the BLON but with better technicals, better soundstage. Isolation is weaker than BLONs. It looks weird but is actually very comfortable and well fitting. On most config options the BLON sounds to me to have more mids still than the Ninetails, so if u like the mids of the BLON, do be aware. BLON's timbre is slightly better.
4) BLON Cardinal/Bluejay - assuming u get a legit set. I think u can ask the sellers first before buying which set they have in stock. Mine is the "audition" type with no nozzles. It has similar tuning to the BLON BL-03, but with more subbass extension/quantity. Better fit/soundstage, better technicals. Stock tips/cables work fine OOTB, so no need to mess around.
If you want something pricier, do check out the Moondrop KXXS and Tanchjim Oxygen. I don't have them, but they generally have good reviews for a single DD set.
One other set that is not a single DD but that is warm and bassy like the BLON is the NiceHCK M6 (4 BA + 2 DD). Somewhat similar tonality and timbre, it has 3 tuning stock filters, but they are slightly gimicky. Definitely has better details/imaging/clarity/instrument separation than the BL-03, but might be bassier in the midbass with the default tuning nozzles.
All the best in your search!
thank you
I was able to double check and my BLON Cardinal has the metal grill/filter on the nozzle and is labeled Cardinal (not Audition).Well, I'd like to pick up a Cardinal as well. But I want to understand exactly what I'm buying.
I mean, all of these are supposedly the Blon "Cardinal":
Even the official marketing photo calls it the "Blon MD8", yet the IEM in the photo says "H101":
Are all of these the exact same shells, using the exact same drivers, and all have the exact same tuning? Or are there differences with regards to vents or sound tuning?
There are at least SOME differences, because here's 2 different nozzles people have received. One is totally open, and the other has a fancy alien looking nozzle 'filter':
My point is that if member X says he "loves his Cardinal and it has more bass than the BL-03", and member Y says they "love their Cardinal and it's got better soundstage but the same bass as the BL-03", is it because X and Y have different ears and are hearing things differently? Or is it because member X got an "audition" version with the alien looking filter, and member Y got an "H101" version with open nozzle hole?
Why would they take the time to engrave 4 different model names in the shells if they were all exactly the same? It makes no sense, and I think there's more to the story than we know. Especially when some of the sellers have way different prices (everywhere from $60 to $120).
Too many unanswered mysteries for me to plunk down $60-$120 when I'm not even sure about which version I'll be receiving. What if all the ones marked "audition" don't sound as good as the ones marked "Bluejay"?
I looked at the Aliexpress listing where I ordered them and for their pictures the show a pic without the metal grill labeled Cardinal, a pic with the metal grill labeled Cardinal, and a pic that you can't see the nozzle but labeled Audition. Go figure.
do you have that yourself ?
Yeap & I love it till this day
I have the 4 iems listed above in addition to the Moondrop, TRN V90 ( someone was asking about it earlier), and of course the BL03. For cheaper IEMs I like my TFZ no3 and BL03 (my BL03 sounds how he described his Cardinal). Like he said it depends on what you like, TFZ no3 v shape w/little extra bass, BL03 nice natural/smooth timbre w/little extra bass.
However, with the poor quality control/lack of consistency you are better off avoiding all BLON IEMs. You're seeing us describe what we have but that doesn't mean you would get one that sounds the same.
The Moondrop is nice, has a smooth timbre.
And of course if you're willing to spend more I have several that blow all of these away.
Sebastiaan156
100+ Head-Fier
Im interested in the cardinal as people talk about a cleaner/more detailed soind with out loosing the tuning of the bl-03.
But thing is the cardinal looks like every other "simple" plastic iem and de the bl-03 got the looks in my opinion.
But thing is the cardinal looks like every other "simple" plastic iem and de the bl-03 got the looks in my opinion.
The Cardinal is actually a resin shell, it feels like a semi custom shell, though from far away it does look cheapish, yeah.
Though of course, the usual adage of don't judge a book by its cover applies here. I'll take a weird/crappish looking IEM with good sound anyday over one that looks pretty but sounds crap!
But now that Slater has pointed out some variations in shell emblazonment/nozzles etc, if you do wanna buy a Cardinal/Bluejay, best to check with the seller on the details of the shell emblazonment (is it saying "audition" or "cardinal") and whether there's an alien looking nozzle thing or just a non filtered nozzle.
Good advice.
The BL03 may look a little better than the Cardinal, metal look vs plastic look, if that's your preference (I tend to agree with you). That said, the shape of the Cardinal fits oh so much better (at least in my ears). We all would prefer a complete package but I'll take sound and fit over looks any day. I can't see it anyway
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