First impressions/comparitions. Using Mele, FH3 and Blon-03.
Tripowin x HBB Mele (Final Audio Type E, Single Ended) x
Blon Bl-03 (Radius Deep Mount, Single Ended)
Mele is meant to be the true upgrade to the generally approved Blon-03. The biggest selling point of Blon-03 is the timbre and price-to-performance ratio.
Mele keeps the timbre, tuning and driver configuration, and takes it to a whole other level for aprox. double the price. It does all that the Blon Bl-03 does, but better.
While A/Bing, the Blon sound seems veiled in comparition. Treble is less apealing and has less extention. The treble on Mele was clearly tuned to give some psycoaccoustics and sense of air and detail, without affecting the rest of the tuning. People that are very sensible to treable peaks might prefer the more tuning of the blon-03, altho I don’t find it sharp.
The already praised bass on the Blon was improved, surely using a better driver and also giving it a tad bit more sub-bass, turning Mele into a punching machine when it rumbles, without overexagerations on mid-bass or bleed.
Conclusion: If you love Blon-03 and you want a 1:1 upgrade or are on a tight budget, Mele might be worth checking.
Tripowin x HBB Mele (Final Audio Type E, Single Ended) x
Fiio FH3 (Final Audio Type E, Single Ended)
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Mele timbre and coherency come way ahead of FH3’s, but that no news to anyone. It’s unfair to compare coherency since one is a single DD and the other one is an hibrid.
Upfront FH3 has better soundstage, not by much, but it’s there. Overall, Mele sounds more detailed and has better separation, even on busy tracks.
Bass is better on Mele. Faster, tighter and better textured. Overall better quantity and quality. Also gives better separation with less bleeding, interfering less with mids. Kick drums sound like candy on this set.
Mids also go down to Mele. Despite what graph my indicate, Mele treats mids very well, even on busy tracks. Female vocals sound recessed on FH3, which is a no-go for my library.
Treble: Mele treble has more air, detail and better extension. Althought, it comes as brighter than FH3, even if it is not sharp. FH3 treble is more relaxed. Cymbal strikes and Hi-hats sound better on Mele, to my ears.
Conclusion: Mele is better than Fiio’s FH3 to my ears, specially on coherency and timbre, while being clearly superior on tuning and tonality. Fiio FH3 is more relaxed overall, having less energy, which might appeal to some.