These are really F#%*IN’ GOOD! My setup for these are: IEM: BLON BL-03. Custom Cable: Acid Purple Hart Audio PC-3: Dual Angled 2-pin (QDC) Balanced IEM Cable w/ a female 4-pin mini XLR and a male 4-pin mini XLR to a 90 degree 3.5mm TRS interconnect line. Custom Ear Tip: Midnight Purple Eartune Fidelity Custom IEM Ear Tip Altogether for me is the ultimate band for your buck in an IEM!
These sound better than the majority of iem's in the 0-1000$ category. I sold most of my expensive gear because I listen to these for 95% of the time since they got released.... The B-LON 03 are not just a good deal for low budget, they are one of the finest earphones you can get nowadays regardless of prize (if you like a warm tuning with slamming bass that is to say)!
I love the tuning so much, the only downside is in technical performance. Separation isn't that good and overall sound quality is based on the price but still hella a deal
FH5 vs BLON03. I have both, bought FH5 since its launch.. -FH5 Is more Sub-bass focus and it extends a bit more - BLON-03 is more mid-bass focus and more pronounced, though clean. (Personally, I prefer FH5 bass) - Mids and Uppermid-range(vocals) in FH5 is way more forward, they can be shouty for some. - Mid range sound's a bit warmer on FH5. BLON still sounds warm but better tonality, more natural and pleasantm (Personally, I prefer BLON mids) - Treble is roll-off with FH5, while BLON has extended treble but totally forgiving. ( prefer treble on BLONs) - Resolution, I give the upper-hand to FH5, but it is not that big of a difference. Not for the price difference between the two. - Soundstage and imagining are better on FH5. Imagining-instrument separation is what makes them better in regards to technicalities. Soundtage is not that far off. They actually present soundstage a bit differently. More depth focus on FH5. In my opinion, , after listening BLONs, I'd not consider FH5.
Nice review! The BLON BL-03 are pretty awesome. Agree with you on most points, though I do think the bass on these are a little muddy. Still a great pair and unbeatable at the price (and as you also mentioned, better value than many higher priced iems as well). A different one that I would suggest that you review is the Shuoer Tape (low voltage e-stat driver). These sound amazing at reasonable listening volume, but can be a bit too bright when played louder. I'd class them in the budget category for iems as well.
Are they unbeatable currently in 2024 for under $25? I really want to know, want a REAL budget IEM and I'm new in this IEM niche, so if you answer, it'll be awesome! Cheers
December 2023 here, and I'm listening to this review, on my blon bl03! I own about 20 different iem's, and these are still at the top of my list! I know that using my 4.4 pentacon connection, with my Fosi Audio DS1 dac/amp with these is overkill, but let me tell you, the sound is just incredible! When pushed to max volume, the bl03's do not clip at all! Out of all my iem's, I only have one other iem that does not clip at max volume.... ( orchestra lite ). My test song for clipping, is Earthrise by Epic Score. Go check it out, and wait for the first sub bass drop. That's where most of my iem's clip. Blon should be charging about 150.00 bucks for these!
Prices are probably a bit weird on these right now, like with a lot of other things. I had these several months ago, and I think I paid $40 at the time.
Having using it for 2 months, mainly for the commune and like exercise. They are cheap and sounded great for the price. However, the main draw back is that they build up moisture fast if you use it for a long walk. The sound will start to fade to quiet on one side or both. Then, you needed to let it dry up to let the sound come back. For home use, I recommend them. For daily commute and exercise, I do not recommend.
Urbanfun YBF-ISS04 and ThieAudio Legacy 3. Both are steps up from the Blon BL 03 @ $50-100 and $100-200, respectively. You are right, though, "fu*k yeah!" The value proposition for the Blons is crazy.
@@davidmason8212 That all depends on what type of music you prefer and what music you like to listen to. For me, I am not a bass freak when listening critically. I also don't want more bass than what the producer put in the mix. Detail and dynamics are great but I prefer an iem to get "tone" correctly, especially in the midrange. In the
The ThieAudio Legacy 3, starting at $119 is exceptional. Very pleasant tuning and timbre, great detail for its price point, realistic dynamic driver bass with the correct level of weight. It sounds better than some kilobuck flagships that I've heard. Otherwise, the Blon BL03 is usually found around $30, not $50 (the BL-05 is about $50 though). The Blon really benefits from using a different 2 pin cable, the stock ~270 degree bend is way too severe and is uncomfortable for many.
the beginning explanation is exactly how I imagine it in my mind: like exactly the same thing. This is how I would explain it to someone if any1 asked my why didn't I spend more on iems
I had these, bought them because of the praise they have, and they deserve that praise. My problem , and it is the same for many others, is that the stem is too short and they don't go far enough in my ear for a good seal. In my case they just kept popping out, even after trying mods recommended online and trying all sorts of tips. I ended up giving them to a friend. I ended up falling more in love with the TRN V30's. They also sound amazing, fit my ears like they were custom molded for them, and are actually cheaper.
I got mine for 21 us dollars... it's dirt cheap here in Malaysia. Changed the tips to Spinfits and bought a Yinyoo cable along with a 15 bucks dongle DAC and it's by far the best chi-fi starter pack under 50 bucks... Edit: I'm using the blon right now lol
@@RikuoNura383 cp100... tried the cp145 but it's just too big until the tips digs itself deep into the nozzle. But cp100 also does that over time, so you might want to put some rubber washers to keep them in place...
@@rockfella27 I have. I like Starfields a lot more. I like how they are tuned more. Blons are definitely not that bad either though. they are much bassier but the detail is decent when compared to Starfields. enjoy both but I'm much happier taking my blons around
@@rockfella27 yes, I own both and recommend both depending on what you want. The blons are way cheaper, and are amazing for thier price. You can find them for under $30 in the US most of the time. Thier main weakness is thier comfort, it's an awkward shape and has very short nozzles. The Starfields are my preferred of the two, and are my daily driver, easily competes with most other well loved IEMs under $500. There are no glaring flaws with the Starfields and thier harman-like sound signature is good with most music. The blon bl03 are more warm, but they lack in detail, imaging, and clarity when you directly compare to the Starfields, it doesn't sound as smooth. That is when you compare them ignoring price. If you have the money, I would point to the Starfields, if you don't, the bl03 is still an amazing set of IEMs. The BLON bl-03 is what I would recommend for anyone that is interested in entry level audiophile gear, that and the Koss KPH30i. Good audio doesn't have to be expensive.
@@Elc22 agreed. Considering that the 03s fit me great with a tips and cable change, I pick them over my much more expensive gear all the time. These and the Apple lightening dongle gives an audio quality that’s silly good. No it doesn’t have the same technical performance as my HD-6xx or even other IEMs like Dunu Luna, but they’re rather pleasing, and they do things to the sound that makes me gravitate towards them more than my other gear that cost 100s of $ more. They’re that good...
Thank you for nice review.. BTW I just got my BLON BL-03 for US$27 yesterday.. The highs are definitely quite sharp, bit sharper than my Sony XBA-N1AP's.. But the bass is slightly less than my Sony's (which is a warm IEM).. I replaced the thin transparent plastic tips with foam ones so that it sounds more bassy & less sharp.. Now it sounds like N3AP, a step higher than my N1AP but with bit less bass but bit more treble.. But then again, the two Sony's @ US$190 & US$230 respectively cost 7 to 8.5 times more - definitely not a fair price comparison.. Well done to BLON, I must say for producing an IEM that can match the big players like Sony.. 😊
Your first review of affordable IEMS! Been waiting for this, other awesome ones to try are the TRN V90, BA5, KZ ZSX, TIN T2, T4 and P1 and Urbanfun YBF-ISS04.
I purchased these about a month ago; very pleased! Using the largest tips worked well for me. I listen to a lot of classic rock from the 70's-90's and the staging (at least to me) is very good. As you said, it depends on the recording and listening from a DAP, the quality of the digital reproduction. You are correct and I agree, there is a point of diminishing returns and although I'm not sure where that point is, I do feel I got much more than what I paid for with these. Nice review.
I picked up a set based on your video today. Connected them to my little FiiO E10K and they sound amazing for the price point, right out of the box. These are a solid $50.00 option. Thank you.
I just got mine today, and I'm blown away. I didn't think they would live up to all the hype that I've read but damn, they did it. They sound better than my $300 sony xm4, for sure.
Actually they dont, xm4 still has better sound stage and better mids, while blon has better sound separation and clarity. Both have very different timbre to them. Blon for better music and xm4 for better mids and vocals. All in all they both have very enjoyable sound signature. I still pick my xm4 but only just. Both have their strengths and weaknesses. Although blon bl 03 is just amazing value for money.
@@nishantsanghvi2441 kid 🤡 XM4 are completely garbage Boomy mess they don't even have a good mid range and treble is non existent 😂 And you saying it sounds good? Lol? Even $5 Sony MH1 will destroy XM4 in terms of Audio quality Kid get owned
I had a TRN BA5, they died and was about to buy a CA16 CCA as an upgrade to the BA5. On that same day the BL03s that I bought for curiosity arrived, wow! they sounded better than the BA5! I doubt that the CA16s sound better, maybe they are at the same level, but I don't think they are better, so i will buy the BL 01 and thats it
I am really happy with my Blon BL-03. I have spent way too much money for way too many earphones in the 60 dollar range. I use these the most. Now I am waiting for BL05. Those are supposed to sound a bit different but the shape looks way better.
Great review. You just hit the nail on the head with the Blons, I have two pair, one stock ones and the another ones with Vsonic tips (less subbass and rumble and tighter bass, and the other frequencies with no changes). Another cheap iems I like: artiste dc1, urbanfun ybf-iss014, and Samsung Galaxy Buds (v1 ones from 2019). Stay safe!
I'm addictive to these IEMs. They are definitely non-brainer for every person who wish to get into HIFi audio without burning his wallet. Once you EQ them to reduce the mid-bass a bit BLON-03 becomes immaculate and un-touchable. To describe it, these IEMs have this kind of analog-natural timbre on it that make them essential, unique and spectacular for multiple genres especially, classic rock music; a timbre that none of my higher-priced IEMs and headphones are able to reproduce as flawlessly. The only cons are: - They are a bit on the average-side when we talk about resolution and technicalities as "instrument separation" if we compared to other higher-priced IEMs. Though the naturalness and accuracy in the timbre make you forgive this cons - The standard cable and tips suck, and they are REQUIRED to be swapped out instantly in order to get the best experience out of these IEMs. So you may expect more investment for this combo, if you currently do not own an additional 2-pin cable. - They may be on the bad to average side in term of comfort to some people. To me, they are okay in comfort, but it may not be as comfortable to others.
I agree, they sound way muddier when I drive them directly through my phone, but when I pair them with my OPPO HA2-SE, they definitely sound way clearer, though I''ve listened to clearer IEMs around $80-$200, using the same setup.
So for us poor people, I really like the Blon BL-03. What I want to know is how can you justify spending $1,000 and up for basically the same IEM? Are Campfire, for example, IEM's so expensive because they are made in America? I find it hard to believe that their 'innards' are that much different than the Blon's. Just asking. Great video, Josh.
Good review. I also own the blons and when you get a good seal (using dekoni bulletz foam tips) they sound just so ... right. It's like the Koss ksc75. They are pleasing, fun and in no way offensive to you ears. Just great musical abilities. 👍
I found the BLON BL 03s to be completely unusable until I found the right ear tip as they just didn't fit me otherwise due to their short nozzle. One I found the Final Audio silicon type E Tips in Size LL they became my daily driver until I got the Shozy Form 1.4s. Never changed out the cable, but now I'm curious and will go back to them, possibly balanced.
How can a $30 earphone sounded so good? It sounds better than some of my higher end earphones(300 to 500 range). One of the few earphone that got the upper mids and lower treble right.
I love them, I have the little brass sony iems (can't remember their name) CCAC10's B&W P7 and Hifiman Sundara's but I use my Blon 03's more than all of the others, I bought a second set for when they eventually die. Great go to budget iem which has a way bigger sound than their price would suggest. Try them with the K B ear balanced cable 4.4mm connector through fiio M11 ......... wow !
You do get good and diverse base response on surprisingly many studio headphones when changing the often used velour pads to something with memory foam or leather. You can ruin the signature by that but some musicstores let you try out different pads or you can look for infos in forums. That way you can make lets say dt 770 pros sound pretty balanced by reducing the sgarpness of hights and increasing mids and subbase.
I got these, thought they were very mediocre and a bit shouty but good for the price. Couldn't understand why people were raving about them. After a couple of weeks the left bud volume decreased significantly. Received the replacement and they sound SO much better. Like a completely different IEM...I get it now. If the volume didn't go on the left bud, I would have always thought BLON 03 was the most overrated headphone out there.
I also wasn’t excited about these, and just bought them b/c they were so inexpensive, and I wanted to see what the fuss was about. I was blown away instantly, and it was not what I was expecting. Great review, I agree with everything you said, and I vote for you to review the ThieAudio Legacy 3 at some point.
I got these for $15 on drops website and have had them since 2020 and love them. I also got custom eartips so it beats noise cancelling by a long shot. Never going back to those pointless expensive wireless buds.
Need a shootout review between Blon BL 03 and Urbanfun YBF-ISS014. Then throw in another between Moondrop Starfield and Thieaudio Legacy 3. I own all of these and can't make up my mind. They are all great. I also love the Tin HiFi P1. The universe of ChiFi IEMs is exploding and these "happy accidents" are happening with regularity. Not sure how the very high priced IEM's are going to stay in business if this continues.
Thanks a lot for the review! Would you consider these would be good for guitarists onstage? Or maybe the 10s? The main problem for guitarists is fizzy midrange causing unnatural response to guitar sound. Very common for enstance for Shure SE215. I consider transition from KZ ZS10 which are way better than SE215 to me. I'm curious about your opinion though. :D
I love my BLON BL-03s all though they need new cables and tips, but even with with all that I am only into them for about $65. They sound as good as some of the headphones I have that are well over $200.
I am really surprised that you qualified the ear tips on these as OK, unless Blon have changed the tips that come the BL 03. The original ear tips that came with my Blon BL 03 made them unbearable with very thin sound, very poor bass, etc. So I tried some other tips ( Comply soft) and then WOW. They rival my Flare Audio Pro for certain types of music. I suggest you try some other tips, preferably long ones as the nozzle is quite short on the BL 03 and give us your thoughts. Keep on doing your good work.
Jean-Pierre Marcil i was also surprised when he said that. I used on set of silicone tips and cut the stems and used them as a o-ring on the nozzle of the bl03 and then i place my symbios foam tips, so much more comfortable that way.
Kz-Zsx under 50 bucks on linsoul. It has 6 drivers per bud (5 balanced armatures and 1 dynamic driver). I've been very surprised by what KZ has to offer. The KZ-ZS10 is also a good choice, but it is the predecessor. BLON BL-05 also under 50 on linsoul. They're advertising this as the successor to the BL-03. You can see more about it on linsoul's website. Take a look at the tripowin C8 audio cable on Amazon as well. It's a damn good cable and won't break the bank.
so i just bought the campfire polaris and it honestly felt silly paying that much for an IEM. the reason why i feel that way is because i see an IEM as a convenient lifestyle product... if i was to dive as deep into the music as i possibly can, i go into my own little world with my zmf aeolus and my tube amp, and all i do is experience the music... i bought the IEM for listening to music while im at work. im going to be focusing on many other things while i am wearing them. i just dont need something unbelievable when im not going to pay full attention to it... 500 dollars for the polaris seems stupid but hey i guess im stupid lol i really dont think i will ever pay more for an IEM though.
I could not get a good fit with these. It seems like no matter what tips I used (the included ones). The sound was still leaking and just killing the bass. I will see about picking up some eartips one day and trying these again. I been using the KZ ZS10 Pro and they get the job done "for the price." As someone that doesn't own high end gear. It's a pretty detail listen. Been listing to Sigrid Watermelon Suger and Van Morrison Tupelo Honey and Matchbox Twenty I Will on them.
Joshua, wonder if you'd be inclined to do the extremely impressive (impressive sound quality for the price) USD$1.0 Vido earphones... Just for fun of it! Another budget IEM recommendation (at USD$70): Urbanfun YBF-ISS014 Beryllium Diaphragm Dynamic Driver
During the years i listened to a lot of headphones, also really high end. But my perfect sound is represented by the Beyer DT990s. I got this blons because everyone was really excited about them, for me they are totally plain, no highs, too much mids but pretty good bass. They are dull, closed sounding and boring. Got zs10pro, i'm amazed every day more and more.
And this is why no one can tell us what is best for US. Josh, and a few others, very often are careful to remind us that they're talking about their preferences, and why and how... Have you tried the 1990?
please do Sony MH-755. IMO it sound much better and at much cheaper price too. But I heavily reccommend to MMCX Mod it first because the stock cable is short and has awful fitting.
Surprisingly there are multiple opposites of infinite, finite is an opposite the same way limited is to unlimited. There is also a polar opposite, Infinite is the largest thing you can have, infinitesimal is the smallest.
So I bought a pair of these and I actually really like them a lot. I think I like a similar sound signature to Josh and he loves the Arya's but what other suggestions do you guys have for maybe more "fun" headphones. I've got the 58X's and have liked those with a little EQ to add some bass and I paired them up to a JDS Labs Atom. Its been great, no real complaints but now I'm looking to upgrade. I'll probably get a better amp like the THX 789 or something and Mod House Argons but what else do you all think fits the "fun" bill.
man.. I just bought this iem and it blew my mind.. it sounds so good.. I'm using it with jcally jm20 dac.. I haven't upgrade the cable yet.. maybe next month..
I agree with everything Joshua mentioned but the static though, It's real on there from time to time i get a little static shock I think it is the metal those are made of.
Great video, as always! I've had my eyes on the BLONs for a while now, might be my next purchase if I can find them on stock for a good price. I for one would love to hear your opinion on the KZ ZSX!
I have both for a few months now. All i can say is go for the blon. I left all my iem's which is way more expensive than this. Its just sound really good
Check out the TRN BA5 and the Sony MH755. The TRN rivals the Tins for detail and cleanliness to my ears, and I haven't tried the Sonys myself, but they're supposedly world-beaters for around $10.
I was waiting for this review, thanks!! I was wondering what you think about the blon 03 with all the experience your have in expensive headphones. I will wait now for your thieaudio legacy 3 review :)
I have a lot of chi fi and I love the Blon but I think the Shozy form 1.1 are better. Prefer them over anything I have heard until you start paying a lot more £s
0:32 that shot is sick man!
Also, 1:47, and this IEM reflects everything when trying to photograph it.
i really liked 1:43
i agree for sure but it lingered on the lens for too long was a bit random after 0:32 love the vid tho
I am sure everyone acknowledges the awesome shots in this thread.
bro from now on I will use my camera lens instead of magnifying glass.
These are really F#%*IN’ GOOD!
My setup for these are:
IEM: BLON BL-03.
Custom Cable: Acid Purple Hart Audio PC-3: Dual Angled 2-pin (QDC) Balanced IEM Cable w/ a female 4-pin mini XLR and a male 4-pin mini XLR to a 90 degree 3.5mm TRS interconnect line.
Custom Ear Tip: Midnight Purple Eartune Fidelity Custom IEM Ear Tip
Altogether for me is the ultimate band for your buck in an IEM!
These sound better than the majority of iem's in the 0-1000$ category. I sold most of my expensive gear because I listen to these for 95% of the time since they got released.... The B-LON 03 are not just a good deal for low budget, they are one of the finest earphones you can get nowadays regardless of prize (if you like a warm tuning with slamming bass that is to say)!
I love the tuning so much, the only downside is in technical performance. Separation isn't that good and overall sound quality is based on the price but still hella a deal
Love these, they often sell at way lower prices - got mine at 22 euros (24 bucks). They make for a great BD or christmas present.
These rock. I use them with foam tips. They sound better than my on ear headphones which cost way way more.
if you like neutral with stellar bass response get the FIIO FH5 - bought it used 160$
or
BLON MDFKN OPPOTEY 03
i got ikko OH10's and they blew my mind
Josh Caruthers do you have the blons to compare?
FH5 vs BLON03. I have both, bought FH5 since its launch..
-FH5 Is more Sub-bass focus and it extends a bit more
- BLON-03 is more mid-bass focus and more pronounced, though clean.
(Personally, I prefer FH5 bass)
- Mids and Uppermid-range(vocals) in FH5 is way more forward, they can be shouty for some.
- Mid range sound's a bit warmer on FH5. BLON still sounds warm but better tonality, more natural and pleasantm
(Personally, I prefer BLON mids)
- Treble is roll-off with FH5, while BLON has extended treble but totally forgiving.
( prefer treble on BLONs)
- Resolution, I give the upper-hand to FH5, but it is not that big of a difference. Not for the price difference between the two.
- Soundstage and imagining are better on FH5. Imagining-instrument separation is what makes them better in regards to technicalities. Soundtage is not that far off. They actually present soundstage a bit differently. More depth focus on FH5.
In my opinion, , after listening BLONs, I'd not consider FH5.
I have heard that L3 are better than fh5 and 7
Blon is a endgame for vocals and mid-range
Wdym ?
Nice review! The BLON BL-03 are pretty awesome. Agree with you on most points, though I do think the bass on these are a little muddy. Still a great pair and unbeatable at the price (and as you also mentioned, better value than many higher priced iems as well). A different one that I would suggest that you review is the Shuoer Tape (low voltage e-stat driver). These sound amazing at reasonable listening volume, but can be a bit too bright when played louder. I'd class them in the budget category for iems as well.
Are they unbeatable currently in 2024 for under $25? I really want to know, want a REAL budget IEM and I'm new in this IEM niche, so if you answer, it'll be awesome! Cheers
December 2023 here, and I'm listening to this review, on my blon bl03! I own about 20 different iem's, and these are still at the top of my list!
I know that using my 4.4 pentacon connection, with my Fosi Audio DS1 dac/amp with these is overkill, but let me tell you, the sound is just incredible!
When pushed to max volume, the bl03's do not clip at all! Out of all my iem's, I only have one other iem that does not clip at max volume.... ( orchestra lite ).
My test song for clipping, is Earthrise by Epic Score. Go check it out, and wait for the first sub bass drop. That's where most of my iem's clip.
Blon should be charging about 150.00 bucks for these!
This question might sound dumb but can you use this buds for gaming ?
50$??? you can get them for 25$
I got mine with an extra cable for $23 during the 11.11 sale.
in my country u can get it for about $17
Prices are probably a bit weird on these right now, like with a lot of other things. I had these several months ago, and I think I paid $40 at the time.
@@alvinfariz2626 whaa
25 on aliexpress
Having using it for 2 months, mainly for the commune and like exercise. They are cheap and sounded great for the price. However, the main draw back is that they build up moisture fast if you use it for a long walk. The sound will start to fade to quiet on one side or both. Then, you needed to let it dry up to let the sound come back. For home use, I recommend them. For daily commute and exercise, I do not recommend.
Moondrop Starfields!
As usual, Josh is about a month or two behind current events. Maybe we'll get his review in September lol
Love my Starfields. It makes my music sound like eating a rich super premium ice cream. Rich, smooth, full of flavor.
@@Baphometus666 well I'm okay if we can get a good review like he always does and so far he does not disappoints me xD
Have these Blons and the Starfield. The Starfield sound significantly better to my ears and more than justify the price difference.
PLEASE review those Joshua! lots of love to the channel
Urbanfun YBF-ISS04 and ThieAudio Legacy 3. Both are steps up from the Blon BL 03 @ $50-100 and $100-200, respectively. You are right, though, "fu*k yeah!" The value proposition for the Blons is crazy.
Is there an iem better than L3 for under 150 usd ?
Like shouer or ikko or starfield ?
@@davidmason8212 That all depends on what type of music you prefer and what music you like to listen to. For me, I am not a bass freak when listening critically. I also don't want more bass than what the producer put in the mix. Detail and dynamics are great but I prefer an iem to get "tone" correctly, especially in the midrange. In the
@@marklnj7224 ate the blons good for gaming?
The ThieAudio Legacy 3, starting at $119 is exceptional. Very pleasant tuning and timbre, great detail for its price point, realistic dynamic driver bass with the correct level of weight. It sounds better than some kilobuck flagships that I've heard. Otherwise, the Blon BL03 is usually found around $30, not $50 (the BL-05 is about $50 though). The Blon really benefits from using a different 2 pin cable, the stock ~270 degree bend is way too severe and is uncomfortable for many.
I used a spinfit a size down on the BL-03 and I really like the sound, not as bassy.
Legacy3, Starfield are also worth looking at.
the beginning explanation is exactly how I imagine it in my mind: like exactly the same thing. This is how I would explain it to someone if any1 asked my why didn't I spend more on iems
I had these, bought them because of the praise they have, and they deserve that praise. My problem , and it is the same for many others, is that the stem is too short and they don't go far enough in my ear for a good seal. In my case they just kept popping out, even after trying mods recommended online and trying all sorts of tips. I ended up giving them to a friend.
I ended up falling more in love with the TRN V30's. They also sound amazing, fit my ears like they were custom molded for them, and are actually cheaper.
How good do they sound
I got mine for 21 us dollars... it's dirt cheap here in Malaysia. Changed the tips to Spinfits and bought a Yinyoo cable along with a 15 bucks dongle DAC and it's by far the best chi-fi starter pack under 50 bucks...
Edit: I'm using the blon right now lol
I got mine in EU for 24 $ on 11.11. at AExpress
Which spinfit do you use? I'm tempted to try, though I usually have problems with iem fitting
@@RikuoNura383 cp100... tried the cp145 but it's just too big until the tips digs itself deep into the nozzle. But cp100 also does that over time, so you might want to put some rubber washers to keep them in place...
Same price here in the Philippines
Still using it? How is it holding up comparing to others & where did you bought it in Malaysia? Thanks
I bought BLON BL-07s, and they're pretty amazing. Definitely warm and bassy, but the treble detail and timbre is a few steps above the 03s.
Moondrop Starfield... $110. Great buy.
Have you heard the blon 03 and the starfields?
@@rockfella27 of course not
@@rockfella27 I have. I like Starfields a lot more. I like how they are tuned more. Blons are definitely not that bad either though. they are much bassier but the detail is decent when compared to Starfields. enjoy both but I'm much happier taking my blons around
@@rockfella27 yes, I own both and recommend both depending on what you want.
The blons are way cheaper, and are amazing for thier price. You can find them for under $30 in the US most of the time. Thier main weakness is thier comfort, it's an awkward shape and has very short nozzles.
The Starfields are my preferred of the two, and are my daily driver, easily competes with most other well loved IEMs under $500. There are no glaring flaws with the Starfields and thier harman-like sound signature is good with most music.
The blon bl03 are more warm, but they lack in detail, imaging, and clarity when you directly compare to the Starfields, it doesn't sound as smooth. That is when you compare them ignoring price.
If you have the money, I would point to the Starfields, if you don't, the bl03 is still an amazing set of IEMs. The BLON bl-03 is what I would recommend for anyone that is interested in entry level audiophile gear, that and the Koss KPH30i. Good audio doesn't have to be expensive.
@@Elc22 agreed. Considering that the 03s fit me great with a tips and cable change, I pick them over my much more expensive gear all the time. These and the Apple lightening dongle gives an audio quality that’s silly good. No it doesn’t have the same technical performance as my HD-6xx or even other IEMs like Dunu Luna, but they’re rather pleasing, and they do things to the sound that makes me gravitate towards them more than my other gear that cost 100s of $ more. They’re that good...
Thank you for nice review.. BTW I just got my BLON BL-03 for US$27 yesterday.. The highs are definitely quite sharp, bit sharper than my Sony XBA-N1AP's.. But the bass is slightly less than my Sony's (which is a warm IEM).. I replaced the thin transparent plastic tips with foam ones so that it sounds more bassy & less sharp.. Now it sounds like N3AP, a step higher than my N1AP but with bit less bass but bit more treble.. But then again, the two Sony's @ US$190 & US$230 respectively cost 7 to 8.5 times more - definitely not a fair price comparison.. Well done to BLON, I must say for producing an IEM that can match the big players like Sony.. 😊
How are the Blons going for you now? Do you still use them?
If anyone wants to know how the blons are, I bought some and they sound great.
@@kaikaih5771
@@kaikaih5771 how’s them after a month?
@@axzel4038 I've had them a few months now and they still work great and sound great. Only problem is they're a bit loud
Your first review of affordable IEMS! Been waiting for this, other awesome ones to try are the TRN V90, BA5, KZ ZSX, TIN T2, T4 and P1 and Urbanfun YBF-ISS04.
ItsJustChase second the v90
Second the T4, literally everything else on that list can go to hell
@@OwO-dw8ox Did I ask?
TRN BA5 my first IEM
Love my urbanfuns more than my blons. Next getting the Legacy 3’s
I purchased these about a month ago; very pleased! Using the largest tips worked well for me. I listen to a lot of classic rock from the 70's-90's and the staging (at least to me) is very good. As you said, it depends on the recording and listening from a DAP, the quality of the digital reproduction. You are correct and I agree, there is a point of diminishing returns and although I'm not sure where that point is, I do feel I got much more than what I paid for with these. Nice review.
I picked up a set based on your video today. Connected them to my little FiiO E10K and they sound amazing for the price point, right out of the box. These are a solid $50.00 option. Thank you.
I bought a pair after this review. Great value for this price. Thanks Josh
I just got mine today, and I'm blown away. I didn't think they would live up to all the hype that I've read but damn, they did it. They sound better than my $300 sony xm4, for sure.
Actually they dont, xm4 still has better sound stage and better mids, while blon has better sound separation and clarity. Both have very different timbre to them. Blon for better music and xm4 for better mids and vocals. All in all they both have very enjoyable sound signature. I still pick my xm4 but only just. Both have their strengths and weaknesses. Although blon bl 03 is just amazing value for money.
@@nishantsanghvi2441 you can’t say they definitively don’t when sound is completely subjective
@@nishantsanghvi2441 kid 🤡 XM4 are completely garbage Boomy mess they don't even have a good mid range and treble is non existent 😂
And you saying it sounds good?
Lol?
Even $5 Sony MH1 will destroy XM4 in terms of Audio quality
Kid get owned
I had a TRN BA5, they died and was about to buy a CA16 CCA as an upgrade to the BA5. On that same day the BL03s that I bought for curiosity arrived, wow! they sounded better than the BA5! I doubt that the CA16s sound better, maybe they are at the same level, but I don't think they are better, so i will buy the BL 01 and thats it
I am really happy with my Blon BL-03. I have spent way too much money for way too many earphones in the 60 dollar range. I use these the most. Now I am waiting for BL05. Those are supposed to sound a bit different but the shape looks way better.
me too I spent KZ AS06, tin t3 and I forgot the other one just about $15. If only I have extra cash to try other iem but I'll probably get the blon 03
Did you get bl05, how are they?
Came back to thank you for the recommendation. Have them for 3 months now, and I love them.
Damn this thing is crazy... Never thought an IEM would be this good at this price... Totally blew my mind...
Do you think this would be good for gaming audio?
Great review. You just hit the nail on the head with the Blons, I have two pair, one stock ones and the another ones with Vsonic tips (less subbass and rumble and tighter bass, and the other frequencies with no changes). Another cheap iems I like: artiste dc1, urbanfun ybf-iss014, and Samsung Galaxy Buds (v1 ones from 2019). Stay safe!
Hah, pretty spot-on with the review once more.
I'm addictive to these IEMs. They are definitely non-brainer for every person who wish to get into HIFi audio without burning his wallet. Once you EQ them to reduce the mid-bass a bit BLON-03 becomes immaculate and un-touchable.
To describe it, these IEMs have this kind of analog-natural timbre on it that make them essential, unique and spectacular for multiple genres especially, classic rock music; a timbre that none of my higher-priced IEMs and headphones are able to reproduce as flawlessly.
The only cons are:
- They are a bit on the average-side when we talk about resolution and technicalities as "instrument separation" if we compared to other higher-priced IEMs. Though the naturalness and accuracy in the timbre make you forgive this cons
- The standard cable and tips suck, and they are REQUIRED to be swapped out instantly in order to get the best experience out of these IEMs. So you may expect more investment for this combo, if you currently do not own an additional 2-pin cable.
- They may be on the bad to average side in term of comfort to some people. To me, they are okay in comfort, but it may not be as comfortable to others.
Bl03 really needs to be amped to get clarity to a certain degree ofc
I agree, they sound way muddier when I drive them directly through my phone, but when I pair them with my OPPO HA2-SE, they definitely sound way clearer, though I''ve listened to clearer IEMs around $80-$200, using the same setup.
So for us poor people, I really like the Blon BL-03. What I want to know is how can you justify spending $1,000 and up for basically the same IEM? Are Campfire, for example, IEM's so expensive because they are made in America? I find it hard to believe that their 'innards' are that much different than the Blon's. Just asking. Great video, Josh.
Yea stuff made in the U.S is generally going to be pricier because they actually pay their employees
Good review. I also own the blons and when you get a good seal (using dekoni bulletz foam tips) they sound just so ... right. It's like the Koss ksc75. They are pleasing, fun and in no way offensive to you ears. Just great musical abilities. 👍
Hey! Loved the review. Do you recommend going for a cable swap on Blon 03?
Thanks Andrew...as usual, well thought out and to the point. I was looking for something cheap to make my stay-at-home more interesting. Thanks
I found the BLON BL 03s to be completely unusable until I found the right ear tip as they just didn't fit me otherwise due to their short nozzle. One I found the Final Audio silicon type E Tips in Size LL they became my daily driver until I got the Shozy Form 1.4s. Never changed out the cable, but now I'm curious and will go back to them, possibly balanced.
Would love to see take on ThieAudio Legacy 3, a step up from Blon.
Absolutely, my ThieAudio Legacy 3 is exceptional
Only if they managed to fix their QA, ordered 2 pairs, both took 2 months to arrive had issues, put in for replacement waiting for new pairs now.
I have the blons and are getting the legacy 3’s next
@@Makaveli6103 does it worth the extra price of the l3 over the03 ?
@@pinnaclephotography8535 with what iem do you compare them?
How can a $30 earphone sounded so good? It sounds better than some of my higher end earphones(300 to 500 range). One of the few earphone that got the upper mids and lower treble right.
Because of how profit margins affect quality, especially in terms of name brands. These IEMs hit the sweet spot, though.
Give the Tin T4 a listen/possible review! If you haven't given them a shot see how they compare to other Tins (T2, T3) or the BLONs
Moondrop Starfield for sure
Are those better than these?
I love them, I have the little brass sony iems (can't remember their name) CCAC10's B&W P7 and Hifiman Sundara's but I use my Blon 03's more than all of the others, I bought a second set for when they eventually die. Great go to budget iem which has a way bigger sound than their price would suggest. Try them with the K B ear balanced cable 4.4mm connector through fiio M11 ......... wow !
You do get good and diverse base response on surprisingly many studio headphones when changing the often used velour pads to something with memory foam or leather. You can ruin the signature by that but some musicstores let you try out different pads or you can look for infos in forums. That way you can make lets say dt 770 pros sound pretty balanced by reducing the sgarpness of hights and increasing mids and subbase.
I got these, thought they were very mediocre and a bit shouty but good for the price. Couldn't understand why people were raving about them. After a couple of weeks the left bud volume decreased significantly. Received the replacement and they sound SO much better. Like a completely different IEM...I get it now. If the volume didn't go on the left bud, I would have always thought BLON 03 was the most overrated headphone out there.
Favorite headphone reviewer so far👍👍Need more budget headphones and iem reviews like this one .
You might want to check out ZReviews channel as well. He had a whole mini series on budget head phones from KZ, Blon, tin, and a few others.
@@bigchimpin4215 z is a moron that should be used for comedic purposes only.
I also wasn’t excited about these, and just bought them b/c they were so inexpensive, and I wanted to see what the fuss was about. I was blown away instantly, and it was not what I was expecting. Great review, I agree with everything you said, and I vote for you to review the ThieAudio Legacy 3 at some point.
Just got a pair of these for 7 bucks at an Amazon pallet resale shop. They're GREAT!!
I literally just ordered these. Excited af
Edit: Just got these. You are spot on about the S's.
@@randomstuff0069 Bohot sahi. Lekin eartips bohot bekaar hai. Abhi spinfit cp 150 ke saath mast chal rahe hai
@@alokesh985 SpinFit tips 800rs he bc. Tf
I got these for $15 on drops website and have had them since 2020 and love them. I also got custom eartips so it beats noise cancelling by a long shot. Never going back to those pointless expensive wireless buds.
I got these for 2.2k inr(around 30 usd)and it's the best purchase I've ever made
Josh, Tin HiFi P1. All the treble resolution and, with a little eq, great low end extension. The amp is important but they can really sing!
Need a shootout review between Blon BL 03 and Urbanfun YBF-ISS014. Then throw in another between Moondrop Starfield and Thieaudio Legacy 3. I own all of these and can't make up my mind. They are all great. I also love the Tin HiFi P1. The universe of ChiFi IEMs is exploding and these "happy accidents" are happening with regularity. Not sure how the very high priced IEM's are going to stay in business if this continues.
Moondrop Starfield!! People are saying their giant killers, the next default. $109.
Starfield is definitely better than the BLON....but at around $110 the ER2XR is quite a step up in audio refinement
urbanfun iss014 are a more refined blon 03. If you get the right ones apparently. I got mine off linsoul
QC issues tho
Review the Thieaudio legacy 3 and I suggest you replace the eartips on the blon with foam tips or spinfit cp100 and the cable
Can you recommend the cable too?
@@meh.h I'm using the tripowin c8 8 core cable
Strange that I saw this so late, but finally something I can buy :)
Best in 32$ ?
@@dhavalpatel9733 they are pretty good, the cable needs adjustment tho
Thanks a lot for the review! Would you consider these would be good for guitarists onstage? Or maybe the 10s? The main problem for guitarists is fizzy midrange causing unnatural response to guitar sound. Very common for enstance for Shure SE215. I consider transition from KZ ZS10 which are way better than SE215 to me. I'm curious about your opinion though. :D
Just ordered a pair of these! Looking forward to recieving them.
I love my BLON BL-03s all though they need new cables and tips, but even with with all that I am only into them for about $65. They sound as good as some of the headphones I have that are well over $200.
I am really surprised that you qualified the ear tips on these as OK, unless Blon have changed the tips that come the BL 03. The original ear tips that came with my Blon BL 03 made them unbearable with very thin sound, very poor bass, etc. So I tried some other tips ( Comply soft) and then WOW. They rival my Flare Audio Pro for certain types of music.
I suggest you try some other tips, preferably long ones as the nozzle is quite short on the BL 03 and give us your thoughts. Keep on doing your good work.
Jean-Pierre Marcil i was also surprised when he said that.
I used on set of silicone tips and cut the stems and used them as a o-ring on the nozzle of the bl03 and then i place my symbios foam tips, so much more comfortable that way.
Kz-Zsx under 50 bucks on linsoul. It has 6 drivers per bud (5 balanced armatures and 1 dynamic driver). I've been very surprised by what KZ has to offer. The KZ-ZS10 is also a good choice, but it is the predecessor.
BLON BL-05 also under 50 on linsoul. They're advertising this as the successor to the BL-03. You can see more about it on linsoul's website.
Take a look at the tripowin C8 audio cable on Amazon as well. It's a damn good cable and won't break the bank.
so i just bought the campfire polaris and it honestly felt silly paying that much for an IEM. the reason why i feel that way is because i see an IEM as a convenient lifestyle product... if i was to dive as deep into the music as i possibly can, i go into my own little world with my zmf aeolus and my tube amp, and all i do is experience the music... i bought the IEM for listening to music while im at work. im going to be focusing on many other things while i am wearing them. i just dont need something unbelievable when im not going to pay full attention to it... 500 dollars for the polaris seems stupid but hey i guess im stupid lol i really dont think i will ever pay more for an IEM though.
I would love to see a review / comparison between these ones and the KZ ZS10 PRO, which are about the same price tag.
How does this one compares with the Moondrop Chu? Which one would be a better pick out of the two in terms of sound quality?
I could not get a good fit with these. It seems like no matter what tips I used (the included ones). The sound was still leaking and just killing the bass. I will see about picking up some eartips one day and trying these again.
I been using the KZ ZS10 Pro and they get the job done "for the price." As someone that doesn't own high end gear. It's a pretty detail listen. Been listing to Sigrid Watermelon Suger and Van Morrison Tupelo Honey and Matchbox Twenty I Will on them.
in terms of pure sound quality wich one do you prefer ?
Seeing the SVS Ultra tower speakers reminds me... When will you be giving them a proper review?
Cool on point review on the iem.
Joshua, wonder if you'd be inclined to do the extremely impressive (impressive sound quality for the price) USD$1.0 Vido earphones... Just for fun of it!
Another budget IEM recommendation (at USD$70): Urbanfun YBF-ISS014 Beryllium Diaphragm Dynamic Driver
During the years i listened to a lot of headphones, also really high end. But my perfect sound is represented by the Beyer DT990s. I got this blons because everyone was really excited about them, for me they are totally plain, no highs, too much mids but pretty good bass. They are dull, closed sounding and boring. Got zs10pro, i'm amazed every day more and more.
And this is why no one can tell us what is best for US. Josh, and a few others, very often are careful to remind us that they're talking about their preferences, and why and how...
Have you tried the 1990?
please do Sony MH-755. IMO it sound much better and at much cheaper price too. But I heavily reccommend to MMCX Mod it first because the stock cable is short and has awful fitting.
Immediately bought one the moment you said “fuck yes!”. I trust you.
Same😂
Although quite late from the hype
Finally, welcome to the club,
this set absolutely amazing,
For gaming and gaming , up to date, which iem do u reckon ?
thieaudio legacy 3!!!
At 5 times the price..these are $26 right now...yeah no more talk for u
"Finite" is the opposite of infinite. The word you're looking for is "fine"
Surprisingly there are multiple opposites of infinite, finite is an opposite the same way limited is to unlimited. There is also a polar opposite, Infinite is the largest thing you can have, infinitesimal is the smallest.
Are they better than Apple Earpods (3.5mm Jack) in terms of Bass and natural tonality?
So I bought a pair of these and I actually really like them a lot. I think I like a similar sound signature to Josh and he loves the Arya's but what other suggestions do you guys have for maybe more "fun" headphones. I've got the 58X's and have liked those with a little EQ to add some bass and I paired them up to a JDS Labs Atom. Its been great, no real complaints but now I'm looking to upgrade. I'll probably get a better amp like the THX 789 or something and Mod House Argons but what else do you all think fits the "fun" bill.
man.. I just bought this iem and it blew my mind.. it sounds so good.. I'm using it with jcally jm20 dac.. I haven't upgrade the cable yet.. maybe next month..
Well, there is blon bl05, Tin t4, Shouer tape, thieaudio legacy 3, kbear kb04, kz zs10 pro, urbanfun ybf iss (qc issue), tri i3, shozy 1.1, shozy 1.4, and shozy b2(250$)
Ikko oh10, moondrop starfield, trn v90
Can you do the Moondrop Starfield next?
For those wanted a good fit, get a Azla Xelastic Eartips, buy 1 size smaller vs spinfits.
I agree with everything Joshua mentioned but the static though, It's real on there from time to time i get a little static shock I think it is the metal those are made of.
Can you guys tell me Which colour is this one exactly ? Is it the silver or the browns ?
Great video, as always! I've had my eyes on the BLONs for a while now, might be my next purchase if I can find them on stock for a good price. I for one would love to hear your opinion on the KZ ZSX!
I have both for a few months now. All i can say is go for the blon. I left all my iem's which is way more expensive than this. Its just sound really good
You are an excellent reviewer waiting for you to review of the zs 10 pro to know what is the best iem under 50 usd
Just got a pair of purple blons for my TRN BT20S Pros since the dumb recessed connectors of my Starfields won't let the pins insert all the way.
Sonically how does this compare with the Tin Audio T2?
Are these good for small ears? Or maybe easier if you can tell if the tip is smaller/larger than say a TinT2/3.
Shure 215 are a classic that served me well while I had them, and the Ibasso It01 were also pretty great for being 99 dollars.
Hi , I am starting in the IEM journey, what will be a better choice Blon Bl03 vs moondrop CHU ? Any other recommendations in this budget?
Great review! What replacement cable and tips can I buy? Amazon?
So the bass quality will get better in the 300 dollar range. Are the 300 dollar ones roughly the same size as the 50 dollar ones?
Final e3000. I'm especially wondering about the isolation compared to these. Cheers and keep up the good work!
Check out the TRN BA5 and the Sony MH755. The TRN rivals the Tins for detail and cleanliness to my ears, and I haven't tried the Sonys myself, but they're supposedly world-beaters for around $10.
2:40 Is that Rossi's '08 GP Tech Five Continents in the background? Cool! 😎
Have these on the way from massdrop (as well as the tin t2) excited to hear them for myself.
Just got into this hobby planning to get one would you prefer tint2 or the blon03
I was waiting for this review, thanks!! I was wondering what you think about the blon 03 with all the experience your have in expensive headphones. I will wait now for your thieaudio legacy 3 review :)
Me too
Did you replace ear tips? If so which tips?
are they good for listening to ambinet music like from the artist brain eno, robin guthrie and other .
I have a lot of chi fi and I love the Blon but I think the Shozy form 1.1 are better. Prefer them over anything I have heard until you start paying a lot more £s