DISCLAIMER
The review I'm about to share reflects my personal experience and provides an honest evaluation regarding this set. I am completely unaffiliated from the brands I review. I did not receive (or will receive) any financial or monetary incentives in exchange for writing this review, I wrote this review of my own free will and all of the opinions you'll read are my own.
This unit was provided by Linsoul Audio for free in exchange for an honest and detailed review. Rest assured, this does not affect my opinions about this set. Thank you, Linsoul, for the continuous support!
SPECIFICATIONS
Driver configuration: 10mm Dual Chamber Dynamic Driver
Impedance: 32Ω
Sensitivity: 116dB
INTRODUCTION
Looking back, the original Blon BL03 was one of the most hyped budget IEMs a few years ago, and the praise was well-deserved. Its unique tuning captured a lot of attention, offering a fun, warm, and engaging sound signature with impactful bass that could even satisfy some bassheads. While the OG BL03 is considered one of the most renowned budget IEMs of all time, it was not without its flaws.
Now, Blon has revisited the original BL03 in an effort to reclaim the “Budget King” title, making tweaks to improve upon the original sound signature. So let’s now dive into the newly released Blon BL03 II. Here are the gears I’ve used over the past week to review this set:
DAC Dongle: Jcally JM7l or Fiio Q3 MQA
Phone/Device: Either my iPhone XR or my laptop
Music player: Spotify, Tidal, and Apple Music
PACKAGING
The BL03 II’s packaging is simple and straightforward. Upon opening the box, the IEMs will immediately greet you. It comes with a good selection of eartips in various sizes and textures, allowing you to find the perfect fit. Additionally, there’s an included pouch with a canvas-like feel, similar to the one provided with the original BL03.
BUILD QUALITY, DESIGN, AND COMFORT
The shell of the BL03 II feels very durable, being fully constructed from zinc alloy. It features flush (non-recessed) pin headers designed for straight 2-pin cables, replacing the QDC pin connection used in the original BL03. In my opinion, switching to straight 2-pin connectors is a great improvement. Even the cable quality has been upgraded—it feels smoother, tangles less easily, and doesn’t produce annoying microphonics.
As for fit and comfort, the BL03 II is quite comfortable—provided you position it correctly in your ears. Achieving the right fit might take a few attempts due to its unique shell design and short nozzles though.
SOUND IMPRESSIONS
I’ve been using the BL03 II for a little over a week since it arrived at my doorstep, and it delivers a well-balanced U-shaped tuning. It manages to sound fun and engaging without being overly forward or aggressive on either end of the spectrum. The BL03 II showcases good dynamics and strikes an excellent balance between a fun sound signature and a smooth overall presentation.
Bass
The BL03 II offers a good amount of bass while maintaining a balanced presentation. Sub-bass and mid-bass are nearly equal in quantity, with the mid-bass being slightly more forward. While the sub-bass feels a bit laid-back, the mid-bass compensates with its punch, ensuring the bass remains present, though not particularly full-bodied. The transition from the mid-bass to the lower midrange is smooth, adding a hint of warmth to the overall sound. The bass detail is good, and the texture leans on the smoother side. This might leave some bassheads wanting more, but for most general listeners, the BL03 II's bass quantity and quality will be more than satisfying.
Mids
The midrange offers a good level of detail without sounding artificial. The lower mids carry a subtle hint of thickness, adding a natural quality to the sound. However, this warmth doesn’t blur the midrange details, which is a commendable balance. Bass bleed is almost nonexistent, ensuring clarity in this range. Vocals, on the other hand, sound soft and slightly too relaxed. There is no sharpness, isn't thin, but can occasionally be overshadowed by instruments due to the relaxed tuning of the upper midrange. While the midrange is well-tuned overall, especially in the context of the bass and treble balance, vocals are not the BL03 II’s strong suit. Vocal enthusiasts might find this set underwhelming in that regard.
Treble
For me, the highlight of the BL03 II is its treble region. It is neither shouty nor peaky, with no trace of sibilance, yet it delivers a satisfying amount of treble energy. The treble doesn’t sound dry; instead, it provides an open and airy presentation with excellent extension. Treble attacks are snappy and tactile, adding a dynamic quality to the sound. This well-tuned treble is what keeps the BL03 II from sounding boring, even with its balanced tuning. It adds a lively character to the overall presentation, making the listening experience engaging and enjoyable.
Details, Imaging, and Soundstage
In terms of overall detail retrieval, the BL03 II falls short. Its detail retrieval and resolution are not particularly strong, and it’s immediately evident that this set wasn’t designed to be analytical. Instrument separation and imaging are fairly average, but the soundstage compensates with a sense of spaciousness, offering decent vertical and horizontal dimensions.
I’ve been using the BL03 II for a little over a week since it arrived at my doorstep, and it delivers a well-balanced U-shaped tuning. It manages to sound fun and engaging without being overly forward or aggressive on either end of the spectrum. The BL03 II showcases good dynamics and strikes an excellent balance between a fun sound signature and a smooth overall presentation.
Bass
The BL03 II offers a good amount of bass while maintaining a balanced presentation. Sub-bass and mid-bass are nearly equal in quantity, with the mid-bass being slightly more forward. While the sub-bass feels a bit laid-back, the mid-bass compensates with its punch, ensuring the bass remains present, though not particularly full-bodied. The transition from the mid-bass to the lower midrange is smooth, adding a hint of warmth to the overall sound. The bass detail is good, and the texture leans on the smoother side. This might leave some bassheads wanting more, but for most general listeners, the BL03 II's bass quantity and quality will be more than satisfying.
Mids
The midrange offers a good level of detail without sounding artificial. The lower mids carry a subtle hint of thickness, adding a natural quality to the sound. However, this warmth doesn’t blur the midrange details, which is a commendable balance. Bass bleed is almost nonexistent, ensuring clarity in this range. Vocals, on the other hand, sound soft and slightly too relaxed. There is no sharpness, isn't thin, but can occasionally be overshadowed by instruments due to the relaxed tuning of the upper midrange. While the midrange is well-tuned overall, especially in the context of the bass and treble balance, vocals are not the BL03 II’s strong suit. Vocal enthusiasts might find this set underwhelming in that regard.
Treble
For me, the highlight of the BL03 II is its treble region. It is neither shouty nor peaky, with no trace of sibilance, yet it delivers a satisfying amount of treble energy. The treble doesn’t sound dry; instead, it provides an open and airy presentation with excellent extension. Treble attacks are snappy and tactile, adding a dynamic quality to the sound. This well-tuned treble is what keeps the BL03 II from sounding boring, even with its balanced tuning. It adds a lively character to the overall presentation, making the listening experience engaging and enjoyable.
Details, Imaging, and Soundstage
In terms of overall detail retrieval, the BL03 II falls short. Its detail retrieval and resolution are not particularly strong, and it’s immediately evident that this set wasn’t designed to be analytical. Instrument separation and imaging are fairly average, but the soundstage compensates with a sense of spaciousness, offering decent vertical and horizontal dimensions.
VS THE ORIGINAL BLON BL03
To answer the question immediately—yes, the BL03 II is an improved version of the original. It’s evident that Blon took the feedback from the original BL03 to heart and made meaningful enhancements.
The BL03 II features a more relaxed bass region compared to the original, offering a cleaner and more detailed midrange. There’s also added forwardness in the upper midrange, along with increased treble energy and extension. The BL03 II delivers slightly more detail overall while preserving the qualities that made the original so beloved.
In summary, the BL03 II is relatively better and more refined across the board, all while staying true to what fans loved about its predecessor.
To answer the question immediately—yes, the BL03 II is an improved version of the original. It’s evident that Blon took the feedback from the original BL03 to heart and made meaningful enhancements.
The BL03 II features a more relaxed bass region compared to the original, offering a cleaner and more detailed midrange. There’s also added forwardness in the upper midrange, along with increased treble energy and extension. The BL03 II delivers slightly more detail overall while preserving the qualities that made the original so beloved.
In summary, the BL03 II is relatively better and more refined across the board, all while staying true to what fans loved about its predecessor.
CONCLUSION
I can confidently say that Blon succeeded in their mission to release an improved version of the original BL03. Excessive bass smearing? They toned down both the sub-bass and mid-bass. A midrange that felt too thick and overshadowed by the mid-bass and lower mids? They refined it, enhancing midrange clarity. Upper mids and treble too laid-back? They addressed that as well.
Blon managed to improve the already well-loved BL03 without altering its core appeal too much. To be honest, it seemed almost impossible to preserve the strengths of the predecessor while fixing its weaknesses, but they pulled it off. Kudos to Blon for the BL03 II—this release demonstrates the great results that can come from listening to constructive feedback.
UNAFFILIATED LINK
Blon BL03 II: https://www.linsoul.com/products/blon-bl03-ii?_psq=BL03&_v=1.0
I can confidently say that Blon succeeded in their mission to release an improved version of the original BL03. Excessive bass smearing? They toned down both the sub-bass and mid-bass. A midrange that felt too thick and overshadowed by the mid-bass and lower mids? They refined it, enhancing midrange clarity. Upper mids and treble too laid-back? They addressed that as well.
Blon managed to improve the already well-loved BL03 without altering its core appeal too much. To be honest, it seemed almost impossible to preserve the strengths of the predecessor while fixing its weaknesses, but they pulled it off. Kudos to Blon for the BL03 II—this release demonstrates the great results that can come from listening to constructive feedback.
UNAFFILIATED LINK
Blon BL03 II: https://www.linsoul.com/products/blon-bl03-ii?_psq=BL03&_v=1.0