BLON Z200: A Redemption Prospect?

"Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don't resist them; that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like."

This quote is from Lao Zu, a great Chinese philosopher and it's all acceptance and moving on. That's how I actually felt about this particular audio brand, BLON. I have a very complicated connection with this brand as it is one of its products is the main reason that drives me to be an IEM reviewer. To make this story short, I'm one of the many audio enthusiasts who purchased the BL03 due to some hyping from influencers and opinions in YouTube and in some audio forums on how good sounding this IEM but when I received it, put them in my lugholes, my initial expression is "What the f***... is this a quality tuning that these people are praising it to the heavens, this is awfully tuned, fitting is atrocious  and technicalities are really subpar, this is no way a f****** budget Oxy (Tanchjim Oxygen)!". I tried some improvements by purchasing some spinfit eartips and upgraded cable but still no avail to fix those issues. It's a big disappointment and waste of dosh, then after that, I develop a great dislike for BL03. Some people in the audio community scene are even aware that I always thrashed the comments in regards to BL03. 

Then, in a twist of fate, a certain audio distributor contacted me if I am willing to do a review on a new product from BLON. At first, I was quite hesitant but at same time, my thoughts inside says that I should try it for the sake of pursuing the development of my audio hobby. And now I have the BLON Z200 in my hand and I'll be sharing my honest impression about this one.

Like BL03, BLON Z200 is a single DD IEM encapsulated in a metal alloy shell with a matte-like coating. Its transducer is a 10mm CNT/ carbon diaphragm and claimed that its an improvement over BL03's DD to have faster transient response. BLON Z200 has 2 vent holes for escaping some excess air pressure generated from DD. As for the connector, BLON decided that this unit has a non-detachable 4-core SPC cable in a 3.5mm termination plug which is a bummer in my opinion. And there's precurve hooks in cable which is actually good as it contours well to my upper earlobes.

Regarding its fitting and wearing aspect, Z200 seems to have comfortable as its stays well in my lug holes but fitting is a shallow one and it is a tad loose as I wiggling when I do some walking.

Packaging of BLON Z200 is a decent one, it practically the same with the BL03 box and noticeable difference between them is that BLON finally corrected the word "Opportunity".( I still have some giggles on the wrong spelling one…Oppoty)

Here are some of the inclusions inside the box of BLON Z200.

• a pair of BLON Z200 IEM

• A canvass IEM bag sack

• Two (2) pairs of extra ear tips of different sizes (Small and Large)

• Basic instruction manual

As scalability on power sources. BLON Z200 amplies well on even a decent power source but when powered from a high quality hifi DAC/amp it does really improve the sound quality to have more added volume and even sound more dynamic.

Tonality of this set is almost the same as its predecessor. It has a very steep V-shaped sound signature due a more elevated bass and treble while a deep notched midrange.

Here are some of my observations on its sound characteristics on its element in the overall audio frequency spectrum.

LOWS/BASS:

Elevated, thudding and boomy, that's how I describe its bass quality. Sub bass is surely present as I hear some reverberation and rumbling sound as I feel its depth. Midbass is the focal point of the bass region as it has more texture to add more body to the bass guitar, bass kicks and bass-baritones. Bass guitars have this very broad and weighty character to add more growl on every plucking, Bass kicks has very resonant sound as being thunderous and pounding  and finally  a more guttural and husky sound on bass-baritone vocals.

Like my complaint on BL03, It still has a very bloated mid bass that really ruins the midrange which is already recessed in the overall presentation. Its bass bleeds  the sound of BLON Z200 way too muddled and unrefined just like the BL03.

MIDRANGE:

Mids are definitely a very recessed one, too recessed that really triggered my midcentric bias on how the vocals and instruments were presented on this one. I like my midrange to be presented in a forward, spacious and open-sounding with lots of details but Z200 doesn't fit on this one. It is too laid back that it really sounds  lean, veiled and was too overlaid by the bass.

For sure that bloated bass to midrange transition is more beneficial towards male vocals as it added more warmth to its texture to give sound more deep and gravelly on lower vocal types. As female vocals it has this "smoky" and sometimes orotund feeling that they are bit congested and somewhat restricted of being more energetic.

As for instruments' presentation, they are receded even further in the sonic canvass. Strings like guitars have a sufficient crisp but in most cases it does too warm sounding, violins have this glassy and wafting sound. Percussives like snares have this shrilly and clattering sound while field drums sound austere and somber. Piano tones have an uneven tone as they sound too mellow and less harmonic. Brass like tubas and horns have these particular tones of being rounded and warmer. Woodwinds like flutes has this soft and sighing but it has inadequacies of less airy sounding.

HIGHS/TREBLE:

As a V-shaped sounding, the treble of Z200 is certainly elevated as it was a bit bright and yet has its inherent smoothness. Upper mids has some certain peaks but sibilance and stridency is almost zero to none.

It has sparkle and brilliance as cymbal strikes have a shimmer and sizzle but it doesn't have the best airy extension as it was way too short and blunted but it gives a more natural sound on the hi-hats to have that distinct shorted, chick sound.

I rate the quality of treble on Z200 as above average while an average mark on its quantitative value.

SOUNDSTAGE, IMAGING & OTHER TECHNICALITIES:

Like the BL03, it mostly fared poorly on its technical aspects. The Z200 has an equal proportion on its spatial sound field but the perceived soundstage width is narrow to a mere average size, the height is also average and depth has an enough gap for back to front. Imaging performed decently as  it has a good transition from left to right in regards of stereo panning though in some instances, it can be cloudy but separation and layering is just sub par as it doesn't have an enough spacing and  frequency layering isn't in order and doesn't have a distinct placement that when a more complex instrumental tracks were played, it is absolutely congested and jumbled.

Coherency of driver somehow performs very cohesive and homogeneous manner, it is a noted that it has a moderate pace transient. As for tonal colour it has still an organic and natural sounding with just added tad of warmth with a substantial amount of shimmer.

As for resolution capability, Z200 focuses more on macro dynamics with just an average detail retrieval.

PEER COMPARISONS:

BLON BL03

• Both have metal alloy casing, BL03 has a removable cable option for cable upgrade while Z200 has a non-detachable one. Fitting is an improvement on Z200 while it is atrocious on BL03 in my ears no matter how I tried to replace it with different ear tips.

• Tonality is almost the same. Both have a V-shaped sound signature but compared to Z200, BL03 is less steeper. Bass bloat permeates both of these sets as it notoriously smudges on mids. Treble of BL03 is less brighter and muted on its airy extension. Less detailed compared to Z200.

• Technicalities of both sets are very similar though Z200 is tad better on resolution capability and has better imaging but for timbre when it comes of being organic sounding, BL03 is better.

KZ EDA (Balanced)

• Both have single DD but the KZ EDA's DD is a newer generation as it has faster transient and better diaphragm response for a lower distortion. I prefer Z200 in the build quality as it has metal alloy shell but as for fitting ergonomics, EDA is way better as It has a suitable fitting to my ears. And lastly, EDA is removable.

• They have both V-shaped sound signature, but the EDA is more balanced sounding, ample texture of bass that doesn't bleed on mids, more cleaner and lively midrange and a very similar treble response.

• Technicalities-wise, I prefer EDA in almost all categories, from soundstage, separation and layering even though that EDA's technicalities are still on the average side on preference. Imaging is somehow better on BLON Z200. Resolution capability is even on EDA to as it has a better clarity and detail retrieval.

CCA CRA

• Again, both have single DD set-up. Between the two of them, CCA CRA has the most eye-pleasing shell design which make the Z200 looks too plain and utilitarian and CRA has a detachable cable.

• They both employ a similar sound signature which is a V-shape. Bass response is more authoritative, punchy and cleaner on CRA. Mids are similar as they are too recessed both of the unit, But I nitpicking choose, I prefer the CRA as its less steep and somehow more open sounding. Treble performances on both are eerily similar to my ears. Sufficiently bright while retaining some smoothness but sibilance is prevalent to CRA and airy treble extension is just mere average.

• Technicalities are once again very similar in all aspects but CRA has somehow has better sound field width and separation, coherency is even much better on the CRA. and lastly, resolution capablities of both devices are indistinguishable as both more on scaling on macro-dynamics rather than micro-details.

As I handed down my verdict on this assessment on BLON Z200s. What's the relevance of this product in the current state in a more tighter and very competitive portable audio market? How does BLON Z200 fare against its current competitors? For me it's a very tough fight on what this product will face ahead but there is always one thing that pop out in my mind, A legion of very loyal fans of the BLON brand which continues on believing them on how BL03 really change their perception on audio quality for I intrinsically admit and recognize that BLON makes an etched on Chi-fi audio's history.

Another question also coming out from my thoughts, is the BLON Z200 a redemption product to a BL03 hater like me? For me, Z200 performs decently over BL03 but it still needs more refinements just to reach my average ideal standard on what a good IEM should be.

BLON Z200 is currently available in Keephifi and just click the non-affiliated link here.

SPECIFICATION:

MODEL: BLON Z200

IMPEDANCE: 32Ω

SENSITIVITY: 102dB

FREQUENCY RESPONSE: 20Hz – 20KHz

CABLE LENGTH: 1.2M

PIN TYPE: (**N.A.**)

PLUG TYPE: 3.5mm 

DRIVER UNIT(S): (1) DYNAMIC DRIVER

PROS:

•    Certainly it is an easy to drive set.

•    Finally, an improvement of its shell design that fits into my ear decently. (BL03 tops my list as the worst fitting IEM in my opinion)

•    A good quality metal shell.

•    Surprisingly, it has a decent imaging quality compare to worst performing BL03.

•    Has sufficient glistening on its treble to add some clarity and detail retrieval.

CONS:

•    Non-detachable cable (oh come on, give me break. Why BLON why...)

•    Too recessed midrange presentation.

•    Bloated mid bass that smudges the mids (same old BL03 issue).

•    Lack of air on treble extension.

•    Subpar technicalities with the exception of imaging. Narrow to mere average soundstage width.

Some Tracks Tested: ( * = 16-bit FLAC, ** = 24-bit FLAC, *'* = MQA, '*' = DSD, *'= .WAV)

Alison Krauss -When You Say Nothing At All *

Jade Wiedlin - Blue Kiss**

Led Zeppelin - When The Levee Breaks **

Mountain - Mississippi Queen *

Queen - Killer Queen **

Guns N' Roses - Patience *'*

Eric Clapton - Tears in Heaven '*'

Sergio Mendes- Never Gonna Let You Go '*'

Pearl Jam - Daughter **

Roselia - Hidamari Rhodonite *

Assassin - Fight (To Stop The Tyranny)*

Celtic Frost- Visual Aggression *

New Order - Blue Monday *

The Corrs- What Can I do (unplugged version) *

Jimi Hendrix Experience - Voodoo Child *

The Madness- Buggy Trousers *

Metallica - Motorbreath **

Mariah Carey- Always Be My Baby *

Destiny's Child - Say My Name *

Malice Mizer- Au Revoir *

Mozart - Lacrimosa *

New York Philharmonic Orchestra - Dvorak- Symphony 9 " From the New World." *

Eva Cassidy - Fields of Gold (Sting cover)*

Michael Jackson - Give In To Me *

Exciter - Violence and Force *

Diana Krall - Stop This World **

Debbie Gibson - Foolish Beat *'*

The Sisters of Mercy – Lucretia My Reflection**

Suzanne Vega – Luka **

Lauren Christy – Steep *

P.S.

I am not affiliated to BLON nor receive monetary incentives and financial gains as they provide me a review unit for an exchange of factual and sincere feedback from yours truly. 

 Once again, I would like to thank KEEPHIFI for providing this review unit, I truly appreciate their generosity towards me and other reviewers.