BLON X TDKD V1: Another Unusual DAC/Amp Dongle
The name BLON or its full international brand name, WGZBLON cemented its own legacy in the later years of 2010s as its product, BLON-03 left an indelible mark in the audio community. I am not a fan of BLON BL03 as it did not impress me but I acknowledge its popularity among other audio enthusiasts.
And BLON is now trying to be back in the audio game and they released their first ever headphone DAC/Amp dongle in partnership with TDKD HiFi, the V1. The V1 follows a standard pattern of most headphone DAC/Amp dongles like an elongated rectangular chassis with USB type-C port as its main digital interconnector to other devices and a dual audio output interface consisting of 3.5mm and 4.4mm balanced.
On its physical profile, its overall structure is a CNC-milled aircraft-grade aluminium alloy and it feels light and sturdy and it has high strength with excellent fatigue resistance and is less susceptible against corrosion. On its top section, there's a tempered glass where we can view the internal parts and components embedded in a circuitry. Then on its side panel, at the left part, there's an overlap hollow part with the WGZBLON brand that can be used for loop straps and in the right part of the panel, the volume key buttons are situated there.
As for its audio interfaces, there's a 3.5mm audio jack and a 4.4mm balanced output jack and each port has a different power output rating, a 2Vrms on 3.5mm and a 4Vrms on 4.4mm that makes them a bit powerful in terms of power output delivery. On its opposite ends, there's a USB type-C port in which BLON also supplies a short type-C to type-C OTG cable used for data transmission on both encoding and decoding.
The WGZBLON V1 uses a proven Cirrus Logic DAC chip, CS43131 in a dual configuration which is known for its power efficiency while delivering a powerful output from its proprietary headphone amp driver with a low noise ground along with consistent chip components to eliminate any possible distortion, artefacts and pre-echoes during its operation. This audio IC is a 32-bit low-powered stereo audio DAC that can process some digital audio playback up to 384kHz on PCM and up to DSD256 on DSD format.
Another internal part of this headphone amp dongle was its LED light indicator which only has two colour modes, Green for PCM mode and Red for DSD mode. This device doesn't have a switch or button for adjusting gain mode manually. Its play and plug connectivity is akin to QUESTYLE's M15 headphone amp that the dongle itself became operationally active once you connected a termination plug on either 3.5mm and 4.4mm on its corresponding audio jack.
The product packaging of this one is rather spartan, enough to cover its intended usage as the contents inside of its packaging box consisted of the headphone DAC/amp dongle itself and the type-C to type-C cable.
On compatibility with both hardware and software, this device can be used on smartphones, tablets, laptops, PCs and even some DAPs that can support USB audio. As for software support, it is compatible on mobile OSes like Android, iPadOS and iOS and then on desktop ones, Windows and MacOS, although there are some reported issues on the latter operating system as it suddenly max out its volume level.
In all of my testing methods, I will use Android phones with different versions and some music applications like HIBY MUSIC app and NEUTRON app.
Here are following IEMs to be use on this test:
- LETSHUOER S12 2024 8th Anniversary Edition
- LETSHUOER EJ07
- BQEYZ CLOUD
- HIDIZS MP143
- KEFINE Delci
- LETSHUOER EJ09
On its tonality, the BLON V1 delivers a neutral sound with some slight emphasis on high frequencies that we can classify it as neutralish-bright which is unusually on this particular DAC model as most headphone DAC/Amp dongles sporting this particular DAC model will usually have a warmish-neutral sound profile.
LOWS/BASS:
Due to its almost uncoloured tuning, there's no hint of added elevation on the bass response on the some neutral sounding sets. On how the transducers on the IEMs sound based on its intended tonal profile, it will simply sound like without any overemphasis on its predetermined target tuning.
Even on sets with some elevated bass response, it still retains its authority, punchy, zest and slam in a clean and well-segregated presentation.
MIDRANGE:
As usual for its almost uncoloured tuning, it retains a clean, transparent and linear midrange presentation that there will be no added embellishment that might affect that might cause colouration on timbre characteristics of vocals and instruments.
Although in some instances, I noticed that some sets with a neutralish-bright sound signature or a treble-focus tuning profile have some slight added energy and lustre on some female vocals and instruments like strings and woodwinds.
HIGHS/TREBLE:
While it appears that it doesn't sullied the treble quality that much but there is slight perceptible elevation on upper mids up to the presence treble section that gives more definition and clarity on vocals and attack of instruments. So pairing it with brighter-tuned IEMs should be taken with caution that it might me a bit overbearing to some treble-sensitive folk out there.
This dongle is capable of giving that crisp, shimmering and delineating sound on treble-clef instruments like cymbals, hi-hats, glockenspiels and celestas.
OVERALL TECHNICAL PERFORMANCE:
This is probably one of the most impressive aspects that this headphone DAC/Amp dongle could deliver. It can project a wide sound field in a clean black sonic soundscape. It adds more spacing and gaps on sets with excellent layering and separation capabilities.
For resolution capabilities, this one has a solid note definition on macro-dynamics but the micro-detail retrieval is rather quite an oddity in my opinion. The reason I explicate the oddity nature on its micro-dynamics that it is given that neutral sounding DAC/Amps dongles with slight emphasis on the high frequency will give a razor-sharp definition on extracting on nuances and micro-details from an audio track but it wasn't the case on this one as it is a bit blunted. Power delivery of this appears to be sufficient on IEM earphones that need more power output on their transducers especially on planar magnetics and ceramic dynamic driver ones.
PEER COMPARISONS:
HIDIZS S8 PRO ROBIN
- It has a similar size with BLON V1 but it appears a bit more lighter.
- It still follows the design language of current Hidizs dongles with some unique twists on the design shapes on volume key buttons and play/post button.
- It uses the same Cirrus Logic DAC like the one that was implemented on BLON V1.
- This dongle offers 6 options of digital filters that makes this device even more versatile.
- It doesn't have a manual gain switch or button.
- It has a warmish-neutral sound profile.
EPZ TP20 PRO
- It has almost similar size with the BLON V1, but it doesn't have that see-through glass feature.
- It has a sandblasted surface with carbon-fibre covering on its panels.
- This dongle also uses the same Cirrus Logic DAC model with BLON V1.
- It has LED Indicator from sampling rate but its placement looks asymmetrical on its overall design
- It has a manual gain toggle switch.
- Like the S8 PRO ROBIN, this one also has a warmish-neutral sound profile.
FOSI AUDIO DS2
- It has slimmer form factor compared to BLON V1 and it doesn’t have a see-through window feature but it is quite more solidly built.
- On its packaging box, it has an USB type-A adaptor for its type-C for compatible connectivity to older PCs and laptops.
- It has more power output than BLON V1 which this set can drive to some power-hungry headphones and earphones.
- It has a LED indicator for sampling rate.
- It has more tactile and snappy key buttons.
- This device has a warmish-neutral sound profile.
As I end my assessment on this device, the BLON V1 could be a good option if you are looking for headphone DAC/Amp dongle which has an unusual design feature like see through window panel, can deliver a good power output for IEMs with a stubborn transducers that demands more output and a unusual sound profile for Cirrus Logic DAC-equipped device. This device seems to distance itself from other Cirrus Logic DAC dongles as it has a cleaner, almost linear neutral sound with a tad brighter profile for less colouration on delivering a sound quality on IEMs and headphones that makes this one its one of its strong assets but some its facets aren't that class-leading that makes this device rather an average on the ever-competitive battle of entry-level headphone DAC/Amp dongles in the audio market.
BLON V1 is now available at LINSOUL, check the non-affiliated link below that I've provided.
SPECIFICATIONS:
| Model | BLON V1 DAC/Amp |
| Output Power | 80+80mW(SE); 160mW(BAL) |
| Input Mode | USB Type C |
| Output Mode | 3.5MM + 4.4MM Headphone |
| Frequency Range | 20Hz-45kHz (±0.5dB) |
| THD | 0.0006%(32Ω SE), 0.0005%(32Ω BALANCED) |
| SNR | ≥132dB |
| Sampling Rate | 32bit/384kHz |
| DSD | DSD64/128/256 |
| DAC Chip Set | CIRRUS LOGIC CS43131 (2x) |
| Material | Aluminium Alloy |
| Compatible Devices | Mac\Windos\IOS\Android |
| Dimensions | 57mm x27.25mm x 11.43mm |
PROS:
● Affordable pricing.
● Solidly built aluminium alloy structure.
● Clear glass panel for viewing on its internal parts and components that reminds me of QUESTYLE M15s.
● Using a proven Cirrus Logic DAC known for its performance and power efficiency.
● Good thermal control as it does not build-up too much heat in longer usage.
● Incremental level on its volume control.
● Clearly has a neutral sound profile.
● It can drive some power-demanding IEMs.
● It further improves the technical performance of the already technically-proficient sets.
● Quite a technical performer.
CONS:
● Doesn't have manual gain mode.
● Some reported issues on PC usage especially on MacOS as it suddenly delivers a full volume level.
● Brightly-tuned sets should take caution on pairing them with this device.
● Inconsistent resolution capability particularly on micro-detail retrieval.
TESTING TRACKS: ( * = 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 *
Ottoman Mehter - Hucum Marsi *
Diana Damrau - Mozart: Die Zauberflöte*
P.S.
I am not affiliated to LINSOUL 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 send my gratitude to KAREENA TANG for providing this review unit. I truly appreciate her generosity and trust towards me and other reviewers.
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