BLON has a few different IEMs that barely cross the fifty-dollar mark. They’ve been a good brand for simple, inexpensive IEMs that have a good sound. It was only a matter of time before they would get the HBB collab treatment, and that’s exactly what happened. The BLON X HBB Z300 is a new thirty-five-dollar IEM that seems like a sure bet. Let’s see if that’s the case
What You Get
- Z300 Earphones
- 2-pin 3.5mm cable
- Drawstring pouch
- 2 sets of silicone ear tips S/M/L
- User Manual
Look & Feel
You may think you’re getting a cheap-looking IEM for $35, but the Z300 goes all out with its design. The blue variation has a nice aesthetic as it is, but the gold one that I used for testing is really extravagant. The outer shell is made from 18K gold-plated zinc alloy. This is a level of construction you won’t see anywhere else for the price, already making the Z300 pretty special. It’s also slim and ergonomic enough to make a good fit while being worn.
Design
Only a single 10mm dynamic driver with a silicone diaphragm makes up the Z300’s configuration. With only 28 Ohms of impedance, you should be able to drive the Z300 with any device that has a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Soundstage
There’s a strange soundstage happening through the ZE300. It’s vertically narrow and closed in, even when showing signs of dimension. The stereo pattern has very little width from left to right, but sound elements make admirable attempts to stack layers together. Without the space or separation needed, the imaging here comes out as a weirdly tight bubble. This is nowhere near an accurate display of instrumental positioning, but it does try to expand the depth of the soundstage. In most cases, the Z300 is not very successful, but it has its moments.
Low End
With the bass, I was more than satisfied with the level of fullness and power the response had to show. Its drive brings a great solidity to the tone, with ample body that establishes a rumbly resonance to the sound signature. There’s a weight to the timbre, and it doesn’t take its time to get there either. Even with its significant gain, the bass keeps to a strict area of performance, and while there is some noticeable overlap, the clarity never suffers as a result.
Mids
In the mids, you’ll get minimal detail, but the individual sound elements are represented well. They’re easily overpowered but retain a level of organization that’s admirable for the price. Instruments have a surface-level identity but come together in a fair way. Nothing ever sounds like clutter, and the timbre always presents itself with simplicity. Vocals have a flat response and sometimes have trouble cutting through the mix. They sit within the balance of the instruments but never come out to breathe.
Highs
There’s a level of completeness in the highs that were admirable for the price of the earphones. Their extension isn’t very significant, but the timbre has some nice air and pushes some good height as well. Nothing appears very colorful, but the Z300 retains a layer of treble performance that adds more depth to the sound profile as a whole.
Summary
You really can’t go wrong with a pair of thirty-five-dollar IEMs that look like this. It has some shortcomings in the sound signature, but noting that deters overall enjoyment. This is probably one of the best IEMs in BLON’s library, especially if you’re going for the gold one.
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The BLON X HBB Z300 is available from Linsoul.
