The Ultra Cheap IEM Thread

[SenyorC]

Thank you @prfallon69, I really do appreciate you checking out the reviews I post!

[Nimweth]

My newest IEM is the BLON BL-01. I received this item for review from Sunny at Better Audio US via Amazon.com. Product link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B08MZG1F8V?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title

My review appears below.

BLON BL-01
The BL-01 is the latest model from BLON and is marketed as the successor to the BL-03, despite the rather muddled nomenclature. Like its predecessor, it has a single dynamic driver 10mm in diameter, but the diaphragm material is now “bio-fiber” instead of carbon nanotube as featured in the BL-03 and BL-05S.

It comes in a small white rectangular box similar to that used by KZ, CCA, etc., with a line drawing of the IEMs on the front and the brand name, WGZ BLON, below which is written “Music and Dreams, let music burn”, now correctly spelt! Sadly, we have lost the “Belief”, “Oppoty” and “Nevergiveup” which made BLON’s acronym so memorable! The model number BL-01 appears below and the rear of the box features specifications in Chinese and English.

The box contains:

• BLON BL-01 IEMs.
• 2-pin cable, black, braided, 4-core 6N OFC.
• Three pairs grey silicone tips.
• Two pairs conical silicone tips.
• Linen finish cloth pouch.

The IEMs are made from the same zinc alloy, “kirsite” as the original '03 and come in two finishes, silver or gunmetal. They are “bean” or “kidney” shaped with some contouring on the face and “WGZBLON-L” or “-R” in the centre, with “BL-01” in a smaller font below. They are well made but quite heavy. The 2-pin socket in clear plastic projects slightly and the silver-coloured nozzle with silver mesh is quite short.

The supplied cable is black in colour and is tightly braided. It is a 4-core OFC copper type with 6N purity. The 0.78mm 2-pin shielded connectors are made of black plastic. It is available with or without an in-line microphone. The right-angled 3.5mm plug is in black plastic and no chin slider is provided. I replaced the supplied cable with a silver one and after experimenting, I settled on the large tips from the Sony MH755.

A good fit, as with the BL-03, was difficult to achieve. The smooth earpieces are heavy and have an uneven weight distribution which resulted in some instability and the nozzles are very short which made tip selection more problematic. I did obtain an acceptable fit with the replacement tips and cable mentioned above but it could have been better.

The BL-01 was tested using an Xduoo X20 DAP. Impressions on online forums suggested that the BL-01 benefited from amplification so I connected my Fiio A5 via line out and a burn in time of 100 hours was carried out.

First Impressions
The BL-01 displayed a similar profile to the other BLON models, with a strong, well-textured bass and somewhat recessed mids, but in this case, with a brighter treble. There was some bass bleed. Lower mids, although warmer than neutral, had good timbre with the upper mids slightly brighter. Initially the treble showed good extension and reasonable levels of detail but lacked refinement and there was some “grain”. After a change of tips this was improved. The overall profile was now a combination of the BL-03’s bass and lower mids with some of the features of the upper mids and treble of the BL-05s. The midrange recession was reduced. The soundstage had reasonable dimensions but the depth was a little less than the width. I did find the BL-01 harder to drive than expected and an amplifier did prove beneficial. After burn in, there were significant improvements.

Bass
There was plenty of depth and texture on offer with that warmish tonality seen in other BLONs, resulting in the “vintage” or “analogue” tonality the brand is famous for. The focus lay between the sub bass and mid bass, giving good punch and a little extra warmth to the region. The sub bass had some decent rumble and the mid bass was a little more forward. The timbre was quite natural, with cellos and basses possessing a woody vinyl-like tone. There was a slight amount of bass bleed which added a friendly bloom to the lower mids, but with the change of tips, this was reduced and the bass became tighter. The mid bass did dominate on certain material.

Mids
With a little additional warmth from the bass, the lower mids were very similar to that of the BL-03 with excellent timbre and a “cuddly” quality. There was a pleasant richness here which although a little coloured by the bass bleed, was attractive with cellos sounding warm and inviting. The rest of the range was pushed forward with a reduced depth and vocals displayed a slightly brighter tonality shared by string instruments, brass and woodwind. The mids became gradually brighter as they approached the boundary with the treble where a mild peak occasionally reared its head.

Treble
The BL-03’s treble was gently profiled and easy going. The following model, the BL-05, was tuned with a brighter tonality and better detail but suffered from some unevenness and peaks, whilst the next iteration, the BL-05S, fixed this with improved extension and definition without the peaks. The BL-01’s treble lay somewhere in between these profiles with perhaps a little less resolution than the BL-05s. The lower treble was fairly detailed but sometimes became more assertive, and as the frequency increased there was a gradual increase in brightness which gave the impression of more detail but this resulted occasionally in a slightly thin or unrefined tonality and some “grain” was present. Extension was good with fine detail clearly audible but the timbre was not as natural as the bass and midrange. A little more “air” and smoothness would have been welcome.

Soundstage
The BL-01’s soundstage was average in width, had a reasonable height but a reduced depth courtesy of the somewhat forward midrange. Layering was also average except in the bass where there was a lack of definition. Separation was a little disappointing and imaging was good across the spectrum but when the volume increased or in complex productions, there was a flattening of perspective and a merging of detail.

Comparisons
BLON BL-03 (purple version)
Configuration: TRN 16 core SPC, Spiral Dots (L)
The 03 displayed a warm overall profile with reasonable sub bass and a prominent mid bass with some bleed. The mids were recessed but possessed a natural timbre and were very easy to listen to. Lower mids were coloured by the bass influence and this did lead to some veiling of detail. Upper mids were slightly brighter and the presence region could have done with a bit more bite. The treble was gentle and somewhat lacking in detail with soft transients and rolled off fairly early. Soundstage was average in all three dimensions and a little more “air” would have been welcome.

BLON BL-05S
Configuration: Hifi Hear 16 core hybrid cable, Spiral Dots (L)
The 05S’s bass was more focused on the sub bass which showed good texture and extension with good speed. There was more immediacy here and the mid bass was more linear, which freed up the lower mids and led to a more open presentation. Mids were very natural in perspective, not as forward as the 01 but not recessed and were detailed with good separation and imaging. The tonality and timbre were not as soft or “analogue” as the 03, but were clean, precise and more consistent than the 01. The treble took over in a natural progression where the mids left off with a gradual climb to the mid treble and good extension and detail and a good deal of “air”. Soundstage was very expansive with superb width, excellent depth which was maintained in busy tracks, and a good depiction of height.

Note
A major factor in these findings was the fit achieved with the BL-05S which was snug and secure. I found it difficult to get such a secure fit with the 01 and 03 because of the shiny surfaces offering little grip, the very short nozzles and the unusual weight distribution which led to insecurity.

Conclusion
Marketed as the upgrade to the original 03, on this basis the 01 can be regarded as a success, with improved detail and less midrange recession, and retaining most of the natural timbre of its progenitor. However, the resolution could be improved, there is a lack of refinement and, like the BL-03, the mid-bass emphasis colours the sound. The new bio-fiber diaphragm did not possess the immediacy of the previous CNT unit and this resulted in a slight reduction in transient speed.

The BL-01 is a capricious beast which needs pampering. In its stock form and powered by a smartphone it does not distinguish itself. It does need work to bring out the best in it, and getting a good fit is essential. With a change of tips and a good cable, fed by a quality DAP and furnished with some extra amplification, it is capable of a good performance beyond its very reasonable price. However replacement cables and tips, and additional amplification do add to the cost.

That said, the BL-01 thus equipped, presents music in a highly entertaining manner. Feed it with quality material and it will reward you with a musical and animated sound.

[pwjazz]

Which tips did you like with it?

[Nimweth]

Hello. After some experimentation I settled on the large tips from the Sony MH755. My go to Spiral Dots on this occasion were not as successful in providing a good seal.

[prfallon69]

Anothervfine review @Nimweth. It’s an easy read full of detail. Great stuff.

[Nimweth]

Thanks Paul. It’s always nice to get positive feedback!

[TylersEclectic]

Write up by @Precogvision of the Fearless S8Z and Tequila! Did he swallow the worm with the Tequila? This is a possibility… though I’m pretty sure the worm isn’t in Tequila, it only comes in Mezcal… hmmm… maybe he went 1 tequila, 2 tequilas… FLOOR!!! Anyhow, find out his thoughts at the link below!!

Fearless S8Z & Tequila Review: Duality of IEM

[SenyorC]

Nice review but “ultra cheap”…

[TylersEclectic]

sorry, wasn’t sure on the pricing on them I’ll move it to a different thread =)

[SenyorC]

Lol, I mean, in perspective they are ultra cheap compared to others

[Lothar_Wolf]

I pulled the trigger on these:

I’m curious about their quality, if it is even nearly as good as that of their cables, that would be very promising.

Tripowin TC-01

[pwjazz]

QKZ VK4 Review

Summary

I bought the QKZ VK4 from a 3rd party seller on Walmart.com for about $16 USD including shipping, and it can be had for a few bucks less on places like Aliexpress. I’ve had it in my possession since August and it’s become one of my favorite IEMs, irrespective of price.

It’s built of cheap plastic, looks a little tacky and feels no better than you’d expect given the price. The cable is nothing special but works well enough in practice, and thankfully it uses soft pre-formed ear hooks rather than the memory wire kind. What makes this IEM special is its sound.

In a nutshell, the VK4 has a fairly balanced sound signature with extra sub-bass presence, slightly laid back upper midrange, peaky mid-treble and slightly rolled off upper treble. Timbre is fairly natural, with a slight touch of warmth, there’s a good amount of energy to the overall presentation without being aggressive, and there’s an impressive sense of depth and space in the sound stage. There is too much treble energy somewhere between 8-10KHz which can expose a bit of sibilance and make cymbals sound overly tizzy, and there’s not quite enough energy around 2.5 KHz which can push some vocals back a tad and reduces the sense of detail, but neither of these demerits is a deal breaker for me. Overall the VK4’s tuning works well with all kinds of music and sounds especially good with metal and classical music, and the few tuning issues are easily correctable with EQ.

I don’t even remember what tips came with it, but I remember replacing them almost immediately. I’m currently using large Final E tips, which cost as much as the VK4 itself but are worth it for the comfort and sound.

A Note About Unit Variation

Existing reviews for the VK4 are all over the place, some people love it, some people think it sounds like a v-shaped mess. I don’t know if this is due to unit variation, people not getting a good seal with the stock ear tips or what, but my experience definitely aligns more closely with the love camp. One thing I will say about unit variation is that my own measurements look extremely similar to Crinacle’s, so that suggests QKZ is capable of at least some consistency. With this being a single-driver model with no cross overs or anything fancy, I would think it’s not too hard to keep them consistent.

Music Impressions

I’ll stick with the same songs from my BLON BL01 review.

On the Mono version of Miles Davis’ “All Blues” from Kind of Blue, the VK4 acquits itself reasonably well. There’s a good balance between the instruments and a good sense of space without feeling overly distant. Piano and horn timbre are realistic , and the double bass is clearly audible without sounding overbearing or thick. The horns, especially sax, sound smooth, a little too smooth and lacking in bite actually, but it’s a pleasant presentation. The cymbal does sound a little tizzy, though it’s not overly bright or distracting.

Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong’s “Stars Fell on Alabama” continues the trend of sounding well balanced. Louis’ trumpet solo at the beginning can sound overly strident, but the VK4’s smooth presentation works well here by toning it down just a tad. Ella and Louis’ vocals are very well balanced with each other and the backing band, and again there’s a really nice sense of space between everything but without sounding distant. The treble trouble presents itself here as slight sibilance in the vocals, exaggerated hiss from this old recording, and overly present brush work on the snares.

Classical stuff like Bach’s Cello Suites as played by Yo Yo Ma sounds very nice, although again I’d like a little less mid treble.

On “Lester’s Methadone Clinic” from Sonia Dada’s A Day at the Beach, the VK4 really comes into its own. The lead vocal is clear and well centered, and as the backing vocals and various instrumental parts enter, I get a really nice sense of space and depth to the soundstage. Still, the lead vocals manage to remain well isolated without getting lost in the mix. The word “holographic” comes to mind. Once the electric bass guitar comes in, it sounds fantastic. It’s punchy, has some deep rumbles, and sounds very articulate and snappy. Honestly this is just about the perfect bass tuning for my preferences.

“Caravan” from the Whiplash soundtrack sounds okay. There’s definitely more energy than the BLON and it’s an engaging listen, but the treble sounds a bit hazy, so all the high metal percussion just sounds a bit off. I think I prefer the VK4 here, but neither is perfect.

“Bardo” by Go Go Penguin sounds great on the VK4. The double bass is the star of the show, coming across with a good sense of physically while maintaining great speed and articulation, and not being so loud as to be uncomfortable. The piano sounds very natural and the ethereal reverb of this recording comes through clearly. Again the soundstage provides space and depth, really sucking me into the recording. Drums are snappy, though again the high percussion gets tizzy and hazy because of the treble issues.

Movies and TV

The show Supernatural sounds much better on the VK4 than the BLON. The dialog is clear and remains well balanced with the sound track and sound effects. The deep sub-bass provides a nice rumble to the ominous parts of the orchestral score without being intrusive, and again the sound stage is very engaging. The main problem is the treble. Environmental sounds are too present, sometimes sounding hissy, and female voices sometimes stray into sibilant territory.

Performance Categories

Bass

Sub-bass focused with excellent extension. Enough mid-bass to sound natural and well integrated with everything else (unlike the strongly up-shelved sub-bass of the Harman target) but never sounding bloated or muddy.

Mids

Quite neutral with maybe just a hint of warmth. The upper mids around 2.5KHz are a bit laid back, which helps create a sense of space to the soundstage but can make brass sound overly smooth. The timbre isn’t as good as the BLON BL01, but it’s natural enough not to be distracting.

Treble

This is the VK4’s weakest area, not surprising given its price. There’s a peak somewhere between 8-10KHz depending on your anatomy, tips and insertion depth. For me it’s right around 8900 Hz. This can cause some sibilance depending on the recording, it makes high percussion sound a bit tizzy and it seems to emphasize hiss in recordings that have it. That said, I don’t consider this a deal breaker, it’s just the weakest area of the performance, and if you’re not listening critically you might not even notice.

Soundstage and Imaging

Pretty spectacular honestly. It’s not hugely wide, but there’s always a good sense of space between parts, layering is very good, I don’t notice any gaps between left, center and right and vocals and other lead parts on the center channel are well isolated and have just a touch of front image.

Comparisons

BLON BL01

The BL01 costs nearly twice the VK4, for which you get a much more premium feeling body, but a cable that’s no better. With its teardrop body and shorter nozzle, the BL01 juts out a bit less from my ears than the VK4, but that short nozzle and the much heavier weight make the fit a little less comfortable. The BL01 has a much warmer tuning with very nice timbre, but lacks sub-bass presence in comparison. With more upper mids, the BL01 sounds more detailed but the heavy mid-bass tends to push vocals back further and can muddy things up on some recordings. The BL01 also suffers from a treble elevation, but it’s at a higher frequency and doesn’t cause any sibilance, rather it just makes cymbals sound a bit splashy and exaggerates the sense of air on some recordings. While the BL01 stages fairly well, the VK4 exceeds it in that area and thanks to its better balanced bass and mids works well on a wider range of material.

Moondrop Starfield

The Starfield costs seven times as much as the VK4. Its build quality reflects its price, and it’s comfortable to boot. The Starfield’s tuning is equally versatile to the VK4 and has a smoother, less offensive treble and more detailed midrange. The bass tuning and performance is quite similar except that the Starfield lacks in sub-bass presence relative to the VK4. The Starfield’s timbre doesn’t really suit me, with a somewhat oversharpened/digital edge to it. Also, the Starfield’s soundstage sounds flat and unengaging compared to the VK4. It’s still got good instrument separation, but there’s just no depth to the image. Overall, I reach for the VK4 much more often than the Starfield.

EQ

My two main gripes with the VK4, the slight upper mids recess and the treble peak, are easily corrected with the below EQ. The bump at 2.5KHz brings some detail and bite, and bringing down 8900 Hz fixes the sibilance, hiss and tizziness that I sometimes hear in the treble. As you can tell, it doesn’t take much. With this EQ, I can listen to and enjoy the VK4 for hours.

[prfallon69]

Excellent review @pwjazz.

[Frank_Antony]

Hello,well first time ever buying budget earbuds as someone who listens mostly to rock and metal music (sometimes IDM) wich ones are better suited for me?
Ps:Kz Zsn is so far top off my list 20$ - 25$ budget
Thanks in advance and sorry if this is not the place to ask this

[pennstac]

Oh, it’s the place alright. I got 3 pair of the KZ ZSNs when the bruhaha broke here about them a year and a half ago. Kept one, gave two away. They sound pretty good at first, but I found them tiring in the longer run.

Someone will point you to the current hot choice. I just picked up some Moondrop SSR’s (in pink) as stocking stuffers for this year. Haven’t listened to them. Just a touch over your budget.

Good luck! If you didn’t want IEM, I’d know what to say.

[brian]

The least expensive IEMs I’ve tried are CVJ CSA and TRN STM. (Lots of 3-letter names there!) Both highly recommended & good deals for the money, but both are a little bit above your range: $25-30 on Amazon - maybe less on AliExpress? Both hybrid designs. TRN has changeable filters to tweak the sound a little bit. Good luck!

[Lothar_Wolf]

For $20 :

https://de.aliexpress.com/item/33009006408.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.0.0.78f75161J9eYna&algo_pvid=7bb490f8-46be-411f-aa45-5439f093ff3c&algo_expid=7bb490f8-46be-411f-aa45-5439f093ff3c-7&btsid=2100bddb16084526282988910e370e&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_,searchweb201603_

Venture Electronics, Bonus IE, Monk Plus, and Monk Lite (review)

✅💎🤬$20 IEM as good as $200 wtf? VE Bonus IE

Myself: For this price:

[Lothar_Wolf]

@pennstac

They sound pretty good at first, but I found them tiring in the longer run.

YEP, same to me

[generic]

@pennstac

I found them tiring in the longer run.

@Lothar_Wolf

YEP, same to me

I went through my inventory of ‘discovery’ IEMs, and gave each 60 minutes to prove itself. If I was not still listening I put them up for sale. I’d acquired a variety of cheap and not-so-cheap stuff for testing. Take away: a lot of the cheap stuff absolutely murders the high-end. They hiss, they pierce, they are sibilant, they are peaky, and they are literally not worth the time. Cheap BA IEMs in particular were terribly peaky, as I clearly heard frequency ‘lumps’ that matched each driver. Hybrids very often have awful transitions between the dynamic and BA frequency ranges – the sound becomes twisted and unnatural.

My critical listening skills have improved, as I often missed the details before. But, they can sound fine for some and are probably more tolerable for those who are not treble sensitive.

I kept my Moondrop Kanas Pro, as much more integrated and not actually cheap ($150 at release). I kept my CCA C10 as the least fatiguing BA IEM I have, but it’ll likely go if I ever buy something better. The Etymotic ER4XR had to go, as I could never get past its sibilance.

[pennstac]

So, the question is what can we suggest for the $25-30 price range?
My usual response is not an IEM, but Koss…
@Frank_Antony needs help