Two Interesting Single DDs Coming Our Way Soon – KBEAR Diamond And Blon BL-03 MkII

November 14, 2019March 17, 2020 Jürgen Kraus (Calgary, Canada)

KopiOkaya (more) and I (less) are currently testing/helping with the tuning of two single dynamic driver earphones: the brand new KBEAR Diamond (present working name) and a MkII of the popular Blon BL-03. Both earphones excel by their natural sound reproduction.

The KBEAR Diamond sports DLC (diamond-like carbon) coated membrane. DLC coating is a new technology that increases the high-frequency response by 0.2 to 5 dB. The KBEAR Diamond is presently a BETA in need of fine-tuning…bass needs to be decreased.

I spent quite some time with it and this could be a killer earphone: speedy for a DD, great staging, superb definition. Organic organic organic sound. Price still unknown but allegedly below $100. Out before year end, if everything is going as planned.

KBEAR Diamond frequency response — FR graph by KopiOkaya using an IEC711 coupler.

KopiOkaya, our man in Asia, told me that the Blon BL-03 MKII addresses some shortcomings of the original: Improved clarity. Tighter bass. Smoother treble. Longer nozzles. Better cable. It is not clear when it will be shipped, but it is apparently almost ready for production (they are presently recasting the moulds). No photo exists as of yet.

I A/B-ed the original Blon BL-03 and the Diamond Beta: both excel by their natural timbre but the Diamond have the edge in terms of resolution/definition….they are more refined. The fun effect between the two is equal to me.

The DLC technology could lead to much cheaper high-quality single DD earphones in the future. Eagerly awaiting the final product for analysis.

PS.: Why I write this? Because I am thrilled by the KBEAR Diamond (Beta) and the original Blon BL-03. Both of us, KopiOkaya and I, have remained dynamic-driver fans at heart.

Keep on listening!

Here our views of the original Blon BL-03:

BLON BL-03 Review — Another (Unsolicited) Opinion

Blon BL-03 Review – Love Is Like Oxygen

Author

Jürgen Kraus (Calgary, Canada)
Head-Fier since 2016. He has been known as “Otto Motor” to Head-Fiers, as “Dr. Schweinsgruber” to audiobudget.com users and Youtubers, and as “Brause” to Super Best Audio Friends and the Headphone Community. - For the purpose of confusion, he decided to pose under his real name Jürgen Kraus (“JK”) from now on. - This is a hobby. In “real” life, Jürgen is a professional geologist operating his own petroleum-exploration consulting company Franconia Geoscience Ltd. based in Calgary, Canada. He holds German and Canadian passports. Jürgen had a classical music education from childhood through high school in Germany and he has been following popular music developments since the late 1970s. His understanding of arts and crafts was influenced by Bauhaus pragmatism: “less is more” and “form follows function”.
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