The BLON BL-03 and Tanchjim Tanya are two IEMs in my collection that share a warm sound signature. There are some similarities between the two but they also have some unique features that make them stand out.
I’ve reviewed these IEMs in my previous posts and this time, we’ll be comparing them side-by-side to see which is better overall. Let’s get to it!
Blon BL-03 vs. Tanchjim Tanya: Sound Signature
The BLON BL-03 is known for its warm V-shaped sound signature and pleasing tonality.
The warmth lent by the bass affects the note’s weight, making the midrange sound full-bodied and rich. The treble frequencies are airy and they tend to scale with better sources. A more detailed source brings out more details and expands the stage a little.
In general, people who like warmth and prioritize musicality would enjoy the BL-03
The Tanchjim Tanya is known for its excellent midrange performance.
It has a reference-type tuning with some bass emphasis, with the same warmth that the BLON BL-03 has, but a somewhat leaner and faster response while still reaching good depth and texture in its bass.
The midrange is rich and forward in the soundscape, while the treble is smooth throughout. The Tanya doesn’t have the same airiness as the BL-03 does but it still sounds well-extended in its high end.
It’s easily powered and will work well with sources like phones and even better with more power.
Blon BL-03 vs. Tanchjim Tanya: Sound Quality
The BLON BL-03 made a lot of waves in the Chi-Fi community being one of the first and major releases that made the brand stand out amongst the toughest competitors with very saturated line-ups.
The sub-bass on the BLONN is something that bass heads would approve of and it reaches very deep. It also presents a lot of nice texture. The mid-bass has a decent speed and good timbral characteristics.
The midrange is recessed but is still very present, despite its somewhat scooped appearance on the graph.
The treble has great extension and consequently a good amount of air to it, making the soundscape seem more expansive.
The BLON BL-03 is for you if:
- You like a deep bass.
- You like a relaxed laid-back listening experience.
- You want to enjoy the amalgam of tuning the frequency range.
- You like airy and sparkly treble.
The Tanchjim Tanya is a great set that’s well-loved by a lot of audio enthusiasts. It’s a well-received set often overshadowed by releases like the Tanchjim Oxygen.
Nonetheless, it’s very deceiving in that it packs a heavy punch in such a little bullet-sized shell. I’ve been surprised by the level of drivability and pleasantness it has even without hooking it up to a more powerful source.
It’s warm and has a robust and speedy bass region. The midrange is lively, lush, and articulate, and the treble remains smooth all the way. Plus, there are no signs of sibilance.
The Tanya is good enough to become a vocal benchmark despite its price range. The level of tonality and timbre it achieves is nothing to scoff at.
The Tanchjim Tanya is for you if:
- You like a leaner bass that still goes deep.
- You like a rich and forward vocal listening experience.
- You want an intimate and engaging playback.
- You like a smooth treble.
Blon BL-03 vs. Tanchjim Tanya: Caveats
The BLON BL-03’S weakness would be its resolution. Plus, its imaging is also a little bit lackluster.
This results in various sounds melding into each other. But of course, its magic lies with what the whole frequency range manages to do altogether.
While listening to tracks, you almost always don’t even notice the thresholds of the sounds. It does benefit a set when it’s slightly cleaner but it’s a gripe rather than a critical deal-breaker.
The upside is that the BLON shines even more when plugged into sources that have more power. Dongle DACs that have ESS chips that do a great job at increasing the level of detail that the BLONs can produce. It can also affect the sense of air in its high end.
The midrange also sounds livelier and it does wonders in tandem with the warmth of the bass frequencies. I don’t know if I’ve grown accustomed to the type of bass the BLON has but I like the heft of its rumble and the fact that it still has good texture.
Switching to sets with cleaner bass profiles though reveals that the BLON may have just a tiny bit of rolling off to do with the bass. But the bass response is suitable for bass heads and that just means that it’s going to be a generally fun sound.
The bass isn’t too big that it’s bloated. Again, this is more of a gripe rather than something you’d instantly notice.
If music enjoyment is the goal, then you’ll have no trouble choosing the BLON BL-03 over other sets.
On the other hand, the Tanchjim Tanya relatively has no weakness. It has a generally fun sound to it that stays safe for most of the frequency range.
The bass has a good balance between the sub-bass and the mid-bass, often displaying its prowess by delivering swift and bombastic bass blows that engage you as you listen.
It’s easy to power but it follows the general sense that it can improve with more power.
People would most likely want more air in the treble as it doesn’t get too close to what the BLON can offer. But to be fair, the Tanya has a more mid-centric tuning and arguably can’t be compared to what the BLON BL-03 does.
It’s a shootout but at the end of the day, it’s more of discerning what you prefer rather than crowning a set better than the other.
Conclusion
Which IEM you’ll choose would mostly depend on the attributes that you gravitate towards more.
The bass region of both sets gets close and if you’re a bass head, you won’t be disappointed with either one.
If you want a rich deep rumble with a good mid-bass speed and timbre then the BLON BL-03 does that better. And if you want a leaner bass that’s still deep and balances out the mid-bass robustness, then the Tanya is more suited to your tastes.
In the end, with the bass preference out of the way, it’s the question of what your midrange affinity is.
Those who want a more laid-back midrange would be Camp BLON and those who want a more energetic and more engaging midrange would be Camp Tanchjim.
As for the final deliberation, more treble air and expressiveness go to the BLON BL-03, while a smoother brilliant treble goes to the Tanchjim Tanya.
It was fun comparing these two IEMs because of their similarities in their sound signatures, but they’re aimed at different people with different preferences.
They’re unique in many aspects of their tuning-and that’s good. Diversity and having choices are good.
Gavin is a college student who has a lot going on. From collecting IEMs and modding mechanical keyboards, to different hobbies like digital drawing, music mastering and cooking. It is safe to say he is a complete multi-faceted geek (and he's kinda cool too)
This post was last updated on 2025-02-06 / Some images from Amazon Product API & some links may be affiliate links which may earn us a commission from purchases.