I am doing this comparison of Blon Z200 and HZSound Heart Mirror after seeing they both have similar drivers. Let’s see the power of tunings 🙂
Following AB comparison will use ibasso dx300 L gain as source and my usual reference tracks + a new reference track from my previous test battery.
I am hearing a very airy soundscape in Limehouse Blues with HM. The level of airyness is frightening, so I am pressing it against my ear from time to time. I guess its of the 3d imaging and positioning that is placing me in the club it was recorded.// Z200 is displaying pronounced and low res basses compared to HM. It doesn’t have the frightening airyness HM had. 3d imaging is not excellent like HM. And a hint of artificiality is all around compared to HM. Cymbals are not extending like HM.
In Driving of Hans Zimmer Live in Prague, I can feel the width of the stadium wide stage in my ears. Live layering is successful for the $30 classic iem. I am hearing every instrument that is placed on the most left and right and Zimmer and violins + bass guitar in the middle. S. Ramgota’s extensions are not as rash as they should be. Instrument separation is high and the texturing too. You can feel the night time darkness in the background.// Z200 is not smooth as HM was. And the soundstage is narrower. However lower frequencies are higher. BUT while positioning was gold in HM, copper at Z200 (when the competitor is HM). Live layering is like that too. Ramgota’s cymbal extensions are more edgy in Z200. This harshness might be good but it is coming with thinness. And violins are not flowing like it was with HM.
Below are two different frequency response graphs.
In Playing God of Polyphia, everything is so realistic and separate from each other in HM. Very little details are pickable if you do critical listening. Plus the soundstage is filling your entire hearing field. And the presentation is forward but not disturbing. Every instrument is natural unlike Z200’s artificiality. // Z200’s major handicap is the first thing I noticed. Just like what I had said in HM’s ending notes for this track.. Even though the drummer is not hitting you with cannons of bass kicks and ruining the experience, combined with the inability of positioning, you can’t track the drummer’s strike on separate surfaces that easy.
In Bella Luna of Jason Mraz, pop tuning of this song isn’t a horrible experience after the tracks used above. His smooth (so smooth to a point of frailty) voice is standing in front of you with his texture. And you can catch tricks on the recorded sound, such as reverb with HM. The transparency is its like taking a peek at the master record with a powered up HM. // Z200 is giving you a nice (nice is debatable if you don’t accept its limitations and go critical on it) experience with less details and less grip on Mraz’s vocal abilities such as his head tones. And it’s prone to be shouty in this supposedly smooth pop track. Keyboard beneath is less observable.
Blon Z200 and HZSound Heart Mirror Gaming
Both are useable in gaming, this is no secret. But the experience is pretty realistic in HM. You can feel. However Z200 is stronger on gun shots and have the 1/3 level of HM within its hardened plastic shell.
Blon Z200 and HZSound Heart Mirror Comparison Conclusions
HZSound Heart Mirror, HM, is a golden classic for many ears like mine. Z200 is the unique son of the Blon legacy. Starting with its build, its inferior to HM in probably all areas. There are HM upgrades too. Such as 7Hz Timeless. Be my guest if you can afford it. But its the only iem which came close to HM in this price segment. And this is a thing. Go to Z200 if you accept its downsides but want a HMesque sound. However if you have power and a low budget, bite the bullet for HM. Keephifi or Hifigo are good places