In today’s feature, Kurt reviews and compares the Heartfield Blanc, a five-balanced armature driver universal in-ear monitor priced at $249.00.
Disclaimer: This sample was sent to me in exchange for my honest opinion. Headfonics is an independent website with no affiliate links or status. I thank Linsoul for their support.
Click here to learn more about the Linsoul products we have previously reviewed on Headfonics.
Note that this post follows our current scoring guidelines which you can read in more detail here.
HeartField is a new player in the portable audio market. They are starting strong by releasing multiple IEMs at different price points and even an affordable R2R dongle DAC called the R1.
This latest launch is an attractively designed all-balanced armature universal IEM called the Blanc, which is quite a traditional driver configuration these days.
How does the Blanc IEM perform against similarly priced IEMs such as the Binary Acoustics Dynaquattro and the Kiwi Ears Orchestra Lite? I find out in my full review below.
Features
The HeartField Blanc uses a 5-balanced armature driver setup though the exact model or type of balanced armatures used were not listed.
The precise configuration is one low-frequency driver, two mid-frequency drivers, and two high-frequency BA drivers with a 3-way crossover.
The Blanc is rated at 15Ω and 108 dB/mW which I would classify as a medium efficiency monitor and not hugely sensitive but not that hard to drive either.
Design
The HeartField Blanc has a unique design that sets it apart from most IEMs. It doesn’t use a metal faceplate, a transparent shell, or the common plastic that IEMs typically employ.
HeartField uses German resin for both the faceplate and the shell. The company claims that 3,000 hours of custom molding went into achieving its shape for maximum comfort and compatibility for users.
The IEM features a distinctive shape that resembles a custom-fit model, with its longer nozzle. However, the mismatch between the shell size and nozzle size is an interesting design choice.
The faceplate showcases a white unibody marble design, enhanced by sprinkled patches of golden flakes and Chinese characters. It’s also smooth to the touch and has an overall glossy finish, with no rough edges or sharp corners due to its rounded-off design.
Additionally, the word “Blanc” is printed on the back of the shell, along with one visible nozzle below it.
Comfort & Isolation
HeartField wasn’t lying when they said 3,000 hours of custom molding went into this product. The size is deceiving compared to the actual comfort it provides. It feels much smaller in my ears when fitted. I was surprised because it seemed to shrink; it felt large in my hands but small when worn.
People with smaller ears can fit this with no issue. The smoothness and rounded shape are significant factors in making it feel almost invisible in the ears. The only issue I encountered was that it tends to wobble with minimal force applied. Its longer nozzle is the cause of this.
Isolation is excellent, effectively blocking up to 26 dB of noise. It’s one of the best isolations I’ve tested, as it is similar to a CIEM. I’ve used these as earplugs during my commute to avoid hearing the traffic. This is an IEM that you can use while sleeping.
Ear Tips
The Heartfield Blanc comes with a disappointing selection of ear tips. There is only one set available: clear silicone tips commonly used with many IEMs lately. This is the only set provided, with the large size already fitted on the HeartField Blanc.
Arguably, this is the best choice of tips compared to some of the black silicone and foam tips I have tested with it. However, it’s still disappointing that users do not have more sets to choose from.
Stock Cable
The HeartField Blanc’s cable complements its IEM with a matching white design and some polished metal accents.
However, the build quality is below average. The materials used for the cable feel cheap and don’t have a premium feel at all. It’s also not modular, so we’re stuck with a 3.5 mm plug. The cable itself feels stiff and seems easy to break.
On the positive side, the cable separator looks nice. It features some Chinese characters, similar to those on the IEM shell. The chin slider is something I simply do not like. It’s a tube of clear plastic that you can move up or down.
Packaging & Accessories
The unboxing experience of the HeartField Blanc leaves much to be desired. From the box to the included accessories the packaging feels lacking.
The small box doesn’t have much design flair, aside from a Chinese character that translates to “state of mind.” On the back of the box is a list of technical specifications, such as sensitivity and impedance.
Upon opening it, we first find the instructions and warranty card. Underneath is the carrying case that houses the IEM, cable, and tips.
The carrying case features the same Chinese character as the front of the box. It’s made of polished metal that can be easily pulled or twisted open.
The puck-style metal case is small and easily carried in your pocket or a tiny bag. Aside from that, there are no other accessories to be found.
Sound Impressions
Bass
The HeartField Blanc’s bass is surprisingly strong for an all-BA IEM. It has acceptable bass potency, preventing it from sounding dry.
However, it lacks quality. I couldn’t get any sense of punch or impact like I would with an IEM that has a dynamic driver.
All I experience is rumbling, even at higher volumes; I couldn’t sense any mid-bass thump. Fortunately, the bass is clean, with no muddiness or bleed into the midrange.
That said, the BA bass is noticeable. A blind listen to the Blanc instantly reveals that this IEM uses BA drivers rather than dynamic ones. It feels as though the bass exists in one combined area, lacking quality or refinement, and it ends up being just a side note in my listening experience.
Mids
The HeartField Blanc midrange leans slightly clean, with a more analytical sound than a musical or fun tuning. The timbre is accurate and nearly faultless. Both male and female vocals are portrayed well, with little to no BA timbre.
Compared to other all-BA IEMs, the Blanc delivers one of the best timbres in its class. The clarity is impressive and unmatched at this price point. Vocals are forward but not shouty. There is enough thickness in the mids to prevent them from sounding dry.
Treble
This is the bread and butter of the HeartField Blanc. The separation, detail retrieval, and brilliance are fantastically executed here.
Detail retrieval is one of Blanc’s strong points; it easily outperforms its competitors in this regard.
The treble brings a ton of brilliance, making everything feel ‘magical’. The separation is also impressive, with every sound coming through crystal clear and easy to pinpoint.
The transients and decay are both extremely fast, with the transients being particularly well-done and full of personality. The caveat is that the treble can be overly energetic and becomes fatiguing quickly. This affects the midrange, making it sharper than it should be.
Staging & Dynamics
This is also one of the best aspects of the HeartField Blanc. Its staging, imaging, and dynamics are immersive.
The soundstage is larger than average, which enhances the accuracy and precision of the imaging. Vocals are rightly centered, and instruments are placed accurately.
The dynamics are excellent as well. There wasn’t a single instance where I felt that any recordings sounded disjointed or overpowered other parts.
Synergy
Efficiency
The HeartField Blanc is easy to drive with any device. Switching to a cable with a balanced 4.4 mm plug isn’t necessary and might even be overkill.
With a sensitivity of 108 dB/mW, there is no distortion or static when paired with multiple devices. Meanwhile, the 15Ω impedance makes it easy to drive from any source.
It gets loud enough on any device. I didn’t experience any efficiency or loudness issues with it. Using the HeartField Blanc with any device was straightforward. I didn’t encounter any problems with any source I tried.
I listen to my music at around 70 dB on Apple Music. This loudness provided the most optimal experience without damaging my ears. I’ve used it with my budget phone with a 3.5 mm jack, and at only around 35% volume, it was loud enough for my music.
Using it with my Colorfly CDA-M2 gave me a similar experience with 25% volume providing sufficient loudness. When paired with the HeartField R1 dongle I had a different experience. The separation was worse, but the bass was stronger.
Select Comparisons
Binary Acoustics Dynaquattro
Technical
The Binary Acoustics Dynaquattro has a quad dynamic driver setup and is probably the only one of its kind in this price range
Two dynamic drivers handle the bass, with one acting as a bone conductor while the other manages the overall bass. The remaining two dynamic drivers handle the midrange and treble.
It has a 23Ω impedance and a sensitivity of 111 dB/mW, which makes it easy to power. Going balanced would be better since its dynamic drivers scale well with more power.
Design
The Binary Acoustics Dynaquattro features a unique steampunk design for its faceplate with excellent build quality for the main shell.
It has a metal faceplate with carved gear designs. The black shell is semi-opaque, but you need a strong light source to see inside.
The shell size is large, but the nozzle is small. As a result, it may become uncomfortable for those with smaller ears.
Performance
The Binary Acoustics Dynaquattro and the HeartField Blanc are complete opposites. The former is a full dynamic driver IEM, while the latter is a full balanced armature IEM.
The bass is simply incomparable. The Dynaquattro has better bass quality, stronger potency, proper thumps, and low-end support.
The Blanc lacks the necessary qualities for an enjoyable bass experience. There isn’t a point where I would prefer the Blanc’s bass over the Dynaquattro’s.
The midrange has its strengths. The Dynaquattro focuses on a warmer tonality, while the Blanc has a sharper tonality.
Both have good timbre in the vocals. Even though the Blanc is all-BA, there is little to no BA timbre present. Vocal clarity is noticeably better on the Blanc, sounding much clearer than the Dynaquattro while maintaining a similar midrange thickness.
Treble is where the Blanc excels compared to the Dynaquattro. Its treble is more extended, with better detail retrieval, energy, and brilliance. However, it loses out in sibilance management. There is zero sibilance and fatigue with the Dynaquattro, while the Blanc has some issues with sibilance and fatigue.
The staging, imaging, and dynamics are additional areas where the Blanc performs better. The soundstage is wider while the imaging is slightly more precise than the Dynaquattro’s.
The Dynaquattro sounds compressed in comparison. This affects separation, making it feel more cluttered than the Blanc.
Kiwi Ears Orchestra Lite
Technical
The Kiwi Ears Orchestra Lite has the same all-BA setup as the HeartField Blanc. The difference is that it features 8 BAs, like the original Kiwi Ears Orchestra.
Two subwoofer BAs are designated for the bass, four custom BAs for the midrange, and two ultra-tweeter BAs complete the configuration. There’s also a 3-way crossover between the drivers.
It has an 18-ohm impedance and a sensitivity of 112 dB/Vrms. This sensitivity and impedance make it easy to run on any device.
Design
The Kiwi Ears Orchestra Lite also resembles the design of the original Orchestra. It comes with numerous color options, including a CIEM option.
The shell and faceplate are made of plastic with the faceplate resembling a guitar pick featuring the Kiwi Ears name printed in the center.
Overall, it looks clean and simple but is not particularly eye-catching. It’s refined like the Orchestra but lacks anything too interesting.
Performance
Both IEMs have unsatisfying bass performances, I would define it as just okay. The Orchestra Lite focuses on the sub-bass, while the Blanc emphasizes the mid-bass.
The increased mid-bass of the Blanc contributes to thicker vocals whereas the Orchestra Lite sounds dry in comparison though it doesn’t exhibit sharpness.
The Orchestra Lite is much more forward and brighter as well, but it isn’t shouty. The Blanc sounds darker, though it does have some sharpness when switching back and forth between them.
Treble is where they are comparable. They both exhibit excellent detail retrieval, but the Blanc has a sparkle and brilliance that the Orchestra Lite lacks.
Staging, imaging, and dynamics are also similar with both IEMs featuring wide staging, precise imaging, and well-executed layering that punches above their class.
The Orchestra Lite has better sibilance control and is less fatiguing whereas the Blanc has some sibilance and fatigue issues.
My Verdict
The HeartField Blanc is an IEM with great comfort and fit, featuring a gorgeous unique design made from high-quality German resin.
The far-reaching soundstage, along with its well-extended treble, makes the Blanc an enjoyable listening experience. The immersive and holographic quality elevates it above its class.
With 26 dB of passive noise isolation, the Blanc is a great choice for those needing strong noise isolation. Overall, the staging, fit, and design make the Blanc a competitive IEM.
HeartField Blanc Technical Specifications
- Driver Type: Five (5x) Balanced Armatures
- Plug: Modular 3.5mm unbalanced
- Frequency Response: 20Hz – 20kHz
- Impedance: 15@1kHz
- Sensitivity: 108 dB/Vrms
