I am playing with 2 different XVT blades - Balsa Hinoki Carbon, and XVT Black Knight 7.. Both super cheap blades..
The build quality of both blades is fairly decent, considering the low price ..
The Black Knight 7, which I bought for $9, is a OFF+, stiff & hard blade.. Excellent at flat-hits, and blocks. I can produce some killer top-spins, with a bit of technique adjustment.. Even though it's hard and stiff, it's surprisingly good @ pushing too ..
The Balsa Hinoki Carbon, cost around $20. This is a 10mm thick, but super light-weight blade .. Mine weighs-in at just 62gms ..However, it can pack-in fair amount of punch.. I'd say it's a solid OFF- ... I feel, the blade is meant to be used with (Long) pips, on one side (which I do). I tried it with inverted on both sides, and it just felt weird. I feel this blade can block anything thrown at it - no matter how hard or spinny. Hitting with this blade, is effortless.. Topspns are farily spinny, and require a bit of technique adjustment... The blade seems a tad jumpy, when pushing. All-in-all a complete joy to play with ..
Both blades, seem to have a smaller than average head-size..