Oh don’t jump the gun yet. Wait till my review, to link 
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I link impressions and proper reviews. 
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I have both the Rider 1 and Grand Rider 1; they are more similar than different, as you would expect. The Grand really is just…MORE of what already made the Rider 1 great. What I would say, though, is that if your options are between getting a Grand or getting two different “spirits” with tunings that complement each other or interest you, it may be a better option to go with two “regulars” over a Grand. That is, unless you get to demo some or think you know which flavor you want off the bat.
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This is a very fair point. If you don’t know what flavor(s) you want, auditioning the regulars makes sense. In my case, I had a good feeling I’d gravitate to the Rider class so taking a shot on Grand Rider made sense. Getting to audition most of the other types validated my leap of faith. But for everyone else, YMMV
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Merry Christmas to everybody. Thank you for being such an awesome community that has made participating in the hobby so rewarding, the friends made (both near and far) and the absolutely mind-boggling spirit of generosity we’ve all experienced. It’s been truly inspiring, and I hope that I can pay it forward in 2023.
Everyone have a happy and safe holiday! 
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Listening to a few songs:
The Speedwalker (Live at MSG):
Kai is a more satisfying bass, both the drum kits and bass guitar sound more “live” than on Cadenza. Cadenza has enough quantity of bass but I like Kai a little bit more. To my ear, the Kai is more forward in stage and Cadenza has a little more size to the soundstage. The imaging is a little less cramped on Cadenza.
Beautiful (from A State of Trance 2021):
Cadenza has an elevated upper-midrange. It’s not bad, but you can hear the difference in smoothness where Kai is lowered. It’s a clean upper-midrange. Cadenza plays with more sub-bass to my ear, it’s better for EDM. Treble is about the same, neither has a resolution advantage. Female vocals a little huskier on Cadenza here.
Heart of Gold - Charles Bradley
Instrument tonality and technicalities in the instrumental opening, I’d have to REALLY nitpick to pick much out between them. They sound very similar. I think they’re VERY similar in their male vocals, but I like the Kai personally just a bit more. Male vocals sound fuller to me on Kai here. But there is not much difference on this one.
One19 - Of Allies
This is where HBB tuning a set and it being tailored for his preferences makes a difference. Cadenza competes with Kai and sounds 90% as good but Kai is built for rock, almost literally. It’s a little crisper, more forward, but still has really good separation between guitars and drums and the vocals are in front of the instruments. Cadenza is like a step behind Kai here.
TL;Dr is Kai and Cadenza are more similar than they’re not: They trade blows in bass, but I think Cadenza is a little better with sub-bass but Kai is usually better in mid-bass. Their lower-midrange profiles similarly. Kai is a little more forward, Cadenza has a little better depth of soundstage but with rock, Kai is right there. Neither has treble that blows the other away but they’re not really the same. I can’t give you a better description there.
If I was buying a set just for HBBs library and similar genres, I’d say Kai is made for that. As an all-arounder, while they’re similar enough, I’d lean slightly to Cadenza.
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A good read! Thanks dude!
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I’d have to agree with Canedza being a better all a rounder. At least for most people. For me I’d reach for Kai any day of the week before Cadenza. The upper midrange into the lower treble just don’t sit right with me Cadenza. Plus I’m more of a sucker for midbass so Kai gets a double win.
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When sub-bass is over midbass, do things feel a bit empty for you?
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It depends on how much the sub-bass glides into the mid bass, versus a scoop. Scoops are way worse about that. And I’m definitely a mid bass over sub-bass person. Rumbling sub-bass is a bonus, but I need the mid-bass to be present and not pulled back
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Sometimes. And yet it can’t do without mid-bass, despite the fashionable FRs of late.
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Im not a fan of a midbass scoop. For me it takes away the emphasis of the punch I crave for. In my thoughts it does make the song seem empty as you put it. Also if there’s to much upper
midrange and treble it sort of steals the show from the midbass. When you get to the upper midrange and treble I prefer them to be more mellow and laidback. If it’s to elevated compared to mid bass or to much emphasis is put in an frequency range of one of those areas it’s all I can focus on. I wouldn’t say they’re always piercing just that my brain and ears are more keen to picking them up. A good punchy midbass presence and lower treble really helps drive more fun and danceability into an IEM for my preference.
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That mid-bass area is crucial because not only is it responsible for sub-bass overtones, it is also an area with a lot of instrument and vocal fundamentals. Having a dip there like Harman/Variations got is not a good thing at all imo.
(of course, overboosting that area is also not good, since so much is going on there.)
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Well put. It sounds like you and I have similar tastes in this regard. The midbass is what gives the low end the punch and articulation I look for and crave, but as with anything, too much of a good thing can spoil it. I like having some sub bass rumble sometimes as well, but I find that for most of my favorite music I can handle rolled off sub bass, but I need the mid bass to have some energy.
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Have you heard the SA Meteor yet? It’s been my one of my top 3 favorite sets to date. Especially for midbass as it packs a great bunch, crazy too seeing it’s all BA, that is well textured with a good balance of attack and decay. At least that’s how my armature ears perceive it. Then throws in just the right amount of clean and crisp upper midrange and treble to not be distracting but, still present. It’s really perplexing to me how SA did it. I won’t go as far to call it a super technical set or dare call it analytical but, it’s a damn fun super musical set. Especially if you like to let the bassist and/or drummer ride you through the journey.
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I haven’t heard the Meteors yet, only the Helios. I really want to though and it sounds like I’d really dig them. I’m a drummer so I’m all about the rhythm section!
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I’m definitely self-aware that I’m not as much of a fan of specialist sets than I am a really good all-around set. I don’t often listen to just one artist or one genre. I mostly work off of playlists that I shuffle, so a good vocal set with subdued bass is no good, nor is a super bassy set with reduced treble. I need a good balance of everything to get the most enjoyment.
Balanced-to-neutral warm is really my wheelhouse
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You make me SUPER curious to possibly try or buy the Meteor because if it’s around the same size as the Kinda Lava it’s less to worry about things breaking down with less drivers.
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I think I’m just going to have to try the Meteors one day … you spoke highly of the DMs and they checked so many boxes for me. Plus, you and I seem to be on the same page with more subdued upper mids and treble. I too am beyond curious of the meteors just like @RockinDave
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Same for me. I literally just put all my liked songs on shuffle most the time. Only very rarely with EDM DJ sets do I listen to the same genre back to back. That’s one thing crazy about this hobby. We all have a preference and what could be considered a good all around. Meteor and SA6U are both perfect all arounders for me. I had six hours today between the two nonstop today alone.
The UP and Mahina are more a speciality set to me but, they graze the line enough to personally be an an arounder. Your right though I wouldn’t go saying in a review, that new people to the hobby may read, that it’s any of them are an all arounder. I do think there’s a few of us though in here, possibly more, that it checks the box for.
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