Interesting format for a shootout!
2 Likes
Quick and straight to the point. Since thats what most people prefer lol.
I want the M7/M9. 
4 Likes
I always forget that vacations with children are children’s vacations not mine… I need a break.
But from yesterday’s late night listenings:
- Rider’s sound is more defined than LBBS in sense that all notes have more clear “edges”, are less blurred in the soundstage
- Riders sound is “big” in sense it feels large and open. It is hard to describe as I do not necessarily feel like soundstage is exceptionally big or outside of my head, but it is some strange bud thing that Rider had done better than anything I tried.
- Rider has much more low end than LBBS making me eager to try it out with more modern music where it works great as well (e.g. Bon Iver - Self titled album, Fiona Apples latest albums)! Before I used to use LBBS mostly for fully acoustic albums like Eric Clapton - Unplugged, Bon Iver - For Emma, Leonard Cohen - Songs of…, Damien Rice etc. New Nick Mulvey album for example sounds amazing on Riders.
The definition of the bass is not as good as MEST on the other hand here and there is nowhere near as much sub-bass, but it is to be expected - Talk me about single DD timbre and coherency. It is a perfect example comparing to set being on the other end of the spectrum MEST where all quasi sources are spread all around the place (e.g sometimes I feel like some parts of the same instrument are player by different drivers and therefore are coming from different place in stage. Not a big problem for me though)
- Rider has better fit in sense that it is held by my ear better however the long term comfort is a bit worse due to the fact the shells are a little larger making my cartilage ache after 1h or so. It makes sleeping on the side a bit worse as well.
Generally amazing set, great to have around all the time. I am in love, big recommendation and thanks to Riku 
9 Likes
I want the A3 now.
Whaddya think A3 >>> Falcon Pro??
oh yeah. its definitely a more versatile tuning, along with the Sony magic.
1 Like
Rikubuds
Official RikuBuds website:
What you can expect from most, if not all of my buds is that they will have bass texture, soundstage, and natural timbre. My so-called “house tuning”.
My lineup is divided into 7 “classes”, them being Archer, Assassin, Berserker, Caster, Lancer, Rider, and Saber. These different classes have their own tonality/target they are aiming for. Thus making it easier for you to pick the bud you want to buy if you know what you want.
You can find the frequency response for my buds (take these with a huge grain of salt) here: Frequency Responses - Squiglink by RikudouGoku
Price
Generation 1
Regular classes = 50 euro
Grand classes = 100 euro
Generation 2 (DISCONTINUED)
Regular classes = 75 euro
Grand classes = 125 euro
Generation 3
Regular classes = 100 euro
Grand classes = 150 euro
Payment is done via Paypal or Wise (after your order is made).
(If you want balanced 4.4mm, that is available for an extra 25 euro.)
If you are interested, send me a pm.
Database: RikudouGoku's Database - Google Sheets
100 units sold milestone : RikudouGoku's Database (IEMs/Earbuds/Headphones Ranking list) - #7938 by MMag05
Archer
Regular archers are focused on mids/treble, you could call them the treblehead lineup. The Alter Archers are the mid-forward lineup and tend to not have a lot of bass or treble.
Alter Archer 1: n-shaped; rolled-sub-bass and treble, a bit on the darker side but very fatigue-free/relaxing, vocals are the main appeal but how you can listen to it for hours without issues
Archer 1: midcentric balanced between male and female vocals, airy and smooth treble, slight bass elevation with texture, natural timbre, and good stage in width/depth.
Grand Archer 1: Bright-neutral; very low bass quantity, very upper mids/treble focused with lots of treble sparkle and thus leans a lot towards brightness and is extremely airy, not the safest tonality be aware, (Chaconne Killer)
Reviews:
RikudouGoku's Database (IEMs/Earbuds/Headphones Ranking list) - #7608 by StevehamNY
Assassin
Lurking in the shadows of course means dark treble. These are the lineups with dark treble that did not fit into the other classes.
Assassin 2: Midcentric; super tight and fast decaying bass, forward mids both male and female, treble on the smoother side and airy, overall aim being “precision” and accuracy (great imaging)
Reviews: Earbuds Discussion Thread - #444 by cal_lando
Berserker
The basshead lineup, if you are a basshead, these are the ones you want. Regular Berserkers are sub-bass focused. Alter Berserkers are mid-bass focused.
Berserker 1: L-shaped: Elevated bass, sub-bass focused, slightly recessed mids, smooth/non-fatiguing and airy treble (essentially a mix of the Yincrow X6 + my iem target)
Reviews:
Nymzreviews.com official thread - #2521 by nymz
The Crack Spot - Szymon's Impressions Thread - #105 by Szymon
Earbuds Discussion Thread - #444 by cal_lando
Berserker 2: L-shaped; Bassier than the Berserker 1 with much more sub-bass extension and improved textured. Stage is a lot deeper as well. Treble is warmer and safer. Mids are slightly recessed in comparison.
Reviews:
Earbuds Round-Up | Page 4309 | Headphone Reviews and Discussion - Head-Fi.org
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9SIlCdr7HA
Berserker 3: L-shaped: focusing on quality as much as quantity lots of sub & mid-bass with great texture without being overwhelming. Vocals are smooth and non-fatiguing but not forward, treble is dark and very smooth, good depth, for bassheads and great for hip-hop, R&B, rock/metal & EDM. Compared with the S3; More sub & mid-bass, less vocals, smoother and darker treble, with the GAS3; More sub & mid-bass, less vocals and darker treble, similar smoothness.
Reviews:
Cal's Corner Store - I like Bass - #78 by cal_lando
Earbuds Discussion Thread - #1458 by Jsm49
Grand Berserker 2: L-shaped: For bassheads, by a basshead, better sub-bass than most iems, mid-bass a bit on the slower/looser side (rare for buds), male vocals tonality is excellent but recessed as are female vocals, treble is a bit on the darker side, super smooth, holographic stage (very deep)
Reviews:
https://www.reddit.com/r/headphones/comments/zh6tyz/rikubuds_grand_berserker_2
RikudouGoku's Database (IEMs/Earbuds/Headphones Ranking list) - #7968 by tea
Earbuds Discussion Thread - #444 by cal_lando
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KY_VS6yHB-8
Caster
The unique/exotic lineup.
Caster 3: Neutral: Amazing bass texture with a slight bass boost for a more natural note-weight, well-balanced male & female vocals, fatigue free and smooth mids/treble, 3d/holographic stage with great depth and great imaging, Excellent sleep buds and for small people with small ears due to smaller 14.8mm driver. Compared with the S3; less sub-bass, more vocals and smoother treble, with the GAS3; a bit less bass and less & smoother treble, with the B3; a lot less bass and more vocals, a bit more treble
Lancer
Close ties to the Saber lineup (as the name implies, both are melee classes), but instead of balanced, these are less into the versatility and can be more specialised into a specific genre or target.
Lancer 1: U/W-shaped; small sub-bass elevation/focus, female vocals are forward and clean, male vocals are a bit recessed, treble is airy and a bit on the energetic side, wide and airy stage, great timbre
Reviews:
Nymzreviews.com official thread - #2521 by nymz
Earbuds Discussion Thread - #444 by cal_lando
https://youtu.be/3n_AjD6Ue4s
Rider
The Neutral buds, these are the buds you want if you prefer neutral. The regular Riders can be aligned towards warmth. While the Alter Riders can be aligned towards brightness.
Alter Rider 1: Neutral; sub-bass roll-off like usual buds, mid-bass is neutral yet very textured, pretty even vocal balancing of male/female, treble is smooth, quite airy and clean, massive stage (more width than depth but close) and very airy, excellent timbre
Alter Rider 3: Neutral: Linear bass shelf rise with sub-bass focus and very well textured bass, not a lot of bass quantity (for neutrality), balanced male/female vocals, smooth yet airy treble, holographic stage, excellent timbre, thinner note-weight than most other models, versatility (matches well with a lot of genres)
Reviews:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_Q3le2yy0Y
Rikubuds Alter Rider 3 - Reviews | Headphone Reviews and Discussion - Head-Fi.org
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmTrvAr3JOo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CK_P9Sw7z4E
Rikubuds Alter Rider 3 - Reviews | Headphone Reviews and Discussion - Head-Fi.org
Rider 1: Warm-neutral/mid-bass-boosted-neutral; mid-bass boost with lots of texture, vocals are on the warmer side and neutral, treble is smooth and airy, massive stage (balanced with great width and depth) and excellent timbre
Reviews:
RikudouGoku's Database (IEMs/Earbuds/Headphones Ranking list) - #7498 by MMag05
Earbuds Round-Up | Page 4322 | Headphone Reviews and Discussion - Head-Fi.org
Rikubuds Rider 1 - Reviews | Headphone Reviews and Discussion - Head-Fi.org
Grand Rider 1: Warm-neutral: slight mid-bass boost with lots of texture, vocals are slightly on the warmer side and neutral, treble is smooth and airy, current stage king (balanced with great width and depth) and excellent timbre (DISCONTINUED, Grand Rider 2 = Successor)
Reviews:
RikudouGoku's Database (IEMs/Earbuds/Headphones Ranking list) - #7584 by GGSuperMe
RikudouGoku's Database (IEMs/Earbuds/Headphones Ranking list) - #7485 by VIVIDICI_111
Goober's Journey Into the IEM Game or "Why Are You Not As Good As....?" - #252 by GooberBM
Goober's Journey Into the IEM Game or "Why Are You Not As Good As....?" - #335 by GooberBM
Earbuds Discussion Thread - #485 by GGSuperMe
Earbuds Discussion Thread - #586 by cal_lando
Grand Rider 2: Neutral; Well textured bass with a very small elevation, vocals are very balanced between warmth and bright and neutral, treble is very smooth and has air, current stage king (balanced with great width and depth) and excellent timbre (Successor to the Grand Rider 1)
Reviews:
Discord
Saber
The balanced buds and the most versatile in terms of being able to handle a lot of genres. This is the lineup that reflects my own personal target the most, without as much bass elevation. The regular Sabers have a bit more bass elevation compared to the Alter Sabers, which is closer to my own preferences.
Saber 1: Balanced; Take the Berserker 1 and reduce the bass, making it more balanced overall
Reviews:
RikudouGoku's Database (IEMs/Earbuds/Headphones Ranking list) - #7630 by saltire
https://www.reddit.com/r/headphones/comments/x4ka7b/riku_buds_saber_1/
Earbuds Discussion Thread - #444 by cal_lando
https://www.reddit.com/r/headphones/comments/11cprh1/rikubuds_saber_1_good_cheap_earbuds_pick_3/
Saber 3: L shaped: mix of the Ej07m/XBA-Z5, upper mids of 07m, Z5 treble without 4/10k peaks, bass/lower-mids mixed between 07m/Z5. | Boosted sub/mid-bass, has forward female vocals, smooth and somewhat dark treble, quite deep stage that is holographic. Great timbre
Reviews:
RikudouGoku's Database (IEMs/Earbuds/Headphones Ranking list) - #8344 by Sonofholhorse
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CK_P9Sw7z4E
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPyBvSTX9sI
https://youtu.be/9Eql3Wmx4s8?si=voYYHKR17PZ8qKpc
Rikubuds Alter Rider 3 - Reviews | Headphone Reviews and Discussion - Head-Fi.org
Rikubuds Alter Rider 3 / Saber 3 - Reviews | Headphone Reviews and Discussion - Head-Fi.org
Grand Saber 2: L-shaped; Closest tonality to the Berserker 2 with cleaner bass, similar mids, and warmer treble. A lot wider stage and a bit deeper with better timbre. Great for R&B, Hip-Hop, Metal/Rock
Review:
RikudouGoku's Database (IEMs/Earbuds/Headphones Ranking list) - #7976 by saltire
Grand Alter Saber 2: Bass boosted neutral: Very small bass boost that is very clean but has lots of texture and impressive extension, evenly balanced male/female vocals, smooth but very airy treble, TOTL timbre, holographic stage, best dynamic range currently
Review:
RikudouGoku's Database (IEMs/Earbuds/Headphones Ranking list) - #7987 by Sonofholhorse
RikudouGoku's Database (IEMs/Earbuds/Headphones Ranking list) - #8008 by Rikudou_Goku
Earbuds Discussion Thread - #755 by Rockitout
Earbuds Discussion Thread - #762 by heartless
https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/grand-alter-saber-2.26491/reviews#review-30849
Grand Alter Saber 3: Refined GAS2 with cleaner bass quality and a bit reduced mid-bass, more vocals and smoother and a bit less treble, more balanced overall (bass boosted neutral) and improved timbre
(Optional MMCX version: Has slightly less bass than the non-MMCX version.)
(MMCX connection is extremely tight, not recommended to disconnect.)
Review:
https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/rikubuds-grand-alter-saber-3.26997/reviews#review-32849
16 Likes
(Reserved for the future if needed 
)
1 Like
Not sure about monitor-red but the pop-black (modded) might be pretty similar.
1 Like
If you had $200 to spend, which one would you pick?
A7 is kinda unbeatable due to the versatility of all its filters and its also the one with the more regular fit. So thats the better value.
2 Likes
In the wild shot of my Alter Rider 1!
@pylaczynski , thanks a lot for sharing your impressions! I will post mine in the coming days
Spoiler alert: really enjoying these!
7 Likes
Sony the other one for me would not have enough energy in the highs.
My love hate relationship with graphs I would rather judge by my ears!
Purchase link pls
PM me if interested.
Yeah these are DIY buds from @Rikudou_Goku you can also read this post: RikudouGoku's Database (IEMs/Earbuds/Headphones Ranking list) - #7529 by Rikudou_Goku
1 Like