RikudouGoku's Database (IEMs/Earbuds/Headphones Ranking list)

Thanks! Take a look at my RikuBuds page in there while you are at it. :wink:

2 Likes

12:32-12:53
Techmoan said it best about this aluminium frame thing :laughing:

1 Like

So now i’m using Final E type for a bit long now and i want a change and maybe an upgrade eartips. And based on your ranking the only upgrade is Radius Deep Mount? Is there any other choice? Cause i’ve seen a lot of new tips coming nowadays? Or the Radius still remains the best?

Deep mounts are fantastic. They’re my favorite tip for presenting an IEM “the way it is intended”.

TRN T-Ear tips are very good new ones for balanced listening.

Dunu S&S tips are good soundstage-y tips if you want to retain/add bass.

TRI Clarion tips are good soundstage-y tips if you want to reduce bass.

I think those four tips would cover every possible IEM you could listen to

1 Like

I prefer the FAudio instrument tips (white) over the Type E. They are similar to the Type E but the bore is slightly wider. I find vocals less forward and more open while bass is about the same as Type E. For everything else I am all in on Azla Vivids. For IEMs with deep fit I also really like the Type E TWS tips.

The only other tips I have tried are the regular Azla, spinfits, E-pros and random stock tips from various IEM manufacturers so I can’t comment on other after market ones



Just want to confirm. Are these legit Radius Deep Mount bro? I’ve got it from a local seller, it’s hard to find these in my country so i don’t know is this real or not?

I can’t tell you. I got the clear variant. I dunno about those

They definitely do come in black, and the shape seems right. Your only concern would be whether the silicone has the same properties, but these look like Radius deep mounts to me. I’m not aware of them being the target of knock-offs.

1 Like

ddhifi ST35

Been sometime since I lasted posted here and figured I give an update.

Gen 3 R&D is progressing at a snails pace due to some very fun shipping issues. (And the need to make some more adjustments.)
So gen 3 is still far away.
Pics of current shells in R&D.




On the other hand, I got contacted by Linsoul and I will be reviewing the Kiwi Ears Orchestra Lite. Am I coming back to the iem world? Unlikely, but my pokemon syndrome is acting up and I need a solid BA iem in my collection so…:smirk:

12 Likes





KAEI TAP 2 (Upgrade MUSE02 version) with Moondrop Dawn (3.5mm) on OnePlus 8T using UAPP

Sensitive/low-impedance test:

Softears Volume (5ohm, 123.7db/vrms@1khz) :

(TUBE ON, LOW GAIN) Can still hear the music (extremely low volume though) with the amp being on at 0 volume, which is kind of annoying. The volume wheel´s volume (no pun intended) control is excellent and allows for very fine adjustments. ZERO NOISE AT ALL even without music playing, although if you turn off the music and raise the volume to around 12 o´clock there is some noise

(TUBE OFF, LOW GAIN) 0 volume still has some music playing although slightly louder as with the TUBE OFF the volume overall is actually louder. Control over the volume is pretty much the same in that it has excellent control BUT since it is louder overall, it does mean that it gets louder quicker. No tube noise from it even with the wheel turned all the way to the max (no music playing obviously) but there is some very slight hiss in the background at that point which isn’t really a problem since no sane person will listen that loud.

(TUBE OFF, HIGH GAIN) Same as before but even worse volume control since it gets quick really fast. Hiss is more present and at ALL volumes while at max volume the hiss is much louder.

(TUBE ON, HIGH GAIN) same as with tube OFF, there is now hiss present at all volumes AND at 9 o´clock the tube noise kicks in. Volume control is slightly better though as the volume is a bit lower than without the tube activated as mentioned before.

Comment: You will have no issues AT ALL using sensitive and low-impedance transducers.

POWER test:

Ruler (Planar, 50ohm, <92db):

(Tube ON, LOW GAIN): Cannot hear music at 0 volume. Playing at around 1-2 o´clock. ZERO noise at all volumes and no hiss.

(TUBE OFF, LOW GAIN): Playing at around 12-1 o´clock.

(TUBE OFF, HIGH GAIN): playing at around 10-11 o´clock. No noise nor hiss at all.

(TUBE ON, HIGH GAIN) playing at around 11-12 o´clock. No hiss at all, tube noise is very slightly present at max volume.

DIY 500ohm BUD (500ohm):

(TUBE ON, LOW GAIN): Cannot hear music at 0 volume. Playing at around 12-1 o ´clock. At max volume, there is an extremely tiny tube noise that is present.

(TUBE OFF, Low GAIN): Playing at around 11 o´clock. No hiss nor noise at all.

(TUBE OFF, HIGH GAIN): Can hear music at 0 volume slightly. Playing at around 9-10 o´clock. No hiss nor noise at all.

(TUBE ON, HIGH GAIN): Can hear music at 0 volume very slightly. Playing at around 10 o´clock. Tube noise is present a bit at max volume, no hiss.

Comment: Can drive pretty much anything.

Source memeing: Tube on or off honestly really doesn’t sound that different too me, the Tube on mode might be very slightly smoother, warmer and with looser/slower bass compared to the tube off mode. But extremely hard to tell since the volume changes instantly with the different modes. I might prefer using low gain compared to high gain simply because you get a bit better volume control (doesn’t go loud as quick).

In conclusion, this is a damn powerful amp that will drive anything and without any issues with noise nor hiss with the most sensitive iems. While this does count as a tube amp (well, hybrid) you should think of it more as an SSD amp with tube glow.

8 Likes

Late night session with Gen 3 prototype + KAEI TAP 2

7 Likes

did you put your new amp in the fire!!

3 Likes

Haha, someone fell for it. :rofl:
Its just a LED screen for that flame effect.

4 Likes

Riku did not want to share, but this is really how this “burnin-in period” ended…

Ed: this image was completely generated by AI based on the pic that Riku uploaded

6 Likes

How do you buy the Riku buds?

Just message @Rikudou_Goku here!

2 Likes

Just PM me here or on discord, head-fi or public gmail ( [email protected] )

2 Likes

You have to slay a dragon then cast a spell using the dragon’s blood to open a magical portal to audiophile valhalla where the last adventurer who perished attempting the feat will hand you a pair of the model an oracle has foretold will best fit you…

…or you could just PM Riku, I guess, but where’s the fun in that? :stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye:

5 Likes










(some random mods)


Full review will be done for this.

17 Likes