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

Rikudou_Goku · June 11, 2022, 8:28pm

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