I think I need to take a break from scavenging old but gold iem sets and grab me something to complement my TGXear Totem. What, pray tell, do you recommend from your lineup for an acoustic centric library, jazz slightly more than classical with some smatterings of American roots music, and maybe some older prog and soul (though maybe that last bit warrants two RikuBuds)?
1 Like
GAS3 is the most versatile amongst my best buds (Gen 3 lineup) atm. So that should fit.
2 Likes
OK - lemme get through this “stop thinking about yourself all the time” season and I will hit you up!
2 Likes
Once you are sure you want it, let me know ahead of time and I will put you on the waiting list.
1 Like
Sweet - thanks!
1 Like
IDon’tNeedIt.gif
…yeah, I’mma need one. Love the GAS2 but a little more clarity would be siiiiiiiick.
1 Like
Hey, the foams fill odd in my ears, like too fabricy. Can you recommend a silicone based earbud tip?
Silicone tips really doesnt work well for buds, they are mainly there to make it bigger if it is too small for your ears, you still need foam over it to keep the sound.
2 Likes
Gorgeous!! 
1 Like
Here is a guide on how to measure source output impedance and unloaded max voltage accurately and at a very low price (sub 30 usd).
My own measurements are in my database.
Calling the reviewers here to get their hands on this so we can have more measurements out there besides just ASR (that does not always specify the OI for some reason) and L7Audiolab.
@VIVIDICI_111
@Jaytiss
@Mobileaudiophile
@SenyorC
@darmanastartes
@hawaiibadboy
13 Likes
Thanks for the call out but my issue isnt’t not having the measuring equipment, rather not having the time to use it 
Just take more time in between reviews then. 
I keep planning on doing that but then find myself surrounded by unopened boxes lol
Would you mind telling us how did you mod the EA500/EA1000 to solve its brightness or excessive treble?
Can confirm that this trick is very simple, yet effective.
The Simgots in question became more relaxed, yet still capable of delivering technicality and a lot of details. Just in a smoother, non-piercing fashion.
Highly recommended mod.
Thanks for sharing it, Riku!
3 Likes
Happy new year!
This has been a busy year for me since the launch of the Gen 3 Rikubuds lineup and I have dipped my toes back into the reviewing game a bit here and there as well. Now let us take a look at how my prediction from last year turned out.
”Now then, for my prediction for 2023: I expect that there will be brands that will focus on refining Planars, via new drivers and/or shell/acoustic tuning. While more competitors to the current KZ, Kinera and TRN budget planars should appear. The other major prediction I got is that we will see the rise of DSP usage to either complement their tuning or just tune it purely by DSP (we already got some DSP iems like the Moondrop Quarks DSP and upcoming ones like the Moondrop JIU and the Tanchjim Zero DSP). Although since DSP iems also mean you wont be able to use your owns sources, I only expect them to be in the budget range (at most up to 100 usd). A minor prediction is that we might be see some kilobuck iem using the new MEMS driver from xMEMS, maybe in combination with a DD woofer as I see them more like a tweeter driver than full-range (even though they are marketed at being a full range driver).”
- Planars: I say I got about half correct with this, as we now have highly praised planars like the Hidizs MP145 and the Letshuoer S12 pro for the refined planars. But as for budget planars from more brands than just KZ, TRN and Kinera, I do not really remember seeing anything more in the sub 100 usd market, although there have been releases from NiceHCK and Muse Hifi at the 100-150 usd range.
- DSP: accurate although only from Moondrop and Tanchjim since they released a specific cable with DSP functions and also the Moondrop May which is a higher tier iem over the last years Quarks DSP.
- xMEMS: very accurate, we got the Soranik MEMS-2 sitting at 1 200 usd, Noble Audio XM-1 at 700 usd and even the relatively cheap Creative Aurvana Ace & Ace 2 at 130/150 usd. With the XM-1 and the Aurvana Aces being TWS and using the xMEMS drivers as tweeters alongside a DD woofer.
Predictions for 2024:
- Bone Conduction: We have already started to see this after the second half of 2023 from the likes of BQEYZ Wind, TRN/CVJ Konoka/Assassin to the Kinera Imperial Loki. But I expect to see the rise of the LRA (Linear Resonant Actuator) type of BC drivers (akin to haptic feedback) being the next driver type to be in the hype train in 2024.
- xMEMS: We should (hopefully) be seeing more iems/tws being released with xMemes drivers in them at a relatively affordable price (sub 500 usd or perhaps sub 300 usd). Perhaps first from more mainstream/bigger companies than smaller chifi ones as the bigger brands will likely have more funds to spend on R&D, although I do doubt we will see huge brands like Samsung/Sennheiser/Apple be one of the early adopters of it since they likely want to take their time with their R&D if they are interested at all to use them.
- DSP: I believe we will not really see much use of DSP from other brands than Moondrop/Tanchjim since it is reliant on software as well which is something that is usually lacking from Chifi companies. At best, perhaps Fiio will join the competition since they do have more experience working with products needing software expertise.
16 Likes