price limit?
If the X6 lacks bass, then you my Saber 3 or upcoming Berserker 3 should fit you.
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Highest I’ve seen so far is $399, I think. Average must be what, $25-50?
Yeah check out riku’s stuff another option is tgx ear, and some other’s on here make good stuff.
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Would be great if there was a thread for Top 5 Earbuds You’re Using Now, to see where everyone’s at VS what’s currently available on the market.
These seem popular and good:
- Moondrop Chaccone
- RikuBuds Saber 3/Lancer 1/etc
- Venture Electronics Sun/Asura
- Vido (all models?)
- TGX Serratus
- Yinman 2.0 600
- DUNU Alpha 3
- Fiio FF1/FF3/FF5
- Yincrow RW-3000/X6
- Smabat ST-10s(not sure?)
These seem bad:
- Venture Electronics SM
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Careful what you wish for 
Combination of my personal collection and each buds market reputation - not accounting for my tuning preferences.
(Where I do not own & am going by reputation only - listed in italics)
(Please anyone feel free to add any I have missed out & @AceBee in particular as you have exposure to other DIY makers that I have yet to try)
(@Rikudou_Goku - did I miss any of your buds?)
Average here still being a high standard - >$125 in IEM terms
God Tier
VE (Sun Copper, Zen Su, APWS), TGX (Black Sand Desolation Sound, Desolation Sound), Cypherus Audio Black Dragon Susvara (and its variants), FranQL (Not available for purchase only by gift)
Exceptional
VE Zen SL, TGX (Revelstroke, Totem, Black Sand Serratus), Rikubuds Grand Alter Saber 3, Yincrow RW-4000, Lrey Aurora, Symphonio Dragon 3
Very Good
VE (Sun Dice, Zen 3.0), TGXear (Sunniva, Ripples, OG Serratus, Tantalus, Alpha), Rikubuds (Grand Alter Saber 2, Grand Saber/Rider 2, Saber 3, Alter Rider 3), Ks (Bell-TI, 600, DB1), Yinman 600, Yincrow RW-3000, Ucotech, Symphonio Dragon 2+, Lrey W03 Pro (& its variants)
Good or Successful at Niche
VE (Asura 3.0, Zen 2.0), Rikubuds (Grand Berserker 2, Grand Rider 1, Grand Archer 1), Moondrop Chaconne, Fiio (FF5, FF3), Ks (DB1E, K300 Samsara), Yincrow RW-2000, Dunu Alpha 3, NiceHCK EBX21, Shozy BK, Blur (PK150 Wraith LE, PK32, MX64 OFC), Newbsound (Limited Runs), Puresounds (PS-100 600, PS-100 500) Rose Technics Maria 2, Pislo
Above Average or Niche with failings
VE Master, Rikubuds (Berserker 2, Lancer 1), Yincrow RW-1000 Bass, Fiio EM5, Ks (X3, X6, LBBS), Toneking (Dendroaspis Viridi, Black Manba), Blur (MX150, MX400, MX300 Beautiful Witch, PK16), Smabat M2S, DQSM (Turandot, PD21)
Average or best under $75
VE (Monk Pro Vita, Monk LL), Rikubuds (Assassin 1, Berserker 1, Alter Rider 1, Saber 1, Alter Archer 1), Yincrow (Rhino, Calf), NiceHCK EB2S Pro, DQSM Panda PK2, Faael Rosemary, Nobunga Labs
Cheap buds I also have in my collection if you need impressions.
VE (Monk V2S, Monk SM, Monk+), Yincrow RW-9, X6) Smabat (M3 Pro), NiceHCK B70, Faael (Snow Lotus Balanced, Iris 2.0), NS Audio LCP 80 Copper, Lun Sheng Aeolian Bells, Qian (69, 39, Fengru (QGM S300 Black Lotus, EMX500S), Fiio FF1, RY RY4S
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Great list.
You have the important ones.
I do argue that the Grand Archer 1 is a few steps above though, considering everyone that has it absolutely loves it (not a lot of people though).
And probably should remove FranQL buds there since you cant get them really…
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Ooo, there is RW-4000! 
It’s great to see VE with 3 models at the top, and more close! So the best I’ve heard so far is only Above Average. It seems there are few enough models out there to be completely captured and summarized in a small post like this. Very cool little market : )
Looks like you haven’t heard any Vido’s yet? VE Zen Su was tricky to find; I’ll pass on $3K 
Amazing post!!! gives trophy 
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Let’s say I want to try out different types of sound because I am still unsure what I want out of these earbuds, what would be your 2-4 earbuds that could represent a wide range of sound signatures? (I’ve tried the Iris 2.0 and FiiO FF5, which I’ve found to be ok…)
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Here’s a revision of the list, with the top 3 categories:
GOD'S TEARS
Venture Electronics Sun Copper ($598) [FIXED CABLE] 180ohm, 15.4mm, lifetime warranty
Venture Electronics Zen Su ($2980) [FIXED CABLE] 320ohm
Venture Electronics APWS ($900? Contact VE) [FIXED CABLE] 150ohm
TGXear DS Black Sand ($599) [FIXED CABLE] 130ohm, N55
TGXear Desolation Sound ($599) [FIXED CABLE] 180ohm, N55
Cypherus Audio Black Dragon Susvara (and its variants) ($1000?) [FIXED CABLE?] 32ohm,15.4mm
><-CEPTIONAL
Venture Electronics Zen SL ($298) [FIXED CABLE] 300ohm, 14.8mm LCP
TGXear Revelstroke ($450) [FIXED CABLE] 130ohm,
TGXear Totem ($299) [FIXED CABLE] 700ohm, 15.4mm beryllium PVD N55
TGXear Serratus Black Sand ($250) [FIXED CABLE] 180ohm, N55
Rikubuds Grand Alter Saber 3 ($175) [MMCX OPTIONAL] 180ohm, 15.4mm dynamic PET
Yincrow RW-4000 ($432) [MMCX CABLE + MODULAR] 16ohm, 15mm dynamic
Lrey Aurora ($)
Lrey W03 Pro ($)
Lrey W08 ($)
Lrey Rika ($)
Lrey Proteus ($)
Symphonio Dragon 3+(could not find 3) ($529) [FIXED CABLE] 120ohm, 14.8mm dynamic N52
VERY G00
Venture Electronics Sun Dice ($298) [FIXED CABLE] 180ohm, 15.4mm driver
Venture Electronics Zen 3.0 ($298) [FIXED CABLE] 300ohm, 15.4mm driver
TGXear Sunniva ($299/350) [FIXED CABLE] 180ohm, beryllium N52
TGXear Ripples ($) 100ohm
TGXear OG/Red Serratus ($199) [FIXED CABLE] 300ohm, 15.4mm dynamic PET diaphragm
TGXear Tantalus ($) 500ohm
TGXear Alpha ($249) [FIXED CABLE] 600ohm, beryllium
Rikubuds Grand Alter Saber 2/Grand Saber 2/Grand Rider 2 ($145) [FIXED CABLE]
Rikubuds Saber 3/Alter Rider 3 ($120) [MMCX OPTIONAL]
Ksearphone Bell-Ti ($363) [FIXED CABLE] 30ohm, 15mm dynamic N55
Ksearphone 600 ($)
Ksearphone DB1 ($286) [2-PIN CABLE] 30ohm, 15.4mm dynamic, pure copper voice coil
Yinman 600 ($118) [FIXED CABLE] 600ohm
Yincrow RW-3000 ($196) [MMCX CABLE] 16ohm, 15mm dynamic
Ucotech (IEM?) ($)
Symphonio Dragon 2+ ($308) [FIXED CABLE] 16ohm, 15.8mm neodymium
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I think I just messed up when I was allocating them - Grand Archer 1 & Grand Berserker 2 should be on the same level as a successful niche - will edit now
FranQL - yeah agreed / will add a note so he doesn’t get bothered by people
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Obviously I haven’t heard these yet, but I’ll try to pick and spec some out for you, that seem to be winners:
- Dunu Alpha 3 ($80) 32ohm, 14.2mm
- Moondrop Chaccone ($320) 24ohm
- Shozy BK ($165) [FIXED CABLE] 16ohm, 14.2mm
- Rikubuds Grand Alter Saber 3 ($175) [MMCX OPTIONAL] 180ohm, 15.4mm dynamic PET
- Rikubuds Saber 3 ($120) [MMCX OPTIONAL] 64ohm
- Yincrow RW-3000 ($196) [MMCX CABLE] 16ohm, 15mm dynamic
- TGX Serratus Black Sand ($250) [FIXED CABLE] 180ohm, N55
If you narrow it down to cell phone/non-amped-device compatible, that should leave these:
- Dunu Alpha 3 ($80) 32ohm
- Shozy BK ($165) 16ohm
- Moondrop Chaccone ($320) 24ohm
- Yincrow RW-3000 ($196) 16ohm
Very interesting 
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What price range are you looking at? Either per bud or total?
I’ll try and group the buds by sound signature within the price buckets when I get some time this week.
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Around 25$ per earbud. But I’m wondering 2 things, now. How good will they be and is this price point realistic? In other words, will I get something waayy better at a higher price point.
My thinking here is that if I can do this with IEMs, why not earbud 
?
I’ve also found this list from flathead corner/sanctuary. There’s a section called « Budget kings » and I think @AceBee was involved in this but unsure when was the last time it was updated.
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That is from the previous keeper of the Bud documents, WoodyLuvr
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May just be worth including only one as he works mainly in limited runs and a lot of the drivers are the same for different models…
So far Aurora is the best received followed by W03 Pro.
This entry may be subject to falling into the tier below - need to hear personally & have a few more impressions from others
@ttorbic what tier are you thinking would be apt - based on your personal experience + market rep? (Put you on the spot blud )
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i personally really enjoy the Ripples, so if that one is in the Very Good category, then W03 Pro shouldn’t be in the Exceptional category - I’d say Very Good at best. Aurora may be ok to stay in Exceptional…
Some caveat to Lrey sets: there have a couple of QC issues, so be warned
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$25 is basically the cost of a good cable, and most of the materials. ;p Surely more money will be needed for a better driver. Heck, the only IEM’s I like enough to keep & use at sub-$100 are still over $50. KZ PR2 HBB($54), KZ ZAS ($76), KZ AS10 ($60).
Buds might be especially difficult to sound good, so they may need more love, care, and tech to get to where they should be.