$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.
Yeah 
doable at that level but if you can afford it I think the >$60 offers more range as your then pushing VE Master, Toneking Green Manba, Ks LBBS, Dunu Alpha 3, Yincrow Rhino, Fiio FF3 and at the value end - Rikubuds Gen 1 - in particular Lancer 1, Alter Rider 1, Berserker 1, @Rikudou_Goku driver usage and tunings are far more experimental & varied across the board than any other maker is attempting so worth speaking to him directly.
Out of the above Dunu Alpha 3, Fiio FF3 & Rikubuds Lancer 1 are a pretty compelling trio. VE Master is a good but safe all rounder & a little boring in comparison to the above - Yincrow Rhino sort of splits the FF3 & Dunu Alpha 3 and falls just short of what those buds offer for their specific genres. Toneking Green Manba - super niche - you need to be able to take treble but if you can, your rewarded with awesome extension & soundstage. Rikubuds Berserker 1 for dirty bud basshead sessions only. Ks LBBS is another complete specialist and you have to be willing to take little to no bass & a bell shape - but it’s a great take on neutral (also sets you up for VE a little down the line if you can deal with the shell)
At the $25 range:
I would definitely look for a discount LBBS as they sometimes pop up at just over this price.
Otherwise
NICEHCk EB2S Pro is probably the most complete and stands alone as the most solid rec
Then
Ks X6 - warm improved revision of LBB
DQSM Panda PK2 is the best cheap PK shell worth trying
Faaeal Rosemary is a warm/dark tuning which is rare in cheaper buds - less dark but bassier option is the Fengru QGM S300 Black Lotus but these are 300ohm drivers so not for everyone’s use case.
Cheaper options
Yincrow X6 - best bet for bass on the cheap (RW9 being more V-shaped version but not really an upgrade)
VE Monk A1 - haven’t heard these personally but I believe @Leonarfd has and they have been very well received for their price (again low on bass). Although I hear there is a new VE budget bud being released soon / or perhaps already to some VIPs
Vido & Iris 2.0 are the easy super cheap recs (Snow Lotus being the upgrade)
Qian39/69 - for the unique & different shell shape - closer to Ribuds Gen 2/3 in fit on a budget.
Personally I would go
EB2S Pro, Faael Rosemary and either Ks X6 (bell shape) or a DQSM Panda (PK shape) dependent on what shape may work better for you
Whatever you do don’t bother with Smabat (ice pick to the brain ruins innovative design ideas & Modular driver/bluetooth systems that try to lure you in) ohh and the Fiio FF1 - absolute shit show
How about a rundown on the RW’s? 1000 definitely felt promising. I’ll skip 2000, so how about 1000 vs 3000 vs 4000? 
And maybe how they compare to the general population/competition? Anything especially unique? I can’t find any reviews on 4000, and barely any on 3000.
Makes sense and you have the SBS & Ripples you can compare to - will edit now
I wouldn’t discount the 2000 - it is a very different bud to the 3000 in a similar manner to the Fiio FF3 & FF5. The 2000 probably has the best bass of the two and is a more fun bass boost signature whilst still retaining clean technicalities even if a touch rolled off in the treble. The 3000 is a more mature neutral tuning which stresses technicalities and whilst it can function as an allrounder ideally it is more suited to instrumental. I think you will independently get fans of both rather than seeing one as an upgrade on the other. Both are a step up from the 1000 - not sure if you have the bass or more balanced version.
In general I wouldn’t say Yincrow have anything unique tuning wise (maybe clean bass) though they are consistently technical leaning, however they develop their own shells and have some innovative designs, have better than normal - for buds anyway - overall packaging/accessories, uses detachable cables which many prefer, are easy to drive and overall just do what they say they are going to do with minimal fuss or QC issues.
My understanding - since I have not heard the 4000 yet - is that it is the straight successor to the 3000 and has a lot of minor iterative improvements - with the large price uptick it may not be the best value performer. One for those who have exhausted the bud game and will pay for the SQ chase regardless of diminishing returns.
Nice, thanks! I must have the regular 1000, since I don’t recall seeing the bass option until just now. 2000 & 3000 both seem good, then!
Unfortunately I haven’t heard the non bass version of the Rw1000 and I’ll be honest it’s been quite awhile since I’ve heard the bass version also. But I don’t think you can go wrong with either or even both if you have as little impulse control as I.
Did you take Kenyon’s list from Wired Earbuds, Best of the Best Recs? - #7 by Kenyon and formatted and added items?
I have some suggestions to make to either Kenyon’s or your list, but it will be good to just align on One List to Rule All Buds list lol
We are mostly in agreement, but I found the NICEHCk EB2S Pro a bit bright and it wasn’t until I threw a bass shelf on it that I enjoyed it. The Ks LBBS is a direct upgrade if you like the tuning.
For the cost of the EB2S Pro, you could get both the Yincrow X6 and Qian39, and try out the MX500 shell ( which is really common ), and the Qian39 shell which is similar to the newer Rikubuds shell.
I think I like all of the Faaeal buds - I have the Iris Ancestor, Iris 2.0, Snow Lotus, Rosemary. Of those the Rosemary is my least favorite, but still a solid pick. I think the Iris 2.0 is my favorite of these, but they are all really solid picks. The upside with them is they are all on Amazon, if you aren’t up for the randomness of AliEx.
I was gifted Grand Berserker 2 and a Grand Rider 1, both are amazing. I lean toward being a basshead, but the Grand Berserker 2 can be a bit too dark at times, and the Grand Rider 1 is my current favorite, despite being a more balanced earbud.
Yep, that’s his list. I didn’t add items, tho.
I think I would agree - in an ideal world the EB2S Pro would have a little more bass . Maybe since the Pro is a clear improvement on the OG EB2S we can hope for some KZ inspired Pro Plus model revision 
For me the LBBS is probably a little more neutrally tuned and excels in vocal highlights so it’s a different flavour as opposed to an upgrade for me but (not accounting for fit, QC & cable issues) the LBBS is a better bud if you can stretch to it - where I am though they are usually between 150-200% of the price of the EB2S Pro. And we are then approaching Rikubuds Gen 1 pricing which I think probably works for more people, has vast tunings to sample and overall would be a safer recommendation.
Saying this SHAMELESS PLUG ALERT - I have a load of cheaper buds I am selling for around 50% off including the LBBS.
I think your advice to try out cheaper buds for fit is spot on - if you don’t have a PK set try the pandas when you get a chance (better example than some of the cheaper VE buds that use that shell). I also understand your Faael take as the Rosemary is the biggest departure from their tuning lineup. I probably go Rosemary, Snow Lotus Balanced, Iris 2 for my personal picks - I skipped the Ancestor unfortunately. But that is because I can find other perhaps improved alternatives for Iris (although not as good value) but it’s harder on the cheaper end to find something that is tuned like the rosemary. I just like to have different flavours as I work up the price levels.
Glad your enjoying the GR1 - that was probably the set that propelled me much deeper down the bud rabbithole. I was speaking about this to @ttorbic earlier this week - it seems that there is far greater convergence of what people find as good performance in buds especially when compared to IEMs. Strange
I added the Panda to my wishlist, for the next time I put an order on AE.
I mostly bought the Iris Ancestor as a travel set. The other budget one I recommend is the KBear Stellar.
I do think there is even less variance on perception of over the ear, so it makes sense, move the transducer(s) further away and the many variations of our ears start to average out a bit. The value is the crazy part with buds. You can find $10 buds that nearly everyone will think are good.
Afaik, the VE Pk buds is actually not the original Yuin PK shell (which the DQSM Panda does use) and is a modified larger version of it.
You are correct. Though fit is still ok - interested in hearing the gold SM as seems quite a departure from the original.
IIRC I also believe the venting is not the same on some PK shells so you have to be careful with that shell shape. Can you remember what models that happens on…?
For me these non-yuin PK versions all fit and are much less comfortable for me than the yuin pk version.
Yes. Afaik, there are 4 different “PK” shells.
Original, Yuin PK, has 2 vents and specified at 14.8mm (I think they might be using 14.6mm drivers actually as they are smaller than actual 14.8mm drivers). (afaik, DQSM Panda uses this.)
Modified 2 vent version that is a bit bigger. VE Monk SM has this (is in metal as well).
Modified 1 vent version that is noticeably bigger, almost MX500 size. NiceHCK B40 (and probably the B70) and the DQSM Turandot (this one is metal) uses this. Note that it looks like it has 2 vents, but one of them is closed off.
I’d be interested on this and would greatly appreciate it.
Personally, I’m looking for buds in the $50~200 range with a fun signature, either neutral with a bass boost or U-shaped. I’m eyeing the Yincrow RW-2000 and the Grand Saber 2 of the rikubuds, but I’m curious to see if there are other alternatives.
Yeah, man! RW-2000 seems nice for that. 
I’m not sure if the original ST-10 would also be a fit here, but it looks like only the newer, and leaner/cleaner ST-10s is available, sadly.
RW-2000 isnt really that bassy imo. Its more mid-bass focused (and still less in quantity) than say their own X6 model.
Revising @Kenyon and @CT007’s list (added UCOTECH ES-P1/P2, some details on LREY sets)
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 magnet, with sand as dampener
TGXear Desolation Sound ($599) [FIXED CABLE] 180ohm, N55 magnet
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 magnet
TGXear Serratus Black Sand ($250) [FIXED CABLE] 180ohm, N55 magnet, with sand as dampener
Rikubuds Grand Alter Saber 3 ($175) [MMCX OPTIONAL] 180ohm, 15.4mm dynamic PET
Yincrow RW-4000 ($432) [MMCX CABLE + MODULAR] 16ohm, 15mm dynamic
Lrey Aurora ($) [FIXED OR MMCX] 32 Ohm beryllium driver, N52 magnet
Symphonio Dragon 3+(could not find 3) ($529) [FIXED CABLE] 120ohm, 14.8mm dynamic N52 magnet
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 ($299/350) [FIXED CABLE] 180ohm, beryllium N52 magnet
TGXear Ripples ($) 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 ($363) [FIXED CABLE] 30ohm, 15mm dynamic N55 magnet
Ksearphone 600 ($)
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 ES-P1 ($321) [MMCX CABLE] Custom 14.8 mm CNT double dome; note: ES-P1 is sold out, and replaced by ES-P2, but there are few reviews online. ES-P1 was highly regarded
Symphonio Dragon 2+ ($308) [FIXED CABLE] 16ohm, 15.8mm neodymium
Lrey W03 Pro ($) [FIXED OR MMCX] 32 Ohm custom beryllium driver, N55 magnet
Lrey W08 ($) [FIXED OR MMCX]
Lrey Rika ($) [FIXED OR MMCX] 32 Ohm Custom titanium driver
Lrey Proteus ($) [FIXED OR MMCX] 80 Ohm custom driver
@AceBee any comments / additions? we’re trying to make another earbud list that is more of a recommendation list than Woody’s awesome timeline