Rikubuds Alter Rider 3 / Saber 3

DISCLAIMER

I would like to thank Rikubuds for providing the Saber 3 review unit.

It can be obtained here:
https://rikubuds.com/generation-3/
https://www.instagram.com/rikubuds/




SPECIFICATIONS



Tested at 100 Euros.


ACCESSORIES

Other than the earbuds, these are provided:
1) Large carrying case
2) White high-density foams
3) Red medium-density foams
4) Black low-density foams

No complaints here, it's really a great accessory line-up for a earbud. I've definitely seen way stingier goodies with pricier buds.




We have 3 types of foams in the packaging. The white foams are the densest, furnishing the greatest warmth and bass quantities. The black ones are the thinnest in density, removing some of the bass and adding clarity and brightness. The red ones are a mid-point between the two in terms of sound. Do foam-roll and see what suits your preferences sonically.




While the Saber 3 comes with a 3.5 mm non-detachable cable, when placing an order, one can message Rikubuds to get different terminations (eg 4.4 mm), various coloured cables, and also even to request for a detachable MMCX version, though one needs some coin for these.

This stock cable is somewhat thin and tangly, but it is supple and braided well, with minimal microphonics. The right terminal has a red band to mark that it is the right side, with a blue one on the left side, as per usual audiophile convention.




Last but not least, we have a carrying case which is huge, with inner webbing and pockets to store accessories.




For the otaku amongst us, the Saber 3 has its own waifu:


The rest of this review was done with the stock black (low density) foams. No aftermarket accessories were used, so as not to add any confounders to the sound.


BUILD/COMFORT

The Saber 3 incorporates a RG39-1 shell. It is extremely comfortable and ergonomic, with the stem's centre of gravity housed in the intertragal notch. The housings are very light, and this earbud can be used for hour long listening sessions without any discomfort whatsoever.




INTERNALS

This earbud's engine is a 15.4 mm PET & LCP dome composite diaphragm dynamic driver.


DRIVABILITY

I tested the Saber 3 with the following sources:
- Apple dongle
- Aune Yuki
- Cayin RU7
- Chord Mojo 2
- Fiio K11 DAC/amp
- Fiio KA17 dongle
- Khadas Tone Board -> Schiit Asgard 3 amp
- Questyle M15 dongle
- Sony Walkman NW A-55 DAP (Walkman One WM1Z Plus v2 Mod)
- Sony Walkman NW A-55 DAP (Walkman One Neutral Mod)
- Sony Walkman NW WM1A DAP (Walkman One WM1Z Plus v2 Mod)
- Smartphone

With a 64 ohm impedance and 107 dB/mW sensitivity, the Saber 3 benefits from amplification. While powering this earbud off a weak smartphone, one can get adequate loudness by maxing out the volume, but the bass is flabby and one-noted, with compressed dynamics. Hence, amplification is recommended to do the sonics justice.


SOUND & TECHNICALITIES



Tonally, the Saber 3 is an L-shaped basshead earbud. For folks who have heard the Final E3000 and E5000, the Saber 3 is the flathead version of these bassy IEMs. It is extremely smooth, with a thick note weight; there's not an ounce of fatigue in the upper frequencies.

Most earbuds are mid-bass focused, with an anemic sub-bass, but the Saber 3 bucks the trend, in providing a deep sub-bass rumble, with superb extension. For a earbud, I would consider it as basshead in quantity, with a tremendous mid-bass thump. Installing the densest white foams will boost the bass even more, for the bassheads amongst us! If one finds the bass too intrusive, no worries, the black (thinnest) foamies will shave off some reverberations to make it more balanced (even on black foams, the Saber 3 is still a bassy earbud though!).

The bass has average texturing, though speed is surprisingly nimble for such a bassy signature. We do have some mid-bass bleed, which is really inevitable with the copious bass on tap.

The lower midrange is warmed by the aforementioned massive mid-bass, which adds a lot of note weight and heft to the soundscape. The Saber 3 hence sounds very creamy and lush, and this is sonically akin to sleeping in a fluffy pillow. There's a slight boost in the upper mids, though vocals are very restrained with no shoutiness; so those sensitive to this pinna-gain region should be pleased.

Treble is dark on the Saber 3, so trebleheads might need to look elsewhere. Treble rolls off early, so we get sibilant-free sonics with no harshness - this earbud is definitely a kindred spirit for our treble-sensitive brethren - though some clarity and resolution is lost due to the function of a toned down treble.

Timbre is very natural, as per most DD-only earbuds.

Technicalities are decent for a darkish signature, with soundstage that is expansive (especially in depth), though it is perhaps not the most micro-detailed compared to brighter or more analytical buds. Imaging is surprisingly solid.


COMPARISONS




Yincrow RW-2000

The RW-2000 is a warm U-shaped set. The RW-2000 has a detachable cable, and is more easily driven. The RW-2000 can be worn cable down or over-ears, so fitting permutations are a bit more versatile.

The RW-2000 has a smaller soundstage, though it has slightly better layering, imaging and micro-detailing.

These 2 earbuds are considered a bit different in flavour, with the Saber 3 being one for chill listening sessions or bassheads, whereas the RW-2000 is a bit more balanced.


Yinman 600 ohm

The Yinman 600 ohm is also an L-shaped flathead with huge bass and a warm signature, but it is one of the most difficult transducers to drive, with a whopping 600 ohm impedance and 87 dB/mW sensitivity. Hence, this earbud generally needs desktop-grade sources for optimal drivability - not a matter of volume but more of bass control and dynamics - which severely limits its portability. Although the Saber 3 is not the easiest to drive, the Yinman 600 ohm is on a different planet for drivability requirements.

The Yinman 600 ohm is thicker in note weight, but sounds darker in the treble. The Yinman 600 ohm is behind in micro-detailing, imaging, instrument separation, while soundstaging is about on par. It also has a non-detachable cable.


CONCLUSIONS



For earbud enthusiasts who are looking for a chill and relaxing set - with not an ounce of fatigue in the upper registers - the Saber 3 is a match made in heaven. The creamy smooth sonics, combined with big bass, is a unique proposition amongst the usually sub-bass anemic earbuds we see every day. It is tuned very safely in the upper mids and treble, so there is no fear of any ice-pick vocals or sibilance.

In fact, if you have heard the Final E3000 or E5000, the Saber 3 sports a similar warmish and dark signature, which is well-suited for long listening sessions. No doubt, trebleheads might be alienated with the tuning choice, so it isn't the most analytical transducer in the Rikubuds stable, but one that embraces lush musicality over outright micro-detailing.

Nevertheless, the Saber 3 has solid soundstaging and imaging, with organic timbral accuracy. This earbud is also extremely well-fitting, with a great accessory line-up.

Compared to other darkish flatheads, the Saber 3 actually fares better in technicalities than the Yinman 600 ohm, with less power-hungry requirements to boot. It still however requires some amplification to tighten the bass and improve dynamics, due to the highish impedance, and sadly won't sound as great from a weak smartphone.

For late night listening sessions, or for bassheads, this earbud is definitely one that I can recommend.

INTRO

Last year, I got interested in earbuds, mainly for the comfort and more natural sound. At the time I got the Sivga M200 and RikuBuds Alter Archer 1. Eventually, I stopped using them and went back to my over-ear headphones.

Couple months ago, I decided to listen to these earbuds again and give my thoughts on Head-Fi. After my post on fit issues with the Alter Archer 1, Riku reached out recommending the Saber 3 instead of the Alter Rider 3 I thought about getting. After reading/watching reviews on both, I decided to get the Saber 3.


CUSTOMIZATION

One thing I really like about RikuBuds is the customization. When you order, you choose the color of the shell, cable, and o-rings, which makes the buds feel more special. There is also the option to have a balanced 4.4mm cable instead of 3.5mm. I stuck with 3.5mm myself since I was going to use it with my IEMatch+. Still, having options like that is really neat and is always appreciated. Here is mine:



BUILD & FIT

The build quality is really good. The resin shells are light and solid. The buds have dropped and hit my table a couple of times, and they have never cracked. Same as with my experience with the Alter Archer 1, the cable feels sturdy and has never tangled up after a week of use. My only complaint is that it is non-detachable. Other than that, there is not much else to complain about here.

The fit is the best I've gotten on a bud so far. It is so good that I usually forget that I have it on! While they can loosen up at times and lose that deep bass, they have never fallen out. When I am headbanging or talking with friends, they stay in place.

SOUND PARAMETERS

I listened to the RikuBuds Saber 3 through Apple Music (non-lossless) on

1. JDS Labs Atom Amp & DAC > IEMatch+ > Windows 10 PC
2. 3.5mm headphone jack > MacBook Air M1
3. Anker 3.5mm Audio Adapter > iPhone 13 Mini

The Saber 3 comes with different types of foam based on density. I chose the blue foam, or the medium density foam, because I had the best results with it.

BASS

The bass is easily the best aspect of the Saber 3's sound. Due to their design, earbuds aren't really known for their bass extension. However, the Saber 3 can surprisingly go quite deep with the proper fit. James Horner's "A Life So Changed" sounds so good with these. It is the first time I feel a bud did this song justice in terms of subbass. Even though I wish there had been a little bit more subbass, I was still pleased.

As for midbass, it is emphasized but not too much. This is great for hearing kick drums and giving some oomph to the music, like on Pineapple Thief's "Try as I Might." Sometimes I'm not a fan of "neutral" midbass because it can sound anemic and lacks punch. So the midbass here fits my preferences well.

MIDRANGE

Unfortunately, this is where the problems with Saber 3 begin. Like the midbass and upper bass, the lower midrange from 300–600 Hz is slightly emphasized. This gives body to vocals and instruments without being overly bloated, which is nice. Then comes a huge dip around 2 kHz, causing hollowness in the sound. At first listen, I enjoyed it because it contributed to the pleasantness and warmth. And for certain music, like some Frank Sinatra, it does work. But over time, things start feeling distant and unengaging.

The moment it started annoying me was while I was listening to "Glorious #1" by Remy Zero. Cinjun Tate's vocals and instruments sound really hollow and boxy, and they just did not sound good at all. Female vocals are a hit or miss with the Saber 3. They are present but lack any energy behind them. Towards the end of Floor Jansen and Henk Poort's cover of "Phantom of the Opera", for example, Floor's high notes sound like they're behind a thick curtain. For a bud that promised "forward female vocals", I was disappointed.

TREBLE

The low treble is as good as it gets. I've had problems with a peak around 5 kHz on previous buds, but thankfully, this is not the case with the Saber 3. It actually sounds relatively in line with what I consider to be "correct" sounding, which is great. The upper treble is where I feel it could be improved. While it is nowhere harsh and grating, I feel it is playing too safe.

For anyone who has read at least one of my recent posts, you may know I listen to "Windowpane" by Opeth for treble extension. It sounds okay with the Saber 3, but it lacks sizzle in the snare, cymbals, and crashes. Without the airiness in the song, it sounds somewhat dull and boring.

CONCLUSION

The RikuBuds Saber 3 is a good earbud with couple tuning flaws holding it back. While the bass is really impressive for an earbud, the upper-midrange dip and lack of upper treble hold it back from being something great. Thankfully, it is easy to fix with EQ. I posted it down below.