Rikubuds Alter Rider 3
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Firstly i would like to start by thanking @RikudouGoku for having been kind enough to send me these two earbuds , The Alter Rider 3 and Saber 3.
Also I feel privileged that he deems my opinion worthy and as such it was with enthusiasm that I made this review.
For further information concerning purchasing please note the following links:
https://rikubuds.com/generation-3/
https://www.instagram.com/rikubuds/
Secondly let me say I am no expert when it comes the earbuds, truthfully I don't consider myself an expert in IEMs either, I simply listen , confirm if what I have shoved into my ears pleases my senses and then proceed to express my opinion as best as i can using my musical preferences, my equipment and obviously my ear anatomy!
When it comes to Earbuds the make or brake moniker is very true, as the fit will determine the success or failure of the listening experience.
With regards to this I can say I am lucky, my ears are receptive to earbuds and as such I was able to make a correct judgement concerning the Alter Rider 3 and Saber 3.
The accessories that the earbuds are provided with, are ample and satisfied my needs:
White foams , High density, add warmth/bass
Red foams , Med density, balanced sound
Black foams , Low density, make the sound brighter.
All that's left is to foam roll and see what suits your preferences better.
The cable provided is of good quality even if non detachable and that leads to a 15.4mm driver which is either Titanium diaphragmed in the Alter or LCP in the Saber.
There's also a impedance variance between the two models, Alter is 32ohm and Saber 64ohm.
Now what makes the Alter 3 and Saber 3 special is the Soundsphere technology.
To not overcomplicate , the inside of the 3D printed shell has some baffling, cleverly designed to reduce unwanted resonances, by braking down and or re orienting the sound waves created by the drivers motion.
This has the effect of increasing the clarity with which the drivers play, but also improves imagining and Soundstage.
In my books, this sort of technical prowess sits right along side the wave guide system that Smabat uses, and although both are very unique, I'll give Riku the win, the guy is a small diyer...respect!
The Alter 3 and Saber 3 are exceptional when it comes to tonality, meaning that both are quite versatile in the music genres they can support, although the darker nature and bass richer Alter 3 can make it shine with EDM , Rock, while the Saber 3 will feel at home with Jazz and Classic.
Bass of this duo is of excellent quality while quantity is ample, the Alter 3 sounding a little warmer due to slightly less uppermids and treble energy.
Either way the sub-bass is present but focus remains on mid-bass which is truly exceptional.
Both exhibit very good texture, speed, no noticeable bleed into the mids, just very engaging and well executed bass.
The mids are the star of the show, and with the almost absence of bass bleed , they come across clean, full bodied , providing that typical earbud musicality.
The Alter 3 is a smidge darker while the Saber 3 a little brighter, but whichever one you choose , vocals are always simply amazing.
The highs complement the mids , by offering the right energy, minimal sibilance and no harshness.
Instruments have a natural sound to them, with everything just being very musicaly correct.
Worth mentioning that the Saber 3 with its extra amount of treble can edge out slightly the Alter 3 when it comes to detail retrieval and that sense of Air.
Technicalities are another area which impressed me.
Soundstage is as expected from earbuds, large, more on the Saber than in the Alter Rider , although the difference to my ears seems to be more in the height.
Imaging on either one is again good , most tracks being easily resolved and broken down, even when complex.
But for me the technicality that stands out is how good timbre and tonality are.
They just sound so organic and real that it definitely makes them stand out.
Comparisons where made with some of my favourite earbuds, KSEarphones LBBS, Smabat M4 + Super One Module , VE Asura 3.0FE, Dunu Alpha 3, among a few others.
All have their magic, some being a true earbud representation, Asura, while others give me some IEM vibes, Smabat.
The Rikubuds are in my opinion and considering my personal taste an almost perfect pair of earbuds, the Alter gives me the Bass and warmth I like , the Saber the vocals and openness I appreciate, both bring a huge smile to my face!
Today we're going to be taking a brief look at the Rikubud Alter Rider 3 and which cost 100 euros and were bought by myself, I don't have much to say about it but I'll make my points clear.
Build
For the build we have a photopolymer resin body, that feels pretty solid like it could survive some abuse, we also have a plastic cap that covers the driver and the foam covers, for the review I'll be using tuning intended by the Riku which are the foams that come pre-fitted to the earbud which are the white ones though you do get lower density black ones and medium density blue foams. These fit very snuggly and comfortably and would be suited to hours of pain free use,
The standard cable is rough and plasticity feeling though of good quality and nice braid, it is terminated in a very compact 3.5mm connector though you can order it in 4.4mm which costs 25 euro extra.
Sound Quality
For sound quality, these buds offer a warmish though slightly congested sound signature, the mids sound a little too thick in a sense which smears the clarity of instruments, the upper mids feel slightly recessed though smooth and lush with a rich timbre, the bass is textured and rich with pretty decent extension for an earbud.Treble is smooth though slightly on the exited side, some songs may be a little intense at times but it's never harsh.
In this track the bass and kick affinity is excellent, the bass has presence and amazingly rich timbre and the kick just pops out from under it which really drives the song forward like well-oiled clockwork, though slight problem is the vocals sound too warm and recessed.
These have good dynamics and an okay sound stage that projects a near sense of vocals to about the bridge of your nose and a decently wide width, not much depth here but the imaging is pretty decent. Detail retrieval is average, partially soiled by the slightly boxy nature of the mids and instrument layering and separation aren't much of a strong point here though it's not in a way that completely ruins the listening experience.
To be clear, these are excellent if you need something for a fun and semi-natural sound, comfortable listening session but they are not for analytical listening.
DISCLAIMER
I would like to thank Rikubuds for providing this unit. The Alter Rider 3 is a DIY bud from famed maker @RikudouGoku . It can be obtained here:
https://rikubuds.com/generation-3/
https://www.instagram.com/rikubuds/
SPECIFICATIONS
ACCESSORIES
Other than the earbuds, these are provided:
1) Semi-rigid case
2) White high-density foams
3) Red medium-density foams
4) Black low-density foams
The accessories are pretty generous, everything that a earbud aficionado would require is included. The white denser foam adds warmth/bass, whereas the thinner black ones would make the sonics brighter and thinner. One can even combine 2 sets of foams (double foam) to add girth and increase warmth if you would like, so do foam roll and see what suits your preferences.
The added round semi-rigid case has Rikubud's logo on it, and the inner aspect has webbing to store accessories.
While this earbud's cables are not detachable, when placing an order, you can opt for various colours and terminations (4.4 mm or 3.5 mm). Although the stock cable is on the thinner side, it is supple and well-braided, with zero microphonics (this is much appreciated)! The right cable has a red band to mark that it is the right side, as per usual convention.
The Alter Rider 3 even comes with Rikubud's own specially commissioned waifu, for those that are interested:
The rest of this review was done with the stock white (high density) foams. No aftermarket accessories were used, so as not to add any confounders to the sound.
BUILD/COMFORT
The Alter Rider 3 utilizes a RG39 earbud shell, and the resin housings are solid yet light. Ergonomics are excellent, with these buds nicely nesting within the intertragal notch of the ear via a thin stem, with good pivoting and balancing of its centre of gravity. I had no discomfort whatsoever in the 3 weeks that I've been testing it.
INTERNALS
This earbud utilizes a 15.4 mm titanium diaphragm dynamic driver.
The Alter Rider 3 uses Rikubud's innovative Soundsphere technology. Essentially, there are pyramid shaped protrusions within the housing, which reduces unwanted resonances via interaction and re-direction of acoustic waves. This creative design is supposed to improve imaging, soundstage and clarity.
This may be the first time that this creative concept is applied in earbuds - it is used in a very high-end headphone in the Focal Stellia - so kudos to such a brave - but as we will read below, successful - implementation of something considered uncharted waters for earbud DIYers.
DRIVABILITY
I tested the Alter Rider 3 with the following sources:
- Apple dongle
- Cayin RU7
- Colorfly CDA M1 DAC/AMP dongle
- Creative Sound Blaster X5
- E1DA DAC/AMP dongle
- Hiby R3 Pro Saber 2022 DAP
- Khadas Tone Board -> Schiit Asgard 3 amp
- Khadas Tone Board -> Topping L30 amp
- Questyle M15 DAC/AMP 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
The Alter Rider 3 is not the easiest flathead to drive, and like most single DD transducers, amplification may scale the sonics in terms of bass tightness, soundstage and dynamics.
As the Alter Rider 3 is neutral with a slightly thinner note weight, this earbud may synergize better with warmer sources or something more analoguish.
SOUND & TECHNICALITIES
The Alter Rider 3 is quite neutral in tonality. This makes it a suitable pairing for most music genres, perhaps other than for bass forward genres like EDM and hip-hop.
Like most traditional earbuds, the bass seems focused in the mid-bass, with some sub-bass roll-off. The quantity of bass is neutral, but this earbud eschews outright quantity for excellent quality. A very textured bass is heard, with zero mid-bass bleed and lightning fast speed. On my go-to test track for bass quality - Sting's Englishman in New York - the Alter Rider 3 aces the complex bass solo in the middle of this song, something that cannot be said for some competitor earbuds.
The midrange is the star of the show. The lower mids are transparent, with no bass bleed to impinge here. The Alter Rider 3 provides a dark palette for instruments to be layered and showcased nicely. The upper mids are boosted and vocals are forwards without veering to shouty territory. Vocal and midrange lovers will have a field day, and there's something really magical about this bud's synergy with acoustic tunes.
The treble carries on from the upper mids boost, with decent air and sparkle. The treble is well-dosed, there is minimal sibilance or splashiness of cymbals and high-hats, and these higher frequency percussive instruments have a very natural shimmer. In essence, the Alter Rider 3 should be safe for treble sensitive folk. I really like that this set does not have the fake resolution/clarity that a lot of CHIFI use to trick the ears (via overly boosting the treble for phoney details). Details and nuances can still be heard on this earbud, and the tuning is kind of monitor-like in that way.
Technicalities are superb and easily match other TOTL buds. Soundstage is quite expansive in all 3 dimensions, and instrument separation and imaging are commendable. Even with very complex riffs in music with competing instrumentation, the Alter Rider 3 handles these with ease.
The Alter Rider 3 has a very natural timbre for acoustic instruments. Strings are very life-like, brasses have a correct metallic overtone and woodwinds have a realistic airy tail. It does have a bit of a thinner note weight, but this allows the earbud to have rapid transients without any bloat.
COMPARISONS
Yincrow RW-2000
The RW-2000 is a warmish U-shaped set.
Timbre is natural, but it has a weaker soundstage compared to the Alter Rider 3. The RW-2000 also has slightly poorer imaging and instrument separation, though it has a thicker note weight and about equivalent micro-detailing.
The RW-2000 has a detachable cable though, and can be worn over ears or cable down. The RW-2000 is slightly easier to drive.
Yinman 600 ohm
The Yinman 600 ohm earbud is an L-shaped pair which requires a nuclear reactor to drive, clocking in at a mind-boggling 600 ohm impedance and 87 dB/mW sensitivity. As such, the Yinmans require a more robust source to drive - we are looking generally at a desktop setup - which does limits its portability or utility.
The Yinman 600 ohm is much thicker in note weight with a huge bass. The Yinman's bass descends deeper, though it isn't as tight or textured, with mid-bass bleed. The Yinman 600 ohm is less extended in the treble, with a less zealous upper midrange.
The Yinman 600 ohm loses in technical chops, with inferior clarity, micro-detailing, imaging, instrument separation and soundstage. It also has a non-detachable cable.
CONCLUSIONS
The Alter Rider 3 is a TOTL-class earbud, which does most areas well. Tangibles like ergonomics, build and accessories are stellar; intangibles like tonality, timbre and technicalities are likewise outstanding.
Packing a neutral tonality, this earbud is very "reference" sounding, and presents the music as it is, without colouration. Timbral accuracy is organic, and technicalities are first-class. The midrange is quite addictive for acoustic instruments and vocals, and the well-extended yet fatigue-free treble harnesses fine resolution without needing to overly boost this region to cheat. Bass is literally fast and clean.
There are just a few minor nitpicks. Bassheads will find the Alter Rider 3 to be not their cup of tea, and the non-detachable cable may be a bone of contention for folks who might want to pair aftermarket cables or worry about future-proofing. The note weight is on the slightly thinner side, but perhaps pairing the Alter Rider 3 with a warmer source might offset this.
Nevertheless, for most other earbud enthusiasts, you will not be disappointed by the sonics of this special DIY bud. The Alter Rider 3 surely belongs in the conversation when it comes to choosing a TOTL flathead.
I would like to thank Rikubuds for providing this unit. The Alter Rider 3 is a DIY bud from famed maker @RikudouGoku . It can be obtained here:
https://rikubuds.com/generation-3/
https://www.instagram.com/rikubuds/
SPECIFICATIONS
- Driver configuration: 15.4 mm titanium diaphragm dynamic driver
- Impedance: 32 Ohms
- Tested at 100 Euros
ACCESSORIES
Other than the earbuds, these are provided:
1) Semi-rigid case
2) White high-density foams
3) Red medium-density foams
4) Black low-density foams
The accessories are pretty generous, everything that a earbud aficionado would require is included. The white denser foam adds warmth/bass, whereas the thinner black ones would make the sonics brighter and thinner. One can even combine 2 sets of foams (double foam) to add girth and increase warmth if you would like, so do foam roll and see what suits your preferences.
The added round semi-rigid case has Rikubud's logo on it, and the inner aspect has webbing to store accessories.
While this earbud's cables are not detachable, when placing an order, you can opt for various colours and terminations (4.4 mm or 3.5 mm). Although the stock cable is on the thinner side, it is supple and well-braided, with zero microphonics (this is much appreciated)! The right cable has a red band to mark that it is the right side, as per usual convention.
The Alter Rider 3 even comes with Rikubud's own specially commissioned waifu, for those that are interested:
The rest of this review was done with the stock white (high density) foams. No aftermarket accessories were used, so as not to add any confounders to the sound.
BUILD/COMFORT
The Alter Rider 3 utilizes a RG39 earbud shell, and the resin housings are solid yet light. Ergonomics are excellent, with these buds nicely nesting within the intertragal notch of the ear via a thin stem, with good pivoting and balancing of its centre of gravity. I had no discomfort whatsoever in the 3 weeks that I've been testing it.
INTERNALS
This earbud utilizes a 15.4 mm titanium diaphragm dynamic driver.
The Alter Rider 3 uses Rikubud's innovative Soundsphere technology. Essentially, there are pyramid shaped protrusions within the housing, which reduces unwanted resonances via interaction and re-direction of acoustic waves. This creative design is supposed to improve imaging, soundstage and clarity.
This may be the first time that this creative concept is applied in earbuds - it is used in a very high-end headphone in the Focal Stellia - so kudos to such a brave - but as we will read below, successful - implementation of something considered uncharted waters for earbud DIYers.
DRIVABILITY
I tested the Alter Rider 3 with the following sources:
- Apple dongle
- Cayin RU7
- Colorfly CDA M1 DAC/AMP dongle
- Creative Sound Blaster X5
- E1DA DAC/AMP dongle
- Hiby R3 Pro Saber 2022 DAP
- Khadas Tone Board -> Schiit Asgard 3 amp
- Khadas Tone Board -> Topping L30 amp
- Questyle M15 DAC/AMP 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
The Alter Rider 3 is not the easiest flathead to drive, and like most single DD transducers, amplification may scale the sonics in terms of bass tightness, soundstage and dynamics.
As the Alter Rider 3 is neutral with a slightly thinner note weight, this earbud may synergize better with warmer sources or something more analoguish.
SOUND & TECHNICALITIES
The Alter Rider 3 is quite neutral in tonality. This makes it a suitable pairing for most music genres, perhaps other than for bass forward genres like EDM and hip-hop.
Like most traditional earbuds, the bass seems focused in the mid-bass, with some sub-bass roll-off. The quantity of bass is neutral, but this earbud eschews outright quantity for excellent quality. A very textured bass is heard, with zero mid-bass bleed and lightning fast speed. On my go-to test track for bass quality - Sting's Englishman in New York - the Alter Rider 3 aces the complex bass solo in the middle of this song, something that cannot be said for some competitor earbuds.
The midrange is the star of the show. The lower mids are transparent, with no bass bleed to impinge here. The Alter Rider 3 provides a dark palette for instruments to be layered and showcased nicely. The upper mids are boosted and vocals are forwards without veering to shouty territory. Vocal and midrange lovers will have a field day, and there's something really magical about this bud's synergy with acoustic tunes.
The treble carries on from the upper mids boost, with decent air and sparkle. The treble is well-dosed, there is minimal sibilance or splashiness of cymbals and high-hats, and these higher frequency percussive instruments have a very natural shimmer. In essence, the Alter Rider 3 should be safe for treble sensitive folk. I really like that this set does not have the fake resolution/clarity that a lot of CHIFI use to trick the ears (via overly boosting the treble for phoney details). Details and nuances can still be heard on this earbud, and the tuning is kind of monitor-like in that way.
Technicalities are superb and easily match other TOTL buds. Soundstage is quite expansive in all 3 dimensions, and instrument separation and imaging are commendable. Even with very complex riffs in music with competing instrumentation, the Alter Rider 3 handles these with ease.
The Alter Rider 3 has a very natural timbre for acoustic instruments. Strings are very life-like, brasses have a correct metallic overtone and woodwinds have a realistic airy tail. It does have a bit of a thinner note weight, but this allows the earbud to have rapid transients without any bloat.
COMPARISONS
Yincrow RW-2000
The RW-2000 is a warmish U-shaped set.
Timbre is natural, but it has a weaker soundstage compared to the Alter Rider 3. The RW-2000 also has slightly poorer imaging and instrument separation, though it has a thicker note weight and about equivalent micro-detailing.
The RW-2000 has a detachable cable though, and can be worn over ears or cable down. The RW-2000 is slightly easier to drive.
Yinman 600 ohm
The Yinman 600 ohm earbud is an L-shaped pair which requires a nuclear reactor to drive, clocking in at a mind-boggling 600 ohm impedance and 87 dB/mW sensitivity. As such, the Yinmans require a more robust source to drive - we are looking generally at a desktop setup - which does limits its portability or utility.
The Yinman 600 ohm is much thicker in note weight with a huge bass. The Yinman's bass descends deeper, though it isn't as tight or textured, with mid-bass bleed. The Yinman 600 ohm is less extended in the treble, with a less zealous upper midrange.
The Yinman 600 ohm loses in technical chops, with inferior clarity, micro-detailing, imaging, instrument separation and soundstage. It also has a non-detachable cable.
CONCLUSIONS
The Alter Rider 3 is a TOTL-class earbud, which does most areas well. Tangibles like ergonomics, build and accessories are stellar; intangibles like tonality, timbre and technicalities are likewise outstanding.
Packing a neutral tonality, this earbud is very "reference" sounding, and presents the music as it is, without colouration. Timbral accuracy is organic, and technicalities are first-class. The midrange is quite addictive for acoustic instruments and vocals, and the well-extended yet fatigue-free treble harnesses fine resolution without needing to overly boost this region to cheat. Bass is literally fast and clean.
There are just a few minor nitpicks. Bassheads will find the Alter Rider 3 to be not their cup of tea, and the non-detachable cable may be a bone of contention for folks who might want to pair aftermarket cables or worry about future-proofing. The note weight is on the slightly thinner side, but perhaps pairing the Alter Rider 3 with a warmer source might offset this.
Nevertheless, for most other earbud enthusiasts, you will not be disappointed by the sonics of this special DIY bud. The Alter Rider 3 surely belongs in the conversation when it comes to choosing a TOTL flathead.
