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.

The Sennheiser HD 600 needs no introduction. These legendary headphones have been reviewed by many, so what do I have to add? First, I would like to talk about why I decided to purchase these many years ago.

Some Random Backstory​

In December 2019, I got into the audio world with the Sennheiser HD 58X Jubilee. Coming from a Razer Kraken Pro v2, it took me some time to appreciate its sound signature. After all, I switched from a bassy gaming headset to a warm neutral headphone. It wasn’t until I switched back to the Razers that I finally heard how muddy and boomy it was. So, I stuck with my 58X satisfied—for a few months.

Around this time, I was getting interested in getting another headphone, deciding between the HD 600 or the HD 650. Yep, I caught the upgrade bug. Eventually, in August 2020, I chose the HD 600, because I wanted to hear what a neutral reference sounded like.

Nearly three years later, I am still using these headphones almost daily, despite trying other headphones like the RODE NTH-100 and the AKG K701s. So already, you know I like these a lot. Still, I would like to share my thoughts on it.

Non-Sound Stuff​

The build quality is solid. It is made mostly of plastic—with the grills made of metal—but it is very good plastic. I have dropped these a few times on wooden floor, and they still look good as new. I have not seen any wear or cracks, so I am confident these will last a long time.

I also love the modularity of these headphones. It feels great knowing if something happens to any part, that I can easily order them and replace without any tools. Beyerdynamic is the only other company I’m aware of that has accessible replaceable parts.

The comfort is pretty good, though out of the box and with new velour pads, it can feel clampy. Once the headband is stretched and the pads wear in, they are one of the most comfortable headphones I’ve worn. My ears never feel hot wearing these. And I find the four-nugget headband to be far more comfortable than what the HD 58X has. I think Sennheiser made a big mistake changing them with the newest revision.

Sound Parameters​

For listening, I use JDS Labs Atom amp and DAC, connected to my Windows 10 PC. I listen to music through Spotify and foobar2000. My tastes have gravitated towards progressive and post rock and other genres recently. Here’s a playlist to give you an idea of what I usually listen to nowadays.

Bass​

I am always surprised when people say the HD 600’s have no bass. Sure, they lack in sub-bass, and I wish it digs lower at times, but they definitely have mid-bass presence, especially in comparison to something like the AKG K701. At lower volumes, I can see it being a problem, but since I mostly listen at moderate to high volumes, they have more than enough for my liking.

Midrange​

Ah, those mids. They are truly something special. Its timbre are still something I haven't found in any headphone to date. When I listen to other headphones, the midrange sounds artificial and makes me aware I am listening to headphones, if that makes sense. However, with the HD 600's, they sound so natural and organic that I forget I am wearing headphones at times. I imagine myself in the studio in front of the musicians. It is that good. With that being said, I would not call the mids completely neutral. They have peaks around 1.2kHz and 3.5kHz. They do not bother me personally, but I can see why some would call the mids forward or shouty.

Treble​

What really helps the midrange make it the way it sounds is that treble. It is present, yet smooth and inoffensive. There aren't any sharp peaks or anything overly off-putting about it, nor would I call it "veiled". Some have reported peaks at 5kHz and 10kHz, but I am not sensitive to them and have never bothered me. I will say though that there is quite a bit of air above 13kHz, which is the complete opposite of it being rolled off. On a rare occasion, it can be a bit much, but this is more to do with how I am feeling and also how the music is recorded.

Pad Tax​

I can't talk about the HD 600 without mentioning the pad tax. Before the new revision, the velour pads wore out really quick, thus changing the sound. The treble especially took a big hit. Paying $50-60 USD for fresh pads is already crazy, but to keep the sound "fresh" at least yearly is ridiculous, although there is worse (and I won't name names). With the new pad revision, the pads are noticeably stiffer, and last much longer. Thankfully, the sound is very similar to what I had when I first got them a year ago.

Conclusion​

The Sennheiser HD 600 is a headphone that everyone should hear at least once. Their well-balanced tonality, exquisite midrange timbre, reliability, modularity, and durability. All that together makes a headphone, even 25 years later, that is timeless and won't ever be forgotten. And I am not sure there will be another one like it again.

EDIT (11/05/2023): Check out my updated thoughts on this bud.

EDIT (02/21/2023): There is crackling on left channel, especially when trying to play lower bass. Because of this, and the short lifespan, rating has changed from 4.5 to 3. Really enjoyed its mid-focused sound while it lasted.

INTRODUCTION

The last time I wore earbuds were my brother's Apple EarPods when I was a kid, but I didn't wear them for long. For one, I wasn't crazy about music at the time, and two, the fit was certainly different from what I was used to. Fast-forward to a couple of weeks ago, when I got myself the Sivga M200's. I almost got the NiceHCK EB2S, but Paul Wasabii's review on the M200 and the promise of a mid-centric tuning convinced me to get these instead. Now that I used them for the past few days, I am ready to give my thoughts.


BUILD & FIT

The overall build is solid. The connector, splitter, and buds themselves are made of metal and seem quite durable. The braided (non-detachable) cable is pretty good too because it doesn’t get tangled up easily. I cannot find much to complain about here.
The fit did take me time to get used to, but that is because I haven’t worn an earbud in years. Once I figured out the optimal way to put them on was diagonally, they stayed in place with little issue.


ACCESSORIES

The Sivga M200 comes with a nice case, a clip, couple earhooks and foam covers. They come with both full foam covers and donut covers. However, the donut covers aren't that great. It is a pain to put them on. And when you do put them on, they don't stay secure and tight. Using full foam covers is a much better experience. Not only are they more comfortable, they stay where they should.



DRIVABILITY

This will be a quick section, because the M200's are pretty easy to drive. I had no issue with the JDS Labs Atom, the MacBook Air M1, or the Apple Dongle. I never had to turn them up to max volume.


SOUND

The sound honestly surprised me. I did not have high expectations going in, but I definitely underestimated these!

BASS
The bass is satisfactory. While it does roll-off in the sub-bass (I don’t mind this), there is enough mid-bass to be satisfied. It will not be warm or full, but it won’t be anemic either if you get the fit right. Still, these are not bass-heavy earbuds by any means.

MIDRANGE
As someone who prefers a mid-centric tuning, I expect excellent mids, and it absolutely is here. Floor Jansen and Henk Poort’s rendition of “Phantom of the Opera” sounds smooth and very natural on the M200. Instruments sound correct, and it's not super shouty in the upper mids. Again, on “Revelations” by Iron Maiden, it is spot on, from Bruce Dickinson’s vocals to the guitar riffs and solos. Everything just flows. Usually I am picky here, but I cannot hear anything off-putting (for right now at least, lol). Just awesome.

TREBLE
The treble, like the midrange, is smooth and non-fatiguing. However, there are a couple key things to note at. First, there is a slight boost at about 5-6kHz, but it isn’t sharp or irritating. Also, it does drop off after about 13kHz. The upper treble that is present isn’t too airy or in your face, which is really nice. One of the tracks I test treble with is the Opeth song “Windowpane”. The song is on the trebley side, and brighter headgear makes the song unpleasant. The Sivga M200 makes it really enjoyable to listen to. The same goes with the many other tracks I’ve listened to. So, the treble here is not too offensive.


CONCLUSION

I am so glad I got the Sivga M200. It has one of the most natural and smooth tunings I've heard so far. Recently, I bought an earbud with an “n-shaped” tuning made by a Head-Fi user and should be arriving soon. So, I'll have another earbud to compare and review – and hopefully improve my writing