Customer Reviews
Shure Sound Golden! 
2008-05-22
The Shure SE530 are the ultimate earphone I have ever listened to! They are so good I cannot believe why I waited till now to buy them...
-PACKAGING-
It is Shure's top of the line model and they want you to feel like a king for purchasing the best they have to offer currently! There is a plastic box and upon removing that you can see on the bottom wrapped in a silver folder an instruction manual and other saftey information. Taking the top off the box you notice the metal case with a nice thin layer of bubble paper to protect the frame from scratching and Shure's logo on the lid of the box. Inside there is another box made of cardboard which when opened holds the earphones themselves which are packed in a foam mold. Below this is the travel case or accessory case whichever you perfer. Overall the quality is amazing just for the pack job! I am already getting the sense I am in for a treat!
-BUILD QUALITY-
Upon unpacking them they shine in the light and feel very light weight and the cord has a nice texture which is rugged and thick! Depending on how the light hits the earphones can make them look more black then slightly bronze. Shure's logo can be seen on the outside of each earphone and on the inside is the L and R logo's. All the other accessories and travel case are sturdy and very well made! I can feel and see the beauty in these but how do they sound! I did hear some people saying that the wire near the earbud would break after use but I never find that an issue as I take them out grabbing the earphone bottom piece above the cord. If you take care of them they will last.
-SOUND QUALITY -BASS-MIDS-HIGHS-
WOW! That is all I could say after spending an hour with these babies! The bass is thumping and punchy and not overpowering the other sound elements but is present and rich! The midrange is very well done it never gets overpowered by the bass or highs and is crystal clear! The highs are very strong and crystal clear as well! Neither area overshadows the others and I found these to have perfect replication for my music! When I switched back to my Shure E3C's I could hear the difference immediately. I cannot believe how well these earphones sound! The sound is balanced and to my ears perfect!
-VALUE-
Well for the MSRP of $450 - $500.00 you get what you pay for! I was always wanting to try out the top of the line from Shure and after trying the SE420 which lacked bass and some details I decide to go out and buy them and I am glad I found my perfect earphone! The packaging and quality of sound and construction along with the accessories makes this price spot on! You get what you pay for with sound quality and Shure delivers!
-VERDICT-
If your in the market for triple driver earphones look no further than the Shure SE530. I LOVE THESE EARPHONES! The only other earphone I got my eye on is the Westone 3. That is probably the only rival Shure has and then again is what is next to come from Shure... For now my SE530's are my ears best friends! Congrats once again Shure for making a wonderful earphone!
Shure SE530 earphones 2008-05-16
These are really the best earphones I have ever tried - amazing sound, full volume, clear and transparent sound. These earphones cannot only easily compete with big headsets, they will really beat most of them. The sound isolating was great when test driving them during a flight.
Amazing Headphones 2008-04-15
There is nothing to comment here. Simple the most amazing headphones that I have ever owned...and I have owned a lot. :) Don't think about it - just buy them.
A Must for those who demand the "Best" audiophile sound. 2008-03-28
I recieved my se530's 3 weeks ago. The sound seperation and vocals are simply amazing! I'm currently running these on my iphone (ipod). The "hi's and mid-range are very detailed, not harsh at all. I'm utilizing the EQ and tried the different soundfield settings. R+B works perfect for most of my listening comfort and detail. You have to adjust to the "tips" that match "your" comfort(sound + fit) It may take a few fittings, but you won't be dissappointed once you get the hang of it. The bass isn't as "booming" as less expensive earphones on the market. But the bass is deep and rich. Overall i'm amazed in the 530's "detail" and clarity" from the acoustic sound fields,to rock,jazz,classical and Reggae. If your not into audiophile grade music, save your money. I hope my review helps a little..I did all the research, but it all comes down to "your" sound demands and budget! Good luck!
Excellent sound quality and noise cancelling, some ear fatigue 
2008-03-20
I've owned a variety of noise cancelling headphones, most recently Sony and then Bose QC3. Most traditional noise cancelling headphones always leave me feeling like there is a pressure buildup in my head so I decided to try Shure's which instead just isolate your eardrum.
After using them now for about 4 montsh and 5 business trips, let me give you my pros and cons
PROS
- Exccellent sound quality
- Excellent noise isolation (remember they are not active sound cancelling)
- No batteries! Nothing makes you more upset to have your sound cancelling headphones cut out halfway into a trip. With Shure's that's not an issue.
- Small form factor means they are light and easy to pack
- Dont interfere with pillows/headrests for sleeping on the plane
CONS
- There can be some ear fatigue in your canal after about 5-6 hours. I've worn these on 2 international flights now and I had some comfort problems towards the end. Nothing that forced me to remove then, but you usually dont get this with over the ear noise cancelling headphones
- For proper placement you must wrap the cords over your ears which causes some discomfort for me as well after a long trip. Again, nothing major, just be warned if you are sensitive in that area.
Overall I am happy with this purchase and these have replacement my Bose QC3 on trips.
Sound Great; Wires, Bad! 
2008-07-06
The sound on the Shure 530 earbuds is very good, but the wires are very bad, especially for the price. After less than 10 months the wires became stiff, even a little brittle. After 11 months the connections at the earbuds and wires became frayed, even without mistreatment. I would not buy these earbuds again. Very disappointing, given what I paid for them.
Nice but not $500 nice 
2008-06-22
I started looking for an exceptional pair headphones after purchasing a new itouch and assumed over the ear noise canceling full size headphones would be the best option. I tried model from both Sony and Bose and found them to be adequate but rather flat sounding and difficult to travel with. I then decided to try in-ear sound isolating models based on feedback from experienced users. I have now had the opportunity to test 3 different in-ear type headphones. The Shure SE530, SE310 and Sony MDR-EX700LP.
In order to get right to the point, I won't waste too much time talking about the SE310's. For the money, they just don't stack up well against the other two models for full bandwidth sound reproduction. For $300 bucks you have the right to expect the type of performance that brings a tear to your eye. Needless to say this does not happen. Spend $50 - $100 and you will be much happier.
The Shure SE530's purchased from Amazon arrived on time and beautifully packaged in an aluminum cube. Well done and a very nice marketing job of creating an out of box experience better than any other headphone brand. I have to admit, I was expecting that type of presentation for $449.99 so my expectations were met. Overall build quality is mixed. The drivers are plastic and oddly shaped with obvious seams in the plastic where the 2 halves are joined. The Shure logo as well as the "L" and "R" are paint screened on and looks cheap. The cord is heavy duty and I love the around the ear cord design. It adds a secure fit and discreet look that works great on the plane. Sound quality is very good and extremely accurate. It was the first in-ear model I tested that actually produced bass frequencies below 50hz. The highs are good with a slight bit of roll off at the very high end which has a dampening effect on cymbals. Soundstage is deep and tonal quality very accurate. Fit is good and Shure's sound isolating claims are real. They do work better than noise canceling for airplanes and public places.
So here is the grading: Presentation = A, Fit = B+, Build Quality = B, Sound Quality = A, Value = D
OVERALL GRADE is a C+ because the sound quality and build quality does not justify the price. If you are a pro athlete or CEO and want the exclusivity, have at it.
Next I tried the Sony MDREX700LP from Sony Style after a friend told me about them. I would not have figured Sony would have a model to compete with a boutique type manufacturer - but they do. I was unable to find them anywhere but [...] so maybe they are new. Price is $299.99 and they also come with an interesting case. Different from the Shure models that come with an oval zippered semi-hard nylon clam shell, the Sony uses a real leather jackknife type case that allows you to wind your cord. Also, unlike the SE530 that uses 3 distinct drivers, the Sony uses a single 16mm driver that they claim has a multilayer diaphragm. Regardless, it sounds great. Out of box was surprising mediocre given the $300 price and I would have expected this to be Sony's strong suit. Typical cardboard box with anonymous packaging. A customer would have no idea they were buying a product of this calibre. Build quality was again mixed. Driver units were nicely finished but the cord was very thin (presumably to reduce weight since these headphones will dangle directly from your ear). As with the SE530's, Bass was awesome. Test tracks using a 20Hz note gave me a big smile. Good for bass heads. Sound quality was excellent with both high and low frequencies extending better than the SE530's but with a slightly more colored sound. Where the SE530's reproduced sound clinically, the Sony's seemed to have a bit more attack. They sounded slightly more forward with a bit better detail and more spacing. To be fair, this is crazy nit picking based on hours of technical listening. The extra detail of the sony's can really expose bad MP3 players and poor recordings, especially in the higher frequencies. Fit was good and while a bit more comfortable than the Shure's, I prefer the SE530's wrap around the ear and slightly better sound isolation when using the foam inserts.
Grading: Presentation = B-, Fit = B, Build Quality = B+, Sound Quality = A, Value = A
Overall Grade is an A- due to the value. You can't find headphones this good for this price.
Final note- Efficiency is very important in headphones being used with MP3 players. Particularly APPLE models due to their mediocre battery life and low output. Compared to over the ear models, both of these were superb. Much lower volume levels are required than with any other headphone I've tried (and I've tried many). The SE530's did have a slight edge in efficiency but I found that to be irrelevant since they were both so good.
Fantastic Sound 2008-06-04
these little earphones are amazing! i use the foam inserts and take the time to 'install' them properly. once they are properly placed in the outer ear canal and given time to 'seal', the sound is incredible! they are well worth the $$, and also protect your hearing by blocking out external noise so that you can enjoy the full sound of the music without blasting your eardrums.
Like 'em! 2008-05-24
I would not call myself a serious audiophile, but I have a couple of pretty nice systems (Naim/Rega and McCormack/Magnaplanar) and a pair of Grado SR325 headphones. I got the Shure SE530's mainly for travel (airplanes and airports) and for other situations when noise cancellation is useful. They are very impressive. Easily driven by the iPod - no amplifier needed. Comfortable in the ear. Excellent (near complete) isolation from exterior sounds. They are not good for running unless you find a way to clip or secure the cord to your collar. Activities that involve excessive movement of the earphone cord can cause vibration sound that travels right up into your ears!
I would describe them as dynamic - very smooth midrange and somewhat umphy low end and very precise if not forward high end. They can't compare with the warm low end and engaging quality of the Grados, but they do reveal more detail whereas the Grado's bloomy bottom end does slightly mask some of the mid and upper range. It is funny after 5 minutes into a listening session with the Grados I like them the best and then likewise when wearing the Shures. Each one is different but each is good enough to reveal limitations with your source equipment. For in-ear phones, the sound are not fatiguing - pretty flawless overall. Very happy with the purchase.
Amazingly transparent clear and open sound 2008-05-24
I've never used earbuds before and these are winners. Although not cheap they produce a very clean sound. There are no enhancements to midrange, bass, or other ranges. Nothing is artificially bright. They create a very transparent sound. I had my doubts about the cost, but after 2 months of use I believe the quality is well worth it.
Pros: Sound quality is outstanding. Very clear and smooth (I only use these with an ipod and do not listen to mp3 files, only apple lossless or uncompressed files). No ranges are "boosted". No big drop offs. Very consistent, transparent, clean and unaltered sound quality. These are almost as good as a very expensive set of Sennheiser external earphones in terms of getting it all (if those are a 10, these are a solid 9+). The clean nature of the sound means no fatigue after long listening periods.
Also, compared to external earphones you can use much lower volume and still hear all ranges. In order to hear everything on a pair of Sennheiser externals I have to play at a substantially higher volume. This is probably very good for long term ear health.
Very comfortable, even for long flights. They ship with a bunch if different size ear pieces so experiment to get the best seal.
For those who are worried about using buds, it is easy and took me maybe five or six attempt to learn how to quickly fit them in the ears properly. Just a little patience is needed to learn how to do it.
Very good sound isolation - I've used these on several 4+ hour flights and they are much better than active sound isolating devices both in terms of comfort in the ears, isolating ability, and music quality (no hiss or hum).
As to sound isolating ability - I much prefer them to Bose and Sennheiser active noise canceling earphones I have tried. As noted above the active earphones have some hiss and hum for soft music passages (both Bose and Sennheiser). Also, the Bose boost some sound ranges, making some too bright and some too dull and the Sennheisers have a lower range (less bass and fewer highs).
Cons: If you like big booming bass, forget it. Bass is consistent with the clear and even quality of all ranges but not emphasized.
Be careful to keep the volume very low when initially listening, you don't need much gas - if volume is set high you could get a real unpleasant blast. This of course would be true of any high quality earbud style of earphones.
