Shure SE530 Sound Isolating Earphones
- Triple speakers for sound that rivals live performance
- Triple TruAcoustic MicroSpeakers: Dedicated Tweeter and Dual Woofers
- Sound Isolation Technology reduces background noise better than noise-cancelling headphones, without batteries or added hiss
- Premium Fit Kit including a selection of interchangeable sleeves for personalized, comfortable fit; 3' extension cable; 9" cable; premium carrying case; volume control; ¼" adapter; airline adapter
- Modular Cable Design lets users choose different cable lengths to suit different music player locations (armband, pocket etc.)
Product Description
Pure audio precision--the SE530 uses Triple TruAcoustic MicroSpeakers to create an expansive sound stage. A dedicated tweeter ensures that highs and mids are incredibly accurate and detailed, while dedicated dual woofers provide balanced, full-bodied bass. The Push-To-Hear Control (included with the SE530PTH) adjusts levels of external sound for maximum intelligibility.
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Shure SE530 Sound Isolating Earphones
- Electronics: 0 pages
- Publisher: Shure
- Label: Shure
- Studio: Shure
- Average Customer Review:
 based on 53 reviews
- The SE530 and SE530PTH mark the bridge from the classic E Series line, to the new line of Sound Isolating Earphones from Shure (SE Models). Evolved from personal monitor technology road-tested by pro musicians and fine-tuned by Shure engineers, the SE530PTH and SE530 earphones deliver unparalleled acoustic accuracy. Triple TruAcoustic MicroSpeakers, one tweeter and dual woofers, deliver an expansive sound stage with full-bodied bass?for an auditory experience rivaled only by live performances.
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Avg. Customer Review:
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
Customer Rating: 
Summary: Best sound ever heard 2008-09-25
Comment: I have been using Shure E3c for the last 3 years or so, and then upgraded to SE530 two months ago, which I bought from ebay for about $240. It took about a week for its sound to transform from "muddy" to crystal clear, and took me a couple of weeks to really get used to the trile-flange sleeves, which gives me the best sound out of the SE530.
I recently drove to a nearly BOSE store, and compared the SE530 with the "famed" BOSE QC3 (cost about $349, advertised everywhere on TV). Wow, what a diffence. The SE530 beats QC3 hands down. The sound comes from QC3 can only be described as "muddy", when compared to SE530.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
Customer Rating: 
Summary: Very good, but not perfect... 2008-09-23
Comment: These earbuds are very good, but are not "God's own earbuds" as some seem to say. First, even though they have many types and sizes of inserts (the rubber piece that goes in your ear) none are very comfortable in my book. Second, the sound is very good, but does not match up with a really great home stereo system (which many people claim). My Martin Logan speakers definitely are in a class above these earbuds. Perhaps it's an unfair comparison, but it is what some people claim, and it CERTAINLY isn't true.
On the other hand, they are the best earbuds that I've listened to and also produce very good listening levels even from low powered MP3 players. My biggest complaint on the sound quality is that everything sounds a little canned. Nothing like the sound you can get from any high end home audio system (assuming it costs something like $5K and up).
I wish I could compare them to the SE420s, but unfortunately I don't have access to a pair to make the comparison. The sound is obviously way better than the iPod standards, but I do find the iPods earbuds to be more comfortable. However, the iPod's earbuds also move all over in my ears and never seem to create a seal that will produce a consistent listening experience.
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
Customer Rating:
Summary: 61 years old with hearing loss 2008-09-06
Comment: As stated I have about 50% hearing loss with sever tinnitus (ringing in the ears), so I was not sure if getting "the best" in ear headphones was such a good investment for me. Would I really be able to discern a major difference in quality between these $500 (I actually payed $324 from Amazon for the Shure SE530PTH) headphones and the ear buds that came with my iPhone?
Well the SE530PTH did not restore my hearing and the ringing in the ears is still there but even I could easily discern the difference in sound quality and I am thrilled with the way my music sounds. I clearly hear the deep base notes and the high notes are clean and crisp to my ailing ears. I only have to turn the volume about one quarter compared to full volume with the iPhone buds.
Now I realize comparing the SE530 to the iPhone ear buds is probably not a fair comparison but that is not the point. Based on a thorough web search there is no argument that the SE530 is second to none in terms of sound quality. The question was would someone with serious hearing problems be able to benefit from this quality improvement or should they save their money and just stick with a cheap but decent pair of ear buds?
Some might argue that going half way with better but cheaper headphones would have given me the same results, but that was not an option I wanted to take. If I could tell a significant difference then I wanted the best headphones possible so I could take full advantage of the hearing I had left. I did not want to have any regrets later that I could have done better. I don't have that many years of hearing left so I want to enjoy what I still have to the maximum possible.
I am delighted to say that the money I spent is well worth it. It is a joy for me to listen to music again and it is as if I am right in the middle of the stage with the artist. That is truly a fantastic experience. Just think how it will sound to you who still have most of your hearing. Get this headphone. You will not regret it.
0 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
Customer Rating: 
Summary: Awful, Awful, Awful 2008-09-03
Comment: I can't believe these ear buds ever made it out of research and development. Sound: Tinny with no base. The sound that should be base is just scratchy noise. I tried using them for listening to audiobooks, but even that sound quality was unacceptable. I am now using my $9.99 Sony In-Ear Headphones. The Sony sound quality is far superior to the Shure SE530s. What an absolute rip off! The lowest rating I can give this product is one star. If I had the option, I would rate this product a negative five stars.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
Customer Rating:
Summary: These are the best IEMs as of August 2008, period! 2008-08-30
Comment: I have used over a dozen top of the line IEMs including the UE10s, Sensaphonics 2XS, UE Triple-Fi's, Etymotic ER4P/S, Westone UM2, Sony EX700LP, Shure SE420, etc.
From my experience, the Shure SE530 not only are the most comfortable, but offer the best sound signature for most listening experiences. Their sound reminds me of the vinyl records I grew up with. It reduces the digital harshness of portable players. And is still good enough to be used in a serious audiophile system.
For the most accurate listening experience I refer you to the Ultimate Ears UE10s....and possibly their newer UE11s which I have not heard. These two IEMs are at least 3 times the money of the Shures. And from my experience are not as comfortable. Think about it, would hard plastic shells be as comfortable as supplanting foam into the ear?
Anyway...I've come to prefer the Shure sound signature overall. The midrange is the best I've heard on a headphone. The sound is extremely smooth. The decay of notes seem to melt into one another as if it were real live music. The soundstage is fairly realistic. Moreso than any other IEM I've heard.
One issue you may have with the Shures, is if you listen to classical music and are very used to extremely open and accurate sound presentations, the Shures may be a little dark for you. I listen to a lot of classical music. I'll tell you this, I too prefer generally and open and extremely airy sound presentation for this, but the Shures handle classical music brilliantly regardless of their airy shortcomings.
For rock, jazz, reggae, hip hop, country......I refer you to these monitors as there is no rival for them. Due to a very honest bass response and beautiful midrange the Shures are most pleasing monitor I have heard for that variety of music. I promise you, that if you are coming from a consumer vantage point of Bose products and other Apple Store offerings, the Shures will make you cry of amazement. The Bose products are very dishonest in their presentation and really cloud the music prefering to emphasize a visceral experience....much like a subwoofer. The Shures are quite visceral in their impact but somehow allow for a much more honest and less boomy presentation. I have never heard a single Bose headphone that would please any listener even half as much as these Shures.
If you are coming from a audiophile standpoint where you are already aware of great audio products and are just doing some IEM comparisons, let me say that if you like the sound of Sennheiser's top of the line products (HD600s / 650s) then you will love how similar the Shures are. The midrange presentation of the Shures may even slightly surpass the Sennheisers, but the Sennheisers have a bit more extended treble range.
Let me also say: IEMS are generally not comfortable. The concept of cramming something in your ear canal is just not a comfortable thought. Shures are about as comfortable as IEMs can get. They come with what is known in the audio world as "Black Olive Foams" these foams contour comfortably to the shape of your canal but have a smooth surface that does not irritate the canal. This is also very important: With whatever ear canal phone you buy DO NOT feel the need to cram the monitor uncomfortably in the canal. You won't do damage to the ear canal of course, BUT I truly believe with the right sleeve on the IEM nozzle, you can achieve a seal just by entering the very opening of the canal. As long as the foam or plastic sleeve is covering the entry of the canal, the bass response will not escape, you don't need to force the monitor uncomfortable up the canal.
Overall, I find that the Shures SE530 are great for the digital generation because their sound presentation simply makes the bright sound of digital mastering these days sound more organic and emotional. Something that has to be heard to be understood.
Also....these IEMs are extremely sensitive, meaning they can get really loud.....use caution, they don't need to be blasted and like most other headphones (and especially IEMs) blasting them for long hours will impact your hearing response if you do it often.
Hope I have been helpful in you deciding on your purchase. I will say this.......there may be a better IEM for some needs, but there certainly is no better all rounder, and in my opinion, the Shures handle no music I've thrown at it poorly.
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Shure SE530 Sound Isolating Earphones
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