I had all but given up on finding the perfect earbuds. I had tried everything from Sony earbuds (decent sound, stupid cabling) to Shure E2Cs (disappointing sounds, despise the earwax guards). I listened to a friend’s Bose QuietComfort earphones and was leaning towards getting those. . . but I was hesitant. Were they too bulky? Will I look like an absolute goober when I wear them? Then I stumbled upon the Shure SE530’s. iLounge gave them an “A” rating, which is rare. After much research, it came down to the 530’s and the Etymotic ER-4P Portable In-Ear Earphones. I really bought the Etymotic’s first. . . then started reading reviews of microphonics. Some people came up with some crazy ways to solve this issue. . . after a couple hours of reading about how terrible of a problem it was, I started wondering why am was buying earbuds that were going to need to modification. . . I deliberated. . . and deliberated. . . and dished out the cash for the 5300’s. Then I started to kick myself. “Why would I spend all this money on earbuds? Am I nuts? Have I gone completely off the deep-end? This is a car payment! A trip to LA! 5 fantastic date nights with my wife!” . . . And then I got them. I opened them. Hmm. Cool packaging. I stuck them in my ears, plugged them into my iPhone. . . and was lost in pure musical bliss. These puppies blocked out the world around me. . . and I was in a musical wonderland, full of snares and strums and cymbals. Finally. I found them. The perfect earbud. I’ve spent a full day with them now. The right test, at least for me, was how well they blocked out the ridiculously loud subway and PATH trains in the New York City metro area. Bottom line: they do a phenomenal job. This morning, I’m on the PATH train, heading into the World Trade Center. . . and I’m listening to a U2 track and notice a slight melodic rumble. “Hmm. . . must be the sound of the train. . . but it’s odd that it goes so well with the music. . . ” The train pulled into the station and stopped. . . but the melodic rumble continued. “Wait a frakin’ second! Not only is that melodic rumble part of the music — it was so subtle that I had never heard it before — AND I heard it over the roar of the train!” Wowza. If that doesn’t convince you to but these, nothing will.

If you’ve already done your research and only want to know why I am qualifying my recommendation, skip down to near the bottom of my review. Otherwise, read on. . . As most everyone says, these earphones are an absolute dream. The sound quality is incredible, better than the average home stereo and better than any headphones or earphones I’ve ever heard. Each side has two woofers and a tweeter. It takes a small while to get used to properly inserting the phones and getting them situated just so, for optimal sound quality and noise isolation. But you get the hang of it before long, and then it’s pretty simple. The sound isolation works pretty well (if you have the phones situated properly in your ears). You get a excellent seal, which greatly reduces the amount of outside sound that can get in. I’ve found it works very, very well on airplanes and at the gym (the two noisiest environments I’m typically in). In contrast, “noise-cancelling” headphones do not block outside noise, rather they add an electronically generated noise designed to cancel the frequencies of the outside noise. They require batteries, and I don’t like that they are adding noise to what you’re hearing. Some work better than others, but none that I’ve tried (including the well-known and expensive Bose QC2s) work as well as the Shure line of sound-isolating earphones (the SE530 is the second pair I’ve owned in this line). With earphones that sit inside the ear canal, comfort is extremely vital. I find the SE530s comfortable for long periods of time. I often listen to my ipod in bed at night to help relax; if I fall asleep with the earphones in, my ears don’t hurt when I wake up later (unlike all other earphones and headphones I’ve tried). Shure thoughtfully includes 9 different pairs of interchangable tips in varying sizes, so it is very likely most users will find at least one pair that is comfortable for them. The modular aspect of the cabling is clever and very useful. The phones themselves have a very small cord. But Shure includes a variety of extension cords of different lengths, which allows you to have the right length cable in different situations. One of these modular cables has a built-in volume control, handy for when your device doesn’t have a volume control (or it’s not accessible for whatever reason). If you order the SE530PTH, you also get the push-to-hear module, which has a small mic and volume control. If you turn it on, it transmits sound from the mic into the headphones, allowing you to have a conversation with someone without removing the earphones. (Removing the earphones is simple, but putting them back in and getting a excellent seal takes a minute or so, especially for newbies. ) I find the PTH to be a clean accessory. But, my wife pointed out that I can simply pause my ipod and then carry on a conversation just fine, w/o removing the earphones (the earphones still block outside noise, but not so much that you can’t hear someone talking directly to you). So I don’t reckon the PTH is particularly necessary. Amazon sells the SE530s with and without the PTH option. If you get it without PTH, you can always buy it separately, though it’s cheaper to get them together. The build quality is exceptional. The cords are thicker than any other headphones/earphones I’ve seen, and where they attach to the earphones or accessories is very well reinforced. I also have a much cheaper pair of Shure noise isolating earphones, the E2c’s. A week or two before the 2-year warranty was to expire, a small developed in the cable going to one side, so that if the cable jiggled at all, the sound would intermittently go out for a second or two. This was my fault – I had been using and abusing these things pretty hard – never using the included case, throwing them around, etc. But I sent them to Shure with a copy of my receipt for warranty service, and they sent me a groundbreaking new pair, no questions questioned! (and quick turnaround!) The SE530s (and all Shure earphones) carry the same 2-year warranty. In summary, I like the SE530’s incredible sound quality, terrific build quality, and generous bundle of thoughtful accessories. But now here is my qualification: To know whether they’re really worth the money, you’d really need to compare them to the SE420’s (the next cheaper model in this line, about a hundred less than the 530s). Most of us who rave about the SE530s have only ever compared them to MUCH cheaper earphones. In my case, the Shure E2c’s (about a hundred bucks) and a pair of Sennheiser cans (about half the price as the SE530’s). Another reviewer here compares the 530s to the Etymotic ER4’s, also much less expensive. It’s not surprising that the 530s blow away phones that are so much less costly. But, what we should really know before spending our hard-earned dollars is whether the human ear can distinguish between the SE530’s and SE420’s. If not, we would be wasting an extra hundred bucks by purchasing the 530s. Before buying, I searched for a excellent, objective review comparing the 420s and 530s. I could not find one from a reputable, objective source. So I had to make a choice between two risks: the risk of spending too much (buying the 530s when the 420s sound just as excellent) vs. the risk of not getting the best possible sound quality (buying the 420s to save money when the 530s are really better). I chose that avoiding the second risk was more vital to me than avoiding the first risk, so I picked the 530s. I was in the very fortunate position to be able to afford them. In my current situation (newly married, still paying for the engagement ring & honeymoon – though very pleased!), I’m not sure I would still pick the 530s (though I would still want them terribly). So there you have it. Excellent luck with your buy choice, and delight in whatever earphones you end up getting!

Amazon Verified Buy(What’s this?)

My first exposure to these headphones was through a friend at the office who bought a set of E500s about a year ago (the E500s are pretty much the same as the SE530s). When he told me (and the rest of us) how much he paid for them ($500+ for the E500PTHs) we collectively thought he was nuts and proceeded to ridicule the choice. That was before we heard them. I first heard the E500s when that same friend from the office was going to send his set back to Shure under warranty due to the wires cracking with part of the copper conductors being exposed near the ear area. He figured he was getting a new set from Shure, so he may as well let us hear them. Well, I thought I was excellent with my Sennheiser CX300s. I was incorrect. Really, really incorrect. I place the SE500s through their paces with my Rio Karma loaded with tunes I personally ripped using CDEX and Lame at a high bitrate. I used material ripped from MFSL Ultradiscs, DCC and Sony Superbitmap discs as well as other excellent, dynamic recordings and remasters. I never knew IEMs could sound this excellent! The E500s were audio bliss on a stick. There were brilliant highs, mids and lows, all crystal clear and accurate without distortion. One of the most incredible things about them was the soundstage. With excellent source material, I could hear different instruments as if they each had a direct line into my brain. You could easily hear the difference between excellent recordings and masterings and ones that are not so fantastic. I was sold on the spot. To verify my new opinion, I had certain other guys at the office (who are also appreciative of quality audio) listen to them, and they were just as amazed. We all apologized. He let me borrow them overnight. That evening I listened to them on the train home and then literally went crazy listening to everything I could, including some 24-bit DVD audio on my home system. I listened to them all night. Broken wires or not, I did not want to return them the next day. So in a nutshell, I loved them, but I could not justify spending the money on the SE530s. . . Here I thought my Sennheiser CX300s were excellent. . . errr. . but not SE530 excellent. They were just not in the same league. So I watched and waited here at Amazon and in about two weeks the price dropped $40 to $390. Alright, I had enough! That was my cue to buy! That was a few weeks ago and I have no regrets. The sound isolation is really excellent, easily blocking out most outside sound when using the supplied foams. Also, the foams are comfortable (for me) and I can leave them in for hours without fatigue. The result is that you tend to listen to the music at a slightly lower volume since the outside noise is so well blocked. But if you do want to crank it, the SE530s can handle it. I use them every day during my commutes on the train. They were certainly worth the money. My only criticism (other than the price) is with the wires. The wires are too thick, heavy and stiff in my opinion. I wish they were more like the thin, light, extremely flexible silicon type wires like the ones on the Sennheiser CX300s. I don’t know what Shure was thinking using these. As I said earlier in the review, my friend’s E500’s stiff wires were hurt after a year and I can see that happening with these too. Excellent thing the the SE530 have a two year warranty. I substituted the long extension that came with them with a highly flexible extension that came with a pair of Sonys. . . so much lighter and better. Overall the wire situation is a small negative compared to a very huge positive of the incredible sound reproduction. One of the other reviewers here said it, don’t listen to these headphones if you don’t plot on buying them. If you like audio, once you listen through these SE530s, you cannot ignore them. ******* UPDATE: 10/9/2007 ******* I’m still amazed at just how excellent these sound. I’ve been using them every day during my daily rail commute to and from NYC from the suburbs. The isolation level they provide is incredible! Using the supplied foam ear pads, I can honestly say that it nearly doesn’t matter if the chick next to me starts yapping on her cell phone or if a group of tourists is having a loud conversation – I won’t hear ‘em. With these on, you are in your own world. You will notice some outside sound between songs or during very silent passages, but for the most part, if you are using the foams and they are inserted correctly, you will be very well isolated. Highly recommended for commuters. The wires still suck though. ******* UPDATE: 7/30/2008 ******* Its been ten months since I bought these SE530s and every day I use them, I’m glad I did. I use them on an nearly daily basis during my commutes to and from the office and the sound quality has been nothing less than outstanding for both music and movies. The fact that you get all this clarity and resolution along with full bass AND that nearly all outside noise is blocked makes them truly fantastic. I cannot imagine better sounding headphones for any price. I have to laugh when I see people wearing bulky, full-sized headphones on the train – I would not want to to do that. So, I’ve had no regrets regarding the investment. . . that is, until today. Today I noticed what I knew was inevitable. . . one of the wires has developed a crack in the insulation near the black molded rubber strain relief and has exposed the copper conductor beneath. Upon further inspection, the other wire is showing signs of imminent cracking in the same region. I have been so very careful as to only pull them out of my ears via the back of the drivers near the strain relief and frankly, I cannot imagine how I could have treated them any better and not had this happen. I know that I predicted that this *exact* thing would happen in my initial review (see above and in the comments section) but it sucks now that it really did. I still cannot know how Shure could be using these stiff, inflexible, poorly performing wires on an otherwise fine set of super-premium earbuds. Now I have to return them under warranty for replacement. I called Shure and they want me to ship the 530s back to them, insured, with my proof of buy from an authorized dealer (which Amazon is) along with their RMA form and I should see a replacement in *TWO WEEKS,* maybe more. TWO WEEKS? For $400+ headphones I expect better service than this. They will not cross-ship me a new pair either as they are “not set up” to do that. Shipping them back will likely cost me at least $20 with the insurance. The worst part of this is that I fully expect that I’m going to receive a groundbreaking new pair with the same issue waiting to happen again over the course of normal use. I know this because my friend from the office, who originally introduced me to the SE500s (which are nearly exactly the same as the SE530s), is now on his. . . get this. . . *FIFTH PAIR* of SE500/530s – as four sets have developed the same exact wire cracking issue within a period of only two years. I did some poking around on the internet and there are even other reviews here on Amazon that detail the *exact* same issue. WTF is Shure thinking? I can walk down the street to any electronics store and buy a $30 set of buds with wire that will not have this issue. . . how is it that a $400+ super-primo set does? You can’t tell me that other people aren’t returning them. . . FIX THE ISSUE WITH THE WIRES, SHURE!!! I’ll update this review again when I receive my replacement pair. ******* UPDATE: 4/21/2009 ******* I swapped out for a new pair of SE530s in December, 2008 – I’m not going into the mechanics of that, but I didn’t go through Shure. The wire on this pair is certainly different than the wire on my first pair. It is a bit more flexible and a tad thinner. I know with the first pair, I predicted immediately that the wires would fail in the exact manner in which they eventually did fail. With this wire, it’s more hard to predict the longevity. It certainly feels a bit better, but I’m apprehensive to call the issue fixed. I’ve had this pair for about five months now and there are no signs of the cracking issue. . . yet. The sound quality is still phenomenal and based on that alone, I reckon you will not be disappointed. As a side note, my coworker sent yet another pair back as the black rubber strain relief separated from the body on his left speaker. You cannot reattach it. I can see how that could happen, but so far I have no similar issue. ******* UPDATE: 9/28/2009 ******* In July I bought a new 32gb Cowon S9 to replace my aging Rio Karma. The audio output quality of the S9 is brilliant and the Shure SE530’s together with the S9 sound incredible! But now the rubber strain relief on my left bud is separating, just like it did on my co-worker’s pair back in April. This doesn’t affect the sound at all, but it looks terrible and since the wire strain relief is no longer functioning, the wire is SHURE to suffer. This is disappointing as I’ve only had this pair (my 2nd) for nine months. This kind of thing just shouldn’t happen to super-premium, pricey ear buds. Since I’ve been very careful with them and research shows that these issues are common with the 530’s, I know it’s not due to mishandling or abuse. My two years of experience with them has shown that the 530’s are super delicate and if you use them regularly, no matter how hard you try, they will suffer some kind of premature failure. The fault falls squarely on the shoulders of SHURE who did not see the shortcomings of their design when it came to the usability and durability of the wires or ancillary. . .

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