Shure's SE530 in-ear headphones are their high-end offering of the series. Like similar models in the line, the SE530s have a modular cord, meaning the cord truncates at the point where the left and right channels' cables meet. This design is to allow users to connect various in-line add-ons, so they'll hang at an appropriate height. Two such add-ons are included with the SE530s: a remote and mic and a volume switch. The headphones also have two different extension cords to bring them to a normal length. The SE530 also comes with three different types of sleeves – soft plastic, foam, and triple-flanged – two of which come in multiple sizes. Shure headphones typically come with lots of extras, and the SE530s are no exception.
For the uninitiated, the Shure SE530s' follow their series' design, in which the cable actually comes out of the top of the ear buds. This means, to have the ear buds oriented properly, you have to wrap their cords up and around the back of your ears. If you wear them like normal headphones, the ear buds will stick out and look a bit silly. If you don't like wrapping the cord around the back of your ears or looking silly, you could also swap the left and right ear buds. Regardless of the wear style you choose, the myriad included sleeves should insure you a good fit.
The Shure SE530s are currently available for about $300.
Performance (read the full lab performance results at HeadphoneInfo.com)
The Shure SE530s did well on our performance tests. They have a good frequency response, meaning different sounds are emphasized or deemphasized too drastically. The headphones did have a slightly quieter high-end than we would've liked, however. There were also low levels of distortion present, but they were so low and so constant that they weren't realistically noticeable. The headphones also had good tracking, which means there weren't any points where the left channel was playing perceptibly louder than the right.
In terms of isolation, the SE530s performed about as well as any other set of in-ears. They had a high level of isolation, controlled leakage well, and were capable of providing high volumes with distortion increasing significantly.
Comparisons (read more in-depth comparisons at HeadphoneInfo.com)
The Shure SE530 are a good set of in-ears. They had good test results across the board and, thanks to their wide array of customization options, should be comfortable for a wide array of people. The modular cord is great for those who tend to break headphones often, and the in-line accessories expand the headphones' functionality significantly.
There are a few issues to keep in mind when considering a purchase, however. The first is their design. If you don't like like wearing the cord aorund your ears, these headphones might be annoying for you. The second problem is their price. The SE530s are marginally better than the next model down, the SE420s, which cost $100 less. Likewise, if you're on a budget, you might want to check out the Sennheiser MM 50 iPs, which are a great value for their price.
For a more in-depth review, visit the Shure SE530 Review at our partner HeadphoneInfo.com
