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  • Tour & Design

  • Sound Quality

  • Isolation

  • Comfort

  • Usability

  • Sennheiser MM 50 iP Comparison

  • Shure SE420 Comparison

  • V MODA Vibe Duo Comparison

  • Apple in Ear Headphones With Remote and Mic Comparison

  • Conclusion

  • Ratings & Specs

  • Tour & Design
  • Sound Quality
  • Isolation
  • Comfort
  • Usability
  • Sennheiser MM 50 iP Comparison
  • Shure SE420 Comparison
  • V MODA Vibe Duo Comparison
  • Apple in Ear Headphones With Remote and Mic Comparison
  • Conclusion
  • Ratings & Specs

Tour & Design

Tour**


The Shure SE530s are a set of modular in-ear headphones, meaning their cord is super short. 

The SE530s' left and right sides meet at a standard 1/8-inch plug.

The ear buds themselves have a somewhat interesting design: the nozzles stick out at an angle. The headphones naturally sit with the cord facing up and the nozzles pointing in towards your ear. This is great for those that like wrapping the cord around the backs of their ears, but is ever-so-slightly awkward for those that don't.

***If you don't like wrapping the cord around your ear, you can either switch the left and right channels,

or invert the headphones, which will cause them to stick out, away from your head. ***

The plug-end of the headphones is like a tank. Shure has some of the best cord guards out of any in-ear headphones, which will increase the longevity of your set.

***It would take some sort of horriffic cataclysm to damage this, in which case you

probably have more pressing matters than broken headphones.***

Below are what these headphones look like on HATS, our head and torso simulator. 

This is what the 'cord wrapped around the back of my ear' style looks like.

 

In The Box


There are a ton of things in the SE530s' box. The headphones come with a volume adapter, an optional remote & mic, an extension cord, a shorter extension cord, a cleaning tool, a total of eight different sleeves of various sizes and styles, a case, and the headphones themselves.

 

 

Durability     (7.00*)*


Shure typically makes durable in-ears and the SE530s are no exception. We just have the same two qualms we usually do, and both deal with their nozzle. Typically in-ears top off their nozzles with mesh to prevent garbage from getting into the headphones. The SE530s' mesh wall is set very far back, which leave the majority of the nozzle open to fill up with all kinds of grossness. While the SE530s do come with a cleaning tool, it doesn't reach all the way back to the mesh guard: if something falls all the way to the bottom of the nozzle, it'll sit just out of reach. The second nozzle-related issue is its design itself. The 'bent nozzle' shape seems a bit fragile, like you could snap the headphones if you stepped on them the wrong way. Of course, the easy solution to this is to not run in place on your headphones while wearing metal shoes. Chances are you don't even own a pair of metal shoes, in which case this scenario is even easier to avoid.

 

All other areas are solid. The ear buds trail off into a rubbery cord guard to keep the cable from bending too sharply at that junction. The cord guard at the plug is so reinforced it looks somewhat comical. The cable's casing is more solid than average. The ear buds are almost difficult to pull off (the foam ones, at least), so there's no real risk in them popping off and getting lost forever.

 

Like it's predecessors, the Shure SE530s set a standard for in-ear durability.

 

**Aesthetics**     (*5.0**0)*


Aesthetics almost don't apply to in-ears. Since in-ear headphones are so small, it's very difficult to create a great-looking design. Further, also due to their small size, any design flair is likely to go unnoticed. The SE530s' bent nozzle allows users to wear them normally or loop the cord around the back of their ears easily. In terms of their looks, however, they're a bit plain. They're a glossy gray with some white branding on them. If you prefer professional (boring) headphones, the SE530s are a good pick. Otherwise, look for a set of in-ears that at least have a splash of color.

 

Sound Quality

**

About our testing:**

For more information on our tests, read this article.

Frequency Response     (5.26*)*


What we found:

The SE530s had an average frequency response. The main problem we saw with then was that they sort of cut off some of the higher frequencies. As you can see, both the left an right channels dip below the limits towards the high end. This means that spoken sibilance will sound slightly muted, among other things.

While this is an issue, the rest of the curve is great. The bass is slightly emphasized, but not overpowering, and the rest of the response is more or less even.

How the Shure SE530 compares:

What is frequency response?

Frequency response refers to the decibel level the headphones play any given frequency. Some headphones add an emphasis to the bass or high end, which is called a dynamic response.

How the test works:

First we put the headphones on HATS. Then we play a frequency sweep through the headphones, which HATS records. Using the original sound file and the collected data, we can figure out exactly how much emphasis or deemphasis the headphones add to any given frequency. We award the most points to headphones that faithfully represent the frequencies they're being sent. For more info, look at the following link.

Distortion     (*4.59**)*


 

What we found:

The Shure SE530 didn't show a lot of distortion, but it did have some. In general, low, even levels of distortion aren't particularly noticeable. The average consumer should have no issues with the SE530s performance.

How the Shure SE530 compares:

What is distortion?

Disortion refers to any differences between the sounds being sent to your headphones and the sounds that come out of them. Unlike frequency response, which only measures emphasis, distortion deals with fundamental differences in the shapes of sound waves.

How the test works:

Like our frequency response test, we play a series of sounds through the headphones, using HATS to record the playback. We then compare the shape of the incoming soundwave to the original and look for differences. The percentages in the graph above reflect the percentage of distortion present at each listed frequency. For more info on the matter, check out our 'How We Test' page, here.

Tracking     (10.20)


 

What we found:

There really isn't a lot to say here. This line is just about as straight as you can get. The Shure SE530s have near-perfect tracking.

 

 

 

 

How the Shure SE530 compares:

 

**What is tracking?
*
*Tracking refers to the overall balance of the headphones, or the relative levels of the left and right channels. When instructed to do so, the left and right channels should always output equal decibel levels. When the left is louder than the right or vice versa, the headphones have poor tracking.

How the test works:

This test is similar to our frequency response test. We play back a known sound file that sweeps frequencies between 20Hz and 20kHz. Each channel is instructed to play at the same decibel level. HATS ears listen, then ship the data back to SoundCheck. Using SoundCheck, we compare the volume of each channel. When the left is louder, the graph above will peak; when the right is louder, the graph will dip. You can find out more about this test here.

Isolation

 

Maximum Usable Volume     (10.00)


What we found:

The SE530s are capable of a harmfully high 127.87 decibel levels. We have a cut-off at 10 points for 120dB for this section, because any louder is just likely to hurt your hearing. We wouldn't recommend trying to max out your volume (unless you want to wind up in the news espousing the evils of iPods).

 

**What is maximum usable volume?
*
*Headphones are all generally capable of a loud output. The problem is, when you increase volume, distortion also increases. Most headphones reach an ugly amount of distortion (3%) far before they've reached their actual decibel output max. While you can turn up the headphones more than the level listed above, chances are you audio quality will suffer because of it.

How the test works:

This test is a series of distortion tests carried out at various decibel levels. We're trying to zero in on the point at which playback reaches 3% distortion, which is noticeable. For more info, read this article.

 

Isolation     (*7.57**)*


What we found:

Like any good set of in-ears, the SE530s do a good job isolating their user from external noise. Also like other in-ears, the SE530s do a much better job blocking out the higher-end part of the spectrum as opposed to the lower.

The SE530s are definitely above average for a set of in-ears, thanks in part to their foam sleeves. These sleeves are essentially a pair of ear plugs, so it isn't surprising they resulted in such a good score.

How the Shure SE530 compares:

 

**What is isolation?
*
*Isolation refers to your headphones' ability to block out external noise. There are two types of isolation: active and passive. Active noise cancellation uses an internal microphone to listen to ambient noise, which the headphones then play back at an inverse amplitude. This effectively nullifies the incoming sound. The downside is the technology isn't perfect: it has the tendency to create some mid-range or high-end noise and only typically blocks out bass sounds. Passive isolation is just fancy talk for 'they plug up your ears.'

How the test works:

To test isolation, we put the headphones in HATS and blast the setup with pink noise. Since this noise is a known sound with known levels, we can match up the sound HATS recorded with the initial noise to see exactly what was blocked out. For more info, read the page at this link.

 

Leakage     (*10.00**)*


What we found:

Most in-ears are great at leakage control, and the SE530s are no exception. Unless you're playing your music at an ungodly loud level no one will be the wiser. Even at higher decibel levels, the most anyone would hear is a whisper.

What is leakage?

Leakage refers to any sound that escapes your headphones and is audible to a third party who is near by. For our test, this listener is standing right next to you.

How the test works:

Once the headphones are on HATS, we play back pink noise through the headphones. Like our isolation test, this noise is a known sound with all its levels mapped out. We have a microphone set up a few inches away that records anything that leaks out of the headphones.

Comfort

 

Short-Term Use     (5.00)


For this section and the next one, be forewarned: our scores and write-up are just based on a few people around our office trying the headphones on for a bit. Even though there are multiple heads involved, chances are yours is different. We therefore recommend trying on all headphones for a few hours before you decide to keep them.

It's been quite some time since we last reviewed a pair of Shure headphones, and our opinions are largely unchanged. Since we don't like looping the cord around the backs of our ears, we're don't find the Shure SE530s to be particularly comfortable. Sure, you can reverse teh left and right channels and they'll fit fine, but that's somewhat annoying, especially if your playback has channel-specific sections. Of course, the degree to which this is annoying will be entirely subjective.

Our issues with the sleeves is about the same as we found with the SE420s. If you use the foam sleeves, the insides of your ears will feel a bit hot and itchy. If you use the other sleeves, they'll tend to get more and more uncomfortable over time.

Regardless, the headphones do stay in pretty well. This, coupled with the short cord, make them good workout headphones.

 

**Extended Use**     (*4.50**)*


The small decrease in points predominantly comes from the comfort issues above exacerbating over the six hours of wear we use in this test. While the foam sleeves are the most comfortable, they are still a bit warm and scratchy. The other sleeves are a bit too stiff and create a bit of pressure over time. Still, the headphones aren't grossly uncomfortable: for this score, we try to keep 5 as a dead average result. They are definitely not the most comfortable in-ears we've worn, but they're not horrible either.

 

**Customizability**     (*9.50**)*


Shure headphones tend to come with the most customizability options, and the Shure SE530s are no exception. They come with three different types of sleeves, two of which have varying size options.

***Here are the eight different sets of sleeves, with a grey background

so you can make out the triple-flanged ones.***

 

There are two extension cables, one short, one long.

***The long cord will make the SE530s a 'normal' in-ear length, while the short

cord can be used to help space add-ons, or just to add a little extra reach.***

 

The headphones also come with accessories that add significant value: a volume switch and a remote/mic.

***The volume switcher is on the left and lets you change volume. The remote and

mic on the right will let you take phone calls and control playback.***

 

Last, and likely least, the SE530s come with a shirt clip you probably won't use.

*** This is a toss-in, but we're sure

some will appreciate it.***

Usability

 

 

Cable Connectivity     (6.00*)*


 You can do some silly things with the SE530s in terms of cable connectivity. If you attach all the adapters and extension cables, the SE530s can stretch up to about 8 feet, 8 inches; without any adapters/extensions, the headphones are about 1 foot, 5 inches long. The former number is a bit unrealistic, because that many plug/jack junctions in the cable means it can barely hold its own weight without one of them separating. The latter number is because you're technically supposed to use an extension cord with the headphones in order to reach their actual length, 4 feet, 6 inches. If you want to be fancy and impress your friends with your audiophilia, you can refer to the SE530s' cable as 'modular.'

The SE530s come with long and short extension cords.

 

The headphones also come with two adapters: a 1/4-inch plug and an airplane plug adapter.

 

Portability     (9.25*)*


 Since the headphones are really just about a foot and a half long, they're incredibly portable. If you're using the cable, however, the cord will be a bit longer than the typical human will need, thus hurting their portability somewhat. Overall, however, it's hard to get more portable than the SE530s, unless you sacrifice durability by having thinner cord casing.

 

The SE530s come with a case for keeping all your stuff in check, but it doesn't really add to portability. It also isn't the best case for managing your sleeves since it's doesn't have any pockets or anything. We recommend saving the plastic bag the sleeves come in, in order to prevent them exploding everywhere every time you open the case.

 

 

Maintenance     (*3.00**)*


 Typically in-ears just get points for having removable sleeves. The SE530s have them, but they also have a cleaning tool. It isn't anything amazing, just a plastic stick with a wire loop at its end.

***This will help you clean the SE530s. It's useful, but we

would've liked the loop to be a bit longer. ***

 

Other Features     (*6.50**)*


Battery Dependency

The SE530s, like many in-ears, do not require batteries. Sure, batteries sometimes power awesome features, like active noise cancellation or wireless connectivity, but their upkeep is annoying. Either you need to replace the batteries or recharge them every so often. Even if they can hold a charge for 36 hours, chances are you'll wind up with headphones that don't function since you're forgetful. The SE530s pick up some points here.

 

Volume Controls

The SE530s come with an adapter that allows you to adjust their playback volume. While this isn't the most significant feature we've encountrered, it is a nice option.

***The volume control is a bit bulky, but that might

behoove those with bigger fingers.***

 

Remote and Mic

This is a much more significant adapter than the above option. Snap this add-on somewhere on your chain of adapters and extensions, and the headphones gain the ability to handle calls or issue your media player basic commands. Be careful: once you get used to a remote and mic, it's hard to go back to not using one.

 

The top picture is the control button; the two eyes/nostrils in the bottom picture are the mic.

Sennheiser MM 50 iP Comparison

 

Design


Both designs are pretty bland. The SE530s have an interesting shape, but that shape has the potential to make the headphones less comfortable for you. The SE530s are a lot sturdier than the Sennheiser MM 50 iPs, however.

Sound Quality


 The MM 50 iPs have better bass response, but a slightly more choppy frequency response overall. Regardless, the MM 50 iPs have a better result here.

Sennheiser headphones are typically devoid of distortion. Since both headphones have less than 1% distortion, however, they both fall under the category of 'ridiculously low distortion.'

An even, flat response beats on both sides, but the SE530s' is flatter. There's probably no difference between these two to the average listener.

Isolation


The SE530s can isolate better than the MM 50 iPs pretty much across the entire board. There's a small chunk at 1kHz that the SE530s didn't feel like blocking out.

Comfort


As we're likely to say throughout these comparisons, although the SE530s weren't the most comfortable headphones we've tried on, they do come with far more customizability options than the average set of in-ears. This means that, although we personally didn't think they were as comfortable as other in-ears, they have the potential to give more people a better fit.

 

Verdict


The MM 50 iPs are great headphones with a great price. It's hard to beat them in terms of value. What's more, the SE530s actually didn't best them in terms of audio quality. If you have a strong desire to pick up the SE530s, be it for their fit or for their extras, be our guest; for the majority of buyers, however, the MM 50 iPs would probably be the better choice.

Shure SE420 Comparison

 

Design


The SE530s and SE420s are essentially the same in terms of design. The SE420s go for a straight gray color palette while the SE530s use a bronze motif. Other than this minor change, both sets of headphones are essentially the same.

Sound Quality


Interestingly enough, they both have incredibly similar frequency responses as well. The SE530s had a slightly better bass response and a slightly weaker one for mid-range frequencies.

The SE530s have slightly less distortion than the SE420s, but the difference would likely be hard to hear.

The SE530s did much better on our tracking test than the SE420s.

Isolation


We thought this was strange. The SE420s had a significantly better isolation result than the SE530s. This could be due to many different factors, such as small differences in the compositions of the foam sleeves, or a slightly different positioning.

Comfort


Both headphones feel about the same in terms of comfort. They both have very, very similar designs and all the same sleeve options.

 

Verdict


The SE530s are basically the same headphones as the SE420s, but come with better extras. We would probably recommend the SE420s over the SE530s because of their improved isolation. The SE530s' remote and mic adapter is really useful, however.

V MODA Vibe Duo Comparison

 

 

Design


The Vibe Duos have a slightly more appealing look, but aren't as durable. The newer Vibe Duos have a much sturdier plug, but there still aren't cord guards around the control pendant or the ear buds. If you're looking for something with an iota of pizazz, you can't get more pizazzy than a color scheme called 'GunmetalRouge.' If you want a rugged design, the SE530s are a better pick.

 

Sound Quality


 The Vibe Duos go a bit zany with the bass, and have a slightly more dynamic (read: choppy) response than we typically like to see. 

 

The SE530s definitely have a lower overall distortion. It's not by a gigantic amount, but it's there.

 

The Vibe Duos are either really difficult to get positioned correctly or they have bad tracking. Either way, the Shure SE530s have them beat.

 

Isolation


The SE530s block out more bass than the Vibe Duos, but not as much high-end noise. Overall, however, the Vibe Duos block out less noise than the SE530s.

 

Comfort


While we thought the Vibe Duos were more comfortable overall, the SE530s come with many more options for customization. It's therefore more likely that the SE530s will be able to provide you with a comfortable fit.

 

 

Verdict


This match-up will likely come down to how much cash you're willing to spend on a better product. The SE530s have better sound quality (unless you're a sucker for really, really loud bass), come with more extras, and are likely to live a lot longer. The Vibe Duos, on the other hand, cost a few hundred dollars less.

Apple in Ear Headphones With Remote and Mic Comparison

 

 

Design


We're not sure if anyone is still enamored with Apple's aesthetic, given it's been around for so long, but they do look clean and modern. While the Apple headphones have an advantage on style, they aren't nearly as sturdy as the SE530s.

 

Sound Quality


The SE530s had a better frequency response overall, since they don't have that downward spike towards 10kHz. It's also much more even overall. 

 

The Shure SE530s are a better pick in terms of distortion because they barely have any. The Apple headphones showed a bit of noise towards the high-end. 

The Apple headphones have a ridiculously flat tracking, but so do the SE530s. Both are just about perfect. 

 

Isolation


The SE530s have a much better isolation. All those spots where the Apple In-ears' graph drops downwards are covered by the SE530s.

 

Comfort


The SE530s are more comfortable overall because they actually stay in your ears. If you're moving around, the Apple In-ears will pull loose.   

 

 

Verdict


This is another budget vs. better match-up. Whe the price is hunreds of dollars different, it's really up to the consumer to determine whether or not they're willing to make the additional investment. All we will say is that the Apple In-ears are subpar while the Shure SE530s are above average.

Conclusion

 

Ratings & Specs

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Meet the tester

Mark Brezinski

Mark Brezinski

Senior Writer

@markbrezinski

Mark Brezinski works on the Home Team, reviewing refrigerators, minifridges, dishwashers, washing machines, dryers, air conditioners, air purifiers, and fans.

See all of Mark Brezinski's reviews

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