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Shure SE530

Discontinued

Reviewed

May 2009

Pros

Excellent sound quality
Triple-driver design
Better bass than most earphones
In-line volume control

Cons

Expensive
May protrude

Where to Buy

for $499.00

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The Shure SE530 earphones, now replaced by the Shure SE535 (*Est. $500),receive more recommendations than just about other any in-canal earphone. Sound quality and detail are top-notch thanks to their triple-driver design: a tweeter (for high-frequency sounds) and two woofers (for low-frequency sounds) in each earpiece. This gives the SE530 more bass response than competing earphones, which often disappoint in the low end. Shure updated the tweeter design when it renamed the E500PTH the SE530, but experts say that for all intents and purposes, the two are identical. Reviewers say the earphones are comfortable, though some complain that they tend to protrude. Useful extras, such as airplane and quarter-inch adapters, a hard-shell carrying case and a push-to-hear adaptor (when you need to mute your music) are also included.

The Shure SE530 earphones earn glowing reviews on CNET, one of the most comprehensive review websites for earphones. PCMag.com and iLounge.com are also thorough and well-regarded sources for earphones reviews, and both give the Shure SE530 a positive review. The SE530 earphones are at or near the top of the best-buy lists compiled by EarphoneSolutions.com and OnHeadphones.com.

Where To Buy

Shure SE530 Sound Isolating Earphones
(163 reviews) Buy new: $499.00 1 Used from $210.00

Our Sources

1. CNET

CNET's Jasmine France lists the Shure SE530 as her top choice among high-end earphones. She praises their stellar sound quality, durable build and useful extras. Bass response and detail are both very good, although France says that the triple-driver earphones are a bit large and may protrude.

Review: Shure SE530 Sound Isolating Earphones, Jasmine France, Aug. 20, 2007

2. PCMag.com Details/Subscribe

The Shure E500PTH (now called the Shure SE530) win the Editors' Choice award for in-canal earphones, with editor Mike Kobrin saying that they're comfortable enough to leave in all day and sound "amazing."

Review: Shure E500PTH, Mike Kobrin, Oct. 8, 2008

3. iLounge.com

iLounge.com reviews iPod and iPhone accessories, including headphones and earphones. Writeups by editor-in-chief Jeremy Horwitz are detailed, though some older reviews are less so, and site navigation is difficult at times. He gives the Shure SE530 an A grade, saying that they test better than all other high-end earphones across all musical genres.

Review: Shure E500PTH / SE530PTH Sound Isolating Earphones, Jeremy Horwitz, July 27, 2006

4. EarphoneSolutions.com

EarphoneSolutions.com tests and sells earphones, ranking the best models. Grado headphones are used as reference, and all earphones are plugged into an iPod for evaluation. The Shure SE530 earphones finish second behind the Westone 3 True 3-Way Driver Earphones, but are cited as best for sound and comfort.

Review: The Best Earphones for iPod and Other MP3 Players, Editors of EarphoneSolutions.com

5. OnHeadphones.com

This site gives provides ratings with pros, cons and a bottom line. The Shure SE530 gets an Editors' Choice rating for its balanced sound and isolation, and the interchangeable parts and cables are also praised.

Review: Shure SE530, Editors of OnHeadphones.com, April 17, 2007

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