Hi all! I current got a go-vibe pettie and a esw9 but abit of a sore to carry around so im changing to iems. My budget is arnd the two above mentioned, wondering which one to get as im selling my esw9 soon. Which would u recommend for best sound, comfort comes second to sound. Currently using um1 too. Thanks so much

Hi blackcatz,

They both sound great, so you can't really go wrong with either, although I think the SE530 are more comfortable.

Do a search. There are many threads on the difference in sound of these two IEMs.

do a search. I think the consensus is about half and half between these. I might be wrong though. Go look at the appreciation threads. Also, theres a guy named FlavioWolf thats doing A LOT of research. PM him and ask him what he thinks.

triplefi for the win! with shure tips on the UEs, they're just as comfy as the se530, and i find that they sound more balanced, with a bigger soundstage than the se530s

It's a difficult one. Opinions vary from person to person. If you type in "triple.Fi review" in Google, some of the main sites prefer the SE530's (Trusted Reviews, iLounge) whereas some (PCmag) prefer the Triple.Fi's. It's all a matter of opinion.

SE530 have a slightly more darker yet more lively and fuller sound. The Triple.Fi are slightly flatter and more analytical. I believe the Triple.Fi have better highs and tighter less prominent bass. Whereas the SE530's have more detailed mids, a better low end and punchier more effective bass. I guess it depends on what kind of music you listen to.

One thing I will say, is that imo the SE530 are a lot more comfortable. I realise Athena above mentioned the TF10's with different buds are just as comfortable as the SE530's, but I have to disagree. The SE530's are more organic in shape and fit the ear more like customs. They also sit flush with your ear so you can sleep on your side with them. The TF10 and SF5 stick out of the ears and are quite large. I couldn't sleep with my SF5's on, whereas I regularly sleep with my SE530's on.

I think this diagram shows the fit off nicely.

Does the lack on highs on the se530 as bad as the um1? And im kinda confused on which has more soundstage? Hahaz I always sleep with my headphones on :X

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Oh...I guess that pretty cancels out the triple.fi, unless the FS (Flip-Side) mod cures it, which I doubt.

O.o so its shure then. Anyways is there any way to compensate for the lack of highs? Im using a Ipod Classic, will eq work? Plus will it sound better than my headphones? Juz a weird question

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hmm your pic shows the standard way of wearing them. for me flipmod flushes the earphones to my ears. and hence fits very snugly.

here's a pic of the flipmod + shure scl2 tips:

Search function for the win.

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The highs are still detailed, just rolled off. However, imo this is cured in three ways.

Firstly (the way I do it) is simply adjust the EQ settings to substantiate the higher frequencies a little, this really helps to bring out the highs, and generally clean up the sound which can otherwise be slightly overwhelmed by the deep bass and pronounced lows.

The second way is using a portable amp. Supposedly some amps (Hornet and Pico) help to really bring out the highs in the SE530 (as well as generally improve the sound).

The last method, which I do not recommend (and that is not fully tested) is use the ear wax remover that comes with the earphones, to remove the little white filter that is in the tunnel where the foam tips fit on to. Supposedly this little white net like filter is the thing that subdues highs to ensure they aren't overly harsh. Removing them supposedly increases the clarity of the highs, but also increases sibilance somewhat.

It all depends on what device you are using. But here are my EQ settings on my N95 8GB. I've stuck with these after many hours of testing, I find these settings give me the most sparkle in highs but not so much that I get overt sibilance or hiss. They also make the overall sound a touch more crisp. If you really like highs, you can up the notches to the far right more, but eventually the highs get too detailed, and the sound too clean and analytical.



Also, if you plan to sleep with your earphones on, you can pretty much cancel out the TF10's as a suitable choice. They stick out far too much to be able to sleep with them on, on your side anyway.

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I use the flip-flop mod with my Super.Fi 5 Pro's, and while it definitely helps, they still stick out too much for you to sleep on your side with them. I also find the more ridged like form over the SE530's more organic form less comfortable.

there's also one other (very minor though) issue with the flip flop mod. Your sound is in reverse. While this is a minor complaint, it does exist. Contrary to belief, sound is not always divided evenly between the left and right earphones. Many songs have many sounds, instruments, voices etc extenuate on one side or another. So with the flip flop mods, sounds that should be extenuated on your right side, are instead focused on the opposite side, and vice versa.

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Images of the different fits.

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TF10/SF5 with flip flop mod.











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SE530 default fit.







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Without modding.

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your sound should not be reversed as long as you swop the cables. that's the beauty of the flip mod, u're swopping the cables attached to each side, and swopping driver sides, so u end up with right still being right and left still being left.

if you saw my pics, they're just as flushed for me as se530s are.

i just went to lie down with them and they were fine for me.. albeit slightly increased in pressure. I wouldn't wanna risk sleeping with a 300 dollar earpiece in my ear though lol. you might snap something.

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Interesting, I'll check it out on my SF5. Also, I wouldn't worry about breaking them lol. Your pillows not made of metal! In regards to the cable, I've been fine thus far, and I've slept with the SE530's on at least 10-15 or so times. If they break they break, I'll get a warranty replacement, but I want to enjoy them fully. I bought the headphones with the intention of sleeping with them, and tbh, for $300 they better be well built. Though I realise there are issues with cable crack after prolonged use. That's fine by me. I'll just have to deal with it if and when it happens.

By the way, I have to ask. Is that your other half in your avatar?

something i always wondered, about the flip mode, the driver placement inside the actual headphone is configured to deliver a speficic sound signature, if flip the headphones, dosnt the sound signature and soundstage change ?