A beginner Audiophile seeking assistence

Your capslock is on.

At least the subject wasn't in all caps.

Joking aside, if you want to be taken seriously, please do not use all caps in your posts like that.

Ok, then you are sort of excused.
Your duplicate thread here is also fully in UPPERCASE: http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f4/beg...stence-463483/

Your incoming Shure SE530s and a Zune 120 you seem to be on a nice track. Next step may be music/source files. If you currently use lossy encoded music (MP3, WMA or like) consider giving lossless encoded music a try. I believe the Zune support WMA Lossless.

Welcome to Head-Fi!

>___> now I feel bad for laughing initially. Anyway, I don't think you need anything extra for your zune and SE530s. If you listen from a PC then maybe a new sound card might help.

I would then recommend you get a very good home setup - the quality will be a lot better than a portable variant and you should definitely be able to appreciate the difference. And I wouldn't recommend isolating portables for it would impede important functions outside.

For recommendations, we need to know what kind of music you like and what you don't like about your current setup.

Get yourself some Audiotechnica ES10's or the famous ESW10jpn's. I believe that for around $500 you cant do better for portable/home use, plus they dont strictly require an amp. You can get the amp later...

Now, if you are prepared to splurge then get some custom earphones (around $1000), the JH13pro, UE11... or for a fullsize 'portable' go for the Ultrasone Ed.8 they are amazing!

Amping will be important as a second step. For portable amps, I have my three favorites: iQube v2, Headamp Pico or Ibasso d10.

Be sure to have all your music in lossless format (flac) and just enjoy! The shure's are ok but not up there imo. If you can return them, I would recommend for a universal IEM the french EarSonics SM2dlx, the very few that have tried them, place them above the westone's and ue's, me being one of them. Also look at the Stax portable system 001.

Good luck, and be sure to get a good side job to finance this great hobby

Text-to-speech uses "NETHING" ?

It seems to me that you're completely blinded by the idea of getting new stuff that seems to be awfully superior than you current set-up...as if you're buying new equipment not because of your love of music, but simply out of your blatant consumerism.

I advise you to go to a store that sells audio equipment and simply listen to different headphones. Do not research headphones beforehand and do not look at the price--just listen. And if you really find the thing that's "missing", then buying new, "better", equipment is a fine idea. Otherwise, it's a complete waste of money.

The se530 should do well with the zune. They have a mids forward sound so the vocals and guitars should sound great. I used mine all the time and i hated having to use it at home because i had to constantly take them off and put them back on which irritated my ears.

And GUYZ

I was on a trip last year, using my Grados - which are open and very clear and detailed - but because of their openness, the low rumble of the mommy wagon interfered too much with the presentation. That's when I decided to use in-ear phones for the isolation. Headfi has a whole section devoted to discussions about in-ear monitors.

I got into those discussions, couldn't decide who was telling "the truth" and ended up buying a bunch of IEMs - including the SE530, the Etymotics Er4P, the Ultimate Ears Triple-Fi 10, the Westone 3, the UM3X and the Phonak Audeo PFEs.

There were all nice phones - some of the best universals out there - but I liked the UM3X the best. It was warm without being too warm. It sounded quite natural. Its highs were not shrill but they were also not as rolled-off as the 530s. They made me very happy.

I can't explain exactly why the 530s didn't quite do it for me but they are highly regarded. Some go so far as to call them the best universal IEMs out there. With their Sennheiser presentation, the 530s let you listen for long periods without getting ear fatigue. Like my Grados, the UM3Xs are more exciting to me, but I end up turning them down as I settle into longer runs.

If you have the extra coin, we are living in a golden age of customs, the top choice of the day being the JH13s (which are great if you have $1100 you're not using). With customs, you have to get ear impressions made and then send those impressions in to the manufacturer. From everything I've heard, it's worth the money and the wait. To get decent bass, you need a good seal (which is why the earbuds tend to suffer in that department). Customs provide the best seal. They also let you use a harder tip, which will avoid absorbing the high end.

But if you're just jumping in, give the SE530s a try. Wear them out. Enjoy them till you know them like the back of your hand. Don't be in a hurry to have people sell you something. You've already gotten one of the top universals out there. Many of your choices are actually steps down from where you already are. I'm more of a Westone person but it's hard not to respect the 530s for what they do.

Are IEMs really advisable for a blind guy? :P