I really want to like my Shure 530s - Page 2

I suggest that you cry in darkness, while taking comfort from your Cowon S9 and G2.

I dunno if burn in is an issue, I'm not sure if IEM's require burn in. Another thing is I'm pretty sure etymotic designs their products to be very neutral, so obviously having an area of high mids would be disconcerting.

^ I hope so for your sake. However, I too was disappointed by the SE530. That was not the case with the IE8 and the TF10. I still have the SE530 and I've come to appreciate what it does so well - noise attenuation!

I guess you can say that the OP should get something else if he or she has such a problem with a DAC/PMP that doesn't have an adequate EQ.

I liked my 530's, I just never got past the potential cable cracking issue, and did a warranty exchange, then sold the new pair. I have since tried the TF10, the UM3X and the Westone 3. I am keeping the Westone 3. If you are willing to buy and sell to try a few out, put the Westone 3 on your short list. More bass, more sparkle in the treble, a shadee less mids.

Haha.


Anywho, the SE530 is mid-centric. This should have been something you should have been aware of stepping into that earphone. Maybe you were expect good sound quality to make up for personal taste. It just doesn't work that way. A mediocre sounding earphone with a better fitting sound signature will automatically be more liked then an earphone with better sound quality but a less preferred sound signature. It really does force you to EQ permanently. It's not bad if you don't use the earphones across many audio devices, but you do. If you don't mind carrying around an amp with the earphones, there are some amps with bass boost and such that can get you some of what you're looking for.

If it makes you feel better I was largely disappointed by the SE530 too. I was more so pissed by the concept of using multiple drivers only to end up with a frequency response range no better then a single driver earphone. It kind of gets pointless.

So, you have other earphone choices. What to get? Well, besides frequency response, what sound characteristics do you like about the SE530? What sound characteristics would you change? From there, we might be able to point you to a more fitting product. There are LOTS of good products out there, so don't feel stressed that one good product didn't suit your tastes. This only means you get to try more.

The last pair I used took a week of good volume to tame the upper mid/lower treble emphasis. Opened up a bit and warmed up. The phone isn't perfect. What is? but you'll probably grow into it. Reports are emphasized mids or emphasized bass or edgy treble or dull. Impossible to do all that at the same time. What you'll find is that they're detailed enough to show different things in different setups and are actually neutral enough too. I've never found the mids in front of the upper bass or lower treble in general or the phone severely lacking in extension at either end. Like every other IEM, they have a sig that you may or may not appreciate. First thing I would do if I were you is force a deep insertion with the mid foam tip to get a known sure seal and sig and work from there for your seal sig compromise. Check into trimming the tri flanges if a sealed foam tip is too uncomfortable.

The SE530 works ok. It's not like it's down 20dB by 10kHz or 100Hz, and the frequency response isn't jumping all over the place. The top is is a tiny, tiny bit recessed but mainly when compared to other earphones in its class with hotter top ends. With my testing, it was only down -1dB by 12kHz which is almost nothing. The low end however is kind of bad. The upper bass is strong, sure, but it does roll off and it rolls off early, -4dB by 100Hz, -12dB by 50Hz. If it stayed within 3dB, no problem, but a drop that large really does cut away the bottom end information. It literally can't produce a 30Hz tone, even with gratuitous amounts of EQing. Other options like Westone W3/UM3X or Sennheiser IE8 can, and they don't roll off and don't need EQing to get you there. They are full and visceral.

Our minds do adapt to sound signatures and will automatically balance out the response.

Frequency response is one thing. Sound characteristics is another. The big question with the SE530 is are you happy with the way it sounds, frequency response aside? How is the sound quality, level of detail, stage presence, dynamics, development of notes, etc.? Are they what you want? Would you prefer something different? What do you like? What would you change?

My point is don't feel stuck with something just because you own it. Part of the whole hobby is finding products that speak to you that fit your tastes really well. It won't necessarily be your first earphone or even your first high end earphone. It may be your 3rd or 7th or 34th. Really, get into the mindset of trying out new hardware. Hit up the For Sale section and run through the buy and sell process. Build up a little variety under your experience belt. Figure out what you like and what products fit those tastes. I have personally found a very products that I really enjoy. However, I've used a pile of products that simply weren't my thing. It's not a matter of price or the number of drivers either. It's a matter of finding something you can really enjoy. That may or may not be the SE530. That's your call. All I can say is don't feel like your stuck with it.

I also tried to like my SE530 but never could... Mids are prominent but too coarse to my liking. Its bass has good impact at the mid-range but not deep enough, the shallowest bass among the better IEMs I have. Treble is a mess. IMO even ER4P has better sound than it.

op, try the tf10

Given what you're pushing forward, it looks like what I heard from the TF10. Try them.

the triplefi 10 actually has recessed mids and very detailed highs and lows. I guess that would fit you very well, while I really should try the 530.