Iphone & Shure SE530 - can it be improved?

[kieronmckeigue]

OK. So I have the above combo, and I think it sounds great.
 
The thing is, I thought Apple in-ear earphones sounded great until I switched to Shure SE210 which, in turn, I thought were fantastic until I got my hands on the SE530s. 
 
My question is this: What can improve the sound further? I'm not looking for customs - I can't make that jump just yet - but can I improve the sound by adding an amp? 
 
My music is all lossless (or close to it). Go easy guys - first post....
 

 

[pseudohippy]

Adding a amp will help if it was my setup because I dont like the sound from an iphone. Many do love it though so.....
 
Amps are a pain for carry around in most cases though, so Id just go without. But some people are always packing big coats or baggy clothes to fit it all it. If that's you then a amp would be nice. 
 
As far as the SE530's go IMO once your in that category all that is left is personal preference. You didn't post any info on what you listen too or what you might feel the 530's lack. Without getting customs I haven't found much difference in quality between many of the top level universals. But they do sound different, so depending on what sound you are looking for then yes, of course it could improve.

 

[kieronmckeigue]

Thanks for the reply. 
 
I listen to many types of music. I have opera, hard rock, drum n bass and others on my iphone. 
 
I don't feel the 530s lack anything - I think they sound superb. I went from apple earphones to Shure's SE210 and thought they were amazing. Then I upgraded to SE350s and was blown away. 
 
I guess I want to know what the next step is. What will enhance the sound? Is there an amp, or are there earphones, that will make me think "wow" all over again? I'm probably looking at spending hundreds, rather than thousands.
 
I'd also like to know whether headphones generally produce better sound quality than earphones, but that's probably for a different forum.
 
Thanks again.

 

[pseudohippy]

Well its kinda like I said though, I dont think you will get that wow experience again until you hit the upper tier customs. Everything else is pretty much a lateral move depending on personal taste i.e. a little more bass, a little less or more mids and treble and so on. Nothing dramatic though. The SE530's are pretty damn good is what Im saying and compare well to all the other universals. Even if some will say they dont like them it isnt because they arent good, its just that they have different tastes for sound sigs.  If you get 6 speakers in one custom mold then perhaps you will have that wow moment again.

 

[leng jai]

The SE530s are pretty high end in the portable market and unless you don't like the signature it there won't be much better to go to. Do you have fullsize headphones to use at home? I'd be looking to spend the money there. IEMs pale in comparison to fullsize cans when it comes to SQ and comfort.

 

[mvw2]

An amp won't help because the SE530 doesn't need it.  There are also no specific gains to just amping.  The gains from an amp are typically via a DAC + amp combo where the DAC would take the place of a mediocre sound player, say a laptop with a built in sound card that is not that great.  The DAC would replace that sound card as the source device and provide significantly better sound quality.  The amp side of things is simply an amp.  Depending on the earphone the benefit can be nil to very small or can be quite significant.  BA earphones in general do not need all that much wattage to work well.  The SE530 doesn't really need much and a portable player like an IPhone.  Plus you can't use the DAC from a combo DAC + amp device because the DAC would normally run via a USB drive.  It's pretty much a PC based route that's useful if the PC you have doesn't have a very good sound card.  For a portable device, all you can use is the amp and the IPhone is enough to power the SE530, no beneift.
 
Any difference you go from here will be to a different earphone.  The SE530 either provides the sound you want or it doesn't.  If it does, you stay with it and enjoy.  If it doesn't, you switch to some other product.  That's it.

 

[straden]

I have the same setup , amazing combo isnt it? Only probelm I have with se530 is that I have to wear over the ear, and its not comfort with my glasses =/
 
I have ordered arrow he12 amp , just to try out how it would improve the sound. If it doesn't bring enough wow factor , I am going to return and start saving up for the custom IEM.
 
If you like shure sound signature, it would be hard to beat unless you go up the ladder to customs...

 

[absoluNewbie]

you dont have to wear it over the ear, just wear it down, like as if it were normal earphones, might have a little less isolation but this could be just me (using olives foam). this is how i wear mine, since i also wear glasses