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SE530 Advice

Mar 12, 2009 at 5:14 PM Thread Starter Post #1 of 16
MegatronRx

MegatronRx

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So I bought the q-Jays and I love their sound. They're amazing. What I don't like is that sound isolation. It's good but it's not great. I want to buy IEMs primarily for sound isolation but I would also like a great sound.

I bought a pair of SE210s and they isolated sound very well but they were very uncomfortable and their sound quality was garbage. RETURNED!

So this naturally brings me to the SE530. I've heard that the SQ is slightly better than the q-Jays, the comfort is nice and the sound isolation is very good.

Here are my questions:
1. If I found the SE210s uncomfortable, will I find the SE530s equally as uncomfortable?
2. I find the q-Jays to be comfortable. How does it compare to the SE530s in terms of comfort?
3. Is the sound isolation on the SE530s significantly better than the q-Jay?
4. Are SE530 prices going to drop in the near future?

Any other thoughts?
 
Mar 12, 2009 at 5:18 PM Post #2 of 16
I can only answer the last question. What do you define future? a few months? a year?
If its a few months, then no. The se530s have been out for 2 years, and there doesn't seem to be rumors of a replacement on the way. There is no real reason for the price to drop.
 
Mar 12, 2009 at 5:27 PM Post #3 of 16
I'm in the unique position in that the q-Jays and 530's were my favorite IEMS that I tried. For me, the q-Jays had fantastic isolation because their small size allowed me to push them practically completely into my ear canal. Did you try this? That's pretty much the only way to get great sound isolation with the Jays.

Honestly -- and I am strongly in the minority here -- I could not get as great of an isolation with the Shure's, mainly because they don't make tips that are the perfect size for me. With q-Jays, I use XS silicone. It's perfect. With the Shure's, even when I used the small, I could not get a perfect seal. There was certainly a lot of isolation, but not nearly as much as the q-Jays or Etymotics I tried before them.

But I think the Shure's are worth it. For me, the q-Jays developed a sibilance that was a little annoying -- your own milage may vary. Comfort-wise, believe it or not, the Shure's are extremely comfortable. I was extremely skeptical until I tried them myself -- they fit great! It's the contoured shell that does it, Shure really outdid themselves. Isolation is the only issue, but your ears are certainly different and you might find them to be great at isolating.

I too found the 210's comfortable, they were the first IEM's I tried (wow, we're practically the same). The 530's are miles better!

Finally, the best price I could get from a reputable dealer with an excellent return policy was Soundearphones.com. Talk to them first, call them up. They might give it to you for $300 shipped. Totally totally worth it, man.

Hope that helped. I actually returned my q-Jays to upgrade to the 530's, and I'm getting them tomorrow.
 
Mar 12, 2009 at 5:28 PM Post #4 of 16
Quote:

Originally Posted by MegatronRx /img/forum/go_quote.gif
So I bought the q-Jays and I love their sound. They're amazing. What I don't like is that sound isolation. It's good but it's not great. I want to buy IEMs primarily for sound isolation but I would also like a great sound.

I bought a pair of SE210s and they isolated sound very well but they were very uncomfortable and their sound quality was garbage. RETURNED!

So this naturally brings me to the SE530. I've heard that the SQ is slightly better than the q-Jays, the comfort is nice and the sound isolation is very good.

Here are my questions:
1. If I found the SE210s uncomfortable, will I find the SE530s equally as uncomfortable?
2. I find the q-Jays to be comfortable. How does it compare to the SE530s in terms of comfort?
3. Is the sound isolation on the SE530s significantly better than the q-Jay?
4. Are SE530 prices going to drop in the near future?

Any other thoughts?


1) They're shaped quite a bit differently, but to me they are at about the same level of comfort. Why did you find 210's uncomfortable? Was it the tips or other factors? I ask as Shures are typically regarded as comfortable by most.

2) I can't say as I don't have the Q-Jays, but if I had to take a guess here you found 210's uncomfortable because it's a deeper insert. Q-Jays sit pretty shallow from what I hear. If this is the case, then you won't find 530's comfortable either as they need to sit deeper in for proper seal.

3) Shures are also very well known for isolation, probably second best next to Etymotics. With proper seal you will get an excellent isolation.

4) They've already dropped quite a bit if you look at Amazon and second hand sellers, but their MSRP is still very high and I reckon they won't drop until they announce a new model to succeed it.
 
Mar 12, 2009 at 7:48 PM Post #6 of 16
Quote:

Originally Posted by mark2410 /img/forum/go_quote.gif
on the comfort level, if you found the 210 to be uncomfortable which is rare then the 530 are going to be the same. i think it makes the other questions a bit mute if you cant wear them any way


I respectfully disagree, mark2410. The 210's stuck out of my ears a lot more, which meant any slight tug of the cable was compounded and tickled my ears annoyingly. On the other hand, the 530's nestle within the ear and are much more difficult to dislodge or move around.

Comfort is, of course, subjective, but that's my two bits.
 
Mar 12, 2009 at 7:51 PM Post #7 of 16
Quote:

Originally Posted by K_19 /img/forum/go_quote.gif
Why did you find 210's uncomfortable? Was it the tips or other factors?


^x2. Tough to give a meaningful answer without more information from the OP on this.

As to isolation, when wearing my E500s and with music playing, I can stand next to the tracks at the commuter rail station and a train can go by and at best can only very faintly hear the train. With music off, I can hear the train but it is quite muffled.
 
Mar 12, 2009 at 8:38 PM Post #8 of 16
Quote:

Originally Posted by Nosoupforyou /img/forum/go_quote.gif
I respectfully disagree, mark2410. The 210's stuck out of my ears a lot more, which meant any slight tug of the cable was compounded and tickled my ears annoyingly. On the other hand, the 530's nestle within the ear and are much more difficult to dislodge or move around.

Comfort is, of course, subjective, but that's my two bits.


were you wearing them over your ears? usually i find any tugs i feel on my ear bt never really affects the IEM itself. but i do totally agree confort is very very subjective, it doesnt take much difference in shape to find a small bit thet presses on your ear and casues discomfort. in that respect the 530 may be better as it doesnt have the rectangular shape of the 210.

however if i had found the 210 uncomfortable i dont think i would have wanted to try the 530 as they arent all that different.
 
Mar 13, 2009 at 7:58 PM Post #10 of 16
When I wore th SE210, I can best describe the feeling as my ears getting raped. I know that's a bit excessive but those were my first IEMs and they were supremely uncomfortable. The q-Jays are much more comfortable, however, I don't think I can shove them up into my ear canal as you suggest NoSoupForYou. I've tried but to no avail. They sound beautiful to me and the sibilance issue isn't an issue at all for me.

mark2410, I'm disappointed to hear that you think the SE210s are as comfortable as the SE530s...that definitely makes me hesitant to buy them.

However, when I did own the SE210s briefly, I found the sound isolation to be good however, the ear rape was not worth the sound isolation and the sound quality left much to be desired.

Say No to Ear Rape.
 
Mar 13, 2009 at 9:56 PM Post #13 of 16
Quote:

Originally Posted by Nosoupforyou /img/forum/go_quote.gif
I just got my Shure 530's. They're freakin' very very comfortable. Done. I think you'll really love 'em.


You've sold me. I shall begin my search for the cheapest pair I can find.
 
Mar 13, 2009 at 10:07 PM Post #14 of 16
Quote:

Originally Posted by MegatronRx /img/forum/go_quote.gif
You've sold me. I shall begin my search for the cheapest pair I can find.


Sir, I strongly recommend that you TRY them first -- even if it's paying full price, but with a return policy. If you're in NY, you can go to B&H or JR. Also, Best Buy all over the US has full return policies, even if you open them and try. This would be the best solution for you, as you could give 'em a shot, with the security that, in case you don't like 'em or they don't fit, you can get your money back. mark is right, since the nozzle and tips of the 530's and 210's are pretty much the same, you might not like them! And even with my firmest recommendations, remember that your ears are surely different shaped. But when you get them, be sure to try out each tip and see if there's one you like.

Once you've tried them and love them, I recommend actually buying from Soundearphones, because they are authorized dealers (so you get the Shure 2-year warranty), there's a 30-day return policy, they have price-matching, and are very quick with delivery and responsiveness. Their politeness is really what won me over. They sent me a pair for $300 shipped, no tax.

Best of luck, and keep us posted if you need any more help.
 
Mar 14, 2009 at 1:58 AM Post #15 of 16
Quote:

Originally Posted by MegatronRx /img/forum/go_quote.gif
You've sold me. I shall begin my search for the cheapest pair I can find.


Don't do that! Search for the cheapest one at an authorized dealer!
Warranty is your friend
wink.gif
 
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