SE530s...am I doing something wrong?

[RampantAndroid]

Well, I just got my pair of 530s...and I have to say, I'm thoroughly unimpressed....They, to be honest...sound like **** for what they cost (I did not pay full price) - they sound on par with my DT250s. So what's up here? My hearing is not bad...I can hear treble and bass fine...and these have neither.

The bass is...underwhelming, and I did try the different inserts. I tried the mediums, they felt uncomfortable (like they were far too large), went to the smallest ones (which I still have to give a good shove to get them in right), I have them in almost the whole way, and I'm not getting THAT much bass. Am I just used to boomy bass of closed cans? The bass was noticeable, but hardly present. The treble is lifeless and lacking...making some songs sound dull and pretty much unlistenable. Am I just doing something wrong? Am I expecting the wrong thing?

Listening on my Zune, these really don't sound very impressive. I doubt this would be the case, but could they be defective? The mids do sound good.... but that's it. Do these just cost 500 USD because getting something this small to sound any good is just that hard?

I appreciate any input..this isn't a rant so much as it is a "what the hell am I doing wrong?" post.

Thanks.

 

[gtp]

Getting a good seal?

 

[z50j]

Quote:

Originally Posted by gtp /img/forum/go_quote.gif Getting a good seal?

yes, getting a good seal

 

[mrdeadfolx]

SEAL SEAL SEAL. You should have them so sealed that when you wiggle your ears and raise your eyebrows, they are STILL sealed. Try the foam sleeves, and make sure to insert properly. Pull the top of your ear to straighten your ear canal when inserting also. Trust me this is a seal issue. When I first tried IEMs and didnt get a seal I was like umm, no. Something is definitely wrong here, and I tinkered with the fit until I got it. Keep trying.

 

[darkninja67]

Sounds like a seal issue to me as well. Was just listening to the new John Legend and the bass was insane. Tight and deep with awesome mids.

 

[RampantAndroid]

Quote:

Originally Posted by darkninja67 /img/forum/go_quote.gif Sounds like a seal issue to me as well. Was just listening to the new John Legend and the bass was insane. Tight and deep with awesome mids.

I think I'll grab that off the zune marketplace and see how it sounds. I went back to the medium foam sleeves (cripe I HATE changing sleeves on these!) I tried the gray rubber ones and found those unbearable...they have mold seams on them that make them very uncomfortable...that I have to wonder why they include them.

Thanks for the input - I'll keep trying. I really do want these to shine...

 

[scytheavatar]

Just to let you know, you wouldn't be the first or the last person to be unimpressive by the SE530. You can blame the bass on the seal, but you can't do anything about the treble, the SE530 presentation just isn't for those looking for the highs in the Beyers. If you want good bass and treble, look at the Westone 3 instead.

 

[qusp]

proper amping and good seal improves the SE530 highs. still not as good as W3 though. but I think people makle too much of the rolled off highs. also if you can get a pair of comply T400 tips. and try them. the olives are the cause of several issues with SE530 rolled off highs and slightly ill defined bass being one of them. this was the case for me anyway. if there is one thing the W3 thread has taught us; its that tips/seal are underestimated as far as SQ is concerned. UM56 FTW

 

[AgainstTheGrain]

Quote:

Originally Posted by qusp /img/forum/go_quote.gif proper amping and good seal improves the SE530 highs. still not as good as W3 though. but I think people makle too much of the rolled off highs. also if you can get a pair of comply T400 tips. and try them. the olives are the cause of several issues with SE530 rolled off highs and slightly ill defined bass being one of them. this was the case for me anyway. if there is one thing the W3 thread has taught us; its that tips/seal are underestimated as far as SQ is concerned. UM56 FTW

X2. i think people say it so much because it is the presumed thing to say about the se530s. i love mine. also i don't use the olives i stick to my yellow foamies.

as for the OP you have clear seal issues. also are you wearing them properly with the cable going up, around and down the back of the ear?

i have never heard someone saying they were "unimpressed" with the se530s that have gotten a good seal with them. most people bash the shures and they haven't even listened to them themselves

 

[robm321]

The rolled off highs were an issue with me at first. I came from an ER4s though. After owning them for awhile, I don't notice it much. It actually helps with bad recordings to have highs rolled off a bit.

The bass should be just fine though. There is nothing lacking there... and the midrange...

.... Well, Shure has mastered the midrange. I'd give them some time before you rush to judgement. Then move on if you still don't like the sound.

 

[Signal2Noise]

Did you buy thru a legitimate source? There is a remote possibility you got a clone.

 

[RampantAndroid]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Signal2Noise /img/forum/go_quote.gif Did you buy thru a legitimate source? There is a remote possibility you got a clone.

Direct from Shure themselves - so I'm shure they're Shures

.

How do you know when you've found the right size of the olives? The largest ones feel so large, it starts to get a wee bit painful....the middle sized ones make my ear canals itch after a bit...the smallest ones are almost a good fit, except they come out a little bit too easily.

Also, yes - I do have the cable looped over my ear (if only they'd stay there better...but I guess time will form them there.)

Listening to some John Legend right now...the Bass is present, and not boomy. It could be that I'm just used to boomy bass from closed cans? The bass on the 530s is supposed to be far more accurate, yes?

Thanks!

 

[NajoBB]

Maybe you're expecting to feel it like i was when i had them. They have good bass, but like all armatures they don't move enough air to actually feel it.

 

[Arjisme]

Quote:

Originally Posted by RampantAndroid /img/forum/go_quote.gif ...the Bass is present, and not boomy. It could be that I'm just used to boomy bass from closed cans?

You made a similar comment in your OP. I think this has a lot to do with what's going on here. The SE530 bass will not rumble deep in your gut. There's only so much an IEM can do after all. If you have a good seal, the bass will be present and very good. The recording will have a lot to do with the bass you hear -- the SE530s aren't going to add bass to a track that really doesn't have that much.

And no one on Head-Fi has been gushing with praise over the highs on these IEMs, so you shouldn't have expected that to be a strength. Other IEMs apprently will pierce your skull much more readily at that end of the spectrum. But, I can say if you try the triple flange tips and get a good seal, the highs will improve. The other option is to add some EQ to boost the highs.

 

[Xena]

How good is your source? Lossless?