Sennheiser CX 980

Design

The SE530s aren’t as pretty as the CX 980s, but they are more durable. The SE 530s also have a jack split about a foot and a half away from the ear buds, letting you replace the main bulk of the cord, should it get damaged.

Sennheiser CX 980	Shure SE530

Frequency Response

Both sets of headphones had similar curves. The CX 980 had more bass and a few peaks along the way. The SE530s had a much more level response, but fell off towards the high end.

Sennheiser CX 980	Shure SE530

Distortion

Neither set of headphones had any distortion worth mentioning.

Sennheiser CX 980	Shure SE530

Tracking

Neither set of headphones had any real issues with tracking, either.

Sennheiser CX 980	Shure SE530

Isolation

The SE 530s were able to isolate better than the CX 980s, thanks in part to their larger foam sleeves.

Sennheiser CX 980	Shure SE530

Comfort

We thought both sets of headphones were roughly the same comfort level. The Shure SE530s come with more sleeve options, though, so they’re a better bet for ensuring a good fit.

Wear
Sennheiser CX 980	Shure SE530

Verdict

These two headphones are pretty much on par with each other. They have similar performances and price points. The main, non-aural difference between the two is the CX 980s have an in-line volume control and the SE530s have a jack split so you can insert any accessory, like a remote and mic. Other than this and a few other minor differences, in the end, this decision is going to have to come down to your ear and what sort of sound you prefer.