Shure SE530 Headphones Review - Conclusion

The SE530s are a good, if pricy, set of in-ears. They come with the most boxed-in extras we've seen to date, and have solid audio quality across the board. The headphones are also great for those whose headphones always seem to break.

The headphones have two unique factors that aren't for everyone, however. The first is their design: wear these around for a bit before you decide to keep them. The second is their modular cord. While it's definitely a boon to be able to swap in various in-line accessories, it just increases the number of connections that can get pulled apart.

If you're looking for a budget option, the SE530s aren't for you. In the $100, we always recommend the Sennheiser MM 50 iPs. Below that, the new Apple in-ear headphones are a good, if somewhat fragile bet, as are the Denon AH-C351s.

Interestingly enough, the SE530s' biggest competition are the SE420s. They offer comparable audio quality, come with a few less extras, and cost $100 less.