Reviewing the Shure SE530 (or, There's no going back)

(Credit: Shure)

I can't really complain about my job. Oh, who am I kidding? Sure I can! But still, it's pretty sweet getting to test out hot new audio products day in and day out. (Don't lie...I know you all are jealous.) Yet there is an unforeseen downside to this gig, and that's that I often review things I can't afford to buy, and then I have to return them. Do you have any idea how painful it is to have a spectacularly sweet product wrenched from your loving (and slightly deranged) grasp? At best, it's just sad. At worst, it's excruciating.

Case in point: the Shure SE530 earphones, a sweet-sounding set that will relieve your wallet of $500. Now, I'm in the midst of reviewing these headphones and, yet, though they've been on my desk for about a week--waiting in the review queue--I neglected to take them home over the weekend for my extended listening pleasure. When asked by a colleague (who shall remain nameless, as he is entirely to blame for my newfound addiction) why I was waiting until review time to use the SE530s rather than taking advantage of their every second in the office, my answer was simple: the longer I listen to them, the harder the comedown will be. In turn, he came up with some perfectly logical analogy involving a desert island and some other stuff, and I folded, immediately pairing the 'phones with the worthy Zen Vision:M.

Need I even go on? It is heaven in my ears. I have never heard something so near perfection. Now I'm an addict. And what's worse is that my perfectly lovely Shure E4cs are now sub par. The day that I wrap up the SE530s will be a sad one indeed...no, make that excruciating.

[Heatwave16]

You have to send them back???

I always thought that the companies just gave you a product for free to try and review. I can see that not working with a car, but an expensive set of headphones isn't a big loss. So, why do you have to send them back? What does the company do with them afterward? As earphones go, I'm not sure I'd want a pair back after someone else had them in their ears. I think you should tell them for health concerns, you have to keep them.

[godda9u]

unbiased opinion

for the reviews to have anything to back up the opinions, it have to be objective and unbiased. if the reviewer is allowed to keep anything, then the review won't be fair. and it's just a form of advertisement

[blu82]

Getting Mine Tomorrow

It never ceases to amaze me.
People will not put a stranger's floppy in their slot (computer).
They are paranoid about other people's ear wax.
Yet they will go like a rat up a drain pipe for for any woman. No worry about viruses then!