Angled or straight plug - pros and cons

[Keiron]

I'm snipping the cable on a pair of in ear headphones (Shure E3) and replacing the plug. They are used almost exclusively with personal players which I keep in my shirt pocket.

My question is: should I go for a right angle or straight plug? I can't really work out what the advantages of one over the other are. The angled plug seems to create an unnecessary "loop" in the wire, but I appreciate that it may offer some extra strain relief on the cable.

[spl23]

For something like an iPod, an angled plug is a much better idea - it means that the forces exerted on the plug and socket when you get the cable caught on something (for example) are reduced, which in turn means that the (fairly fragile) socket is likely to last longer.

For use on a home system, it can actually be better to have a straight plug, as (due to the headphone sockets typically being on the front panel) excess force on the cable tends just to pull a straight plug out of the socket, which also avoids damage.

But for a portable system, no question - go for the right angle. I'm a bit miffed that my horribly expensive Shure E500s only have straight plugs...

[Keiron]

Thanks. It seems most manufacturers use the angled plug so they can't all be wrong

I was toying with the idea of the SE530s. How do you find them? Have you compared them with Shures lower down the line?

[spl23]

I upgraded to the E500s from a pair of E3s - there is really no comparison between the two. The differences between them aren't subtle. The bass on the E500s is much better - the E3s always seemed a bit bass-light, and the E500s address that. They produce a much fuller sound, and sound far more like a good over-the-ear headphone than they do an IEM.

I agonised over getting the 500s, but from about 5 seconds after putting them in my ears, I had no regrets at all. IMHO, they are worth the money - that said, mine were end-of-line E500s from Amazon, and so "only" cost £240....

[Keiron]

I think I could get the SE530s for little more than half the price you paid when I visit the US in May/June. I'm hunting to find a supplier who might post them to my hotel.

With my E3s, I just shove them in my ear and let the cord dangle. I don't loop the wire up and over my ear like some do - I find it hugely irritating and the wire never stays in place anyway.

Can the 500/530s be worn in the same way?

[eviljohn2]

Definitely right-angled for the reasons mentioned above. I'm still surprised by the lack of thought put into earphone cable design by manufacturers.

[cribeiro]

Having had both, I'd go right angle any time.

Nobody said it, but an additional advantage is that the right-angle plug does not stick out so much from the player.

Funnily enough, I read a review somewhere, some time ago, where they gave a portable headphone a minus point for having a right-angle plug I can't find it now, though

[spl23]

Originally Posted by Keiron

I think I could get the SE530s for little more than half the price you paid when I visit the US in May/June. I'm hunting to find a supplier who might post them to my hotel.

With my E3s, I just shove them in my ear and let the cord dangle. I don't loop the wire up and over my ear like some do - I find it hugely irritating and the wire never stays in place anyway.

Can the 500/530s be worn in the same way?

Well, I've just tried them like that and they seem to work ok. One piece of advice though - I found that the E3s sounded better if worn with the wires over the ears, as it helps keep the phones pointing in the right direction down your ear canals. I did initially wear them as you do, as that is the way I'd always worn phones, but one day I tried the wires over my ears, and never looked back...

If you can get a set of SE530s for £120, go for it - they were a bargain at £240, so they're an absolute steal at half that price...

[Keiron]

Thanks. The problem I have with wearing the wires over the ear is not only that it is irritating, but the wire is so thick and inflexible that it pulls the bud out of the ear. Sadly, I guess this is the same as the SE530.

I have to say it doesn't look like I can reliably get the for the price I'd hoped.

I have been toying with the idea of getting them from Play (about £199 with discount codes etc) and seeing if I like them, but Play won't take things back if they have been opened. Can you recall whether the SE530s come in a sealed pack?

[spl23]

Originally Posted by Keiron

I have been toying with the idea of getting them from Play (about £199 with discount codes etc) and seeing if I like them, but Play won't take things back if they have been opened. Can you recall whether the SE530s come in a sealed pack?

Unfortunately, they were E500s when I bought them, so things may have changed. From memory, mine came in a very nice metal box with various "layers" of stuff inside (headphones, cables, earpads etc). This came in an outer cardboard box, and that was sealed in shrink-wrap. So if they package them the same, the shrink-wrap is your only problem. All the SE series headphones I have seen, though, have been in sealed blister packs - the ones you have to destroy to get into. I've not seen the SE530 packaging though - it may be nicer / more amenable to resealing.

The SE530s are available from Amazon.co.uk for £209, with no discount codes required, and Amazon are pretty good about taking stuff back - much more helpful than Play, in my experience. You're presumably covered by the Distance Selling Regs anyway?

[Keiron]

Well, Parcelforce's online tracking system tells me my SE530s have been delivered home. Little does 'er indoors know of the value of the contents

[spl23]

Yes, I found that not allowing my significant other to have any idea of how much mine cost was a good idea for domestic harmony... ;-) Hope you enjoy them!

[Keiron]

Originally Posted by spl23

Hope you enjoy them!

Awesome, simply superb.

Honestly, they are as near as damn it as good as my Stax, and comfy too. I can even fit them "upside down" like you're meant to. I can even use the foamies (haven't tried any other tips yet). The wire is still a bloody nuisance though, irritatingly stiff and with a seemingly needlessly gigantic plug, and annoyingly just a couple of inches short without the extension.

And to think, I only came on here last week because I was planning on shortening the cable on my E3s and spending a few quid on a plug...