Hello, I just joined, primarily for the audiophile products. Looking at purchasing the NHT C3 speakers for our new living room. Space is about 15 feet wide by 33 long and they will fire long ways. Space is just for general listening, music room with all equipment is downstairs, so hoping they will fill it with sound nicely. Cheers.
Mar 18, 2024
I actually haven't listened to the 530 but I own the 535s so I am assuming they are relatively close in tuning and sound. With that being said, I think they catch a lot of flack for no reason because they're not some peaky, sibilant treble monsters. They're relatively flat, with a 'modest' bass region and rolled off highs. They're very easy to listen to and do imaging well, as well as have a decent soundstage. They also have great mids but that's typical from a Shure product. Since you can get them for under $300 nowadays I still think they're a solid performer for their segment.
Now, I am reading the Plus does have more sub-bass action so that would be the one thing that make me like them more than the 535s as that's my biggest issue with them. I daily the 846s so I'm really just looking for complementing IEMs nowadays to suit a particular genre.
To be fair, I may like the Plus a bit more depending on the track due to its lowend. On the flip, if a song is more mid-centric with a more polite low-end, I think the 535 shines more and has a bit more balance.
Quick comparison's to the 846 is there's no contest. The 846 are purely superior. But, that shouldn't come as much of a surprise. I listened with the white filters and overall, the 846 had more treble energy and a more pleasing low end. In the mids, there was a lot less congestion especially when there were backup singers and when voices would transition from left to right. The other big thing was imaging. The 846 simply nails this and picks up more and places them in more positions. I noticed a wider, taller soundstage that had more depth. Parts of my hearing were being engaged in ways that the MD Plus just didn't hit. By comparison, things sounded pushed back and with less detail. I could hear them, but just ever-so-slightly whereas with the 846 it made its presence known. Also, for some songs, the bass just didn't hit as hard and drums lacked that impact and snap I get with the 846. The Plus by all comparison's sounds much more soft and polite. Not bad by any means, but after hearing them against the 846, it delivers more energy, fun, and bass without being fatiguing. Also, the 846 handles more power better than the Plus. The Plus starts to get feel disconnected between frequencies and things start getting shouty and mid-centric. The 846 is smooth and just takes it all in stride. Your hearing will give out before you ever give the 846 enough power to have them distort or become unbalanced.
With all that said, the Plus' have really started to grow on me. I finally found a tip I like and for the cost, I am still very pleased with them. They're not as TOTL as I hoped but they are very good. And for an update, after more listening time, I think I prefer them over 535s. The more I compared the two, the more I realized how lean the 535 is by comparison and how much of a bump they need in the low-end, vocals be damned.
TL:DR I like the MD Plus a bit more than the 535. If you're looking for more treble energy or smoother vocals, then the 535 may be a better fit for your musical taste. Otherwise, the Plus is better or even in every other regard. Compared to the 846, it can't compete.
I have a mojo just recently, and this combined with either the iPhone or iMac/ amarra symphony my old 530's seem much better than ever before, and I enjoy listening with them vs being intrigued/fatigued with older sources.. That said, i'm looking forward to what might be an upgrade to explore higher levels of reproduction of music/sound :) The mojo has some talent with depth, and maybe a bit warmer, and is good with bass. Some Dean Peer bass sounded nicely rendered. Curious about the AKG3003i and perhaps the upcoming 5005. Was reading some good things about these? It does seem the plus could use a bit more development, and could be even better ;)