Shure SRH1840 Open-Back Mastering and Studio Headphones

# Update 2021-12 5+ year update. These have lasted 5 full years. They still look brand spanking new. (except for the leather headband.) Still on cable 1 and earpads pair 1. I recently bought a Fidelio X3 and as is practice, I immediately set out to compare it against these. The X3's have a 50mm transducer compared to a 40mm on the Shure. The x3 does some things better IMO. The sound stage is wider, and the instrument separation is better as a result. The clarity at least to my ears seems better as well. I still need to do some more eval on this, but the Philips picked up way more detail on a couple of tracks I listened to. But also, they sound sibilant. Which is annoying. Maybe some EQ can fix that. The Shure on the other hand, sounded really really well rounded. Maybe not as resolving, (not sure if age of the headphones also has a part to play here.), but so well rounded. So sublime. And the vocals - oh my God! So so sublime. Makes me smile. In retrospect was it worth $500 - Absolutely yes! # Update 2020-12 Touch-wood, these headphones are still going strong. I am still on my first cable and earpads, so it's lasted 4+ years. The leather headband has completely given way, just as I suspected. This is a poor design decision. I contacted Shure, and they do have a replacement band for ~$20 or so, so I am not taking any stars off. I also acquired a SRH1540 for use in Office. I like those, because they have a lot more sub-bass than these, and they both actually sound very close to each other in terms of sound signature. The sound-stage isn't that lacking on the closed back 1540's. I however, still prefer the 1840's, even if only by a small margin. # Update 2017-02 I've since bought a pair of SE846's and while it is not a reasonable comparison, (IEM vs Open Back), and the bass of the SE846 is superior, I find myself gravitating to the SRH1840's almost all the time when I'm at home. I simply love the open and airy sound of open back headphones. The one thing I would change about these headphones is also include a shorter cable that is similar to the SE846 cable - (I actually wish I could use the SE846 ones with these, but you can't - you can actually use these cables with the SE 846 though :D I've not listened to music through it) # Update - 2016-10 I picked up a pair of AKG K7120 pro's a while back, and they are very good headphones really. They can cost you anything between $300 and $500. The pair I bought was made in Slovakia. If price is a concern, you might want to look at the K712 pro's as well. The K712 pro sounded nearly as good as the SRH1840 to me. It did seem to have a wider soundstage that I didn't really like as much. I finally decided to keep the SRH 1840 and sell the K7120 pro - I think if you need just ONE headphone for all around duty, and are not constrained by a budget, this is the one to get. ## Original Review: The Shure SRH 1840 is an excellent pair of headphones. There are some considerations however that you will be faced with if you're planning on buying one. 1. The price - is the $500 price tag justified ? I have personally not tested out some of the high end headphones these would and should be compared to. I have however compared it to the Philips Fidelio X1 and the Shure SRH 1440. Now, keep in mind that the Fidelio X1 initially came out for ~ $600, and then dropped in price to $500, and further down to about $250. The Shure SRH1440 costs $300. ($200 less than the 1840) The price also generally stays consistent. Shure doesn't seem to want the resellers drop the price on these. I have not seen the price drop. Having said that, I bought mine for less than $400. For that price, I can justify the purchase. (Kinda) Now, like the 1440, these come with an extra pair of earpads and cables. They also come with a case to put them in - all of which is great. 2. Quality The sound quality is top notch. For some reason I can't quite put my finger on, these just sound nicer than the 1440. When compared to the Fidelio X1, these do lack the sub-bass. I think depending on the track, I enjoyed these on tracks that had more vocals and I enjoyed the Fidelio for tracks that had a deep sub-bass to them. String instruments sounded better on the Shure as well, in terms of tonality, and also the space between the instruments. 3. Comfort These are insanely light weight. They are much lighter than either the X1 or the 1440. CONS The one downside I can think if is the leather headband - it doesn't seem to be replaceable. I wonder if that will give out first. Time will tell. The other small complaint I have is that both the cables are the same length. I don't mind it not coming with a headset. I don't plan to use this for gaming, or for phone calls. But I would have liked a shorter cable for use with Portable DAPs Overall a great pair of headphones.

Since purchase I have been using these about as much as I have been my Shure se846 I.E.M.s. these headphones are a fine complement to the 846 is that I've had in service for about two years The main problem with these headphones in comparison to the 846 is is that their bass response is neither is deep nor nearly as accurate. Despite this they certainly punch above their price level. Accuracy is the key here and they do a fine job in that respect. I tend to listen to my music quieter than most and in this regard the Shure SRH 1840 are one of the absolute best performers. Their uniformity of sound delivery quiet or loud is admirable although they can get overwhelmed at higher output levels and although they do not distort the relative ratios of frequency response goes all over the map. I've noticed this effect in the audio at an output level of somewhere in the 95 decibel range to the ear(borderline between uncomfortable and painful) and above. All that said I'm very happy for their performance with the money spent. I'm using this primarily with a Denon da-300USB + a Ray Samuels/ emmeline hr-2 via PC with high resolution audio files and CD rips alike and also the Pioneer XDP - 100r with the aforementioned in addition to Tidal Update for October 2017: I have since upped my DAC game and after bouncing between the Chord Hugo and the Schiit Yggdrasil I bought the latter and still use the HR-2 amp. The Yggdrasil only made me love the SRH1840, Se846, and SE535 model more. After nearly two years on, I actually have developed a preference for the laid back bass of the SRH1840 vs the se846 and would strike my original comment about bass accuracy. Especially for mid range to quieter output levels the 1840s have only been bested by from what i have personally heard Sennheiser HD800 for full range coherency. Update August 2018: As time rolls on I find myself grabbing these 4 out of 5 times where isolation or portability isn't a consideration. How well these sound on any output device has me loving them more and more. Like the Yggdrasil, they stand as a piece of equipment I feel no need to survey the field for an upgrade. Then again, its been so long since I have bothered listening to any other over the ear headphones for more than a few days essentially since I bought them. They will survive source upgrades and changes, allow you to tune your ear and music perception. They are very revealing headphones. They are comfortable for >5 hours sessions, have held up exceptionally well, and still reveal nuances that I just don't pick up on any other playback system I have. I am still using original factory pads which look great and the headband is seemingly without wear. I whole heartedly recommend them 2 years on. Edit 2025: Still a pleasure to listen to though I must admit new earpads are a couple of years over due.

This headphone model impresses with superior comfort, a lightweight build, and refined craftsmanship. It provides a comfort upgrade reminiscent of the Sennheiser HD560S. Sonically comparable to the Hifiman Anandas, it delivers an airy tonality. The Shure 1840, mildly analytical with notable bass, ensures balanced vocals and natural instrument reproduction. It has pronounced treble, an enveloping soundstage, and commendable instrument separation. For those prioritizing comfort and great audio quality without listener fatigue, these headphones are a compelling choice with the Hifiman Anandas around the same price.

This review is written to specifically discuss the characteristics of the Shure SRH1840 headphone. Most reviews attempt to compare the headphone under review with some other headphone. One hears phrases like, “I like the mid range response of the Soundwiz 500 better, but….” If you’re like me you don’t have a bunch of $500 headsets sitting around. You want to know what does THIS headset sound like and is it worth spending nearly $500? The Shure SRH1840 is described as a professional open back headphone. It is supposedly “ideal for mastering or critical listening.” As a former recoding engineer and record producer, I no longer make master recordings, but I do a lot of critical listening to high resolution digital recordings through DAC’s and headphone amplifiers. I listen to classical and jazz mainly, but also vintage rock. I also own several high end phones from other manufacturers and two sets of Shure IEM’s. That said, I think the Shure SRH1840’s are the best headphones I’ve heard. (So far) Its like having a complete new set of music. Even old familiar tracks sound new and fresh through these phones. And, I have a lot of music. Played straight through my collection would take over 23 days of continuous listening. A few caveats: These are open back phones. They do not provide any significant isolation from outside sound. On the other hand, they sound much more open and spacious. I haven’t had a set of open back phones for quite a while and I wanted to get a set. It’s nice to be able to be totally immersed in music, but still hear the phone ringing. These are also some the the most comfortable phones I’ve worn. I finally found phones with ear pads large enough for my ears. However, I have a large head and I have to extend the headband almost all the way. The sound is balanced and natural. The bass is solid without ever being muddy or over emphasized. The mids have the right degree of presence without being too forward and the high are clear and brilliant. The texture and and brilliance of the sound is superb. The phones don’t require a “burn in.” They have hand selected and matched drivers and all Shure phones are individually tested before leaving the factory. They are 65 ohm impedance which means that they are a little harder to drive without an amplifier. I tried them with my iPhone 6 using the Onkyo HF Player app and they worked pretty well, but a little more power is good as the iPhone output is optimized for about 32 ohms. I am using a FiiO X5ii DAP and a FiiO E12 amp. These are large headphones and they do not fold or swivel. They come with a very nice case, spare pads and a spare cable set. They are not mobile in any sense. I wouldn’t take them traveling - just too big. The open back design would render them useless on a plane in any case. If you want a superb design, comfort and sound, I can recommend they phones without reservation. They are expensive, but they are built to last for years. I looked at them and read every review I could find before buying. I'm totally happy.

These headphones are phenomenal. Full stop. The imaging and sound quality are absolutely superb. The best way to describe the experience is "creamy" with a smidge of brightness, with an amazing open stage and crystal articulation. The bass is solid and ample, but not overbearing (exactly in line with its purported flat response curve). The openness of the phones are due, in part, to the open aural construction, but certainly the excellent drivers can be thanked, too. These things just sound fantastic and beg to be used. I am using these cans for casual listening as well as mastering. I am using a MOTU M4 DA converter, which has absolutely no problems driving the higher impedance presented by these phones (a very comfortable listening level is at 50% of the headphone output gain stage). My source system is a MacBook Pro, where I have all of my recording software and VSTs, as well as my music library. I have not tried these directly from a computer, so I can't speak to a laptop's ability to push the drivers. These cans have a wonderful, substantial build quality and feel in the hand. Really nice, luxurious, substantial. They are light, but very solidly built. They just reek of quality. The circumaural cups are very comfortable to wear and put no pressure on your ears, and don't present a problem with glasses. The spring headband provides exactly the right amount of pressure on the cups for a secure yet comfortable feel when worn. The phones come in a really well-presented box, with an inner semi-rigid protective case. Included in the case are two sets of leads, two sets of cups, and a 1/4" jack adapter. I was able to use these phones right out the box without issue. I've been watching these cans for about a year, and have followed the many reviews, which, for the most part, appear to be right on target. These are exceptional, high-quality headphones that will serve you extremely well for not only long recording and mixing sessions, but even for some casual listening. Cannot recommend them more highly. I am thrilled with this purchase and would do it again in a heartbeat.

I had a chance to try the 1840. In all honesty, the sound is hideous. I have a set of Shure 846 and simply love them. I though they nailed It with these cans but I was wrong. Mushy everything, highs, mids and lows. Then again, I should’ve known considering the low price. Yes, sure, for the price they are great but that’s not the point. The point is to end up with something to enjoy, something to put a smile on your face when you turn up the volume. Some might like it but they are not for me and I’m not even an audiophile. The reason I purchased the 1840 was to downgrade my amp (OPPO HA1) and replace my Sennheiser HD800S headset with something under 100 ohms. I listened to the 1840 for a while then I switched to the Sennheiser. The 1840 sounds like the music is coming from a bottom of a well. For people new to this hobby, give the 800S a try. You’ll be hooked. The sound is simply amazing and the used price is between $700-1000 on certain sites. One star on top of the lowest score and that is for comfort. They are light and comfortable.

Have performed fair share of comparisons and testing and these are *hands down* the best headphones for under $1,000. They are very well balanced, offer great but not excessive amount of detail and space. They also deal with different genres very well so are quite universal in that sense. Come in a nice and handy pouch. Some of the headphones I compared these to: Grado RS2e: awesome amount of detail but too bright on the high end, unfortunately some genres sound absolutely horrible on these. Less balanced than these Shures. Grado GS1000e: these are just horrible headphones, no point comparing them to anything. Meze 99 Classics: closed headphones, sound muffled, less detail, too much bass for everything else to drown in. Fostex TH610: these aren't bad but being closed headphones lack clarity and separation. Audeze LCD-2: probably most overrated headphones I ever dealt with. Muffled sound, lack of clarity. Focal Elear: nice headphones, unfortunately high frequencies are almost completely lacking here. Not as clear as these Shures. Oppo PM3: closed headphones too muffled and no clarify. Bowers and Wilkings P7: horrible closed headphones without any detail and clarity, too much of bass. These SRH1840 actually sound very similar to acclaimed Sennheiser HD800 but come at a fraction of the price. Definitely highly recommended.

These headphones are very light on bass and very heavy on treble. Super clear quality but, I think, they give a slanted view of the material. Returned.

Acabo de comprar estos audífonos y son exactamente lo que andaba buscando. Soy dueño de los SRH 1540 los cuales adoro y me decidí a comprar los SRH 1840 por sus firma de sonido. Es el mismo driver de 40 mm pero uno en caja cerrada y el otro abierto. Me encanta escuchar música de todo tipo y buscaba un modelo abierto dado que el rock se escucha increíble acentuando la rapidez de las guitarras y las voces, los 1840 son precisamente eso, tienen un sonido muy neutral, rápido sin fatiga, no sientes la presión en tus oídos y eso ayuda un montón a tener esa sensación de aire en la música, el bajo no se pierde, definitivamente no tienen el bajo de los 1540, pero la aplicación es genial, seco y rápido. La sensación de sonido es de 360 grados y no solo a los lados o al frente y atrás como otros audífonos que he escuchado. Son extremadamente ligeros, súper cómodos, te olvidas de que los traes. Tengo varios amplificadores/DAC mi favorito es el Hugo 2, se escucha increíble, audio Nirvana, todas las capas se reproducen extensamente, también tengo un reproductor Astell n Kern SR15 y los manejó sin problema, los 65 ohms son fáciles de manejar a través de dispositivos móviles, en el iPhone se escuchan bien pero no al nivel del Amp/DAC. Muy feliz con mi compra los recomiendo ampliamente.

If I only had three words to describe the Shure SRH1840 then it would be “smooth as silk”. To be honest the first thing I noticed about the SRH1840's was how comfortable they are and not their sound quality. It took a little time and some side-by-side comparisons with my previous headphones to really appreciate the quality on offer. So some context, I’ve got a Chord Mojo amp plugged into my Samsung S7 and I’m using Tidal HiFi and some lossless CD rips as source. My previous headphones were the well regarded but considerably cheaper Audio-Technica ATH-M50X and the ageing but in their day flagship Shure E5C in-ear phones. How the previous equipment sounds isn’t so important here but when compared to the SRH1840 their flaws became apparent. The previous headphones made music sound as if all the vocals and instruments where pressed up against a glass window all clambering for my attention at once. Everything was bunched up and too eager. The SRH1840 opens everything up. It is as if the musicians have been allowed to relax and not have to fight for my attention. They’ve been given space to simply exist. And whilst smooth is the first thing I’d say about the SRH1840, space would be the second. No longer are things pressed up against the window in a linear fashion, there is now a depth and space between everything. And the third thing? Bass. Yes, it’s there and it is plenty deep, but what really shines through is that it no longer wobbles like jelly. Bass notes actually start and stop and can be distinctly heard; they no longer merge into a nondescript deep thud. So I suppose this is not about are the Shure SRH1840’s better than some other high-end headphones but rather what it might be like to go from a cheaper headset to these. If you are thinking about it I’d say go for it, their smoothness alone simply makes listening to music less fatiguing and far more enjoyable. It is also worth noting that a decent headphone amp is highly recommended for smartphone users and lossless source material is almost a prerequisite. If you don’t have any of these then it really isn’t worth spending this kind of money on a pair of headphones. On first listen they may not give that immediate wow impact but quality whispers it doesn’t shout.

Das Flagschiff in Shures Kopfhörer-Segment lässt sich in meinen Ohren pointiert zusammenfassen mit den Worten: spektakulär unspektakulär! Das mag widersinnig klingen, ist es bei genauerem Hinhören aber nicht. Denn der SRH 1840 verkneift sich jegliche Effekthascherei: Bass, Mitten, Höhen – alles klingt für mich wie aus einem Guss. Nichts erscheint betont, nichts wird unterschlagen. Ich bin mir sicher und kann auch nachvollziehen, dass diese Ausgewogenheit auf viele Interessenten beim ersten Eindruck enttäuschend wirkt. Mir ging es ähnlich: beim ersten Hören fehlte der "Wow-Effekt" anderer Kopfhörer, die auf Betonungen im unteren oder oberen Frequenzspektrum setzen. Im (Direkt-)Vergleich etwa zu den tendenziell höhenlastigen Beyerdynamic-Modellen DT880 oder T90 klingt der Shure völlig unprätentiös. Je länger ich aber mit dem SRH 1840 höre, desto mehr gefällt mir seine Art der Wiedergabe. Insbesondere die Mitten und Höhen faszinieren mich. Zwar geht ihm im oberen Frequenzbereich der (durch Betonung hervorgerufene) Glanz so manch eines Konkurenzmodells ab. Allerdings macht er das auf eine Weise, die den Klang weder unnatürlich wirken lässt, noch Musikdetails unterschlägt. Gleichzeitig empfinde ich das Auflösungsvermögen insgesamt als auf sehr hohem Niveau liegend. Durch den Verzicht auf Frequenzganganhebungen kommen Details nicht so sehr auf dem Präsentierteller daher, sie sind aber alle vorhanden. Dazu kommt eine Bühne, die für meinen Geschmack genau die richtige Größe hat: deutlich kleiner als die "virtuelle Kirche" des AKG K 701, aber auch größer als die "Jazzkeller-Akustik" des von mir geliebten Sennheiser HD 600. Außerdem ist die Bühne des Shure schön in die Tiefe gestaffelt. Die Musik spielt sich nicht nur auf einer geraden Linie auf der virtuellen Bühne ab. Wenn ich etwas am Shure ändern dürfte, wäre es Bassbereich. Dieser erscheint mir rein von der Bassmenge zwar plausibel (bin diesbezüglich kein Basshead), er dürfte aber insgesamt etwas tiefer reichen. Zudem kommt der Bass nicht so "trocken" daher wie etwa beim Beyerdynamic T90, der in dieser Beziehung allerdings eine Ausnahme ist. Rein von der Bassmenge würde ich den Shure unter dem HD 600 und dem DT 880, aber über den AKG-Modellen K 701 und K 601 ansiedeln. Der AKG K 601 ist es auch, der mich von der klanglichen Abstimmung her am meisten an den SRH 1840 erinnert. Beiden gemeinsam ist die Ausgewogenheit und Natürlichkeit, was in perfekter Langzeittauglichkeit resultiert. Umgekehrt halte ich den großen Shure für einen "zu Ende gedachten" K 601. Soll heißen, er macht alles besser als sein Bruder im Geiste Noch ein paar Worte zur Haptik. Der große Shure kommt luxuriös verpackt in einem Semi-Hardcase daher, dessen Schaumstoffpolsterung in der ersten Zeit nach "ich komme frisch aus der Chemiefabrik" riecht. Das gibt sich aber nach ein paar Tagen lüften. Die Klick-Verschlüsse des Kopfhörerkabels machen einen soliden Einduck auf mich – bisher haben sie sich noch nicht unbeabsichtigt aus den Buchsen gelöst. Der Kopfhörer selbst wirkt fragil, was aber nur dem geringen Gewicht geschuldet sein dürfte. Die stufenlos verstellbare Größenanpassung des Kopfbügels habe ich anfangs skeptisch betrachtet. Mittlerweile sind die Zweifel aber verflogen, denn bei normalem Gebrauch halten die Bügel ihre Position ziemlich gut. Ungewohnt ist, dass die (angewinkelten) Ohrmuscheln keine Anpassung um die Vertikalachse haben. Zudem sitzt der Kopfbügel bei korrektem Sitz vergleichsweise weit hinten auf dem Kopf, wie die Fotos z.B. auf headphone.com zeigen. Das ist kein Nachteil, es ist mir nur aufgefallen. Denn sitzt der Shure erst einmal richtig auf dem Kopf, zeigt er einen ungemein langzeittauglichen Tragekomfort. Die weichen Polster schmiegen sich nicht zu fest an den Kopf, trotzdem rutscht der Kopfhörer nicht bei jeder kleinen Bewegung hin und her – zumindest auf meiner Rübe. Dazu muss ich an dieser Stelle einschränkend sagen, dass Tragekomfort bei Kopfhörern äußerst subjektiv ist und meine Erfahrungen diesbezüglich daher nur bedingt übertragbar sind. Soweit zu meiner Lobhudelei. Bleibt die Frage, ob der Shure SRH 1840 die aufgerufene UVP von 499 Euro wert ist. Ich würde sagen: kommt drauf an. :-) Als Vertreter der "teurer ist nicht besser sondern nur anders"-Fraktion (eine zugegebenermaßen verschwindend kleine Minderheit) tue ich mich schwer, eine eindeutige Kaufempfehlung auszusprechen. Dafür ist das Angebot an guten, preisgüstigeren Kopfhörern (dazu zähle ich z.B. alle im Text genannten und auch den geschlossenen Shure SRH 940) zu groß. Nur eines kann ich mit Gewissheit sagen: wer einen "Spaßkopfhörer" sucht, wird mit dem Shure wenig Freude haben. Andererseits habe ich eine ganze Menge Spaß mit dem 1840. Deshalb stehen für mich unter dem Strich fünf höchst subjektive Sternchen für den großen Shure.

Voy a dar una opinión y una explicación extensa de porque compré estos auriculares, cuando compare con otras marcas probadas no daré nombres , seguramente son buenos productos pero no para lo que yo quiero y no soy nadie para desprestigiar algo por el hecho de que no me sirvan. Estaba buscando unos auriculares para escuchar en casa con uamplificador HiFi , pero de paso me apetecía poderlos usar con el móvil y o tablet con bluetooth Por recomendación me decidí por unos de otra marca, mi sorpresa s que cuando los conectè bien por cable o bluetooth era tanta la distorsión que era imposible escuchar la música. Lo puse en conocimiento de Amazon y me enviaron otros iguales por si estaban defectuosos , no , el mismo problema. Hice diferentes consultas y alguien entendido me dijo que los auriculares inalámbricos llevan un amplificador y para poder escucharlos bien había que conectarlos al amplificador a la salida Rec Out de Md/tape Asi pues pedí en Amazon estos Shure 1840 y otros inalámbricos de otra marca Cuando me llegaron hice la prueba , los inalámbricos de la otra marca distorsionaban , tanto por cable en Md/Tape como por bluetooth , los Shure perfectos Así pues si quieres unos auriculares para escuchar en tu equipo de alta fidelidad en casa mi consejo es que compres unos con cable , ademas , merece la pena gastar 300 o 400 euros para escuchar música de un teléfono? Por muy buenos que sean los auriculares la fuente de sonido nunca podrá igualar a unos buenos reproductores de cd y amplificador HiFi. Para probar los Shure 1840 lo hice con diversos temas de rock , clásica, blues y hasta canto gregoriano , en todos los estilos el sonido es espectacular , potentes bajos sin sacarte los sesos por el cráneo , muy buenos agudos y medios , se aprecian todos los instrumentos, las voces espectaculares y nada de distorsión a muy alto volumen . Una vez hechas las pruebas me relajo , me tumbo y pongo el Live en Chicago de King Crimson , los acababa de ver en concierto justo un mes antes en Berlín, Buff!!!!, absolutamente impresionante !!! Es como estar viéndolos en directo , una auténtica gozada!!! Sinceramente creo que es una de las mejoras compras que he hecho últimamente, si puedes y quieres gastarte lo que valen ni dudarlo , he encontrado la forma de escuchar música en condiciones sin torturar a mis vecinos . Conectados al teléfono o tablet el sonido sigue siendo muy bueno , eso si , necesitas subir el volumen a tope o pensar en un amplificador de auriculares . Pero , siempre hay un pero....., el,cable de conexión mide 2 metros y en mi caso como supongo en otros , es un poco corto para tirarte en el sofá a gozar de la música y en el catálogo de accesorios de shure no hay una opción de cable más largo y ahora empieza otra búsqueda de un prolongador que le quite la mínima calidad de sonido. En cuanto a. Amazon , pues dar las gracias por la paciencia que han tenido conmigo en este tema, cada consulta ha sido resuelta con rapidez tanto por mail como por teléfono y no he tenido ningún problema para la devolución de los productos que no cumplían con mis necesidades ,

Ho approfittato di un'offerta Warehouse deals usato (+ sconto prime day) per prendere queste straordinarie cuffie a 242€ e devo dire che a questo prezzo (ma anche a qualcosa di più) sono un vero affare. IL MIO SET AUDIO: DAP: Fiio X5 3rd Amp: Schiit Magni 3 Cuffie: Sennheiser HD598 (cuffia aperta) / AKG K702 (cuffia aperta) Tipo di musica preferita: Classica (strumentale), Opera, Colonne Sonore, Jazz IMPRESSIONI GENERALI: Comode, anzi comodissime. Dopo due ore non sembra di averle in testa. Non stringono e non scaldano (non più di quanto possano fare fisiologicamente tutti questi tipo di cuffie). Solide, leggere e molto ben costruite (altra cosa rispetto alla plasticaccia delle AKG). Fasce laterali in metallo leggero e molto solido che tiene la perfettamente la posizione sulla testa che viene impostata. Insomma, dal punto di vista costruttivo hanno tutto ciò che ci si aspetta da una cuffia di questa fascia: leggerezza, solidità, materiali selezionati e rifiniti. E sono anche molto belle da vedere e da maneggiare. SPEDIZIONE E PACCO: Nonostante fosse un prodotto usato, il pacco è arrivato con un giorno di anticipo e in perfette condizioni. La dotazione degli accessori Shure poi è assolutamente notevole. Insieme alle cuffie infatti nella scatola troverete: n.2 cavi con attacco proprietario (uno di scorta) n.2 paia di cuscinetti (uno di scorta) n.1 adattatore Jack 3,5mm(femmina) --> Jack 6,3mm (maschio) n.1 custodia rigida bellissima e molto ben rifinita per le cuffie con il logo SHURE in rilievo SUONO: Le Shure SHR1840 sono esattamente come me le aspettavo. Aperte e dettagliate come le AKG K702 ma con un pizzico più di impatto sui bassi stile Sennheiser ma senza il famoso "velo". Soundstage molto ampio e dettagliato. Bassi ovviamente non eccessivi (sono pur sempre cuffie aperte) ma presenti al punto giusto per un ascolto piacevole e caldo. Insomma una cuffia adatta davvero per tutti i generi musicali, in particolare quelli dove ci sono voci e strumenti acustici. Non richiedono necessariamente un amplificatore esterno per essere ben pilotate ma ovviamente con un buon amp (come tutte le cuffie) danno un risultato sonoro decisamente migliore. CONFRONTI: SHURE SRH1840 VS SENNHEISER HD598: Non c'è proprio storia. le HD598 in confronto sono molto più "chiuse" come soundstage e molto meno dettagliate. Le ho provate su tutti i generi musicali e le Sennheiser perdono su tutti i fronti, soprattutto sulla classica e sui generi strumentali, dove le Shure eccellono in dettaglio e apertura. Forse le HD598 si salvano un po' nel confronto sui generi Rock/Pop dove probabilmente la presenza di suoni elettronici e dei bassi pronunciati limita il confronto con le Shure. Ma sulla musica classica, sul Jazz e sull'opera, ovvero ovunque ci sia uno strumento acustico di mezzo, le Shure surclassano le mie HD598 veramente di molto. SHURE SRH1840 VS AKG K702: Ecco qui il confronto è stato più difficile. Le mie K702 se la battono molto bene contro le SHR1840 ma sui diversi generi musicali le Shure vincono 9 su 10. Hanno più impatto delle AKG pur restando egualmente aperte e dettagliate su tutto lo spettro sonoro. Le Shure forse perdono qualcosa, se così possiamo dire, (almeno per i miei gusti) solo sull'ascolto della classica monostrumentale (es. sonate per violino solo o flauto solo o chitarra o arpa). In questi casi infatti le AKG essendo più neutre e avendo bassi meno pronunciati suonano più naturali, distanti, e quindi più riposanti mentre le Shure vengono penalizzate da un suono più caldo e rotondo che lo fa essere sì più musicale ma anche più "artificiale". Ma escludendo questo particolare tipo di brani su tutti gli altri le Shure hanno quel pizzico di musicalità in più delle AKG che rende l'ascolto molto più piacevole e coinvolgente. Rispetto alle AKG K702 si pilotano molto molto meglio con qualsiasi fonte sonora. Ma è noto che le AKG K702 sono particolarmente ostiche da questo punto di vista. CONCLUSIONI: Le Shure SRH1840 sono cuffie aperte eccellenti per l'ascolto casalingo di musica strumentale ed acustica (soprattutto classica, Opera, Jazz, Colonne sonore). Con Pop e Rock e altri generi elettronici si comportano in ogni caso bene ma tenete conto che sono cuffie aperte quindi non hanno (come nessuna cuffia aperta) quell'impatto e quella pressione sonora nell'orecchio che vi potreste aspettare da cuffie di tipo chiuso o in ear. Il loro punto di forza secondo me è di essere la giusta via di mezzo tra il suono dettagliato e aperto delle AKG e quello musicale delle Sennheiser. Pro: Solide e ben costruite Materiali di pregio Ricca dotazione di accessori Suono dettagliato e preciso Bassi più pronunciati rispetto alle classiche cuffie da monitorino Perfette per un ampio genere di stili musicali Contro: Prezzo un po' altro se prese nuove da listino I bassi leggermente più pronunciati rispetto alle K702 a volte le penalizzano un pochino sull'ascolto dei brani acustici monostrumentali rendendo la scena sonora meno naturale.