Shure headphones and IEMs are designed to carry on a flatter frequency range. This means they tend to be a more neutrally balanced and non-equalized in sound.
Shure, being predominantly a company catering to the audio professionals, want to create headphones and earphones that allow for higher mastering quality.
However, Shure's headphones are some of the best for the consumer market as well with their ability to easily span multiple different genres and capture a more complete sound.
This guide is to give you a comparison glance at the Shure headphones we sell. We have included sound signature notes as described by Shure Principal Engineer, Yuri Shulman.
SRH1840
Shulman: SRH1840 Open Back is also designed for mastering and critical listening; it features the smoothest response with crisp, clear and very detailed sound across its extended frequency range. The most comfortable, lightweight headphone we make today.
- Type: Open-back, circumaural
- Sensitivity: 96 dB SPL/mW
- Maximum Input Power: 1000 mW
- Frequency Range: 10 Hz – 30 kHz
- Weight: 0.59 lbs (268 g)
- Cable Style: Dual-exit, detachable oxygen-free copper
- Cable Length: 6.9 ft (2.1 m)
- Plug: Gold-plated 1/8" (3.5 mm) stereo mini-jack
- Impedance: 65 Ω
SRH1540
Shulman: SRH1540 features an expansive soundstage with clear, extended highs and warm bass; these closed back lightweight headphones offer a supremely comfortable circumaural design for professional critical mastering and audiophile listening.
- Type: Closed-back, circumaural
- Sensitivity: 99 dB/mW
- Frequency Range: 5 Hz – 25 kHz
- Weight: 10.1 oz (286 g)
- Cable Style: Dual-exit, detachable oxygen-free copper
- Cable Length: 6 ft (1.8 m)
- Plug: Gold-plated 1/8" (3.5 mm) stereo mini jack
- Impedance: 46 Ω
How do the Shure SRH1840 and SRH1540 compare to other Shure headphones? This is how Shulman describes the other Shure headphones:
SRH240A offers high quality sound and comfort. It is a great value headphone for personal listening on almost any device.
SRH440 has a nice stereo image with wide soundstage and full, extended frequency response. It is a workhorse headphone, great for tracking, field recording and mixing. It is foldable for an easy fit in the bag.
SRH840 is tailored to offer rich bass, smooth and clear mid-range and nicely extended highs, great for critical listening and studio monitoring.
SRH940 provides a truly flat and accurate response across the entire audio range, ideal for critical listening, studio monitoring and mastering.
SRH550DJ is for DJ mixing as well as personal listening on any device. It has high sensitivity and is a great value.
SRH750DJ is designed for professional DJ mixing and monitoring, but amplification is recommended for optimum performance.
SRH1440 Open Back is great for critical listening and mastering, it can be connected to personal audio devices, and amplification is not required.
SE Earphone/IEM Comparison
SE846
- Sensitivity: 114 dB SPL/mW
- Frequency Range: 15 Hz–20 kHz
- Cable Style: Detachable cables with wireform fit
- Cable Length: 46" and 64"
- Detachable cable: Yes
- Colors: Clear & Bronze
- Speaker Type: Quad High-Definition MicroDrivers
SE535
- Sensitivity: 119 dB SPL/mW
- Frequency Range: 18Hz – 19kHz
- Cable Style: 64" Detachable (at ear) with wireform fit
- Cable Length: 46" and 64"
- Detachable cable: Yes
- Colors: Clear, Bronze & Red (LTD Version)
- Speaker Type: Triple High-Definition MicroDrivers
SE425
- Sensitivity: 109 dB SPL/mW
- Frequency Range: 20Hz – 19kHz
- Cable Style: Detachable (at ear) with wireform fit
- Cable Length: 64"
- Detachable cable: Yes
- Colors: Clear & Metallic Silver
- Speaker Type: Dual High-Definition MicroDrivers
SE315
- Sensitivity: 116 dB SPL/mW
- Frequency Range: 22Hz – 18.5kHz
- Cable Style: Detachable (at ear) with wireform fit
- Cable Length: 64" Shure Headphone Comparison
- Detachable cable: Yes
- Colors: Clear & Black
- Speaker Type: High-Definition MicroDriver + Tuned BassPort
Shulman, Y. (n.d.). Headphone Design and Selection | Shure Technical FAQ. Retrieved August 03, 2016, from https://shure.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/5476/kw/headphones
