Shure SRH1840

amazon Shure SRH1840 reviews

Prologue

In the headphone market from previous years, each of Shure’s products when launched was warmly received by users, because they had one or more outstanding features than other competitors such as small design. Compact and extremely comfortable to wear on SE215, with MMCX port support for this product for only $99, or with a “terrible” driver configuration of SE846…. But in the field of over-ear headphones, Shure doesn’t get as much attention; With the low-cost monitoring headset models SRH440 and SRH840 were released, although they are loved by a large number of users, they do not have a strong position in the market and are gradually replaced by competitors that bring them better build quality, or has a compact feature that makes it easy to move and at the same time in the same price range, or has similar performance but at a cheaper price like Audio Technica M50, Sony MDR-7506, Sennheiser HD280 PRO, Beyerdynamic DT770 PRO…

… but Shure doesn’t simply stop there; The company launched two high-end headset models, the SRH1540 around 2013 – a formidable competitor to the Sony MDR-Z7 at that time and the SRH1840 in 2011 – products for recording, monitoring, and co-production work. Time is the answer to competition with Sennheiser’s 6 series, especially the HD600. While the SRH1540 attracts a lot of eyes and makes the Sony MDR-Z7 difficult to manage, the SRH1840 suffers from a similar phenomenon compared to its two predecessors SRH440 – SRH840 and is not of much interest. However, this product has some outstanding advantages that other competitors in the same price range do not have and some disadvantages that make customers feel afraid when choosing this headset model.

Specifications:

Driver configuration: 1 DD;

Impedance: 65 Ω@1 kHz;

Sensitivity: 96 dB/mW@1 kHz;

Frequency response range: 10 Hz – 35 kHz;

Maximum input power: 1000 mW;

Plug type: MMCX (designed differently from the universal MMCX pin on Shure earbuds).

Accessories included with the product include:

1 pair of HPAEC1840 replacement knitted earpads;

1 replacement headset cable for HPASCA2 SRH1840;

1 3.5mm to 6.3mm adapter with integrated HPAQA1 locking feature;

1 HPACC2 headset case.

Design, finish, and level of soundproofing

With over-ear models, Shure is quite careful in choosing its product design to ensure long-term durability – one of the things that help the company gain a great reputation. SRH1840 is no exception – the earcups are designed in an oval shape to suit a variety of human ears; Overall, simple appearance, without many outstanding advantages, compared to other competitors, SRH1840 still provides a comfortable wearing experience for a long time users… if it has a small head size. The disadvantages of this product come from the fact that the earcups do not have a flexible swivel like the models in Sennheiser’s 6 series, so the direction of the product’s ear cushions is parallel, instead of going in the direction of the convergence head.

Users with small head sizes will not have this problem, but for some users with large heads, the small distance behind the human ear can be squeezed with a higher force than the front space, with a shorter head cushion adjustment than the HD600 headset model that compresses the human earlobe.

Maybe for some reason about the weight of the product, the company chose to design the head cushion into two strips with a small width. This can increase head pressure on a smaller surface. This is not a mass issue, but Shure was able to adjust a few small points on this headset to improve wearability to a significant extent.

The SRH1840 supports the MMCX port so that users can replace the cord at will, but unlike the common MMCX port used on Shure’s in-ear headphones, this type of port is designed to be relatively long and very slim, and the headphone jack is recessed inward, so almost all MMCX cords for earbuds won’t be compatible with the SRH1840 headphones. In particular, this is a non-durable port and is easier to loosen when plugged in and unplugged many times than products that support dual 3.5mm ports. If the MMCX port on this model is loose, the audio signal will often be interrupted when the user accidentally rotates or lightly touches the port connection.

However, as a model of Shure’s headphones, the SRH1840 has a pretty good level of finishing thanks to the combination of hard plastic and metal. This is relatively important in harsh use environments such as when recording and monitoring sound because dropping the product many times is inevitable. Although the appearance of this headset model does not radiate durability at first glance like Beyerdynamic DT1990 PRO, and Sennheiser HD600…, the product will really “shine” when users experience them in practice.

Sound quality

This product sound quality review article is made based on:

– Ear cushions: cushions included with the main product (for regular use), dark gray fabric cushions from misodiko;

– Wire: the cord comes with the main product; custom-made Litz plated copper wire (regular use);

– DAC/AMP: JCally JM06; HiBy R3 Pro Saber; Denafrips Ares II » Schiit Audio Valhalla 2, xDuoo MT-602, Topping A90; Sennheiser HDV820; Sony Xperia X Compact (to assess the volume level that headphones can reproduce);

– Source: HiBy R3 Pro Saber (regular use), Samsung Note 10+; audio file types format MP3, FLAC (frequently used), WAV, DSF (DSD64, DSD128)…

With a sensitivity of 96 dB/Vrms@1 kHz and an impedance of 65 Ω@1 kHz, the Shure SRH1840 pairs with almost any device that supports audio output.

The overall sound quality of the Shure SRH1840 is neutral, with relative balance in all three frequency ranges.

Bass range:

The bass range of the headset model has a lot of features that need to be noted. Although the frequency range does not go down deep and begins to “drop” the band early at about 100 Hz, partly due to the design of the fully airy earcups and the type of driver supported inside the product, the bass volume is still aligned very accurate and has a fast response speed. The mid-bass range is well controlled and does not spread into the mid-range, creating frequency masking. Although there is no emphasis in this frequency range to compensate for the deficiency in the 100 Hz range and below, bass-heavy instruments such as bass drums and bass guitars still do not lose energy and relatively full reproduction. Thanks to the dynamic driver support, the SRH1840 reproduces a strong tension and beating force for the bass range, especially for the force of the bass drum as in the prelude to Bring Me The’s “Can You Feel My Heart” Horizon. However, the SRH1840 will not be the ideal headphone model for those who love sound quality with a lot of basses or bass with clear depth to hear and feel the lower frequencies, but with genres music such as pop, rock, jazz, popular EDM (if the user does not require too much bass), SRH1840 can completely satisfy the user.

Note: DIY-AUDIO-HEAVEN data shows that the total harmonic distortion frequency (measured at 90dB) of the Shure SRH1840 is very high.

The reason the SRH1840 has unusually high harmonics is that the driver suffers from excessive oscillation, which restricts air movement at higher sound pressure levels. When listening to the product at low volume, the amount of bass is increased by 3dB/div compared to when listening to the product at high volume. This is partly the result (both on the chart and in practice) of the impact of high harmonics, possibly due to a design error of this headset model.

This means that it is not okay to use the SRH1840 to analyze the sound exclusively in this range. But for the majority of users who only use this model for casual music listening, the problem of harmonic distortion will not be easily detected.

Mid-range

Shure’s goal in this range for the “Shure Reference Headphones” SRH series is to deliver a neutral sound, suitable for use in the areas of recording finishing or sound analysis, or simply only satisfy users with high requirements for the neutrality of sound quality, and SRH1840 has done these things relatively well, especially in the price segment containing many competitors such as Sennheiser HD600, HIFIMAN Edition XS.

Because this model of headphones does not have a specific emphasis on any frequency range in the bass range, the mid-low range is generally reproduced quickly and clearly, without losing detail but at the same time the bass notes in male vocalists are still fully expressed, not lacking in energy; The mid-low frequency range makes the tension of the drums reproduced firmly and vibrantly. Moving to a higher midrange range that concentrates the most sound information in a common piece of music such as guitars, pianos, electronic instruments, vocals… SRH1840 has almost no defects in giving Users use a clear, neutral sound quality with a slight emphasis at about 2kHz – 5kHz to increase the prominence of the voice, especially for female singers. However, this can make sonic detail in this frequency range dry for some recorded tracks that are brighter than usual, or jarring for the minority. This may be partly due to the design of the open earcups, but the mid-high range is not affected by the phenomenon of resonant frequencies, which means that the notes in a type of sound are expressed evenly and smoothly, without changing the timbre.

Treble range:

For most headphones that support dynamic drivers, full treble reproduction is not the strongest advantage, and the SRH1840 is no exception. The frequency range is not extended much, so small audio details from 10kHz and above are not shown and are often masked by other frequency bands. However, the basic information in this range such as drums, drums, cymbals, or other types of treble percussion is still reproduced relatively clearly and gently, accompanied by consonant levels. The friction in the vocals is not overemphasized, keeping the sound quality from being harsh and suitable for listening for a long time. In general, the treble tones of the SRH1840 are neither bright nor dark, so this will be the safest choice for users who have ears that are sensitive to high frequencies or simply want to buy one. The safest reference headset doesn’t care much about product details and performance.

Soundstage, timbre:

The SRH1840 does not push the width of the soundstage far away, so the audio information is displayed relatively close and close to the ear. But it is not the product’s disadvantage because most models of headphones that support dynamic drivers cannot reproduce the wide soundstage like the flat magnetic driver. The instrument placement of this headset model is mainly placed in the 3 main positions left-middle-right, but it does not evenly spread out the soundstage that SRH1840 has. However, the timbre of the product is reproduced quite accurately; mid-tone instruments such as guitar and piano have neutral tones.

where can you get a Shure SRH1840 online

Shure SRH1840 Professional Open Back Headphones – Individually Matched 40mm Neodymium Drivers for Smooth, Extended Highs and Accurate Bass, Ideal for Mastering or Critical Listening Applications: Buy it now

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With Sennheiser HD 650/ HD 6XX:

These two products initially have roughly the same price, but when comparing the HD 650 and SRH1840 through the A-B rating, they have quite a few small differences that create different feelings from many users towards the product.

As a headset model that inherits the characteristic design of the 6 series (this design first appeared on the HD 580 Precision headset model – Sennheiser’s 1994 dynamic driver flagship headset), the HD 650 is not too far strange to users in the audio forums about the durability and longevity of the product. Thanks to this design, any hardware on the HD 650 such as the ear cushions, head cushions, plastic outer shell, or even the driver can be easily replaced without any screws. The earcups of the HD 650 can be rotated, helping the headset to hug the head without creating any tension. However, the clamping force of the HD 650 is slightly higher than that of the SRH1840 when it is first used, but this can be overcome by applying a strong force to the metal bar connecting the earcups and the ear cushions. The combination of hard plastic and metal on the HD 650 gives users more confidence than the SRH1840 because the product has been tested over time and received a lot of positive comments specifically about this area.

A quick overview of the sound quality of Sennheiser HD 650: this headset model has a dark tone – the bass range is lightly emphasized, especially in the mid-bass frequency range, but still has typical disadvantages on driver dynamic-enabled headphones has an open earcup design in terms of frequency range depth; has a way of recreating Sennheiser’s classic mid-range and is loved by many because the vocals and mid-tone instruments are performed close to the ear, creating a feeling of closeness; The treble range is darkly tweaked by the company to partly reflect the change in users’ desire for the “legendary” HD 600, making the sound quality of the HD 650 softer, can be heard for a long time without does not cause earache but also causes boredom when experiencing this product for the first time. The HD 650 in particular and Sennheiser’s 6 series in general (except for the HD 660s) are also good examples of the term “veiled” – often used in foreign audio forums when talking about the issue of cost access. The sound is weak, although the volume of the midrange and treble is still sufficient. The soundstage, image, and timbre of the HD 650 are quite similar to that of the SRH1840 in that it has a relatively narrow soundstage and the position of the instruments is not spread out into the soundstage space, but mainly 3 sides on the left-middle-right. In general, for the sound quality and technical characteristics of the HD 650, this will be the most suitable headset model for listening to some EDM genres without paying much attention to the sub-bass range; classical music, jazz, rotation/independent, and reggae… rock, pop or high-energy music, with a lot of emphasis on the treble to create more vibrancy.

However, as a headset model that was released in 2004, the HD 650 (and even its brother HD 600) is still an icon in the audio community, a benchmark in the over-ear headset market, and has influence very high compared to other firms. To achieve leadership in the field is more than simply having a total neutral spectrum, the HD 650 also has other specifications that are much more impressive than the SRH1840 in terms of total harmonic distortion, or consistency of the total spectrum at different sound pressure levels (SPL), neutrality and high precision tonality, especially in the midrange and treble…. Although the HD 650 is not a perfect product in all respects compared to modern reference models or competitors using planar drivers in the same price range, the HD 650 is still one of the headset models rightfully on the buying list of many customers, and the SRH1840 would be a secondary choice.

With HiFiMAN Edition XS:

Referring to HiFiMAN in the audio community, the type of opinion received most about its products is to bring an extremely impressive sound quality from the flat magnetic driver at a low price and the level of product perfection of the company. The company still needs to improve a lot. Referring to the level of perfection, the Edition XS is not exactly an unassembled headset model, but compared to the SRH1840, the durability and longevity of the product are still a question for many people. However, the design language and practicality of Edition XS are quite high. The combination of the egg-shaped earcups on the Ananda model and the thick headband on the newer models of the HE series (like the HE400SE) results in a product that offers unparalleled wearing comfort impressive. However, Edition XS needs a fairly large head contact area to be able to create a closed space to completely reproduce the bass range and not push more treble. Users with a smaller head size compared to the earcups of this model may not be able to achieve this, and the sound quality when heard loses a lot of energy in the bass and the tone of the Edition XS becomes brighter, compared to how wearing the SRH1840 is suitable for the vast majority.

It is undeniable that the Edition XS is a much more technical model of headphones that support a flat magnetic driver than competitors using dynamic drivers in the same price range such as the Sennheiser HD 650 and the Shure SRH1840 itself. In terms of soundstage, Edition XS completely pushes the SRH1840 off the front with a very wide soundstage in its price range, partly due to the type of driver used and the size of the earcups to help disperse the sound more widely. Instrument positions are evenly placed in the soundstage space and do not converge at a single point. A good example to test these two technicalities in sound is Yoshi Horikawa’s “Letter”, where Edition XS produces a super realistic sound, and “3D”; The intro of the track with the sound of a pencil written on paper moving from the left channel to the right channel is shown smoothly and evenly, while the SRH1840 has a rather narrow reproduction, not creating a “3D” and natural feeling like Edition XS.

In addition, the tone of the Edition XS is one of the more prominent features compared to headphones that support dynamic drivers because the frequency range has a depth and extension of the frequency range. The bass range is reproduced very “flat”, there is no highlight in this range, along with a very fast response speed compared to dynamic drivers and sound details are clearly shown. The mid-range part of about 1kHz – 2kHz is pushed back to partially improve the width of the soundstage, creating a feeling of wider sound space. This can make vocals in this frequency range feel like they’re lost or the instrument isn’t being fully represented. For treble percussions such as cymbals and snare drums, the Edition XS reproduces details superbly. Guitars and strings are shown clean but not too jarring, and even the friction consonants in the vocals are kept neat, not making the overall sound too bright.

However, users’ feelings will be very different when hearing how to reproduce the sound quality of Edition XS and most headphone models that support flat magnetic drivers in general. Some think that the response speed of the driver type is too fast, losing the neutrality that dynamic drivers always have like the SRH1840. At the same time, the bass range does not have the characteristic tension and pounding quality of the dynamic driver, but only shows its volume. These things often change the fidelity of the timbre of the instruments in a piece of music, but from an objective point of view, Edition XS will be the first choice for those who often listen to all kinds of EDM, rock, pop music or want a headset with a wide soundstage, accurate sound or can hear all the details in the music.