The clamping pressure is just about right; the headphones sit tightly on your head and don’t move around, but they don’t press anywhere in an unpleasant way. He also reviews headphones, and has a background in music performance. Below an aid to help determining the sound character of headphones with relation to the frequency response. I should further add that I’m not easily impressed, and have experience with dozens of different studio headphones. The included 1,8 m cables are somewhere in between, so they aren’t perfectly suited for either of those applications. :). If we take an even closer look at the frequency response result, we find that the SRH1540 over-ears don't emphasize sub-bass frequencies as much as in a "perfect" ELC, but bass frequencies from 60 Hz through 800 Hz are given ample … Most headphones we test tend to have a moderate-to-intense bass response, so reviewing a pair like the Shure SRH1540 ($499.00 at Amazon) almost comes as a shock. Shure SRH1540. Let's face the music: When it comes to headphone materials, it's tough to find the middle ground. Home > Headphones comparison > Shure SRH1540 vs Sony MDR-Z7. Whether or not they are worth the price tag is up to you to decide of course, but considering the quality of their components and their sound, as well as their expected long-durability, I think the price is justified. Many of them I dismiss after just five minutes, because they usually have something that bothers me. 3 in E-flat major ("Eroica"). From the swanky extras, to the well-made, durable parts, to the polished sound, these are a dynamite buy. It never gets really unpleasant by any means, I could have even worn them in the very hot summer we recently had to endure in Europe this year. If they're comfy, do they look cheap and chintzy? Christmas shopping discountsView deals. It's like a tank. But with increasing mobility, headphones become more and more relevant. The Shure SRH1540 is surely (no pun intended) one of the best looking headphones that I've seen. To sum it up, I can say that I’ve found a perfect companion with the SRH1540's to complement my AKG K702's. Purchases you make through our links may earn us a commission. While the SRH1540 over-ears tested with more than 3% distortion below 60 Hz, this isn't much of a problem, as human ears struggle to even hear frequencies in this range. And the closed-back design minimizes atmospheric bleed. Shure - SRH1540 fits over the ear and has plush earpads, making it a comfortable headphone to wear for long hours at a stretch. the SRH440, which is available for roughly a fifth of its price? I could wear the SRH1540's for hours without discomfort; I used them on a four-hour long flight on two separate occasions almost non-stop. When we talk about frequency response, we're referring to how a set of headphones handles each frequency along the spectrum from 20Hz (the lowest bass) to 10kHz (the highest treble). But you realise the reason for the size of the box quickly: the SRH1540's come sitting in a huge, robust zippered hard case. Fortunately, that wasn’t the case for any application: neither for mobile use, or when recording vocals. If you’ve found different results in your own research, email us and we’ll compare notes. No matter how manic Beethoven gets, these Shure over-ears maintain clarity and stave off clipping. 13 0 . The back of each cup sports patterned black hatching that's covered by smooth glossy plastic and ringed by shimmering silver. The SRH1540 over-ears roughly follow the curve of an equal loudness contour. I fancy myself as somewhat of … Even in highly crammed arrangements like Tears For Fears’ “Sowing the Seeds of Love” (which imho is a small masterpiece of a mix) you can spot all instruments and elements of the mix effortlessly. However, I find that the SRH1540's are not that well suited for mixes which have a clear emphasis on the low-mids, in such cases they can sound a little muddy. The SRH1540 are over-ear, closed-back headphones, which Shure recommend especially for “professional engineers, musicians and audiophiles”. Cable Type: Straight. The earcup pads made of Alcantara and memory foam softly cuddle up to your ears, like a teddy bear giving your head a hug. Review of Shure SRH1540 powered by the Slant community. Everything—the headphones, the two cables, a quarter-inch adapter, and replacement ear pads—can be packed safely into a leather case. Sign up for our newsletter to get real advice from real experts. 2. highest frequency… The SRH1540 over-ears tested well in this category, with no frequencies lasting longer than 15ms. Recommendations are independently chosen by Reviewed’s editors. We were too—until we got them into the lab. The sound quality is superb and makes our 'pro' pair sound a bit sludgy and veiled. The SRH1540 produces a real pressure to the bass, reaching a limit with rock and metal productions. The higher the high-frequency response, the clearer and crispier the treble. Building on over 85 years of audio experience, the SRH1540 Professional Headphones deliver world-class audio performance, comfort and durability to listeners of all kinds—professional engineers, musicians and audiophiles. Volume remains even through treble pitches, and eventually peaks during overtones. If I want to evaluate the sub-bass in the mix, or simply want to listen to music for pure enjoyment, I go with the Shure's; for critical listening like spotting cutting mistakes, clicks and pops or hiss, I prefer the AKG's, which for me, are a bit better suited for that purpose. While that’s technically true, I leave it to you to calculate the time offset that occurs on approx. Making the SRH1540s as valuable for live work as they are in the studio. Prior to listening to the 1540, I expected a sound reminiscent to the Philips Fidelio X1, but in a closed-back form. Similar can be said about the depiction of depth: you can easily pick out delays and reverb tails. For mixing and mastering it is most common to use loudspeakers. If it looks substantial, we’ll gladly re-test a product to try and reproduce these results. Cable Length: 2.1 m. Weight: 268 g That being said, if you now think that this was just my diplomatic phrasing for stating that the SRH1540's arent suited for critical listening (which would indeed be true in many other cases), I advise you to please read on. In contrast, the Shure's bring to the table what I have always been missing with the K702's: extended, powerful bass, which can put a smile on your face. ©2020 Reviewed, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network LLC. A full, rich soundscape complemented by a very high degree of comfort leaves almost nothing to be desired. Overall: In the control room, the SRH1540 is an incredibly adept reference headphone with crisp detail, impressive frequency response and a dependable real world translatability all of which combine to make make it . Deviations in different severities at different frequency bands have an effect on the sound character. However, a real reason for critique is, that the alloy yokes have no markings on them at all to help you set them up to your desired size – once you set them up correctly though, they will keep the position without any issues. Exceptional for musical instrument pickup and vocals Bright, clean sound and contoured frequency response - ideal for live sound reinforcement and recording Effective cardioid (unidirectional) pickup pattern which isolates the main sound source while minimizing background noise Contoured frequency … A very important aspect when choosing headphones is how comfortably they are – because what’s the best sound good for, if you can’t wear the cans for longer than 10 minutes? vs. vs. 16 facts in comparison. They are the flagship headphones in Shure’s product line-up of closed-back cans, which have gained a good reputation on the market; amongst them the ever popular SRH840, or the SRH440, which I have been using for years. They don't provide the completely flat soundscape that professionals might be looking for, but the SRH1540 over-ears foster a very balanced sound nonetheless. While working on a mix, it’s very easy to hear the effect of the attack knob on a compressor. A heavily shielded flex point travels to a well-guarded Y-split, which branches out to both ear cups. Since the SRH1540's arrived at my place, I have used them almost exclusively for listening to music; I’d only prefer the K702's for classical, or mainly acoustical music, like Alison Krauss & Union Stations' album “Paper Airplane”, which on the K702's sounds nothing short of spectacular. Sensitivity: 96 dB SPL/mW (1 kHz) Maximium Power Input: 1000mW (1kHz) Impedance: 65 ohms. Comparison winner. Thick, unyielding rubber from end to end means it doesn't lay flat and comes out of the box kinked, but the tradeoff is that it's extremely durable. Let’s turn our attention to the most important category now, where the sheep get sorted from the goats quickly. The SRH1540 utilizes 40 mm neodymium drivers for an expansive soundstage with clear, extended highs and warm bass. The bottom end of the 1540s' frequency range is 5Hz, and despite being two octaves below our nominal hearing limit it certainly feels so; it's like wearing a sub on your head. Shure describes the SRH1540 as its “premium closed-back headphone,” featuring “an expansive soundstage with clear, extended highs and warm bass.” The description fit the bill, Tyll’s review on Inner Fidelity helped solidify my confidence in its performance and having the sound signature I was looking for, so I decided to pick up the SRH1540 … The Shure SRH1540 comes in such a huge box that you can’t help but wonder if maybe a shipment to Brobdingnag got delivered to you by mistake. Measurements. But I usually don’t listen at high levels – if you really want to crank them up, you will probably need a mobile headphone amp. This symphony begins with two staccato Eb major chords, voiced amongst instruments like the double bass, cello, violin, clarinet, oboe, and timpani (a percussion instrument). How much money should you spend on headphones? Click on graphs image to download .pdf for closer inspection. Talk about fancy. With “Mulm”, double drum elements spread out too thinly, with acoustic productions better suited to the frequency response. 00. On the plus side, no expense was spared for posh presentation—each cable is stored in a zip-up pouch that sticks into the case via velcro. Shure SRH-1840. Some audiophiles claim that dual-exit cables are better anyway, because the audio signal would reach both ear cups at exactly the same time, thus avoiding any time offset between the left and the right ear cup. You can expect imperceptible distortion unless you're listening at a volume louder than 104.014 dB, which is approaching dangerous levels as is. The Shure SRH1540 made mincemeat of their time in the lab, justifying their price with full, balanced sound, minimal distortion, and proper tracking. Shure SRH440 Studio Headphones : Was $99, now $79 The Shure SRH440’s are quickly becoming one of the most popular choices when it comes to recording. Big, soft ear pads mold to your jaw and temple, locking in sound but not heat. Only at the presence of loud ambient noise, or when listening to very dynamic albums like Dire Strait’s “Brothers In Arms” (original master) was I wishing for a bit more loudness. On the rare chance that the cable is damaged, Shure includes an identical backup. Overall: In the control room, the SRH1540 is an incredibly adept reference headphone with crisp detail, impressive frequency response and a dependable real world translatability all of which combine to make make it . Shure SRH-1540. Low-frequency extension is at 50Hz, which is decent. In this review, I will try to investigate if the SRH1540 can fulfil the high expectations which one automatically associates with headphones in their price range. The lower the low-frequency response, the stronger and juicier the bass. Sony MDR-Z7 $ 79. The SRH1840s are completely different animals, with a frequency response that comes across as commendably natural and unhyped. Reviews, But what sets the SRH1540 apart from e.g. There's no denying that the Shure SRH1540 are priced well above what the average consumer is prepared to spend. The SRH1540's also manage to separate instruments very well. I welcome this development, since it means that more people can have access to first-grade headphones without having to break the bank. At the time of writing, out of the all closed backs we’ve measured, only the now discontinued Oppo PM-3 and the aforementioned Shure SRH840 come close in regards to neutral frequency response. The aluminium alloy yokes, the carbon fiber caps on the ear cups and the leather padded headband give the headphones a really classy look, without looking pretentious at all. Firstly, almost all nearfield monitors struggle to reproduce this important frequency range properly and secondly, there would be no way round of spending a serious amount to address acoustical problems of your room, which of course are not an issue with headphones. On the other hand, with the Shure's you can also listen to songs which have a very present high-end, like Keane’s “You Don’t See Me”, or “Try” by P!nk. $499.00. When listening to the SRH1540 over-ears, the double bass and cello notes stand out with powerful resonance, while the clarinet and oboe dance playfully up top. This is the good news for those of us who also want to use cans for mixing and/or mastering. These cans look good, too. Testing revealed modest bass support and prominent midtones. No, the Shure - SRH1540 does not come with a mic since it is more of a studio monitoring headphone. Even the lowest, rumbling notes on the timpani ring clear. Most headphones we test tend to have a moderate-to-intense bass response, so reviewing a pair like the Shure SRH1540 almost comes as a shock. The SRH1540's accurate, extended frequency response and individually matched neodymium drivers serve up amazingly natural sound, wide stereo image, and stunning depth of field. If you're a musician, an audio enthusiast, or just a regular Joe searching for delicate, detailed audio performance, consider the Shure SRH1540 over-ear headphones. If you look at it this way, the SRH1540's are also an ideal companion for those who are using compact nearfield monitors. If you're gawking at those big price tags, don't worry. The SRH1540 over-ears roughly follow the curve of an equal loudness contour. For them, the SRH1540's could turn out to be a tad on the small size. Would I recommend the Shure SRH1540, and is it worth its relatively high price? But the SRH 400 has more low-bass than SRH 240A. The closed-back Shure headphones I've tried have all shared a fairly distinctive tonality, which tends to push forward the mid-range at the expense of the bass. All components are crafted with high-quality materials – my guess is that the SRH1540's will accompany you for many years to come. In the case besides the cans, we also find a pair of replacement earcup pads (thank you, Shure), two detachable cables and a ¼ inch threaded adapter. You won't hear high-pitched noises as much with these cans on your head, but rumbling bass sounds will still penetrate even the fiercest of old Ludwig's works. As Editor of the Home Theater vertical, Lee oversees reviews of TVs, monitors, soundbars, and Bluetooth speakers. Shure calls this a “travel case”, but I can hardly agree with that term given the case’s size – it surely is perfect for storage or a move, though. Testing revealed that the SRH1540 over-ears aren't the greatest isolators: These cans block about 10dB of sound from midrange noises like footfalls and clicking keyboards, reducing them by about 1/4 of their original volume, which is average. Despite their size, the Shure SRH1540's are remarkably light, with just 286 g (10.1 oz.). with the SRH840's, which means that you can purchase replacement cables in various lengths and designs from third party manufacturers easily. The build quality is outstanding; To my eyes, I did not notice any apparent flaws. Purchases you make through our links may earn us a commission. Find out which is better and their overall performance in the headphones ranking. After all, peer reviews are a critical part of any scientific process. ... Below the response of the SRH1540 at … Don’t get me wrong, the SRH1540's certainly are not a bass-head headphone like the models by a certain infamous doctor, but a clear emphasis in the bass is obviously there. All rights reserved. Shure SRH1540 Premium Closed-Back Headphones. These over-ears maintain even volume balance between the left and right speakers from 100 Hz through 10kHz, with only minor shifts in balance along the spectrum. The Shure SRH-1840 headphone is … Frequency Response: 10Hz-30kHz. I may not recommend the SRH1540 as your only headphone for mixing and mastering, but if you happen to already have an (open-back) headphone with a thinner sound signature (basically like the AKG lineup), it might just be the perfect complement. This has been achieved certainly by a smart selection of components, like the aluminium alloy yokes. Considering their overall quality, the relatively high price is justified imho. No matter how manic Beethoven gets, these Shure over-ears maintain clarity and stave off clipping. The excellent impulse response of the SRH1540's is certainly one of the reasons why it doesn’t lose clarity despite the strong bass. The Shure SRH-1540 headphone is a closed over-ear headphone. I have a suspicion that Shure initially planned to include two cables of different lengths themselves, because the cables come packed in small bags of different size. Given a set volume, every headphone responds differently. Common bass-range noises, however, will still be highly audible, so expect to hear honking trucks and rumbling engines. The SRH1540 over-ears provide the kind of balanced playback that many musicians and audio purists would relish. This is some seriously handsome, professional design. Copyright (C) 2020, http://www.pro-tools-expert.com/default-image.jpg, Plug-in Subscription Plans - Free Calculator. As for the cable? I got an Echo Dot 3—now how do I set it up. Replaceable Cable: Yes. The SRH1540 over-ears are practically flawless, pampering your ears even after hours and hours of use. However, this emphasis in the sub-bass, fortunately doesn’t come at the cost of masking other frequencies, as is the case with so many bass-heavy headphones. We subject every pair of headphones we test—from gaming headsets to in-ears—to the same rigorous process of data collection and function analysis. For pure musical enjoyment the SRH1540's are hard to beat, unless you mainly listen to classical or acoustical music. Since I’ve grown accustomed to studio headphones with the cable attached to one ear cup for many years, I initially thought that the dual-exit cables of the SRH1540's would bother me a bit. This isn’t possible with e.g. For me personally that doesn’t really cause a problem, because I simply need to set the SRH1540's up to their biggest possible size. Double bass and cello notes stand out with powerful resonance. The SRH1540 wears handsome black hatching overlaid in glass. Since then, several new models have been introduced in this price segment, like the recently released Beyerdynamic DT1770 PRO, which shares a similar price point with the Shure SRH1540's. The lightweight design folds flat for easy storage and portability, while the padded headband offers … Relax—Shure drew the map to the middle ground with the SRH1540 over-ears. Even though the SRH1540's dont quite reach the phenomenal wearing comfort of my AKG K702's, they are still among the most comfortable closed-back headphones I have ever used. The response deviates only +/- 3dB in exceptionally wide range, from about 170 Hz all the way up to about 17 kHz. Open- or closed-back headphones can do the job, but in any case it is favorable to use headphones with a flat frequency response and make sure to choose high-quality products to … Transients get reproduced with high precision – in the intro of Toto’s “I Will Remember” the toms not only have plenty of attack, but also the proper weight that is missing on the K702's. Testing justified the high price, however. We use standardized and scientific testing methods to scrutinize every product and provide you with objectively accurate results. Most importantly, though, these Shure over-ears are perceptibly distortion free across the entire range, which is an excellent outcome. As far as noise isolation is concerned, the SRH1540's performed average at best. Sound Quality A good month later I had the SRH1540's in my hands in my studio, and was very excited to find out if my initial enthusiasm would persist or vanish. Just like with any other closed-back headphone, your ears get a little warm after a while, but even here, the SRH1540's perform better than most other closed-back headphones. This makes them sound incredibly punchy and powerful; when listening to songs with clearly prominent sub-bass you almost wonder if there is a subwoofer in the room somewhere supporting it. Since their market launch not quite two years ago, the Shure SRH1540 have been positioned in a price segment where there was almost no competition. If you are in the market for a first-grade set of headphones, you should definitively give the SRH1540's a try. These two songs almost hurt when listening to them on the K702's, especially at louder volumes. The bigger the deviation the stronger the effect. Let’s have a closer look. I personally would have preferred if Shure had included a smaller case which would have been slightly more suitable for travel, or if they had additionally included a travel-bag like the one that comes with the SRH440's. Shure SRH1540 vs Sony MDR-Z7. The Shure SRH1540's are a brilliant set of headphones which combine exquisite sound, high comfort and outstanding build quality with a classy look. Get smarter about what you're buying. Shure SRH1540. If you put the SRH1540's on directly after listening to the K702's, you might think that they sound a bit dull; but this is only due to the direct comparison, since the K702's are fairly bright sounding headphones. The SRH1540 Headphones utilize 40 mm neodymium drivers for an expansive soundstage with clear, extended highs and warm bass. Nevertheless, I tried the SRH1540's on the road also. My guess is that the Shure’s extraordinary comfort comes at the cost of less isolation – you’d surely need more clamping pressure for better isolation. The SRH1540's, however, shine everywhere where you could use a little more “oomph”, e.g. But as mentioned above, you could easily replace them if necessary. How is the overall fit of Shure - SRH1540? What is the difference between Shure SRH1540 and Shure SRH1840? On a side note, the SRH1540 over-ears tested with only about 5% distortion in the sub-bass range—this result is vastly better than what we usually find. The two cables have a length of 1,83 m each, and are equipped with gold-plated MMCX connectors. the SRH440's, which I usually need to remove after an hour or so for a while; even though I certainly wouldn’t call them uncomfortable. If you're looking for top-notch sound but you just don't have that much to spend, Beyerdynamic's Custom One Pro headphones offer four excellent soundscapes for less—but you'll miss out on some luxury. If they're elegantly styled, are they a pain to wear? At an MSRP of $624 ($499 online), they are anything but a casual purchase. You simply plug in the connectors into the earcups without the need to turn them, and if you want to remove them you simply pull them out. Not only do they have a fantastically true-to-life frequency response, but the dense foam padding and closed back construction mean that you won’t fall … Our distortion test measures the level of unwanted sound and clipped notes present within the frequency output of a pair of headphones. 5 to 25,000 Hz. MMCX connectors are not a proprietary design, like used for e.g. The way I see it, they were developed and tuned mainly for pure musical enjoyment, and less so for critical monitoring for mixing and mastering purposes. The sub-bass emphasis makes kick drums sound phenomenal (if they had been recorded and mixed accordingly), and synth basses sound incredibly powerful. You can certainly find the stellar audio quality for hundreds less, but you'll be hard-pressed to find another pair of over-ears that package solid performance, serious comfort, and great extras quite like these. I can answer both questions definitely with “yes”, albeit with small reservations. It has rather common looks but feels and looks luxurious, sturdy and well made. The SRH1540 over-ears exhibit less than 3% THD (total harmonic distortion) from 80 Hz through 10kHz. Sensitivity ... Shure Incorporated (“Shure… Compared to my reference headphones, the AKG K702's, which of course have an open-back design, both the mids and the highs sound a little restrained. Goldfrapp’s songs “Strict Machine” and “Ooh La La”, or Daft Punk’s “The Game of Love” immerse you in warm bass, while you can hardly believe how punchy and clear the drums sound at the same time on Taylor Swift’s “State of Grace”. Shure claims that the SRH1540 are "premium closed-back headphones," and I'm inclined to agree. 52 points. Padded plastic buffers the top of your head, and bends easily, making for a great fit. While originally sporting an MSRP of $624, these premium cans are currently selling for $499. Just a few examples of albums which are a pure joy to listen to on the SRH1540's are “The Resistance” by Muse, “Turn Blue” by The Black Keys, and Steven Wilson’s “Hand.Cannot.Erase”. Because the recording of loud sources is certainly not the No.1 application the SRH1540's were designed for, I don’t consider this to be a negative aspect – I’d personally prefer better comfort over high isolation on premium headphones any day. Recommendations are independently chosen by Reviewed’s editors. The Cool, Comfy, and Competent Shure SRH1540 Page 2. With 109 mVrms to achieve 90dBspl at the ear these cans will likely not be driven to loud listening levels with portable devices, but should be okay for normal listening levels. The slight lift at the low-mids beefs up guitars, pianos and male voices, without muddying up the high-mids. Their sensitivity of 99 dB/mW and impedance of 46 Ω makes them loud enough for most mobile audio players; I had no problem achieving a sufficient volume with my iPod Classic in most situations. All audible frequencies (20 Hz – 20 kHz) have the same output level. Shure SRH1540 Premium Studio Closed Back Headphones - Closed Back, Circumaural Design - Transducer Type: Dynamic, Neodymium Magnet - Driver Size: 40mm - Frequency Range: 5Hz to 25kHz - Sensitivity: 99dB/mW @1kHz - Impedance: 46 Ohms @1kHz - Max Input Power: 1000mW - Connectors: MMCX Connectors,… SKU#: AC36894 Model#: SRH1540 Which brings me to the next possible issue: I wouldn’t describe my head as small by any means, but there are certainly a lot of people who have larger heads than me. Our attenuation tests measures how much ambient noise a pair of headphones blocks out while they're over or on your ears. The Shure SRH1540 fall somewhere in the middle, roughly following an equal loudness contour (ELC)—but with some key departures. Low-bass, responsible for thump and rumble, is lacking by about 4dB. The mids sound very natural indeed, as do the highs, which are present, but in no way hyped at all. Shortly after, a guess that I have already had at the first listen in the shop confirmed itself for me: the Shure SRH1540's are a set headphones for music aficionados. The SRH1540 Premium Closed-Back Headphones deliver superior acoustic performance, comfort, and durability to professional engineers, musicians, and audiophiles alike. Shure SRH1540 Review. loud guitar amps the SRH1540's wouldn’t be my first choice (I consider them too precious for rough day-to-day studio work anyway), but their isolation is sufficient for most everyday applications. Maybe I should mention that before I got the SRH1540's for the review, I had the chance to listen to them in a shop for a short while. Lee received Level II certification in TV calibration from the Imaging Science Foundation in 2013. My plan was to spend just a few minutes to gain a first impression, but I ended up listening to the headphones for two hours, blown away by their sound quality. The emphasis tapers off as bass frequencies approach midtones, and things even out until around 4kHz. Thin aluminum reaches from the band to meet the cups, keeping the SRH1540s both durable and light. Below an aid to help determining the sound character of headphones with relation to the frequency response. The Cool, Comfy, and Competent Shure SRH1540 Measurements. Lee has been Reviewed's point person for most television and home theater products since 2012. :). On Norah Jones’ album “The Fall” you can perceive how her voice has been treated with effects differently for each song. These headphones are lightweight for their size, yet still have a premium look and feel. Most headphones we test tend to have a moderate-to-intense bass response, so reviewing a pair like the Shure SRH1540 almost comes as a shock. Most headphones we test tend to have a moderate-to-intense bass response, so reviewing a pair like the Shure SRH1540 ($499.00 at Amazon) almost comes as a shock. As far as the soundstage and stereo-width is concerned, the SRH1540's can’t quite compete with the K702's; this was to be expected though, because open-back headphones have a clear advantage here due to their design. The case isn't really the "carrying" kind: It's as big as a hearty loaf of bread. You should also take into consideration that you’d need to spend a multiple of the price for being able to properly judge the bass with monitors. While many other headphones just fake “a lot of bass” by having a boost around 100 Hz area, (which for critical listening can be quite problematic) the Shure's have a boost indeed in the low-lows at around 50 Hz. Headphones like this are really best to keep by your workstation, though—you generally wouldn't buy over-ears as travel companions. Not so with the SRH1540's; in this case, a sales person had to bring to my attention that the shop would be closing very soon. The Shure SRH1540 met my expectations, with a heavy low end, recessed midrange, slightly sparkly upper range (though smooth overall), and excellent soundstage. Bass and high … At a price point of roughly $500/£380, they were well above the $300 mark, under which you can find most studio headphones, but also considerably lower-priced than some flagship models of other manufacturers, like Beyerdynamic’s T1 or the HD800 by Sennheiser. I have a feeling no harm will come to these over-ears if you're careful, though. Attenuation refers to the amount of noise naturally or actively quieted when wearing a pair of headphones—it's sometimes also called "isolation.". So I’d definitely recommend you try them out before purchasing (which is highly recommended with any headphones anyway). How to buy the best Sennheiser headphones for you, The Best True Wireless Earbuds Under $100 of 2020. You can tell immediately that you have a set of high-grade cans in front of you. 49 points. I would describe the frequency response of the SRH1540's as being very linear in the mids and highs – they do have, however, an obvious boost in the sub-bass, as well as a slight emphasis in the low-mids. Thus, for micing and recording e.g. half a meter, with the audio signal traveling at nearly the speed of light. Unfortunately, the SRH1540's do not quite fit into said bag. I listened to a number of different artists from different genres, but what stood out strongest was Beethoven's Symphony No. Our impulse response test measures how long it takes each sound across the frequency spectrum to decay. The Shure SRH1540 over-ears tested with a balanced, even frequency response that allocates moderate emphasis to bass, with flat midtones and peaking highs. The details are just impeccable: Take the violin—from whispering harmonic overtones to tremolo sawing at the bowstrings—each quality is not only audible, it's free from any and all audible distortion. A flat frequency response is usually desired for applications where the sound source has to be reproduced without changing or “coloring” the original sound. Tiny holes in the fabric let the pads breathe. Frequency Response. Their light weight would make them ideally suited for mobile use – but the lack of a collapsible construction (like the SRH440's has) defeats this purpose somewhat. The SRH1540 over-ears expertly handle volume between the left and right speakers, too, striking an even balance. Travelers, take heed: These over-ears aren't expertly suited to the noisy outside world. High frequencies above 4kHz–mostly overtones and harmonic resonance (cello, electric guitar)—rise in volume to compensate the human ear's low sensitivity to them. However, I wish that Shure would have included two cables of different lengths: one in a 3m length for home use or the studio, and one in a 1m length for mobile use. It’s pure joy to use them for music listening, and with small reservations they are also well suited for mixing and mastering. Ideally, we want to see less than 3% THD (total harmonic distortion) from 60 Hz (the beginning of the bass range) through 10kHz. At the end of the day, though, what really matters is that the sum of these parts is a very comfortable set of over-ear headphones. If we take an even closer look at the frequency response result, we find that the SRH1540 over-ears don't emphasize sub-bass frequencies as much as in a "perfect" ELC, but bass frequencies from 60 Hz through 800 Hz are given ample emphasis. To go into detail… Bass. Higher pitched frequencies, like ringing phones, will be quieted even further, to about 1/16 of their original volume. Low bass components are seldom pushed on the production side, allowing the SRH1540 to work them … The ear pads are notable for their comfort and they seal sound quite well too, making these great for studio use. Over-Ear Sealed Headphones Reviews. That being said, the soundstage of the SRH1540's doesn’t really leave anything to be desired. Shure SRH1540. Some boost bass, others lay completely flat. In the live room, the SRH1540 offers more than … These over-ear cans are solid, reliable performers on all fronts. deals, and helpful advice delivered to your inbox. This isn't just because of their sizable form factor, either—they just don't block ambient sound like a set of in-ears or active noise cancelers would. Most headphones we test tend to have a moderate-to-intense bass response, so reviewing a pair like the Shure SRH1540 ($499.00 at Amazon) almost comes as a shock. for pop, rock, electronic, etc. What does this mean in practice? Nothing heats up too much though, thanks to tiny holes in the fabric that let the pads breathe. + Detailed, balanced sound with outstanding bass+ Very comfortable+ High-quality components+ Very good build quality, - Average noise isolation- Alloy yokes have no markings- Might be a tad too small for people with larger heads, Trusted content from independent music and post production experts. 3. has passive noise reduction. I would describe the frequency response of the SRH1540's as being very linear in the mids and highs – they do have, however, an obvious boost in the sub-bass, as well as a slight emphasis in the low-mids. Frequency Response 5 … The SRH1540 are average isolators, blocking some middle and high pitched sounds, but no bass. The SRH1540 Premium Closed-Back Headphones deliver superior acoustic performance, comfort, and durability to professional engineers, musicians, and audiophiles alike. From solo piccolo to the full strength of the whole symphony, both speakers purr in beautiful unison. Where it counts, these Shure cans are perceptibly distortion free, which is a great result. Designed for professional audio engineers and in-studio talent, the SRH940 Reference Headphones from Shure deliver accurate frequency response for tight bass and smooth high-end extension with minimal distortion. This slightly leaky high-frequency seal of the 1540 might contribute to the sense of space when listening. Many other closed-back headphones offer better isolation, as do the SRH440's. In the live room, the SRH1540 offers more than enough in the way of isolation and general output to … Buy Shure SRH1540 Closed-Back, Over-Ear Premium Studio Headphones featuring 40mm Neodymium Dynamic Drivers, Closed-Back, Over-Ear Design, Alcantara and Slow-Recovery Foam Earpads, Detachable MMCX Oxygen-Free Copper Cable, 5 Hz to 25 kHz Frequency Response, Aluminum and Carbon Fiber Construction, … The SRH1540's don't quite manage to reach the outstanding clarity that the K702's offer, but you’d have a hard time finding a closed-back headphone that would.