Shure SRH940 Reviews

Anthony
from Denver
November 12, 2012Music Background:
Studio Recording

These things sound AMAZING!!

Seriously good quality sound (and accurate)

MARY
from WA, United States
June 1, 2012Music Background:
pro musician, recording at home

Splendid headphones!

Why did I put up with mediocre headphones for so long? Got these as we headed into final mix on CD project. Looked at plethora of choices out there, read the hairsplitting nuances shared by the mighty pro's.... and went with Sales Engineer's advice. Very happy. Excellent detail for a close listen, a pleasure for enjoying a good mix. Love the detachable cord, flexible fit, etc. Cool carrying case, too. If you've got really good speakers and great DAW, treat yourself to headphones on par.

Quan Zhou
from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
March 20, 2012Music Background:
Lead Vocal

Bad Plastic is the only problem!

I have recently got my amazing SRH940 shell on the right side broken. Even I glued the broken part back, and my left channel is still luckly working. Anyway, shure should stop using cheap plastic shell anyway. The best quality sound should be protected by a best quality shell, shouldn't it?

Sorry of my bad English. Shure is still my top sound quality choice. :D

Charles E. Brown
from Birmingham, Al.
January 31, 2012Music Background:
Played in a band for twelve years. I play guitar and sing.

Shure is a great set of headphones!

If you are looking for a great set of headphones that will not bankrupt
you then the Shure SRH940 is for you. I use these about four hours
per day for mixing. Never heard anything better. The highs, mids, and lows are dead on. These were suggested by Sweetwater after I told them what I needed and how they would be used. What I hear on these are what I get on the finished disc. Thanks to the reps at Sweetwater, who know their business, I will not be buying any more headphone until these die of old age.

from
January 13, 2012

Finally, headphones I can trust.

I, like many of you out there, own many sets of cans. All the usual suspects: 770s, 280s, 7506s, 440s. I bought these without testing them, but with a lot of research. So if you're worried about that aspect of purchasing, take my word for it, you wont look back. I finally feel okay doing some serious mix work on the run away from my monitors. Even with my 770s, I knew the only thing I could do is clean up tracks and set up basic automation. But I just completed a test mix with these and these only and it translated very well. The crazy thing is I'm hearing things I don't hear in my monitors. I think thats largely due to the separation. Also these things are SOOO comfortable. No fatigue, no headaches, just pure lushness from start to finish. Build quality is outstandling, and the hard case is great for traveling. I can actually fit my LaCie Rugged and all my cables in it! And if you turn it over its a surprisingly good surface for a mouse. I think Shure thought a lot about guys like me when they designed these. I appreciate that Shure.

Sam Goodrich
from Anchorage, AK
December 16, 2011Music Background:
Recording Engineer

Worth Every Penny

I give these headphones my five stars. It is a good company that is providing a great product that produces great sound. The other benefits to these headphones is their comfortability, and traveling case they come packaged in. I would buy these again, if they ever go out.

EN76
from Hawaii
May 27, 2011Music Background:
Hobbyist.

much better improve from SRH840

well thought out. even the carrying case is cool. This one sound much louder even with relatively small amount of volume. The ear pads are the major plus for me. though I use the extra pair on my 840 just to keep my hears cool. It worth the price so I would say if this gonna be your first shure headphone, i would say just invest on these and you won't be disappointed with it.
oh yeah, i do own 5 different headphones. If i have the choice of keeping just two, i would keep this one and the AKG Q701.

EN76
from Hawaii
May 19, 2011Music Background:
Hobbyist

cool!

much better and improve design. Love the case that comes with it. since its about the same size cans as the srh840, I use the pair of ear pads that comes with these srh940 on my 840 and it just as cool to the ears now.
now, only if they sell the ear pads so I can order two pairs just in case they don't make em no more.
With sound compares to the 840, it almost similar but a bid slide difference in level. I absolutely recommend these to all who is looking to buy shure headphones if you haven't done it, invest on these. but if you have srh840, I do recommend replacing the ear pads with these "extra ear pads" cause its cooler around the ears.

Frank Phillips
from United States
January 7, 2013Music Background:
Recording Studio owner, engineer, musician

First cans I'd mix with

I own a number of headphones currently, including a pair of lower-end Shures, and have used most of the usual suspects for recording studios over the last 40 years or so.

I have never been comfortable mixing on headphones before - I just couldn't trust the outcome, but I'd often listen to my mix on them, as one of many reference points.

These SRH940 headphones changed that, and I'm finding that they are flat and accurate enough that I can trust the mixes I make on them. This allows me to mix anywhere with my laptop, for starters, which is really a great feeling of freedom.

To top it all off, I found that these cans are comfortable for long periods, and really sound great. I've had fun going back and re-listening to a lot of CDs, where new detail is coming out that I never heard before.

These are, no doubt, the best headphones I've ever owned. Way to go, Shure.

Ray Frigon
from SW VA
August 13, 2012Music Background:
Drumist

Luscious Sound

The idea was to find headphones worthy of mixing down recordings, and stay within budget. I read reviews for a couple weeks. Decided on the SRH940.

I chose them precisely for the reason most people dislike - soft on bass response. For one thing, I'd rather hear music in frequencies where bass is flat - there, but not dominant in any way. Second, once I know the bass response is not dominant or too strong I know if I hear too much bass for my ears, in most other music systems it will be way too much. This has proved quite useful especially for kick drum placement in the mix.

I normally use Etymotic Research IEMs. I've had them a long time. I love them. I track with them. When I first got the 940s and tried them next to the IEMs I was not certain what the difference was and if I liked what I was hearing. Once I just left them on for awhile I truly felt bathed in sound. The IEMs are crystal clear, with great bass response, too. The sound is very immediate, owing to the isolation and placement of the buds. The 940's also have crystal clear response, stunning clarity, really, but sound more open; the difference between a small quiet room and a large quiet room.

The bass response is not weak for me at all. It is just fine. I listen mostly to jazz fusion and many of the bassists in the genre use fairly clean, articulate, crunchy, and crisp sound, which is all captured beautifully in these phones. Drums and percussion have all the low end recorded in today's mics and techniques, and being a drummer I especially listen for cymbal sound. The detail in these phones for the wide range of frequencies drum sets produce, is excellent.

They are quite comfortable to wear. They are not phones I would wear for tracking. Nothing beats the isolation from outside sound sources as the IEMs, for me. But for mixing our music - which as free-form jazz fusion, ambient, funky rock they will do a as accurate a job as required.

I like the velvet ear cups, though I do wish they included the option of leather /mock leather cups, as well. But that is just personal preference. The case is really nice. Some kind of handle would have been appreciated.

Wonderful devices overall. I'm very pleased.

Luke Batiot
from Canada
March 3, 2012Music Background:
Professional Sound Engineer

Worth the Pricetag

As far as reference headphones go these certainly aren't for the beginner, which the price tag suggests. But if you're looking for a well built pair of cans with very accurately represented frequency range, these will do the trick. They are comfortable to wear, fitting the head and ears nicely, and offer a rich listening experience which will help you to more accurately hear what your source really sounds like. Essential for anyone serious about their sound.

Brian Burke Jr.
from Rochester, NY
September 10, 2012

Mechanical Issue with Headband Extender

These are without a doubt the best sounding headphones at this price point (and even above it a ways) as well as being extremely comfortable. They do, however, have a problem with the extender band cracking and breaking. I am on my third set. I thought it was because I have a large head, I can't even wear and adjudtable baseball cap. But, as others have said on here it is the headphones and not my head, LOL. SHURE is actually aware of it and told me that they would work with me if it happens again after the two year warrantee, at least a little while after... So they are extremely nice to deal with as is Sweetwater. I wish they would solve the problem before I get my next set if in fact I have to. I have always treated mine gently, I guess I will have to be a bit more careful if possible. They do sound amazing though :) They sound so good I only took off one star for the headband issue.

Zachari Darian
from Phoenix, Arizona USA
June 17, 2012Music Background:
Music Producer, Mix Engineer, Parial Owner of a Label, Vocalist, and I play more than 7 instruments.

Extenders Crack Easily

In terms of everything except for build quality, these are the best headphones I've ever used. They are comfortable, fit well around the ear, have velour earpads, sound fantastic, have a flat frequency response, and have an extended frequency response. The entire spectrum is beautifully balanced and crisp sounding...and the flat response is perfect for an audio engineer like myself.

The only downfall, however, is the build quality. The extenders crack SO easily. You could treat these better than anything, but they will still crack, unless you are lucky. I found out the hard way, today, about this issue when the right extender snapped. All I had to do was gently lift the headphones off my neck and then *snap*, pop goes the weasel...cans busted. Luckily, I'm fairly certain that Shure is aware of this problem and will replace the cans if you send them in. Any future buyers just need to be aware of this issue.

iOS/iPad

Recording

Computer Audio

Guitar

Bass

Keyboard

Drums

Live Sound

DJ/Lighting

Accessories

Dealzone

inSync

SweetCare® 24/7 Tech Support

Customer Reviews