Shure SRH1840 Open-back Mastering and Studio Headphones Reviews

In an online video, even Mixing and Mastering engineer Justin Colletti highly rated this headphone against other heavyweights in the same price field. My past headphones were ok, but the Shure SRH1840 delivers a more comfortable wear on the head right away. The sonic quality on these are superb, and my mixing was quickly moving along because of the accuracy of the low-mid-high levels in the headphones. I am arriving at more accurate mixes faster now with the help of these headphones. Stressing the word help as a good mix requires multiple areas of attention along with a good set of ears that loves what the results bring. Adding a quality pair of headphones is one of the smart moves to make.

I'm can't decide if I like them best because of the sound or because of the comfort. I've been using these non stop for a couple weeks now and am a big fan. Ear pads are extremely comfortable and light. The material feels good on my ears—not sticky, not sweaty. I can wear these for hours without feeling trapped. Headband is also a good fit. No pressure and no headaches. Open back system is breathable. I like some environmental noise when my wife walks in to get my attention, but otherwise I feel the important sounds are isolated enough to keep volumes at a comfortable level for long sessions.

I use these for tracking and mixing with electric guitars and synths. I have not tired with vocals and will likely switch to something closed. For the music, I find the sound to be clean and clear. I hear plenty of detail and small changes in dynamic processing are well defined in my ears. I can keep volumes down and still feel myself deep in the music. These headphones feel extremely responsive to both amplitude and frequency changes.

These headphones sound good and wear long. I haven't turned on monitors or put on another pair of phones since I got these. Well worth the money. Extra pair of pads and the case provided just enough luxury. 5 stars from me.

Besides the top padding being too thin, they're, so far, the best headphones I've ever had.

Connecting these up to my Rotel controller (kindly note Rotel calls a preamp a controller) they sound fantastic. Well worth their cost. Thank you Sweetwater.

I needed a set of headphones for my mixing and mastering for remote work and to keep volume low after hours at my home. I'm used to mixing primarily on speakers (genelecs) and fairly new to using headphones. I read all the reviews I could find and also listened to many YouTube videos and finally found one that recommended open back headphones. Was looking at the Sennheiser HD650, AKG 712s and these. As luck would have it, the HD650s were backordered and the AKGs were more costly but also (according to the reviews) need an amp and are a more colored sound. So I chose these 1840s. Like a lot of the reviews out there recommended, I broke them in a bit just by playing a lot of different music through them. They are plugged in to a focusrite Scarlett 18i20.

My experience has been awesome. One of the reviews I read said they sounded similar to the genelecs (1031) which I agree with for the most part. However, I notice that I hear bass much more clearly and with more presence then when I take them off and listen to the speakers. Overall, when using the headphones, I just hear things so much more clearly and didn't take long at all to adjust to using them. My mixes and mastering translate so much better now. One day I plugged in my old Sony MDR-V6's and was amazed that my mixes sounded awesome through those after mixing through my 1840s.

I'm very happy with the 1840s and able to use these to get the results I want. Maybe one day I'll pick up a different pair to have as a comparison but for now I'm completely satisfied with using them to mix and master as well as just listening enjoyment.

Though I've only used these a few weeks, I'm thrilled with the overall quality and detail in the sound. They're well balanced with low and high frequencies - not too much bass, but enough to develop a well balanced mix. This is my first pair of open-backed headphones, and I'm very pleased with the choice. Thanks to Josh Dillon for his help in selecting these. I would highly recommend to anyone looking to step up the quality of their mixes and masters.

Lost count of the sets of headphone I have been through. Where have you been Shure 1840s? One and only one item I would say has disappointed this old dude. The cord is about 3 foot to short. Other wise they are the best cans to date. Worth every one of the dollars spent... including the cord extension. With the sound quality is not an issue. These cans deliver a 100% clean and pure replication of the sound going in. Love these headphones.

I was looking for Headphones to use for mixing & mastering. I use Beyer Dynamics DT770's for tracking, and I have used DT990's for mixing, but even using Sonarworks, they just don't do it for me. I considered the DT1990's but after reading a lot of reviews, I opted for the Shure SRH1840's. So glad I did. These headphones are everything advertised. From the packaging to the final sound output, these headphones are excellent. If you are looking for headphones for mixing & mastering you would do good to consider these.

I purchased these headphones to replace my old akg k240 studio , and wow these headphones are the best change that happened to me this year , I just love the way that they sound.

I bought these to augment my Sony 7506,7510, Sennheiser 280pro.. Would replace asap if I ever lost. Love the sound stage and pretty neutral sound (important when mixing my own toons). I don't use these for tracking obviously because they are open back. Can't recommend enough.

watch my video on these headphones!

I hated the sound of these at first listen out of the box but I read to allow them to burn in for at least 20-100 hours. Even just after 10 hours or so of burn in time I could hear the sound opening up. They have now been burned in for at least 60 hours and the sound is incredible. Everything is much more balanced and the clarity improved a lot. The high end became smoother and the soundstage really opened up as well. You can hear every little detail with these and they are perfect for mixing. I also applied the cotton ball mod to them which helped add more low end. I think these will be my main set of headphones for a long time. Previously was using Focal Listen Pro's and DT990's but these definitely seem like a big step up. They are also very comfortable and good for long use.

I purchased these as an upgrade from my Beyer DT770s and it is a significant difference in quality and sonic separation between the two. Mostly for the mids and highs, you can really hear every aspect of the mix vs in the beyers where they tend to be a bit muddy. I have already seen benifits of using these in my mix. The only thing is with these is the bass is a bit quiet as I make a lot of electronic music but I just use sonarworks to add a bit of bass and their calibration profile, perfect combo.

Just amazing. This purchase was a big step up from anything I'd previously used. I was curious to see if those extra dollars would make a difference. As usual, you get what you pay for. I've been going back and listening to music that I've heard a million times and it's like I'm hearing it for the first time. I actually know what they mean when they talk about the sound stage now because I can hear it on almost every recording now. I could rarely hear those subtleties before. The sound is so good that I was compelled to upgrade my audio interface to get the most out of them (RME Babyface Pro FS rocks!). The construction of these headphones is light but solid. They're very comfortable for longer sessions, and the open back design opens up the sound and relieves the strain on my ears.

Overall, I love them. I would definitely consider the SRH1840 if you're looking to step up from entry or mid level headphones.

As soon as i put these on all my disbelief was gone for these headphones
Music becomes an experience and song's youve heard thousands of times become brand new
Frequency response is accurate (no boosted up frequency ranges!!!!) the soundstage is MSG spacious
And i wish i could get life long insurance for it.
Buy this before anything else in your set up
If not for your music just to hear them!!!!!

After many years of using industry standard cans - ATH-M50x, Sennheiser HD600 - in my studio with great success, I read a review by a trusted source that listed these as maybe the best all around open-back mixing headphones available. I also regularly use response correction software and part of my decision process included checking the compensation curves in my Reference database. The SHR1840s appeared to have the flattest compensation curve in the database... They were great sounding right out of the box but, after several hours of break-in, they really opened up. I’m totally blown away. Even with my best cans and the compensation software, there were still some spots in my favorite reference tracks that got just a bit sibilant. I thought it was my ears. It was not. The 1840s are super clear without any strident characteristics. Solid, but not over the top, low end detail - smoooooooth top end with no sense of sibilance. The super highs have a bit of gentle roll off, easily compensated by my software, but even there, the response Is within 3-4db. Truly amazing product from one of my most trusted manufacturers. If you’re considering open-back headphones for mixing, I can’t imagine how one could go wrong with these.

I've mixed stories for NPR as well as audio features for online. If I have to deploy effects like noise or hiss removal, or match audio clips, or eq speech, or do anything involving music underlays and speech, I really can't use headphones except for the 1840s. When I test a mix over near field monitors and then on the crappy speaker in my iPhone, the 1840s help nail it almost every time. I've tried other headphones (even audiophile quality), and when I think the mix is great I'll play it through speakers and it's like... wtf. At $... they're a bit pricey but mine are 5 years old now, get used almost daily, and going strong. Well worth it.

Should of bought these a long time ago. Immediately realized I"ll have to remix everything. I have Focal headphones too. But probably won"t be using them much if at all.

In my last posted review, I had said that I liked these headphones so much that I ordered a second pair.
They arrived and are equally fantastic.
My guitar instructor and I are using them to make recordings of my guitar playing (which is the perfect way to tell how bad, or good, your guitar playing really is).
I wear one pair while listening to the other background music, while he wears the other pair to adjust the volume, etc., before we edit it (BTW, I used a Focusrite 18i8 for recording--purchased from Sweetwater, naturally, at the suggestion of my Sales Engineer, Ben Robinson).
These Open-Back headphones enable you to hear what you are recording and editing as others would hear it in an open room--and, plugging them into your laptop or computer really adds a new dimension to your listening pleasure.
All I can say is these headphones are the greatest, and whether you have a small home music studio for your own recordings, or you are a professional musician with a million-dollar studio, you will not be disappointed!
Cheers.

I have only been seriously playing electric guitar for over a year now (I am the typical on again-off again player for the last 20+ years) and decided I wanted to create a small home music studio so I could record my own stuff, edit it, and eventually post videos to YouTube (once I get significantly better at playing than I am now). I was using AKG K72 headphones for editing, but the nuances in sound were just missing (hey, they are great headphones for about $50, but not what I was looking for).
I contacted several professional sound engineers, and this is what they recommended.
Holy Cow! What a difference! This is like the difference of watching a 13-inch black-and-white TV set versus a 65-inch OLED TV with full surround sound.
How much do I like these headphones?
I just ordered a second pair.
They are also fantastic to use just plugging into your computer or laptop.
My sales engineer, Ben Robinson, has always helped me get exactly what I need for my home music studio.
You have a customer for life.
Cheers.

I"ve posted an earlier review this is a second review I cannot help talk about these headphones! They are superb they are amazing they have blown me away that have superb sonic ability!

The construction is top notch and that blows me away! The sound is very natural and clear with stunning depth of field! Bass is natural and accurate! Nuances in vocals are revealed! The fine details of a recording revealed! Music comes alive I"m also considering becoming a hermit as an earlier reviewer has stated as these are just phnomenal! I"m hearing minute details In my music I"ve never heard before all instruments are separate and clear and make musical sense! Singers sound like there in the same room as me! And like I"m in the recording studio it is also like all music was mixed on these headphones! They also excel for TV & FILM audio use as well Again via a Yamaha amplifier with headphone out!

You do need a decent headphone amplifier and good music quality I use FLAC LOSELESS CD QUALITY ON QOBUZ and use an OPPO HA-2 headphone amplifier via USB connection from my MAC BOOK PRO! A stunning musical collaboration! I listen to Keane a-ha and classical music! All of which sounds stunning on these!

As other reviews on the internet have stated these headphones could easily be 4x there price we have to take advantage of shure"s generosity here and they are giving us such an amazing product! 2 cables and a set of replacement ear pads as well and a hard carry case are also included!

Bass heads these are not for you but if you like natural honest sound then get these theyvate the best thing I"ve ever brought myself! Been totally hooked on these!

everything about the sound and construction of these headphones is phenomenal. I thought i'd be a little disappointed by lack of bass loudness compared to my ATm50x phones but the bass on these is so tight and clear that i won't miss a more exaggerated sound... Honestly I'm scared i'll quit my job and become a hermit who listens to music all day because these headphones sound that good. For the engineers reading this, the only downside is that a clearer sound makes it easier to tell when a song you like was mixed somewhat poorly. but your mixes will improve, you will hear details you otherwise would overlook. As far as construction, the alloy metal blows my mind because of how sturdy it feels, yet they are the lightest over-ear headphones i can recall using. Soft earpads and headband foam, super light and relaxing fit.... These are pro-quality headphones, and well worth it (even at full price).

These are great headphones the best I"ve ever had and the best I"ve ever heard these sound better than some I"ve tested over £1800 I"m blown away by them they need a decent headphone amplifier I use an oppo ha-2 which seems to run them perfectly

Please buy if you love top end sound you won"t be dissapointed! Yes if your after booming base there not for you but if you want natural spacious sound then these are for you!

I did a lot of searching for the perfect open-back mastering headphones, and I think these are the ones. They are EXTREMELY comfortable to wear for a long time. They are also exceptionally clear and transparent. You can hear exactly what you are doing as you are tweaking a track.

These headphones are a huge asset to any mixing or mastering environment! We can become so used to listening in a specific room and compensating for issues we have learned to hear beyond. These headphones allow you to have a truly honest perspective wether or not your room is acoustically treated.
They are very light and super comfortable you'll forget you even have them on at times! As a professional I often find at least 1 or 2 things I don't like about a pair of headphones. This is actually the first time I can say an item has been designed to a standard of excellence very few are able to accomplish. You will not be disappointed with the Shure SRH1840's... JN

This may show my inexperience, but when I first started using these to make techno and electronica I also noted the lack of low frequency emphasis and parked these for a bit. Then, after a few mixing mistakes, I gave them another try -- I really listened to reference tracks vs. my (then) latest track. I've never gone back.

The clarity / detail is game changing. You can distinctly hear the important parts of your bass that are hidden on other solutions. Transients are clear, reverb tails clear. It takes some self-training and discipline, but then these cans are mind blowing. Also very comfortable and well made.

Confirm the bass levels on consumer-grade equipment until you get experience with them. Then you won't really need to (but of course, where's the fun in that?)

Also, using these taught me that I had the sub bass turned way too high on my Yamaha monitors.

I was looking for a neutral flat pair of headphones for mixing and mastering. These were recommended to me by my Sweetwater Sales rep Tom. These headphones are light, don't clamp hard on the sides of your head, come with a 1/8 and 1/4 adapter and an awesome case.

My ears are very sensitive to bright and harsh headphones that emphasize the high frequencies, these cans are not bright at all. The highs are perfect, the mids are balanced and give you a good idea of how the vocals sit in the mix and lows that don't disappear. These are not bass heavy so if you're looking for that I'd suggest looking at something else. The imaging is excellent. I got use to the sound bylistening to classical music and each violin, cello, triangle, flute and piano had it's place without stepping over other instruments. I'm used to the closed back headphones and the soundstaging on these are incredible! They expand outside your head and you can get lost in the music. Perfect for getting an idea of the panning in your mixes.

Don't hesitate to give these a look, you can't go wrong.

Warm and articulate midrange that reveals detail that opens up new enjoyment of music you might have thought you had heard before. Shut your eyes and your favorite bands, singers and music will surround you with a lively performance that is accurate, intimate and personal. I have a half dozen headphones and have auditioned dozens of higher end and "professional" sets, only to find that they favor one frequency range over another - some with great bass and crisp high ends only to have the midrange to be overcome by the extremes. Others have amazing meds, voices are critically accurate but that sound cold and devoid of life. These headphones are lively and reproduce the entire spectrum of sounds without loosing the details of the entire frequency range of sound. I can't stop smiling as I listen to some of my favorite music - acoustic guitar, raw vocals and harmonies that all sound as if the were recorded and mixed with these headphones. Wow is an understatement, these are a transforming experience for those who long to really hear their music as it was created to sound.

I've had the SRH1840's for over a year now and am still impressed by them on a daily basis. Solid construction and ergonomically they feel great. I've worn them for up to 4 hours with no physical strain on my ears/earlobes.
They yield an excellent, detailed and uncolored image. I highly recommend them to anyone who's looking to upgrade their headphones.

If you're in the pursuit of perfection, but on a budget, I hope you get this message. If you're starting out and want to hear your music as clear and honest as possible, it should at least cost you 3,000 to get a "descent", (not top notch) monitoring setup. This is my setup: Apollo Quad (Silver), Focal CMS65, Presonus T10 Sub, and a Descent Room...

All I gotta say is that my first day with these headphones and I already know I improved both my mixes and my masters by at least 25%. I mean, I opened the box, trusted the headphones and immediately heard the results. Can't wait to get more hours with them to get accustomed.

So what I'm trying to say is, skip the speakers and sub and instead get these. At least until you can save enough to get a top notch speaker pair (like focal Solo6) and a professional sounding room,

I'm so happy, I'm writing this review for someone who's like me. After years of purchasing equipment here this is the first time I felt the responsibility to let someone know they gotta get these.

Night and day difference between these and my Beats. The build quality is fantastic. Lows are there but not over the top. Very accurate sound. Comfortable to wear. I am proud to own these.

I have been getting into mastering and was told by several people that i needed some open type headphones to really get an accurate sound as opposed to closed headphones where they can be build-up of the lower frequencies. My previous headphones are Focal Spirit Professionals, which were life changing for me as it is. But the open style headphones really changed the game for me. I can hear so much more and it has a more natural sound. You can turn it up louder if you need to and are not bombarded by the low end. If you want to be able to mix and master and maybe you cant always turn your studio monitors on, these will get you almost there if not all the way there. Again my Sweetwater rep Jared has not let me down and provided me with a great product.

I loved these. Really clear and detailed, nicely separating every aspect of the mix. The a clear in the top end without being fatiguing and go all the way down to a clean and detailed bass. By far the best headphones I've used.

The SRH1840 'phones replace Sennheiser HD600 mastering headphones that spontaneously stopped working despite meticulous care. The Shure 1840s were one of two replacements I considered and my rep, Jeff Barnett, strongly recommended them on the basis of his extensive comparison of all Sweetwater headphones. Once again Jeff came through: The 1840s combine the HD600's neutrality and smooth, accurate reproduction but offer noticeably greater clarity. Many Sennheiser headphones sound as though they have a flattering "layer of velvet" between the transducer and your ear. Shure's 1840s are very open sounding, never harsh, but much more revealing. They are now the best mastering tool and by far the most accurate headphones I own. They also excel for audiophile use.

If you are like me, you don't get to do most of your mixing in a $100,000 studio with an acoustically balanced control room. If that's the case, no matter how good your ears or your command of your mixing tools, you are inevitable EQing your recordings to compensate for the anomalies of whatever room you are working in at the moment.

But with a set of headphones as accurate as these SRH1840s, you can mix virtually anywhere and get something similar to the acoustical honesty you would receive in a high-end control room. Compare the cost of building and treating a control room, verses mixing on these headphones, and it's a no brainer.

I've been able to take my mixes up to the next level using these phones. I work between them and a pair of Event 20/20s in a decent room. But I still do most of my detail work in these phones. I've had them for almost a year now, and they are still comfortable and sound great.

Great, articulate headphone. Love it! They don't hype the bass or high end- things sound tight, crisp, smooth- representative of the actual mix- you can really hear the reverb tails, etc. Really good clarity for a 500.00 headphone. Highly recommended.

My migration to open back headphones is now complete. For years, I have tried a number of open-back cans with mixed emotion. I found the Sennheiser HD650s to be a bit thumpy and the mid-range recessed. The Audio Technica ATH AD900X were pretty good but after wearing a while, I feel that they're slipping down my head - since the wing-style headrests can't be adjusted this is an issue. ANd these are the ones I kept! Grados, AKGs. other Senns have gone away. I usually have fallen back to Ultrasone Pro 900 or Shure SHR940 closed-back cans.

However, after the second listen to these I'm a convert to the open back. They fit extremely well and the sound reproduction is fantastic whether I'm listening to music or mixing with my home equipment. The bass is there but isn't thumpy. The mid-range is more forward in the mix and the highs are pristine (at least to my 60-something R'n'R ears.

It should be noted that all my comments about the other phones are based upon use with very good headphone amps and/or DACs.

Have owned these for a year now, and can truly say that they are the closest thing to mixing with monitors that I have found, yet. As an experiment, I mixed a song with these headphones and then mixed the same song from scratch with Focal 50's and Sonodyne 100's. The results were astonishing. These phones don't have "blow me away" bass, but when you want your mixes to translate...these are as good as it gets, plus music just sounds good on them! Highly recommended.

Great accurate sounding phones - the best I've heard and extremely comfortable to wear for extended mixing sessions - A+

I really like the sound of the SRH-1840. It has a generally neutral sound over most of its range, but differs from its predecessor the SRH-940 in the following ways:
The 940 has significantly stronger bass.
The 940 has significantly more energy in the lower highs around 5 khz.
The 940 has less upper midrange emphasis around ~1 khz.
The 1840 sounds slightly better on upper harmonics.
The 1840 is lighter and more comfortable, but is open-back.
The 1840 looks much nicer.
The 940 is more portable (can be worn around neck all day).

Was using (and still for tracking) the Sennheiser HD280 Pro set. After laying down some vocals on latest track listened back to track and it seemed boxy. Then I realized I hadn't switch to the Shure open backs and it was open airy and articulate. Recommend if you are amateur on a budget that needs to do mixing while not upsetting the spouse or neighbors. Only a half star off due to missing the bass and kick thump some but probably to he expected.

Had my Engineer check them out. He is Old School and will only use 7506's. I have a studio of my own, & tried them at home. I would buy them again, a little pricy $ in my Opinion, still like using my 7506's, but, it's nice to check a mix with both headphones for comparison. Love going down to 10 K & up to 30 K. TwStudios SW Utah.

Headphones have an ultra clear sound perfect for mixing or monitoring.

Before commenting, I needed some time for the new headphones to settle in, as well as getting my hears settled in to the phones. The bottom line is that I'm liking these a lot!
For a very long time, my phones have been Beyer DT-990, which I've been happy with. Although physically comfortable for long listening, I've been aware of the upper frequency peak and low frequency color. The upper frequency peak does wear on the ears after a while.
At first, I was wanting to turn up the volume to achieve the same volume feeling the hype of the 990 gave. After several days, my ears got happier at the lower volume levels, and didn't need more volume to be satisfied.
The Shure SRH1840 is so much flatter, and at least approaches what I think a Reference phone should be. I hear good detail over the entire spectrum, and good separation of instruments,. The Shure listening experience is much more like listening to good monitors, compared to what the 990 could provide.
Physically, the 1840 is reasonably comfortable, but less so than the 990.
A minor criticism is that the cable is very "microphonic". I like everything else about the cable, and being plug in replaceable is nice. Even an extra cable is included!
The "storage case" is almost awesome. If only it was configured so the phones could really be stored with the cable attached.
The Shure SRH1840 is proving to be an excellent headphone, that I'm glad to have!

I normally wouldn't write a review on headphones just because one persons "warm" is another persons "dull" and blah blah blah. I've had these for a while. They were my first pair of open back headphones. I also owned the closed back twin (1540's). Just today I noticed that these sound almost identical to my Genelec 8340a's (calibrated to my room with the GLM system and some minor acoustic treatment.) These will not be your one stop shop headphone for mixing. They simply don't respond well enough in the low end. Ideally you'd want them to only show good bass on the songs that have perfect bass in the mix/master but honestly whether im listening to tracks that I know have great low end or im not the response in the low end is essentially the same. Obviously if you go from rock to hip hop or EDM there will be a difference, but that's not enough for me. I need to be able to hear a bad rock low end compared to a good one. It doesn't have it. Listening to EDM with heavy bass JUST barely starts to sound like there's a good amount of low end. Some of you are probably reading this thinking ya of course they're like that you dummy they're open back headphones! Well, these are my first pair of open backs so sorry haha. but form 80hz and up these are basically calibrated Genelecs. And those who have Properly deployed and tuned genelecs know just how flat those speakers really are. Cheers!

I bought these to replace studio monitors because I am moving into a space and workflow that doesn't allow for reference monitors during mixing and mastering. I'm not so concerned about translation -- that is just a matter of learning how things are "supposed" to sound through a particular system in order to translate well into other systems.

What I am concerned about is detail at all frequency ranges, so I can have a greater say as to what makes it into the final mix and to what extent. And with these headphones, I've been able to hear things in the music and mixes (both enjoyable and not) that I've never heard before. Little subtleties in instrumentation and performance, but also little perfections. Lips smacking, sibilance, background noises, even encoding artifacts on low bitrate files that I can't hear on other systems.

On top of this, they are just plain COMFY and FUN to listen to for long periods. Open, airy, smooth but not "smoothed" if that makes sense. IE, not harsh, but not "doctored" either. I also have a pair of vintage Pioneer SE-4 headphones, which have a bit less detail (though detail is still good) and a bit of presence bump to them that really pushes anything in the human vocal range forward in the mix. With the Shures, I can still hear that range, it just sounds more "balanced." And it feels like there is space between everything, and room for more complex instrumentation without things starting to blend together. For example, on Kind of Blue, the three part harmonies sound like three individual instruments playing harmonies together. I can hear "space" between each instrument and discern its individual timbre, etc. Amazing. I can forget I have them on, which sometimes is a bad thing! Other headphones have always tended to "remind me" that I am wearing them, and things can blend together in the mix. Not always a bad thing (e.g., for tracking on closed backs).

Oh, and I have a small head, and often have trouble with headphones fitting because of this. These fit my head perfectly on the shortest setting.

Caveat: This is the most expensive pair of headphones I own and that I have ever tried. So I can't directly say how it compares to other headphones in or around or above its price range. But it is noticeably more detailed and airy than my AKG K240Ms (600ohm), which are pretty darn good but nowhere near as comfy and pleasant.

Using these headphones is just a pleasure. I get excited to put them on and listen and see what I can hear. And that's ultimately what I'm looking for. Nice job, Shure!

I have had AKG K102s, Grados, and I have listened to Sennheiser HD650s. These are more accurate to my ears, from low bass to the highs, I can hear no flaws at all. My smartphone drives them to acceptable levels. I will deduct 1/2 star due to reliability issues with the cable.

I gave 4.5 because I don't have experience with other "mastering/reference" class headphones for a proper comparison.

I bought these to help mix low end. My current mix environment is a very small room (10' x 9.5' x 8'H) with a crawl space = lots of probalems. I have lots of acoustic treatment and a KRK ERGO and I mix through Yamaha MSP7s. With all the room correction (and the Yamaha's are great), my mixes translate very well out in the world from the low-mids up. The bass doesn't. I thought a set of "mastering class" phones might help with that.

I looked at everything in the $500-$600 range from all the major manufacturers. My sales engineer quickly helped me narrow it down to these and the Beyer Dynamics (I've been using DT 770s and am a fan of BD). I'm not going to lie, price and financing was a big factor in choosing these over the BDs. ...I took advantage of the… financing, so I would almost be a fool to not go with these.

In operation, I CANNOT HEAR A DIFFERENCE when I have my reference monitors on and I put on and take off the phones. They sound EXACTLY like my Yamaha reference monitors. This is exactly in line with the reviews I read "ruler flat, no hype in any frequency range, natural, neutral, etc." and exactly the quality we want in reference. They are insanely comfortable, so I am looking forward to those long mixing sessions where the Beyer DT770s got fatiguing.

Not ever having phones of this class I find them very bright as I'm finally hearing top end properly (at least shooting directly in my ear). I've read other brand's phones being "bright", so I'm glad they aren't any brighter. It's nearly fatiguing (is fatiguing at high volume), so I wouldn't want to accidentally start making my mixes too dull to compensate. Definitely something I'll be learning. I also have not mixed/referenced anything on these phones yet, so I have yet to see if they'll help me accomplish my goal of mixing low-end better. Will update once I do.

Sound Quality 10/10
Really, there's no getting better in this price range. Just know what you're buying: Open back headphones, with very modest, flat bass response. The treble shimmer and clarity will blow you away and make you forget how you'd ever mixed without these great cans! If you want headphones for listening to music, you'd be better off finding a more colored pair of phones, but if you need accurate response Mastering/Mixing phones, there's really none better in this price tier.

Build Quality 8/10
Upgrading from the plastic-made SRH940s, these are a HUGE improvement. The lower priced Shures with their plastic headbands are prone to cracking and are borderline defective for their terribly short lifespan. If you want Shure headphones, save up the money and buy these or perhaps the 1540s for more bass and the closed back. I'm deducting 2 points because the cushions at the top of the headband seem to lose their shape very easily and will probably wear out with more use. Also, the two cable connectors attaching to each ear will occasionally cut out momentarily if you are moving around while wearing them. It's a little annoying, but a sincere nitpick and not enough of a negative to say it should deter you if these are the phones that you have your eyes set on.

All in all, I recommend highly. Very worth the purchase, and happy with the investment

First, let me be sure to state that i am writing this review after having only heard these cans for less then an hour.
Thus, there is no burn in or relaxing of the tone as of yet regarding these cans, so, what im telling you is what im hearing the first hour, exactly as you will hear it the first hour you try them out.

Now, Its strange that i find myself seemingly alone in my assessment of the SRH 1840 as some of the brightest headphones ive ever heard.
Now im not describing sibilance or harsh brightness, im referring strictly to a big upper midrange bump and extended treble frequency.
Im using a ResonEssence Concero HP and a Woo Audio Fireflies to listen to them.
They are absolutely brighter regarding their upper midrange and treble response then Shure SRH 940s, NAD Viso 50s, Senn 551s or 600s, AKG 702s or 712s, or Beyerdynamic DT 770s or DT 880s.
Or KEF M500s, or ThinkSound ON1s, or Focal Spirt Pros, or HIFi Man HE-400s or the new PSBs.
The Shure SHR-1840 also sound better then any of those headphone in the list. !!

The sound of the SRH-1840 phones, to my ear, has been definitely finessed around the 3-5Hhz frequency so that you get stunning details and articulation.
Everything they produce sound-wise has this bright sounding sheen of clarity that is punching your ears with sonic clarity as you listen.
Guitars, vocals, cymbals, snare, bass, violin....its all being translated via the SHR-1840s upper midrange brightness bump that impressively increases clarity but also recreates everything as having an upper midrange boost.
Incredible clarity, oh yes.....but you end up with so much upper mid domination and treble extension as their overall sound that the effect is perhaps too much.
Perhaps its not, but its definitely obvious.
The (mid) mids are ok and unrestricted, and the bass extension and detail is slightly above average.
The SHR-1840s are great tho bright sounding headphones. Their comfort level is excellent, build quality is very good, box and accessories are nice.
They are a good value for the money, but dont expect them to sound warm or sweet.
These headphones are all about the upper mids and and outstanding overall clarity which they absolutely do provide for the money.

I have a pair of headphones that I've considered to be my favorite one for a long time. Let's just say that those aren't my favorite anymore.

I don't mind using my SRH1840 for long periods of time. The high frequencies are so smooth, and not tiring at all. It's such a joy to use. Obviously, they're not my first choice for iPods, but in my studio, it's going to be used a lot! :-)

Like many others, I really like these headphones a lot but I'll certainly agree that one of the worst "features" that they have is the incredibly short cable, considerably shorter than what I have on any other headphones. I've also had an issue as well with the detachable cord, a feature that I personally find incredibly curious since I don't know why anyone doing mixing would ever need to detach the cord from the headphones. In my personal set, the right cord attachment frequently loses connection when I turn my head in a certain manner, most likely due to the short cord putting pressure on the connector. The easy answer is an extension cord but I've personally stayed away from them because a) they too tend to lose connection at times as well and b) tend to add just a bit of weight to the cable, causing other issues. My request to Shure would be to both increase the cable length and lose the detachable cable altogether. Apart from that, I find these headphones very comfortable, easy fitting, and with excellent sound for mixing.

Best headphones I've had for mixing so far. Good even sound. If you have a small or narrow head they may not seal well at the top of the cans. This is do to limited hinge movement at the mounting. Pro quality nice addition to mix room.

Bought these as I had issues with my Sennheiser HD 650. Heard these were even better. Def better on the Lower mids and higher. Lower mids actually very accurate and not muddy. But the bass end is lacking, ie frequency range vs the HD650 is not as wide. Using HD650 and these are actually a perfect (but very expensive) pair.

I've owned these for a couple of years now, and have used them for everything from passive listening, mixing, gaming, tracking vocals (I forgot I had the open-backs on...) and whatever else you use studio headphones for (hammer?). I've run them off a couple different interfaces, laptops, phones, and anything else with a jack. I would describe their sound signature as "inoffensive". It's neither bassy, nor shrill. Mids have adequate definition, EQ adjustments are noticeable and predictable anywhere from 300-6000hz. Sound stage is average, not super wide nor confined. Imaging is a bit vague, I feel like there's crosstalk in the cable, and busy mixes seem congested in the middle even after panning. Bass extension is lacking, have to turn to my VSX to figure out what's going on down low. As opposed to HD600, these are less analytical and more laid-back and objectively enjoyable to listen to. Build quality is where I have some serious questions, namely the cable that loves to short out at the most inopportune times. Sweetwater was kind enough to exchange a first pair that had a right channel which just wouldn't work without the cable being held in place and some channel imbalance issues to boot. My second pair is fine if I don't put any pressure on the cable, but the second I squeeze it between myself and the guitar that's perpetually in my lap, all bets are off. The split headband feels like a log splitter being jammed into my skull after 45 minutes or so. This would be due to the absence of decent padding, which seems like a stupid corner to cut on a somewhat pricy studio/audiophile set of cans. That pain is actually why I'm here on Sweetwater looking for a new set of daily drivers. I've also learned from owning these that a flat or neutral frequency response is not necessarily ideal for mixing. The tendency to hype highs or bass to compensate for the linear response curve is too great, and those mixes don't translate well to other consumer level systems. For my replacement, I'm leaning towards the K612 or K702. AKG seems to put some thought into the real world use scenarios of their headphones, and they emphasize some of the more important parts of a good mix - the vocal presence and stereo field. Bottom line, Shure has a solid foundation to work from with the SRH1840, but the product needs refinement and improvement. It's not the best bang for your buck out there.

Headphones sounded great with MP3 files but was distorted when playing thru them with my Guitar. When compared with my SE535 there was no comparison. Returned them for another pair of Shure SE535 in the ear headphones.

I wanted to give these a great review. They sound pretty good but they are falling apart from normal usage, and I've only had them 2 months. For $ I would expect something more durable. Also the packaging is ridiculous. A giant cardboard box containing a giant hard shell case (who puts their headphones in a case?). They should have spent less on the fancy case and more on quality. I would definitely not recommend and would never buy again.

These definitely can't be used for mixing or mastering as far as I'm concerned anyway. haha They are lacking in the high s bit time and sound boxy to me. My Sony MDR 7506 definitely have more detail and they are only $100. The sony have too much high so I was looking fo something more flat and true but these are too far in the dull and boxy direction. They may be good for those that are used to mixing Yamaha NS10 or Avantone lo fi type speakers.