Shure SRH1540 closed back Headphones Review

Shure SRH1540 Pros&Cons

Shure SRH1540 Specs

• Impedance: 46Ω
• Driver size: 40mm
• Frequency response: 5Hz~25 kHz
• Sensitivity: 99dB / mW
• Cable length: 180cm
• Cable connection: MMCX
• Weight: 286g

Packaging 

The SRH1540 comes packaged in a large box (as is to be expected for a set of full-size headphones), but nothing fancy or otherwise premium, much like what you’d get with a pair of shoes. The large image of the SRH1540 on the front shows off the weaved carbon fibre texture used on the earcups. The text on the rear of the box lists some features in a few different languages, whilst the left-hand side lists some specifications, and the right-hand side lists the included accessories.

What’s in the box?

• Shure SRH1540
• Storage case
• 1x Pair replacement earpads
• 2x Cables
• 1/4” adapter

Read: Hifiman Edition X V2 Open-back Headphones Review

Accessories 

The SRH1540 includes pretty much everything you’d expect, and more. Firstly, the storage case seems really well-made and will serve as good protection. Second is the inclusion of 2 cables. Although, it does seem odd for Shure to include 2 identical cables. It would have been better to include a longer coiled cable. Last but not least is the biggest surprise of all – extra earpads. The SRH1540’s earpads are some the most comfortable out there, so the inclusion of a spare set is a great addition.
A screw-on 1/4” adapter is also thrown into the deal.

Design

Shure certainly pulled off some pretty neat design-elements with the SRH1540. The lightweight aluminium-alloy yokes, padded dual-frame headband, along with the Alcantara-covered earpads result in an exceptionally comfortable pair of headphones.

Perhaps the most prominent element, though, is the geometric beauty of the carbon-fibre earcup caps. Whilst the headband and main chassis of the earcups are made of plastic, they certainly don’t feel cheap, nor flimsy. The earcups do have very limited movement, though, so don’t expect any DJ-style features. Overall, the SRH1540 is genuinely well-made and looks stunning.
As with many of the higher-end headphones and IEMs, the SRH1540 offers removeable cables. Interestingly, Shure opted for MMCX connectors, instead of the usual 2.5mm or even 2-pin connectors. This makes inserting each channel’s cable far easier in comparison to 2-pin cables, as you don’t have to pay extra attention to whether or not it has been inserted in the correct polarity.

Sound

Test Setup
Source: Hidizs AP60
DAC/Amp: IFI Micro iDSD Black Label
Whilst Shure does market the SRH1540 for studio monitoring and mixing, it certainly doesn’t qualify as a reference headphone. Instead, it seems Shure have gone for a more u-shaped signature with the SRH1540.
Mid-bass is slightly more elevated, giving a warm fullness to the bass region of the frequency spectrum, whilst below roughly 50Hz or so things do taper off. Despite the drop below 50Hz, the SRH1540 still manages to deliver a satisfying amount of rumble when bass notes hit, but this certainly won’t be enough to put a smile on a basshead’s face. There’s also just a slight lack in control over the bass frequencies, especially at higher volume levels where bass frequencies can start to introduce some slight distortion.
Compared to the bass and higher treble regions, mids and vocals do tend to be a bit pushed back. This certainly does make vocals smooth, but also means that it lacks some detail and clarity in that region. This may be something to keep in mind if vocals feature prominently in your musical preference. Although it should be noted that the recessed vocal ranges may very well be partly responsible for the SRH1540’s perceived expansive soundstage too.

Overall, the SRH1540 is somewhat neutral, with just a bit of a u-curve to add some “fun” into the mix. As expected with a u-shaped signature, treble extension is rather good, but leads the SRH1540 to lean more towards a brighter overall signature at higher volume levels. This will take some getting used to, and can prove to become rather fatiguing during longer listening sessions.

As briefly mentioned, the SRH1540’s fantastic soundstage is something worth noting. It’s not that it provides a totally unprecedented realism, but rather that it’s quite surprising for a closed-back headphone There’s a clear sense of air which is eerily reminiscent to that of an open-back set of headphones. That’s not to say that it’s an outright substitution to what on open-back provides, but pretty close nonetheless.
This is a double edged-sword, though, as it also makes the SRH1540 less than ideal when isolation is required. Perhaps it’s due to the lightweight and comfortable design which makes the SRH1540 not “seal” tightly around your ears, but whatever the case is, Shure absolutely nailed it for use in relatively quiet environments.

Read:HIFIMAN HE-400S Planar Magnetic Headphones Review

Value 

Shure initially introduced the SRH1540 with an MSRP of $624, but pricing has since dropped to around $450 – $500. If we were to only consider the overall performance, $450 still seems a tad overpriced. There are other options out there which simply offer a better price-to-performance ratio.
Perhaps the biggest advantage of the SRH1540 is its fantastic build quality and unparalleled comfort. In terms of those 2 factors alone, it certainly doesn’t feel like a product which was rushed out of the factory, but rather that it benefitted greatly from a decent amount of R&D, to say the least.
Still, many people do value outright sonic quality far and above all other factors when taking price into consideration. If that’s the case, it may be well worth your time to keep looking elsewhere.
However, if you’re looking for a sturdy, exceptionally comfortable set of cans that offer respectable sound quality, the SRH1540 is definitely worth putting on your shortlist.

Rating

The TECH MERIT rating system is designed to take as many aspects of the device into account as possible. As such, we have a basic rating, as well as a final rating. The basic rating rates the product purely as a high quality portable audio device, and is generally a good indicator of how it stacks up to its rivals in terms of standard features and specs. The final rating, however, grants bonus points for any extra features and specs that aren’t quite as common, and is a great way to judge the product as a complete package.

Packaging
Look and feel: 7 / 10

Included Accessories
Protective case: YES

Build
Quality control: 10 / 10
Seems durable: YES
Microphonics: 8 / 10
Comfort: 10 / 10

Sound
Relatively balanced signature: –
Soundstage: 9 / 10
Detail retrieval: 8 / 10
Sibilance: 7 / 10
Instrument separation: 8 / 10
Isolation: 7 / 10
Hiss: 9 / 10

Portability
Small size: 7 / 10
Relatively low power required: 8 / 10
Weight: 10 / 10

Value
Competitive price-point: –
Relative value: 7 / 10

Basic Rating: 8.1

 

Bonus points
Removable cables: YES
Number of cables included: 2
Premium cables: –
How premium the case looks and feels: 8 / 10
Battery life above 8 hours: –
Bluetooth: –
Apt-X: –
Volume/remote controls: –
Metal body: Metal yokes
Premium look and feel: YES
Use of exotic materials: YES
Bluetooth connection quality: –
1/4” adapter included: YES
Cable management: –
Aircraft adapter: –
Extra earpads: YES

Final Rating: 9.0 

 

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