The SRH1840 combines versatility and high fidelity
frequency range: 10 - 30000 Hz | sound pressure level: 96 dB | impedance: 65 Ohm | dynamic
... musical, always unobtrusive, detailed, authentic and balanced.
Sound 8.9
Bass Mids Trebles Stage Imaging
9 9 9 8.5 9
Handling 9
Processing Comfort Earpads Headband Weight
9 9 9 9 268 grams
Total 8.9
Price 400 €
Quickcheck
Pro Contra - natural sound - maybe a little too well-behaved
- high functionality - "simple" construction perhaps not for everyone
- versatile applicable - ... I have a hard time finding 4 contras ...
- harmonic & musical
Intro
The SRH1840 is in the end an open SRH1540, even though I can't tell if the hen or the egg was first. But in the end it doesn't matter, because SHURE manages the transformation in both directions.
For me, the SRH1840 is a very harmonic and coherent headphone that is convincing over the whole frequency band. Musical, always unobtrusive, detailed, authentic and balanced.
Handling
The SRH1840 shares the design with the SRH1540. Accordingly, it is one of the most comfortable headphones I have been allowed to test so far, even if there are still little things for me to achieve my personal comfort nirvana. For example, the velour pads could be a little bit thicker as well as the headband padding. Apart from that I am almost perfectly happy, also because of the secure hold, despite the low contact pressure and the weight.
You can't design a headphone much simpler and that's exactly what I like. Metal and plastic form a harmonious symbiosis without any big frills and splashes. The focus is unmistakably on the usability, which for me enhances a product more than gold-plated headbows.
In addition to the positive haptic impression, also regarding the workmanship, we receive a useful selection of accessories, like a second spare cable, a hardcover case, another pair of velour pads and an adapter to 6.3mm. The cable has a MMCX connector, which is rather unusual in the world of headphones and more common in the IEM universe. Unfortunately the connectors are a bit too far into the case, so I can't connect my own MMCX-IEM cables to the SRH1840, even if the connector would fit. So a quick changeover to a balanced operation would have been possible without investing money in an expensive special cable. A small downer.
Due to the poorer isolation caused by the construction, the SRH1840 is less suitable for noisy places at low volumes. It is also not the right companion in quiet environments, if other people should not be disturbed.
Sound
Bass
The bass of the SRH1840 is not only surprisingly present for an open headphone, it is also almost perfectly tuned. It has depth, texture and is more linear than the SRH1540. It retains the slightly softer touch, but sounds very natural and not too dry or sterile. It doesn't tend to droning and despite the slight speed limitation it can handle fast bass passages without having to give in. He also convinces me with his dynamics.
Mids
In contrast to the SRH1540, the SRH1840 sounds more airy and somewhat more harmonious in the mids. I can't make out the slight garishness of the SRH1540 here, since the open design also reduces the probability of disturbing resonances. The midrange of the SRH1840 is as soft as butter and sounds very homogeneous. The lower mids have a pleasant physicality, which is combined with a nice clarity in the upper range. Voices have a natural timbre in both genders and are equally present. I can't find any discrepancies in the instrumentation either, which makes the SRH1840 extremely versatile.
Trebles
The high frequencies were especially successful with the SRH1540 and they are also the same with the SRH1840. Here, they just don't stand out so positively, since the bass and the mids operate at the same high level, which makes the SRH1840 stand out from the SRH1540. The highs have a silky character with a mature variety of information and a transparent presentation. Sibilants are not noticeable and in general there are no limitations in audibility.
Stage
I wouldn't call the SRH1840 a stage monster, but as so often made clear in the review, it has an absolutely realistic extension in all directions for me, which again gives the SRH1840 the predicate "natural".
Imaging
The SRH1840 achieves a slightly better imaging performance compared to the SRH1540. The similarly inclined SENNHEISER HD6XX also has the disadvantage of separation, locatability and "3D illusion", which is also due to the more pronounced expansion and thus more level at both ends of the spectrum with the SRH1840. It is therefore not only an authentic, but also a technically mature headphone that can certainly attack higher price ranges.
Outro
I fell in love with the tonality of the SRH1840. Not only does it have a natural sound, but also a good extension at both ends and a very harmonious tuning.
In addition, the extraordinary wearing comfort, which is mainly due to the low total weight, but also the comfortable velour pads play a big part in it.
In terms of sound I wouldn't know in which field of application I could not imagine the SHR1840, even though the open construction means that there are obvious limitations in terms of isolation, especially if you care about your environment.
The SRH1840 is definitely not a headphone endgame, but it does a hell of a lot of things right and convinces with its simple design and authentic sound whenever it is needed.
Compared to the more midrange-oriented HD6XX, the SRH1840 sounds a bit fuller and more musical, with a more linear sound profile, but has great tonal similarities, even though the HD6XX appears slightly cooler and slimmer.
Thanks to SHURE for providing the test headphones.