Open-back headphones aren’t for everyone, and if you’re new to the concept, keep in mind that you probably want to listen in a quiet environment; audio from your headphones will bleed out, and the sound from your environment will seep in. In addition to their open design, the Shure SRH1840 headphones are built for a neutral, accurate listening experience—and that’s exactly what they deliver. They have a pleasing, wide soundstage that helps make music sound more immersive and gives instruments more space, and they deliver deep bass and crisp highs.
(Credit: Christian de Looper)
The solid bass response helps on a track like The Knife’s “Silent Shout,” which has sub-bass content that the headphones reproduce with a hefty thump. The bass is warm and deep, and it doesn’t overshadow the other frequencies. The track’s shaker-like percussion, for example, sounds crisp and present, something we don’t always hear on this track.
The great bass response is showcased by a track like “Loyalty” by Kendrick Lamar. This track has a bass line that’s difficult to reproduce. Cheaper headphones struggle to sound out the bass, but these are able to produce all but the lowest notes in the line, and even then, they deliver some rumble that helps prevent a sudden feeling of emptiness. Even so, the bass isn’t quite as responsive as some of the higher frequencies. That’s not a bad thing, but it does give the low frequencies a sort of laid-back feel.
I particularly enjoy listening to Bill Callahan’s “Drover” through these headphones. Callahan’s baritone vocal is deep and rich, and it pairs nicely with the natural and clear-sounding acoustic guitar. In fact, the guitar is a highlight here, and it sounds present thanks to the space afforded by the wider soundstage. The drums sound crisp and responsive, and the driving kick drum that pounds through much of the track stops short of becoming a distraction.
(Credit: Christian de Looper)
The wide soundstage is beneficial to an orchestral track, like the opening scene to John Adams’ The Gospel According to the Other Mary. A lot of instruments are often playing at the same time on this track, which means they can get lost in the mix. This is common on closed-back and less expensive headphones. That isn’t the case with the Shure SRH1840s, though. Whether on their own or playing in a group, instruments sound rich and detailed, with the brass ringing out brightly and the strings sounding natural.
For those who prefer accuracy, the SRH1840’s natural sound is a good thing, though it comes very close to sounding somewhat flat. Flat is good for audio production, but some audio enthusiasts might want a little more color or excitement from their listening headphones.
