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Call for Comparisons: Shure SRH440 v SRH840 (extra points for mentioning Denon D2000)

post #1 of 12
9/23/09 at 8:51pm
Thread Starter 
The Shure closed-backs have been out for a while now, and yet there are still very few reviews and no substantial comparisons across the line-up. Most people seem to prefer the SRH840 over Denon's alleged sweet spot, but goodness knows how much of that's FOTM-talk. Here are a few starting questions for those who have heard both 440 and 840, or either 440/840 and Denon D2000:

1. Are 440 and 840 the same size?
2. How do 440 and 840 compare sonically unamped from a computer/iPod/iPhone, etc.
3. How do 440 and 840 compare sonically amped with a portable amp (e.g., iBasso D10, RSA P-51).
4. How do 440 and 840 compare sonically amped with a SS receiver or dedicated headphone amp?
[NB: I'm not really concerned with tubes at this point.]
5. How do 440 or 840 compare to Denon 2000 sonically, amped with a portable amp (e.g., iBasso D10, P-51).

Let's hope this will be a useful thread for all!
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post #2 of 12
9/23/09 at 10:55pm
I'll answer what I can:
1. They are very close to the same size, yes. Same size driver and weight was within ~10g
of each other.
2. My impression (and remember this is just what my ears hear) they sound sonically VERY similar and unamped are almost indistinguishable. From my iphone headphone jack it was not idea but with a LOD was fine.
3. I tried them with a NuForce Icon Mobile and Fiio E5...from the E5, not much difference. These are not all that high impedance so I didn't expect much. It might have elevated the bass on the 440s a tiny bit. From the Icon, there was a fairly substantial difference especially in the "temperature" of the 840. The sound warmed up, the soundstage opened a little, the mids were more separated from the low end. It wasn't a runaway improvement, after all, it's a $99 DAC/Amp, but it was clear that the 840s scale up with an amp better than the 440s.
4. I only listened for a brief second with a dedicated amp so don't really have too much comment.
5. Never listened to a Denon 2000 so no comment here.

For what it's worth, being that i was looking for a headphone to use chiefly unamped, I went with the 440 since it sounded so close to the 840 unamped and was about $100 cheaper.
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post #3 of 12
9/23/09 at 11:13pm
I have both the D2000 and SRH840. I recabled and added Dynamat to the D2000 (partial markl mod) and they have the JMoney pads. I recabled the SRH840 to dual entry but added no dampening. I have listened to both via my Millett MiniMax and thru the amp in my Peridot DAC (powered via USB bus). I have also listened to both directly from an old Ipod Mini. In all cases, I like the SRH840 better. The bass is more controlled and detailed IMO. The mids on the SRH840 are better to my ears...more forward than the D2000. The highs on the SRH840 are a touch cleaner than the D2000...less sibilant. The SRH840 gives better details while the soundstage of the D2000 is a bit more 3D than the SRH840. All of these differences are subtle and there are still times where I listen to the Denons but I usually reach for the SRH840 when I need a closed phone.

From a comfort perspective, I like the D2000 better. Of course, this is all my opinion and your experiences may vary.
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post #4 of 12
9/23/09 at 11:30pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks guys. I suppose it'd be safer to just go for the 840, but the $100 saving is tempting, especially since I'm probably just going to plug it into a D10. While the way the OP was written was for public consumption, my personal situation is that I'm looking for a closed set as good as or better than D2000, so I can leave D2000 in one place and this new headphone at another. In both places, I'll be plugging the headphone into a D10 (as I said) into a MacBook or an iPhone.
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post #5 of 12
9/23/09 at 11:54pm
I have used the 440s straight out of a macbook pro and been pleased, and they did warm up with the Icon, so I imagine that plugged into a D10 they'll perform nicely. I do think the 840s scale up better but the 440 is an incredibly capable headphone for <$100 street price.
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post #6 of 12
9/24/09 at 2:03am
So far, every post I've read about the D2000 vs SRH840, the SRH480 always seem to come out on top...

The only category the D2000 wins in is comfort and, maybe, looks.

I loved my SRH840, easily the best closed can I've heard. Even though I sold mine, I cannot recommend them enough for a closed/unamped application.
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post #7 of 12
9/24/09 at 2:26am
Thread Starter 
^ Sure, I'm going to assume I'll find them better than my D2000 too. I guess now I have to decide whether I want 440 or 840. If the 440s aren't much worse for my application (iMac via D10), then I'll go for that.
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post #8 of 12
9/24/09 at 8:29am
Thread Starter 
bumpity
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post #9 of 12
9/24/09 at 9:56am
My friend has a pair of D5000s, I can see if I can borrow them for the weekend to give you an idea between them and the SRH840s. If I'm not mistaken, the D5000s are just a more refined version of the D2000s.
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post #10 of 12
9/24/09 at 10:08am
From what I heard unamped (iPod Touch 2G) the SRH440 have a slight more boomy bass, and treble is not as smooth. The SRH840 have a far better treble and a little tighter bass.
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post #11 of 12
9/24/09 at 10:47am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ra97oR View Post
From what I heard unamped (iPod Touch 2G) the SRH440 have a slight more boomy bass, and treble is not as smooth. The SRH840 have a far better treble and a little tighter bass.
This would be true with the SRH840 running through a D10, but unamped the cans sound virtually indistinguishable.

I would say that the upgrade is not worth the $100 retail increase...however for $50 more street price, probably worth it if you have a decent amp.

However, the 840 is backordered to 'late october' currently and the sales guy I talked to didn't sound too optimistic about even that, so if you're the instant gratification type the 440 are readily available and less expensive.
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post #12 of 12
11/4/09 at 8:28pm
hey im deciding on the srh440 or the srh840 or denon d1001 or even these beyerdynamic DT 440 headphones i will use straight up with an imac or iphone mainly iphone or ipod and i am wondering if these are all better than the beats by dr. dre I havent heard many headphones but im always impressed with the beats although that probly a noob thing to say lol

I listed to a lot of hip hop so what should i get...100-150ish price range

please help
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