As you may know i own 3 budget champion headphones under $200. These are the audio Technica ath m50, Shure srh840, Sennheiser hd 25 1 ii.
So i decided to do a review on the 3 and give you my opinion on the under $200 champion.
I will give it a 1, 2, or 3 for a rating scale. 1 means it wins in the category, 2 means it comes in second, and 3 means it comes in last (Quite Simple).
| Feature | Audio Technica Ath M50 | Shure SRH840 | Sennheiser HD 25 1 II |
| Speed | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| Bass | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| Highs | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| Mids | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| Accuracy | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| Enjoyment | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| Durability | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| Value | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| Overall | 3 | 1 | 2 |
Let's start with the shure srh 840
Shure SRH840
Durability/Design
Design wise these are closed back so you shouldn't have any issues with noise leakage. They are really big so portability might not be a viable option. They come with a detachable coiled cable and replacement earpads which seem to have memory foam. Durability wise these things are built like a tank. The headband can be stretched this way and that and it will just keep going. Rubber enforced with metal keeps it together well. Detachable cable makes replacement easy. and they are really comfortable. My only concern is the cables jutting out the side. But having owned them for a long while they are actually much more durable then I give them credit for.
Unfortunately i feel the durability is lacking though compared to the other 2. It gets spot 3.
Comfort
The most comfortable of the bunch. They have very comfortable memory foam pads, and a slightly padded headband. They are very heavy though so some people will find it uncomfortable. I find that if you have hair you should have no comfort issues. But if you do listen for many hours you might feel it weighing down on you which could cause discomfort for some people.
Sound Quality
These are really accurate, seemingly slow, and analytical. Not to be a first choice for just enjoying your music.
Mids: Amazingly clear, forward but not intrusive.
Highs: I feel they are recessed after 10khz. On the bright side they are not harsh.
Lows: Mid bass hump, and recessed sub bass.
Speed: Slow, not good for Rock or Heavy Metal.
Accuracy: Very accurate, these excel at details.
Amped Performance
When I amp these I noticed a slight improvement in the highs and a gain in the bass department. But overall these gain slightly little from amping.
I used both a Fiio E7 and Fiio E5 to test this.
Final Thoughts
These are my go to cans most of the time. They work with every genre of music but do light music best. Something like Jazz or Classical will sound impressive with these. For faster genres the other two headphones excel and i will tell you why.
Sennheiser HD 25 1 II
Durability/Design
Definitely the most durable of the 3. The design is very simple and every part can be user replaced. At first glance they look cheap but i assure you they are tough. Wires are detachable and you can use the sennheiser hd 600 cable with these if you prefer. Design wise they are fantastic, very professional looking and if you want to pay more you can get the adidas pair which look stunning imo.
Sound Quality
These are really accurate, Fast, bassy, and treble happy. Most excellent for metal, rock, pop, or electronic.
Mids: A little laid back
Highs: Boast to the upper highs allow for non harsh but still enjoyable listening.
Lows: Very powerful yet flat bass
Speed: fast, good for Rock or Heavy Metal.
Accuracy: Good details but very colored.
Amped Performance
I noticed that when amped the bass gets tighter.
Final Thoughts
These are my choice for just rocking out, they also make great portables allowing for good sound quality on the go.
Audio Technica ATH M50
Ah yes the all powerful and over hyped ATH M50s. Your probably wondering right now what i think of these and where they fit in this list. For newbies recommending M50s this might surprise you.
Let's start shall we.
Durability/Design
If there is anywhere these shine it is in durability. To me these are very durable. They feel very strong and i don't think they will break easily. Though the headband is less flexible then the shure srh840 i still feel it is strong. Unfortunately the cable isn't replaceable and is built into the headphones. There is no wires jutting out the sides so it gives me confidence in their reliability. I also feel these look fantastic. I love the look of these very much. Overall design and durability are top notch though i feel the sennheiser hd 25 is more durable because it's parts are replaceable.
Sound Quality
These are bassy, fast, fun, and V curve. Not neutral at all, and not very accurate but they are still fun.
Mids: Slightly muffled and recessed
Highs: Very Bright and harsh
Lows: Boomy fun bass
Speed: Fast, good for Rock or Heavy Metal.
Accuracy: Not very accurate and very harsh. Ok if you want a colored headphone for rock or metal or electronic.
Amped Performance
Haven't tried yet i will have to get back to this thread later currently away from my amplifier for a few days.
Final Thoughts
Not very good in terms of accuracy or neutrality. They also fail in portability. But what they do well in is durability, and for having fun with bassy genres. I don't recommend these for jazz, classical. or country/folk.
Winners/Preferences
After writing this I should give my opinion on which wins.
I must stretch that there is no winners or losers and that each one of these headphones will be bad to one person and gold to another. Rated on both technical abilities (Winners) and accuracy (Personal preference).
Winners
Best overall is the Shure SRH840
Second best is the Sennheiser HD 25 1 II
And last is the Audio Technica Ath M50
Personal Preference (Enjoyment)
Sennheiser HD 25 1 II is the most fun
Audio Technica ATH M50 comes in second for enjoyment
Third is the Shure Srh840 for being to slow for rock/metal (but accurate mind you)
Amp Requirements
Overall I found all 3 cans are easy to drive and benefit little from amping.
I used both a Fiio E7 and Fiio E5 to test this.
I hope you enjoyed this Review/Comparison.
Edited by bcasey25raptor - 11/23/11 at 12:31am
