[cactus_farmer]

Both of these headphones have very good reviews across the board, and both seem to offer a somewhat bass-shy, coolish (or neutral, depending on your tastes) presentation. The Shure 1840 used to be a lot more expensive, but now seems halved from its release price.

I already have the K702, and was thinking of adding the1840 to round out my mid-fi collection - but are they just too similar to justify owning both?

 

[Kammerat Rebekka]

I’ve owned both and they don’t sound anything like each other. The K702 is a bright headphone but with brilliant bass and subbass reproduction (though not very high in the mix) whilst the Shure veers much closer to the Sennheiser sound aka neutral with roll off in the bass.
I think the two would compliment each other brilliantly. What sounds off on the AKG will most likely sound spot on via the Shure

 

[cactus_farmer]

I’ve owned both and they don’t sound anything like each other. The K702 is a bright headphone but with brilliant bass and subbass reproduction (though not very high in the mix) whilst the Shure veers much closer to the Sennheiser sound aka neutral with roll off in the bass.
I think the two would compliment each other brilliantly. What sounds off on the AKG will most likely sound spot on via the Shure

Thanks. But interesting you say that Sennheiser sound is rolled off in the bass. I also own the HD650 and that has very noticeably more bass than my K702 - you can easily tell them apart in a blind test just based on that alone.

The K702 has the least bass quantity of any full sized headphone I've heard.

Are you saying that the SRH 1840 will be even more bass-shy than the K702? Or will it have more bass quantity but less bass extension than the K702?

 

[Alexjjour]

Just curious what the going price is for these two headphones? I think I might have to get one of them

 

[Kammerat Rebekka]

Thanks. But interesting you say that Sennheiser sound is rolled off in the bass. I also own the HD650 and that has very noticeably more bass than my K702 - you can easily tell them apart in a blind test just based on that alone.

The K702 has the least bass quantity of any full sized headphone I've heard.

Are you saying that the SRH 1840 will be even more bass-shy than the K702? Or will it have more bass quantity but less bass extension than the K702?

Sennheisers generally roll off quite a bit in the lows - more specifically in the subbass. While the mid and upper bass are louder in the mix vs the K702, the AKG still produces subbass notes all the way down to 10 hz. If I listen to electronic music with information below say 5-40 hz, I will be able to hear it quite detailed via the AKG whereas it’s missing from the 650 or rendered as ‘mud’.
The Shure will sound very close to a 650 - including the roll off in the deep end of the pool.

 

[zazex]

Thanks. But interesting you say that Sennheiser sound is rolled off in the bass. I also own the HD650 and that has very noticeably more bass than my K702 - you can easily tell them apart in a blind test just based on that alone.

The K702 has the least bass quantity of any full sized headphone I've heard.

Are you saying that the SRH 1840 will be even more bass-shy than the K702? Or will it have more bass quantity but less bass extension than the K702?

I must say that the 1840's provide better SQ than the K702's.
More bass, certainly, and it's well defined.
More detail throughout the range.
Neither has the greatest build quality, but if push came to shove
I think the Shures are more durable.
With comfort being just about the most personal aspect, my feeling
it that these are both very comfortable headphones. Maybe the nod
goes to the K702's on this point because they are lighter and less
constricting. The Shure's are very comfortable, though.

I bought the Austrian-made K702's maybe 4 or 5 years ago. Liked
them a lot, even with the shallow bass. The immense soundstage was, to
me, the most notable attribute. I did eventually tire of them and sold them.
Since then, I've bought the Chinese-made K702's twice. (About 8 months
apart.) Not bad, especially for the $175 or so pricing I've noticed recently.
My memory insisted that they did not sound quite as good as the Austrian
made version. (But this has been a major point of debate every since
AKG released the Chinese version - I'm not in a position to rehash the
whole thing here.)

So I think the K702's are a very good value in an inexpensive open
headphone, and the 1840's are a step up in many ways that are
easily noticeable.

______________________

BTW, I just checked and saw that the 1840's are priced at $499.
just about everywhere.

Do I think that they are "worth" $300.00 more than the K702's?
I think the "answer" to that involves many different considerations
including one's sense of "worth" (not only about headphones),
one's position in life, the value one places on listening to
high fidelity recordings; really a whole slew of factors.
So I'll have to pass on that one.

If it matters, after owning 3 sets of K702's, as mentioned,
still have the 1840's I bought about 3 years ago. I listen
to them often as I think they are very good headphones.
They are not my favorite open headphones, however.
That's a tie between the Grado RS1i and the Grado PS500e.

 

[cactus_farmer]

The Shure will sound very close to a 650 - including the roll off in the deep end of the pool.

Have you heard the HD650?

I just can't imagine it would sound that similar to the SRH 1840 when everyone says the HD650 is rich and weighty sounding with relaxed (even 'veiled') highs, and most say that the SRH 1840 is on the lean/analytical side with very extended and prominent highs?

They sound almost opposite to me.

 

[cactus_farmer]

That's a tie between the Grado RS1i and the Grado PS500e.

I'm also interested in how the SRH 1840 compares to the Grado house sound? Both seem quite lean in bass but with sparkly highs?

 

[Kammerat Rebekka]

Have you heard the HD650?

I just can't imagine it would sound that similar to the SRH 1840 when everyone says the HD650 is rich and weighty sounding with relaxed (even 'veiled') highs, and most say that the SRH 1840 is on the lean/analytical side with very extended and prominent highs?

They sound almost opposite to me.

I’ve owned it three times so yes lol.
But yeah the 1840 is like the lovechild between the 650 and 600: intimate, neutral and plays well with just about every genre (except for ones that rely on deep bass notes).

 

[zazex]

I'm also interested in how the SRH 1840 compares to the Grado house sound? Both seem quite lean in bass but with sparkly highs?

I've been a fan of Grado headphones for quite a long time.
(I also owned a couple of their phone cartridges, which I also
liked a lot, back when I was listening to a lot of vinyl.)

The Grado sound is a unique sound. So by that definition,
there's nothing like it.

I'm far from alone in holding that opinion, BTW. Seems like
every time I look at a Grado headphone review, the reviewer
starts out saying essentially the same thing. And that's
here in the US, in the UK, Germany, all over.

And though I agree there is a Grado house sound, there
are of course discernible differences as you go through
each of their headphones.

The PS500e specifically is a special case, because
Grado purposely tuned it somewhat differently than
their usual. The earcups are mahogany enclosed
in metal - the only Grado's build that way other than
the big brother PS1000e.
The 500e's produce somewhat more bass than is
typical of a Grado headphone. But still very airy,
detailed, a super high end and articulate midrange.
Nohing at all bothersome or irritating (at least not to me).

The Prestige Series are more generally known and
tend to represent the Grado house sound to many
if not most. While the entry models are great for
the money, I strongly recommend going for the
325e's. Their sound is fuller, richer, and they
provide a deeper soundstage than the 225e's.
The 325e's are pretty great headphones IMO,
and provide a rather immersive listening experience
which is even dazzling at times. This is one of the
keys to Grado headphones's - they often sound
'"exciting", in a way few if any other headphones
can replicate.