[hhforever]

Quote:

this shure 840 vs m50 question needs its own link and button right at the top of headfis main page due to the overwhelming volume of topics made for it.
 
its apples and oranges.  in terms of sound quality, the shure 840 is much nicer.  in terms of user friendliness and comfort, fun factor, the m50 wins.

Well yea! the reason why people compare them is because of both being entry-level studio monitor i guess? Sound sig wise, the 840 is warmer, may be like by some but not by others as it is plain with weak bass and less clarity details. Some say the m50 is brighter and the sub-bass(not bass) extension gives very natural bass sound (incredible when the songs wants you to, back off when its suppose to be in background), but others say their bass is too strong and the highs are too "metallic".
 
Well, i guess its just matter of preference.

 

[Anaxilus]

The 840 is warmer?

 

[tdockweiler]

These comments are strange. I don't agree with some of them, but then the rest I agree with totally (like the ones from swbf2cheater ).
 
I don't agree that the 840 is warmer. Not even close!
I do agree with you on the bass for sure, but I've never had any issues with the SRH-840's bass. I always felt it had more then enough! Nowhere near "weak bass" unless you're a basshead.
 
I've asked you this in another thread hhforever, but have you actually sat down and listened to the SRH-840 along with the M50 at the SAME time?
I always felt the SRH-840 had a LOT more detail and this wasn't always a plus. Sometimes they were so detailed it almost became an annoyance.
 
It's weird, the M50 has this massive bass that I hate and the SRH-840 has some harsh highs at times. A negative for each one.

 

[blueyan]

The best solution is , try both of them and get the one you like.  Isn't that easy ? rather than keep asking for opinions =)

 

[swbf2cheater]

Well, having used them both since their inception almost daily and comparing them for nearly a thousand different topics lol...
 
the shure 840 is not warm sounding and is more neutral, it is lightly colored and much less colored than the M50.  Its bass experience is clean and airy, it is lacking if you are bass head.  It is punchy and NOT forward in its presence.  It is ridiculously heavy and as i said many times before the Shure 840 gets my pick for the worst headphone design of the last 20 years, while at the same time they are just amazing in terms of audio value.  The earps are excellent though and they come with an extra set.  
 
The m50 is the opposite end of the spectrum.  It is noticeably more colored in sound, much more comfy, less punchy than the 840, and has a muddier bass but one that is a lot bigger sounding.  The set is very enjoyable for fun factor, rocking out so to speak.  It is more forward sounding.  
 
Neither are meant to be well rounded headphones, they both only sound great in a few areas or genres.  The Shure 840 do not exaggerate much and their overall sound quality is very clear, that is why its such a popular set.  Its very very accurate compared to most.  The M50 is crazy fun to listen to and heavily exaggerates your music.
 
apples and oranges, neither is better than the other.  IMO save 100$ and get the DBI pro 700
this will be swbf2cheaters last reply in a 840 vs m50 topic
 
Mr. Crusher, set course for the Neutral Zone.  Warp 9.  ENGAGE!
 
*whoosh
*plays star trek theme as I fade away never to return to this topic

 

[hhforever]

Quote:

These comments are strange. I don't agree with some of them, but then the rest I agree with totally (like the ones from swbf2cheater ).
 
I don't agree that the 840 is warmer. Not even close!
I do agree with you on the bass for sure, but I've never had any issues with the SRH-840's bass. I always felt it had more then enough! Nowhere near "weak bass" unless you're a basshead.
 
I've asked you this in another thread hhforever, but have you actually sat down and listened to the SRH-840 along with the M50 at the SAME time?
I always felt the SRH-840 had a LOT more detail and this wasn't always a plus. Sometimes they were so detailed it almost became an annoyance.
 
It's weird, the M50 has this massive bass that I hate and the SRH-840 has some harsh highs at times. A negative for each one.

Yea I listened to both for about an hour and half in a shop before deciding the m50 is for me. Hmmmm I am not sure though, when I said that there is more detail is when I am comparing them with some classical pieces music. Well both have lots deatils to me, but the m50 really do stand out for me because for the strings i can hear clearly from both headphones, but those little percussion instruments that is in the background(like snare drums, triangle, timpany) they are to me projected more clearly in the m50s, even players flipping of pages audience coughing(i have some live recordings and CD recordings), somehow I can even hear them more clearly than the 840, so I don't see how 840 have more details than the m50. 
 
As for Highs I still think m50 have slightly harsher highs than the 840, I just think the m50 is brighter than the 840 thanks to the "metallic" sound? I don't know though, after listening to both for different musics and genres in my playlist, the m50 suits me more. The 840 just seems hmmm plain compared to the m50 side-by-side. By the way I am using the 840 pads on the m50, its much more comfy than the m50 stock pads.

 

[lie495fc]

i can only comment on M50 and srh840 about their tv commercials.  M50 hands down, i like those pretty asian girls in their tv commercials. i hope my comment is not too far off the topic.

 

[TheWuss]

i've had both for a while now, and the one thing that keeps sticking out to me is the headroom of both phones.
and by headroom, i guess i mean the ability of each headphone to be driven to loud volumes without the sound quality falling apart.
 
and, in terms of headroom, the M50 is miles ahead of the SRH840.  (to my ears, and in my opinion)
at quiet volumes, the SRH840 is more balanced, and somewhat polite and analytical.
at louder volumes, though, there is a glare to the upper mids, and the headphones become "shouty".
in my opinion, they fall apart pretty quickly, even when driven by quality dedicated amps.
 
the M50, when turned up loud, gets better and better and better.
the vocals are very slightly recessed, so when turned up loud, the M50 blossoms more...
and the vocals become more life-like.  The bass actually levels out with the rest of the sound spectrum at louder volumes, and the headphones actually achieve a pretty open sound...
this is not accomplished by the SRH840.
 
just my thoughts....