Cross-posted from my diary thread:
http://www.head-fi.org/t/591852/the-diary-entries-of-a-little-girl-nearing-30/1545#post_8170454
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So, the controversial SRH1840.
Before I say anything about it, I just want to give an obligatory preamble: These impressions are merely cursory. I'll be going out to the audiologist for ear impressions this morning, so the amount of time I get to spend with the SRH1840 today is limited from the outset. Ideally I would have waited a bit, but my excitement has gotten the better of me. Pictures will follow a bit later. That being said, let's begin. First: the packaging. It's quite nice. These come in a large box with thick, laminated cardboard. The front opens up like a book cover using a silk toggle. It's secured in place with magnets. Inside, you find a carry case not unlike the one that comes with the SRH940. Bellow that, there are smaller compartments holding an extra set of velour earpads and an extra cable. On the adjacent side, behind the cover, there's an information booklet I haven't bothered examining as of yet.
Unzipping the carry case reveals the SRH1840. Viewed head-on, these are quite unassuming in appearance. Removing them from the case, I'm struck by just how light weight these feel. I must admit: the build isn't as luxurious as I had hoped. They seem well constructed, durable, solid. They reveal a design philosophy on Shure's part that can best be described as utilitarian. Compared to other flagships like the T1, HD800, and even the Philips Fidelio L1 however, these feel less substantial. They're perhaps the most underwhelming flagship headphones I've seen in a while. If the build wasn't as nice as I had expected it to be, the sound is, by contrast, much nicer. There's certainly a bit of controversy brewing about these. Early measurements and a few key reports by widely trusted sources seemed to suggest these were going to be a bit harsh, bright, sibilant, dry, and generally sterile and lacking in musicality. I was very weary about these, especially since my current taste in headphones favors darker and more laid-back signatures.
I'm pleasantly surprised.
Of course, you could argue that my having low expectations from the outset makes this not such a remarkable occurrence. Fair enough.
So how DO these sound? The reputation Shure has developed for producing analytic monitors that seem well suited for studio work remains intact. I'd say these aren't a huge departure in approach from the SRH940. They aren't simply "open SRH940s" to my ears however. They manage to keep the sonic spectrum in check, and the highs are not sibilant and harsh to my ears. Bright, yes. Harsh, no. Of course our definitions of perceptions of this sort of thing differ from person to person. To my ears however the SRH1840 is not grating or fatiguing to listen to. It certainly possesses what I'd call a top-end emphasis. Yes, the bass is very restrained. These are likely not going to satisfy the inner basshead in a given listener. In terms of quantity I would place the bass on the SRH1840 as being less emphasized than the HD800. Like the HD800, it's very well textured and reaches fairly low. It has punch to it. To my ears the quality of the bass is a bit unusual however. I'm finding it somewhat difficult to describe. On a given track with much bass emphasis, the subbass has a tonality to it that makes it seem to growl more than rumble. I rather like it. Mids are the strong suit of these headphone. They're not as forward sounding as I was expecting, and I'm hearing a slight warmth to them. They're actually quite pleasing without being too colored. Full-bodied rather than thin and brittle, though certainly not as rich and opiated as something like the W3000ANV.
Someone asked me to come up with a single word to describe the mids of the W3000ANV. My answer was "dusk." For the SRH1840 my answer consists of four words: "morning after a rainstorm." Everything is clearer than usual, refreshed. The light isn't quite midday though. Instrument separation is above average. Soundstage a merely average to my perception, however. It's not particularly deep, but it extends somewhat widely on either side. It reminds me most of the Z1000's soundstage. I've nicknamed the type of presentation a "pancake" soundstage. Comfort is above average for me. There's just enough clamping force to keep a bit of weight off the top of the head from the band, so I don't feel it pressing down on me to any bothersome extent. Overall these are somewhat unusual headphones, and to me that's a good thing. These are very cursory impressions, so I'm not about to start recommending them. I will say however that I'm pleasantly surprised by what I'm hearing.
