Shure SRH840A headphones review: a good-looking pair of mid-range headphones

The best headphones for video editing must deliver an accurate and unbiased sonic performance while being comfortable enough to wear for long periods of time. I've had this in mind while testing the Shure SRH840A headphones.

Aimed at professional users, these headphones supersede the SRH840. The addition of the letter 'A' at the end represents a new design that is supposedly more comfortable and stylish while delivering improved sound quality.

Having recently tested the RØDE NTH-100m and Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO X, I was interested to see if this Shure offering could compete in terms of delivering a balanced, authentic, and accurate sound.

Shure SRH840A: Specifications

Shure SRH840A: Design & Handling

The Shure SRH840A headphones certainly look the part. With a black and gold colour combo, they look both classy and minimalist and would fit well into any type of creative studio. I particularly like the aesthetic driven by thread stitching on the top of the headband, the logo and circle on the ear cups, and the screws, all of which are gold coloured. These are beautifully offset against the deep black of everything else.

The cups are cushioned but with nothing like the velour found on the Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO X. As a result, they're not quite as comfortable and are also a little too small to be 'roomy' around my average-sized ears.

The headband is reinforced with metal, which is both sturdy and flexible to allow for different head widths. The high-density and slow-recovery foam is covered by a good-looking woven fabric. Everything, with the exception of the earpads, oozes class and quality.

Each earcup can be independently adjusted by sliding the internal mechanism up or down. It's not the smoothest of operations and feels less secure than the RØDE NTH-100, but it does the job. These cups house 40mm dynamic neodymium drivers, which are designed to offer natural and well-balanced frequency response with low distortion. More on that in the performance section below.

In terms of portability, I was relieved to find that the earcups fold flat. One further step to allow them to rotate up into themselves, like the Sony WH-1000XM6s, would help with transportation. The cable that twist-locks into the left earcup is detachable, which helps to pack them up neatly. Shure also ships the headphones with a carrying bag, a threaded ¼” (6.3 mm), and a gold-plated adapter.

Shure SRH840A: Performance

At the time of writing, the Shure SRH840A were priced at $169/£155, which puts them in the midrange from a cost perspective, sandwiched between entry-level and premium alternatives. Given the price, I was very impressed by their ability and would label them an excellent all-rounder.

They were equally at home when listening to music as they were in the studio. This makes them a perfect solution for anyone wanting flexible performance and headphones that will work in a variety of different contexts. More serious professionals will want a more capable pair, but for everyone else, the SRH840As are more than capable.

In terms of sonic performance, they pick up details across the whole frequency spectrum. Their range is set at 5-25,000Hz, which is smaller than the Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO X, but given that most humans can't hear beyond 20,000Hz, this didn't create any problems while listening or editing.

Overall, there is fairly even representation across the bass, midtone, and treble, with very little sense of one competing for prominence. There is clarity and detail, which slightly lacks energy on some tracks, but the output is nicely even and controlled.

In terms of sound isolation, the closed-back design with cushioned earpads does a pretty good job, although it doesn't have the same performance in this area as the superior DT 770 PRO X.

Shure SRH840A: Verdict

The Shure SRH840A headphones are a significant improvement upon their predecessors, the SRH840. A beautiful and carefully considered design results in a striking aesthetic that will look fantastic in the studio, while out walking, or on public transport.

In terms of audio performance, you'll get clear and controlled sonic sensitivity across the whole frequency range. I would have appreciated a little more detail, especially in the mid-range, but all in all, there's very little wrong with them.

You'll find superior performance from the Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO X, but if your budget doesn't stretch that far, then these headphones from Shure are a fantastic choice.

Check out alternative options in our guide to the best headphones for video editing, and also in our rundown of the best headsets