Review: Shure SRH440

Build Quality, Comfort + Accessories:

These things are built to last, they mostly plastic, but the quality of the plastic is very good, the headband has a pleather feel to it but it does not have any proper padding. the cups are big enough for most ears, the pads are slightly hard and are a bit shallow so my ears were pressed against the cloth against the driver. the pads are replaceable, and most get the SRH840 pads as they are memory foam and more comfortable.
the plastic cups feel strong and the plate that says Shure is metal, a nice touch.
The cable is single entry, coiled, detachable and 3m long, it clips in place via a 2.5mm jack. i think having a detachable cable is a great idea as it is usually the first part to break, but the strain reliefs are good quality and feel strong
the only part that worries some are the cables coming out of the cups that are exposed, but they wont be a problem unless they catch on something.
The hinges are metal, but the extender arms are all plastic, the folding mechanism is very nice, and they fold to a fairly small size, so they are actually good as portable headphones. i use them every day on the bus, and the isolation is good for closed full-size headphones, they dont leak at all.
Right and left are written on the hinges, and right is red, left is blue.

These are a bit uncomfortable as most have said, the top of the headband puts a bit to much pressure on the top of your head, and the earpads are a bit to shallow. as you can see i have put some foam on the headband (awaiting the arrival of my HD600 headband pad) and i put some cable under the pads to make them slightly higher (now they dont press on my ears and i can wear them for 3+hours.

they come with a pleather carry pouch and a threaded 3.5mm to 6.3mm adapter.

Sound:

Bass:

Bassheads need not apply, these are marketed as studio headphones, and have a fairly neutral frequency response.
the bass is not big in quantity but is really qreat in quality. it is tight and fast with very good extension, i can easily hear 20hz tone with these, and even with dubstep i can hear every note. the bass is very articulate and there is air between the kick drums and bass guitars. i do not find these bass light like some people do.

Mids:

Shure are well known for presenting mids very well, and these are no exception.
The portrayal of the mids is perfect on these for my liking, i hate recessed mids, and these are the right balance. not too in your face but not far back, they hit the sweet spot. guitars sound crisp and detailed, vocals sound smooth but with great detail, sibilance is dealt with fairly well, if the recording is bad and sibilant then these will show it. female vocals sound so right with these, the bass does not bleed in to the mids, and what your are left with are perfectly balanced, crystal clear mids. vocals do not sound thin.

Highs:

These have a boost in the 10Khz region, and you can detect it. Cymbals crash as they should, and they have enough detail and sparkle, but the problem is that they dont extend very well. i hear people calling these bright, but i do not find that the case. i would go as far as saying they have a slightly warm sound signature. my Superlux HD668B extend and shimmer better in the highs, i still prefer the highs of the Superlux. these just sound a little dull in the highs, im guessing it is to avoid them sounding overly bright with modern recordings.

Soundstage, Instrument Separation and Imaging:

The soundstage is fairly average, slightly wider than normal in a closed headphones, but nothing compared to Beyerdynamic DT770 pro, there is more depth than width.
instrument separation is excellent, you can hear all of the layers clearly, i love them for being like this.
imaging is just amazing, you may not get a huge soundstage but the imaging is the best i have heard. it never feels detached (like separate sides) you can pinpoint where each instrument is and the panning is just so well done.

Conclusion:

Warning: very unforgiving of badly recorded music.
Slighly warm soundsig, but very balanced. the timbre is spot on, nothing ever sounds fake or metallic. very good detail, very good mids and imaging. if your looking for a good al lround headphones these are perfect.
i find these even handle Classical music very well, the soundstage may not be huge but the instruments just sound right.
These work very well with jazz, and acoustic.

Amped?

yes these can be driven fine with a portable device, but i do prefer them amped, the bass tightens, and it just feels overall more controlled.

Tracks used:

Diana Krall – The Girl In The Other Room (FLAC)

Deolinda – Passou Por Mim E Sorriu (live no coliseu dos recreios, lisboa) (ALAC)

Funeral For A Friend – Bend Your Arms To Look Like Wings (ALAC)

DeadMau5 + Kaskade – I Remember (caspa remix) (320Kbps MP3)

Vivaldi – The Four Seasons Spring Allegro (ALAC)

A Hero A Fake – Swallowed By The Sea (320kbps MP3)

Black Uhuru – Utterance (ALAC)

The Scene Aesthetic – Beauty In The Breakdown (320kbps MP3)

Eminem – When I’m Gone (ALAC)

Eat Static – Survivors (ALAC)