Shure 'Enters' Over-Ear Headphone Category

By Lisa Johnston On Aug 3 2009 - 6:00am

Unless you were a dive bomber pilot in World War II, you have probably never used Shure headphones before.

This was how Michael Johns, assistant product manager at Shure, explained the company's entry in the over-ear headphone market during a sit-down with TWICE late last month. Although Shure used to manufacture headphones for aviation uses during World War II, it's safe to call last month's three-SKU launch its first foray into the market.

The SRH840, SRH440, and SRH240 all feature closed-back, circumaural designs, meant to be comfortable while wearing for long periods of time. The comfort and durability of the headphones make it an ideal choice for music-recording uses, John said, and do-it-yourself home recorders are the company's target audience for these SKUs, as reflected by the price points.

The SRH840 ($199) headphones, the flagship of the line, are engineered with reference-quality frequency response, rich bass, clear mid-range and extended highs. The ear pads feature a damping cloth, memory-foam-like material and special venting to promote comfort during long wearing sessions. The padded headband, collapsible and able to be wrenched around, is designed for durability.

The SRH440 headphones ($99.99) are designed for professional audio equipment, including DJ mixers, mixing consoles and headphone amplifiers, said the company. It comes with the same headband features as the SRH840.

The SRH240 headphones, the most affordable pair of the line at $59.99, are said to be calibrated for connection to consumer listening devices and professional equipment, such as mixing consoles.

All three models' ear pads are removable and replaceable, Johns said. An extra pair is included with the SRH840.

They were all scheduled to be shipping at press time, and will come with a two-year limited warranty.