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Shure Srh1540Image © Amazon

Shure Srh1540

74/ 100
Great
HearWiki score

Good value

$550
typical price, USD
Still sold newupdated
Buy now onAmazon

At a glance

Brand
Shure
Type
Over-Ear
Fit
closed
Connection
Wireless
Noise cancelling
No
Released
2014

Score breakdowngreat overall

Sound8.3
Value6.7

The HearWiki takeAI-condensed

The Shure SRH1540 is a premium closed-back over-ear headphone praised for its balanced, detailed sound and exceptionally comfortable fit. With a lightweight design and quality 40mm dynamic drivers, it delivers accurate audio reproduction with deep lows and crisp highs, making it a strong choice for critical listening. While it lacks wireless features and active noise cancellation, its wired connection with balanced support suits audiophile use.

What works

  • Accurate, balanced sound signature
  • Very comfortable for long sessions
  • Lightweight build at 286g
  • Supports balanced connection
  • Low distortion performance

What doesn't

  • No active noise cancellation
  • Average passive isolation
  • Wired only, no wireless option
  • No USB-C or wireless charging

Paraphrased from published reviews & specs - not an original hands-on test. Our AI disclosure.

Specifications

Audio - Shure Srh1540
Driver40 mm dynamic
Driver typedynamic
Driver size40 mm
Drivers per side1
Frequency response5 Hz - 25 kHz
Impedance46 Ω
Sensitivity99 dB/mW

Where to buy

Retailers we matched to this exact model. Prices are periodic snapshots - the link always opens the retailer's current listing.

What the reviews said

4 source(s) feeding this product's score.

sonarworks.com

81

Sonarworks rates the SRH1540 positively, describing it as a closed-back, over-ear headphone that performed well in its evaluation. The review’s final score suggests solid overall performance, especially when used with calibration.

Read the full review

whathifi.com

100

What Hi-Fi describes the SRH1540 as an outstanding over-ear headphone that delivers expansive, balanced, detailed sound with a comfortable fit and low weight. The review indicates it is highly deserving of its price and gives it top-tier praise.

Read the full review

reviewed.com

Reviewed says the SRH1540 offers full, balanced sound, low distortion, and proper tracking, while also being very comfortable. It notes that isolation is only average, so the headphones are better suited to sound quality and comfort than blocking outside noise.

Read the full review

What YouTube reviewers say

Video reviews we found, each condensed to its verdict. They do feed the HearWiki score, at a measured weight below what a published written review carries.

12:46

Z Review - Shure SRH1540

Z Reviews97.1K viewsFeb 2016

The reviewer finds the Shure SRH1540 to be exceptionally well-built, comfortable, and neutral, but describes them as extremely boring and lacking any musical excitement or soul. He considers them excellent professional monitoring headphones but cannot recommend them for casual or enjoyable music listening, feeling they are worth the price only for a specific, unknown professional purpose.

15:06

Shure SRH1540 - Head-Fi TV

headfi65K viewsOct 2013

The reviewer is a fan of the Shure SRH1540, praising its warm, well-controlled bass and articulate mids and treble, which he finds more balanced than Shure's recent over-ear models. He highlights the exceptional comfort from the Alcantara pads, lightweight build, and durable design, though he notes the bass is not neutral and the included case is bulky. Overall, he considers it a safe but highly enjoyable tuning and a strong closed-back option.

35:25

Shure SRH1540 - Luxuriously Shure

No Theme Reviews16K viewsJan 2021

The reviewer finds the Shure SRH1540 to be a well-built, comfortable, and accessorized closed-back headphone with a neutral-to-slightly-warm bass response, natural mids, and clear highs. However, the proprietary and janky cables are a significant drawback, and the overall performance, while good, may not fully justify the $500 price tag for everyone.

11:50

Review of Shure SRH1540 closed-back headphones

Seltzertronics9.2K viewsFeb 2019

The reviewer bought the Shure SRH1540 on sale and found them to be excellent closed-back headphones with a transparent, balanced sound signature, though the bass is not as emphasized as some other closed models. They praise the comfort, build, and included hard case, but note the stock earpads are too small for their ears and had to be swapped. Overall, they consider them a great value at the discounted price and recommend them.

13:03

SHURE SRH1540 Headphones Review | A Looper's Opinion

BreZ7K viewsMay 2022

The reviewer, a looper, finds the Shure SRH1540 headphones comfortable for long sessions and praises their neutral, balanced sound, which is ideal for mixing and mastering. However, he notes the cable design is inconvenient for his live performance style, and he doesn't recommend them for casual music listening due to their lack of bass or treble emphasis.

Summaries are AI condensations of each video's own conclusion, not transcripts. Titles, thumbnails and view counts belong to their channels.

What owners say

A sample of buyer reviews, quoted as written. They aren't verified and they don't feed the HearWiki score - that comes from published reviews only.

My headphone utopia

I am a headphone junkie, I used to always review and try out the next headphone out there trying to find my perfect set of cans. Well that was until 2017 when I purchased the Shure 1540. Shure is aRead more

Initial Impressions...

This is really first impressions a few hours after obtaining the headphones. Firstly, the use case. I already own a pair of SRH 1840 s, a pair of SE846 s and a pair of SE315 s. I have owned severalRead more

Professional and rugged AF

UPDATE: I ve updated this review because I know a lot more about headphones now. I have a less glowing opinion on these, but I think they re still 5 star headphones. Pro s +Frequency response extendsRead more

Impressive sealed headphone in both Sound and Comfort

Why did you choose this rating? * Because the sound quality is top-notch What did you like or dislike? * Like the sound signature and comfort * Dislike the price Who would you recommend this to? *Read more

via Amazon customer reviews

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Where it sits in our rankings

The data-driven guides this model qualifies for.