Is the Sennheiser HD 800 worth the upgrade from the Shure Srh1840?
Verdict
Clear upgrade
Going from the Shure Srh1840 to the Sennheiser HD 800 buys you 16.0 points of HearWiki score - a clear step up that reviewers agree on rather than a marketing refresh. The gains are concentrated in sound (7.5 to 9.5). On paper: driver size 40 mm to 56 mm and drivers per side 1 to 2. Worth checking: weight goes 268 g to 330 g. That costs $1176 more, or about $73 per point of score - steep unless the specific gains above are ones you care about. If your current pair is worn out or the gains line up with how you listen, this one is worth the money.
What actually changes
Sub-scores both products have, on the same 0-10 scale. Bars extend right for a gain, left for a loss.
- Sound7.59.5
- Value6.56.5
Spec differences
Only where the two genuinely differ - everything they share is omitted.
| Spec | Srh1840 | HD 800 | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weight | 268 g | 330 g | |
| Driver size | 40 mm | 56 mm | |
| Drivers per side | 1 | 2 | |
| Frequency response | 10Hz-30kHz | 14Hz-44.1kHz |
About this verdict
Direction matters here: this page answers "Srh1840 to HD 800". The other direction is a separate question with a different answer. Scores blend published review verdicts across over-ear and shift as new reviews land, so a marginal call today may not be one next quarter.