The catch
Shure SRH440A
Around a laptop, the long straight cable needs wrangling.
Side by side
Shure SRH440A vs SRH840A Guide: Both include a 3 m lead, SRH840A adds a bag
Quick verdict
SRH440A is the choice for a straightforward closed recording headphone when its current offer is lower. SRH840A is the choice for its supplied carrying bag or for a listening preference you have confirmed yourself. The detachable leads are 3 m on both models, and the listed impedance is the same 40-ohm.
Before you buy
Why, and what it costs you
Weight differs by less than 2%
By the manual figures, SRH840A weighs 5 g more.
Where this comes from
1.87% = (273 - 268) / 268 × 100.
The catch
Shure SRH840A
The SRH440A, which costs less, offers nearly the same wiring options.
Shure SRH440A
- Why pick it
- You need that same wired recording reach of 3 m.
- A carrying bag in the package is not something you need.
- The catch
- Around a laptop, the long straight cable needs wrangling.
Shure SRH840A
- Why pick it
- The supplied carrying bag is what you want.
- SRH840A is your preference after auditioning both.
- The catch
- The SRH440A, which costs less, offers nearly the same wiring options.
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What this page compares
Shure SRH440A and SRH840A compared on cable reach, included bag and weight, including which practical upgrades the higher model does and does not bring.
SRH440A is the choice for a straightforward closed recording headphone when its current offer is lower. SRH840A is the choice for its supplied carrying bag or for a listening preference you have confirmed yourself. The detachable leads are 3 m on both models, and the listed impedance is the same 40-ohm.
Which one fits
Pick the situations that sound like you
The interface is across a wide desk
Each comes with 3 m of straight cable.
- Shure SRH440A
- Similar
- Shure SRH840A
- Similar
You want a bag in the package
One comes in the standard SRH840A package.
- Shure SRH440A
- Good
- Shure SRH840A
- Better fit
Weight decides it for you
Next to fit and cable handling, a 5 g gap counts for little.
- Shure SRH440A
- Similar
- Shure SRH840A
- Similar
You take calls and have no separate mic
A microphone is absent from both standard audio cables.
- Shure SRH440A
- Not suitable
- Shure SRH840A
- Not suitable
In practice
Differences you will notice
Weight differs by less than 2%
By the manual figures, SRH840A weighs 5 g more.
How we worked this out
1.87% = (273 - 268) / 268 × 100.
Neither gives you more desk reach
On an assumed 2 m cable route, the 3 m leads on both leave 1 m spare.
How we worked this out
Before extra slack is counted, both come to 3 - 2 = 1 m.
The bag in the box is easier to weigh up than response endpoints
What you can point to in the package is a carrying bag, with no new connection or cable length.
How we worked this out
40 ohms, a detachable 3 m lead and a 6.3 mm adapter appear on both listings. The carrying bag appears only in the SRH840A box.
Plug in your setup
Which headphones suit the way you listen?
Start with how you listen. Charging over USB is not the same as playing audio over USB, and some headphones need power even on a cable. These answers are placeholders until you apply your own.
Shure SRH440A
Fails these checksThis model cannot play over Bluetooth.
Shure SRH840A
Fails these checksThis model cannot play over Bluetooth.
Battery figures are maker claims for the stated mode. They do not reflect measured travel time. Volume, codec, calls and battery age all change runtime. Closed earcups can still leak some sound. Weight alone does not predict comfort. USB audio needs a compatible source and cable. This check does not judge sound quality, mic quality or amplifier power.
Option A
Shure, SRH440A
SRH440A
This closed recording headphone has a straight 3 m cable that locks into the earcup, which suits an interface sitting across the desk.
- Best for
- Capturing speech or instruments by way of a wired interface
Facts we checked
- A 3 m detachable straight cable is what the manual lists.
- Impedance is nominally 40 ohms, and the weight is 268 g.
- It comes with a 6.3 mm screw-on adapter.
Option B
Shure, SRH840A
SRH840A
This closed studio pair includes a locking straight lead and a carrying bag. What comes in the box works with a laptop jack and with a conventional headphone interface.
- Best for
- Closed-back monitoring in the studio, with a carrying bag included
Facts we checked
- A 40-ohm impedance and a 273 g weight are specified in the manual.
- A detachable 3 m straight cable comes in the package.
- Included are a carrying bag and a 6.3 mm adapter.
Spec by spec
Where they really differ
| Spec | Shure SRH440A | Shure SRH840A | In practice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Published weight | 268 g | 273 g | SRH840A weighs 5 g more. |
| Cable length | 3 m straight | 3 m straight | Each one gets to the same interface position. |
| Cable attachment | Detachable | Detachable locking lead | A compatible replacement cable fits either one. |
| Nominal impedance | 40 ohms | 40 ohms | Moving up a model leaves this nominal load unchanged. |
| Carrying bag | Not listed in standard box | Included | Here the packages clearly differ. |
| Construction | Closed-back | Closed-back | Wired monitoring around other people works with either one. |
| ANC or Bluetooth | Neither | Neither | Neither is a commuter headset with ANC. |
Trade-offs
What each pick costs you
With Shure SRH440A
- Neither a microphone nor active noise cancellation is included.
With Shure SRH840A
- Without a microphone on the cable, phone calls are out.
Change of plan
When the answer changes
You need that same wired recording reach of 3 m.
Go with Shure SRH440A. The long lead and adapter that many audio interfaces need come with SRH440A. If that is the job you need done, the higher model number adds no reach.
The supplied carrying bag is what you want.
Go with Shure SRH840A. A supplied bag helps when you move between rooms or sessions. If the headphone never leaves its stand, that difference may count for less than the current offers do.
Decision guide
How to decide
If you need a straightforward closed recording headphone and its current offer is lower, pick SRH440A. If you want the supplied carrying bag or a listening preference you have confirmed yourself, pick SRH840A. Both come with 3 m detachable leads and list the same 40-ohm impedance.
The lower-tier model already does the wiring job
The long lead and adapter that many audio interfaces need come with SRH440A. If that is the job you need done, the higher model number adds no reach.
Give the bag value only if you will use it
A supplied bag helps when you move between rooms or sessions. If the headphone never leaves its stand, that difference may count for less than the current offers do.
Settle sound preference by listening
The two models are described differently in acoustic terms, yet that does not establish a universal winner. Ranking them by frequency-range endpoints or driver size is not something this page does.
What this page can’t tell you
- Manufacturer manuals supply the weight figures, and no common independent weighing test stands behind them.
- This page ranks neither sound quality nor isolation.
By the numbers
What the data shows
What we found across the headphones we compare, plus the checked facts behind each finding.
How many fit
Only 17 of the 60 models checked meet every need here: “I want music even with a dead battery”, “My bag has no space left”, and “I connect to a headphone jack”.
17 models fit, out of 60 checkedShow the facts and the math
How we countedThe count uses each product's current fit ratings for “I want music even with a dead battery”, “My bag has no space left”, and “I connect to a headphone jack”. A need with no documented match is not counted.
| Product | Needs it meets | Facts we checked | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shure SRH440A |
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| Shure SRH840A |
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Ready to buy
See today’s price and what owners say
Open either model on Amazon for the current price, customer reviews and delivery options.
Shure SRH440A
You need that same wired recording reach of 3 m.
See price & reviews on AmazonShure SRH840A
The supplied carrying bag is what you want.
See price & reviews on AmazonEach link opens in a new tab.
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