In the iPhone era, headphones have taken a backseat to in-canal earphones for portability reasons. For the professional musician, mastering engineer, or serious audiophile, however, headphones are often still preferred for reference listening. Shure's SRH1440, at $399.99 (list), is actually a bargain for such discerning listeners. Compared to most headphones in this price range, the SRH1440  is feature-barren, and home recording studio enthusiasts should look elsewhere, as these open back headphones are designed to leak audio. However, if you're looking for a pair of powerful, professional headphones with excellent audio performance, the SRH1440 deserves your attention.

Design

The SRH1440's headband and circumaural (ear-enclosing) ear cups are black matte plastic, with the white Shure logo above both ears, and a black glossy logo embossed on the top of the band. The inside of the headband is lined with plush foam. At the bottom of each ear cup, there is a jack for the included audio cables—both of which terminate in a gold-plated 3.5mm connector. (A ¼-inch gold-plated adapter is included for stereo system and pro gear.)

The inclusion of an extra detachable audio cable and replacement earpads help extend the life, and thus overall value, of the package. The SRH1440, cables, and the replacement velour earpads and come nuzzled inside a massive black zip-up protective case. The headphones are big on their own, but the case makes it impractical to stuff them in a bag.  Add in the fact that the open back design of the earcups means sound is also projected outward, and we're looking at a pair that's more suitable for home use than portable use.

The most important design element to take into account for a large pair of professional headphones is comfort. Shure did well in this regard. The black velour ear pads are ideal not just because they don't get uncomfortable over long listening periods, but because they also don't get very hot. The headband presses down on the scalp a bit after a long listening session, but the discomfort is only minor—you can easily wear this pair for hours at a time.

Performance

The first thing you notice about the SRH1440's excellent audio performance is the crispness of the mids and highs, which take center stage over bass response. The low frequencies are perfectly represented—they just aren't exaggerated like they are in so many modern headphones, such as the Beats by Dr. Dre from Monster ($349.95, 4 stars). Orchestral music, like John Adams' "The Chairman Dances," sounds amazing, with a sense of space that you don't often get from in-canal earphones or even some headphones. The lower register instruments possess an ideal resonance, but the brass and wooden percussion sit front and center.

On deep bass tracks, like The Knife's "Silent Shout", there is no distortion, though you get the sense that, at maximum volume, it is just about to come creeping in to the equation. Well, no one should be monitoring at top volume, anyway, and at moderate-to-very high volumes the SRH1440 sounds clean as a whistle, reproducing super-deep bass parts clearly, without any crackling or muddiness. For all genres, the SRH1440 provides a flat response approach that lets music be reproduced with little embellishment.

If the $400 price is a bit too high, consider Shure's SRH550DJ ($125, 3.5 stars)—at less than half the price, it's a solid pair of circumaural headphones with far less leakage, which is ideal for DJs and home studios. The KRK Systems KNS-8400 ($149, 4 stars) are slightly pricier than the SRH550DJ , but offer more power and are definitely suited for recording studio applications. And if mobility is more of a priority, check out our Editors' Choice Bowers & Wilkins P5 Mobile Hi-Fi Headphones ($299.95, 4.5 stars)—they're lightweight, on-ear, and sound excellent, though with a bit more embellishment of the lower frequencies. For $400, however, the SRH1440 nails exactly what it's designed for: A precise, dynamic, comfortable pair of headphones suitable for pro applications or casual home listening.

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