Shure SRH1540
Shure’s closed flagship: an unusually open, balanced sound for a sealed headphone, and remarkably light.
Our take
The SRH1540 is one of the more neutral closed-backs: even bass, clean mids, and an airy top that reads more open than most sealed designs, in a very light, comfortable build. A slight upper-treble lift is its main character; otherwise it’s a balanced, easy-to-drive closed option for work or quiet.
Measured on a Head Acoustics HMS II.3 artificial head — raw response, left/right averaged, normalized to 0 dB at 1 kHz. From the Sonic Temple Archive(2008–2014, one unit per model). Honest limits: seating variance runs ±0.4 dB in the mids to ±3.9 dB above 12 kHz, and open headphones read bass-light on this fixture — don’t read fine treble detail as settled. How we measure →
Common questions
Straight answers — the same ones our measurements support.
Does the SRH1540 need an amp?
No: easy to drive, though a clean source helps its clarity.
Is the SRH1540 good for mixing?
For a closed reference it is among the more neutral choices; check its slightly lifted top on a second source.
If you like the SRH1540
Close on the graph, or a deliberate step in one direction.