Shure’s been building pro audio equipment for forever. Chances are, if you’ve seen a band perform in the last 75 years, you’ve seen some Shure gear at work. While the company is well known for its microphones, it has recently begun expanding into the headphone market. Shure has brought its considerable audio know-how to bear on the SRH240 (not shown) and the SRH440 (pictured) headphones, both of which offer studio-level sound at prices that make them attractive for home use as well.

Both the 240s and 440s are over-the-ear headphones, meaning that the ear cups surround your entire ear. This offers increased noise isolation, both for the listener who wants to mute outside noise and for everyone around you who isn’t interested in your Ace of Base dance remixes. The headphones feature stereo miniplugs, which will work with your iPod, as well as screw-on adapters for full-size headphone jacks like those on home stereos.

Shure's new headphones deliver for a wide range of listeners.

The sound quality on both models is excellent. The lower-priced 240s have a slightly narrower frequency range (20Hz to 20kHz) than the 440’s (10Hz to 22kHz), but both feature a fairly flat audio profile--meaning you hear the music as it was recorded, with natural reproduction across the audio spectrum. Bass response is good, and highs are crisp without being fatiguing. Both headphones are comfortable for extended wear.

The 440s feature a fuller sound, largely due to increased padding around the earcup and better outside noise isolation overall. Unlike the 240s, they also fold up for travel and can be stashed in the included drawstring bag. The 440s are also 5.7 ounces heavier than the 9-ounce 240s, making the latter better for use on the go. The earcups on the 440 have a wider swivel range, making them more comfortable, and we appreciate the heavier replaceable coiled cable, which ultimately makes the 440s more durable in the long run.