A new Shure: the SRH1540

[G8YU]

I was just about to buy the SRH1840 and now they have a closed back model at the same price (for now). Now I don't know whether to wait on reviews to help me decide if I want the closed back SRH1540, or just buy it and hope I like it. Info on the 1540 is at Shure Americas | SRH1540 Premium Closed-Back Headphones
I've been looking at the higher priced headphone models and after eliminating the hd800, various Denons, LCDs, and Grados I was left with the ATH-W5000 or the SRH1840. While the W5000 is supposed to be great in most of the musical qualities I look for I was afraid the bass would be to thin for me. I read that the SRH1840 was also a bit thin on bass but was very "musical" with great imaging. I would guess the closed back of the SRH1540 would help with the bass, but I'm afraid it won't have the spacious sound-stage and imaging that I crave.
I'll report back with my experiences with the SRH1540 if I do buy it; and any of your experiences with Shure headphones are quite welcome too (might help my purchasing decisions).

[Audio 1]

Originally Posted by G8YU

I was just about to buy the SRH1840 and now they have a closed back model at the same price (for now). Now I don't know whether to wait on reviews to help me decide if I want the closed back SRH1540, or just buy it and hope I like it. Info on the 1540 is at Shure Americas | SRH1540 Premium Closed-Back Headphones
I've been looking at the higher priced headphone models and after eliminating the hd800, various Denons, LCDs, and Grados I was left with the ATH-W5000 or the SRH1840. While the W5000 is supposed to be great in most of the musical qualities I look for I was afraid the bass would be to thin for me. I read that the SRH1840 was also a bit thin on bass but was very "musical" with great imaging. I would guess the closed back of the SRH1540 would help with the bass, but I'm afraid it won't have the spacious sound-stage and imaging that I crave.
I'll report back with my experiences with the SRH1540 if I do buy it; and any of your experiences with Shure headphones are quite welcome too (might help my purchasing decisions).

Jude at Head-Fi did a video review on the 1540 and it looks like he is impressed with it and found it to be very easy to recommend for the price.

[HiFiGuy528]

I am not a fan of the look.

[Portugal]

Why did you eliminate the HD800 and Grado?

[jdandy]

Originally Posted by HiFiGuy528

I am not a fan of the look.

Mike.......You can't see them when they're on your head.

[bart]

Originally Posted by Portugal

Why did you eliminate the HD800 and Grado?

+1

[G8YU]

Originally Posted by Portugal

Why did you eliminate the HD800 and Grado?

Well, maybe I should utilize the Cable Co. lending library, but I don't. I rely on all the reviews that I can find online to get an idea of the sound characteristics and the strengths and weaknesses.

It looked like the lower model Grados would sound mostly like my Beyer DT880 600ohm (I want something different). Stepping up to the Grado models that might be a little warmer in sound signature would probably be around $1000, and at that price, what if I couldn't live with some of their sound characteristics. Okay, I could send them back, but I really hate sending things back (shipping costs, restocking fees, things getting lost in shipping).

The HD800 are also very expensive (to me); and the more I read about them, the more it seemed like I would eventually regret the purchase after listening with them for a while (a couple months perhaps).
The Shures seemed to have most of the sound characteristics I am looking for in my next headphone and their weaknesses would be much easier to live with considering their price. The ATH-W5000 was another that looked promising for price to performance ratio in the characteristics I'm looking for.