B&W P7 vs Shure SRH1540

[andymanicy]

Wondering if anyone has compared these 2 closed back monsters?

I currently own the P7's and really like them, but they lack the super high top end details of Beyerdynamics to my ears, of which I have some experience with both DT880's and T70p's. I like a nice strong and tight low end, good present midrange for crunchy guitars, and detailed top end for lush sounding vocals.

I mainly listen to modern rock and indie music.

Looking forward to your opinions!

Thanks

 

[Paulq]

I'm in a similar position to you as I own the P7's and like them a lot; despite not being able to decide whether I like them enough to keep them. I've been looking at the Shure's too and they will probably be my next purchase so I'd also be interested in hearing if anyone has experience of both.

 

[dalethorn]

I've had both. The P7 has some minor colorations but is hi-fi balanced for bass, mids and treble. The 1540 is darker, with a recessed upper treble. If you lean towards a darker DJ-type sound, the 1540 may be perfect. The 1540 has a great build and really great detail, although depending on the music you listen to, you may want to boost the upper treble slightly. There's little or no risk there, as the Shure 1540 quality is very high.

 

[andymanicy]

I've had both. The P7 has some minor colorations but is hi-fi balanced for bass, mids and treble. The 1540 is darker, with a recessed upper treble. If you lean towards a darker DJ-type sound, the 1540 may be perfect. The 1540 has a great build and really great detail, although depending on the music you listen to, you may want to boost the upper treble slightly. There's little or no risk there, as the Shure 1540 quality is very high.

Thanks for the replies! I'll tell you where I'm at...

To my ears the B&W P7 - has a high quality and detailed punchy sound, very exciting, but the EQ is overly done. I like a nice strong tight bass, but it's a little overdone here and these headphones seem to be hiding something for me, especially in the top end clarity when compared to...

the Beyerdynamic T70p - which are the most detailed sounding cans I've heard yet. I'm hearing things in my record collection I haven't heard before. The sustain on certain notes and reverbs is gorgeous. And vocals sound sublime. Nice mids, very showy top end. They are lacking bottom end for me though, and also lacking the 'excitement' and punch of the P7's. What a shame. Also, they slide around on my head annoyinly.

Beyerdynamic DT880 pro - These are fantastic value for money, but they don't 'wow' me really. Not enough tight low end, mids are scooped, detail is good but not exceptional... they are a good headphone to mix my bands demos with though.

What I really want is:

Tight and punchy bass / low end. I want to feel that kick drum!

Good, strong mids for crunchy guitars - I don't want them recessed or scooped.

Nice airy top end, lots of detail and clarity, but not fatiguing.

I need them closed back ideally, over-ear, low impedance would help use them in lots of different applications, I like my detail and I like some excitement in my cans - and it would be nice to be able to use them for mixing tracks at home.

Suggestions? Does the Shure SRH1540 fit the bill? Any others I should try?

Love the look of the Shures...

I like guitar based rock music. Anything from Sigur Ros, through Radiohead and Oasis, to Foo Fighters.

Thanks!

 

[dalethorn]

I've had both. The P7 has some minor colorations but is hi-fi balanced for bass, mids and treble. The 1540 is darker, with a recessed upper treble. If you lean towards a darker DJ-type sound, the 1540 may be perfect. The 1540 has a great build and really great detail, although depending on the music you listen to, you may want to boost the upper treble slightly. There's little or no risk there, as the Shure 1540 quality is very high.

Thanks for the replies! I'll tell you where I'm at...

To my ears the B&W P7 - has a high quality and detailed punchy sound, very exciting, but the EQ is overly done. I like a nice strong tight bass, but it's a little overdone here and these headphones seem to be hiding something for me, especially in the top end clarity when compared to...

the Beyerdynamic T70p - which are the most detailed sounding cans I've heard yet. I'm hearing things in my record collection I haven't heard before. The sustain on certain notes and reverbs is gorgeous. And vocals sound sublime. Nice mids, very showy top end. They are lacking bottom end for me though, and also lacking the 'excitement' and punch of the P7's. What a shame. Also, they slide around on my head annoyinly.

Beyerdynamic DT880 pro - These are fantastic value for money, but they don't 'wow' me really. Not enough tight low end, mids are scooped, detail is good but not exceptional... they are a good headphone to mix my bands demos with though.

What I really want is:

Tight and punchy bass / low end. I want to feel that kick drum!

Good, strong mids for crunchy guitars - I don't want them recessed or scooped.

Nice airy top end, lots of detail and clarity, but not fatiguing.

I need them closed back ideally, over-ear, low impedance would help use them in lots of different applications, I like my detail and I like some excitement in my cans - and it would be nice to be able to use them for mixing tracks at home.

Suggestions? Does the Shure SRH1540 fit the bill? Any others I should try?

Love the look of the Shures...

I like guitar based rock music. Anything from Sigur Ros, through Radiohead and Oasis, to Foo Fighters.

Thanks!

The Shure 940 is much closer to your description than the 1540. Headfonia called it the detail monster. I compared it at length to my Sennheiser HD800, and while the HD800 had better upper-end resolution, the overall sound was very, very close.

 

[andymanicy]

[/quote]

The Shure 940 is much closer to your description than the 1540. Headfonia called it the detail monster. I compared it at length to my Sennheiser HD800, and while the HD800 had better upper-end resolution, the overall sound was very, very close.

[/quote]

Hi guys - Just tried the Shure SRH1540 and thought I'd give my opinion...

They were really nice quality and sounded very good indeed with excellent seperation - but they had 2 annoying flaws I could hear.

Firstly, the low end whilst sounding excellent, mixes in to the low mids too much causing some confusion and a lack of 'tightness' to my ears.

Secondly, the top end sparkle which I adore in my Beyers, just isn't there - which means as detailed as these cans sound, they're missing that magical sparkle I can hear in the T70p's, which has become essential to me. Many people have said the trebles are recessed. Dale - you were totally right on your thoughts on this headphone.

If only the T70's had more low end and a bit more punch/attack! Maybe I need to try the T5p? Dale do you have any thoughts on the T5p?

The search goes on, it seems. Thanks for all the help / comments so far!

 

[rich51080]

If you are after closed cans then I suggest the AKG K550's. I use them for listening to hard rock/metal and they are amazing.

There are concerns they are bass light but in my opinion they are tonally perfect.

And they are available for less than £100 which is a fantastic price.

I know The Architects used the K550'S in the studio as Sam the vocalist was wearing them whilst doing the vocals.

They need an amp to sound their best.

 

[dalethorn]

The Shure 940 is much closer to your description than the 1540. Headfonia called it the detail monster. I compared it at length to my Sennheiser HD800, and while the HD800 had better upper-end resolution, the overall sound was very, very close.

Hi guys - Just tried the Shure SRH1540 and thought I'd give my opinion... They were really nice quality and sounded very good indeed with excellent seperation - but they had 2 annoying flaws I could hear. Firstly, the low end whilst sounding excellent, mixes in to the low mids too much causing some confusion and a lack of 'tightness' to my ears. Secondly, the top end sparkle which I adore in my Beyers, just isn't there - which means as detailed as these cans sound, they're missing that magical sparkle I can hear in the T70p's, which has become essential to me. Many people have said the trebles are recessed. Dale - you were totally right on your thoughts on this headphone. If only the T70's had more low end and a bit more punch/attack! Maybe I need to try the T5p? Dale do you have any thoughts on the T5p? The search goes on, it seems. Thanks for all the help / comments so far!

You wouldn't think your requirement would be difficult to fill, but it is! Here's my photos page, and Audioforge 1 to 5 have 76 headphone curves, and I see only 2 that come close to your description - AKG K712 and Grado SR-325e. But the deep bass may be a little bit light on those. The T5p I haven't heard, but I think I'd really like it.

http://dalethorn.com/Photos.html

 

[JoelSim]

Are they to be used mainly on mobile devices? If not then the T1 is the hifi T5p if you like, and the T70 the hifi version of the T70p.