New drivers and new acoustic characteristics. The design is more strict and modern. The headband is reinforced with metal (increased strength). A straight cable is included (a twisted cable is available optionally). It is possible to connect a cable with a headset (available optionally). Bass extension isnt as deep as on the 371, but still very good and ofc by far better than on my 271. My only real design/hardware complaint is that they come with only one long 3m cable. I’d happily use the Shure SRH840A as general-use headphones, but they’re not made for that job.

In general, this is the sound of the 840, perhaps it differs in some way, but there is definitely no way to compare. Is the minimum size of 840 and 840a the same? (when I was wearing 440 in the store, they didn't press close enough to my ears). In my very brief experience with the originals they were both surprisingly listenable. They were a slight letdown on build and comfort so alas I never owned either pair myself. I tried 840 and 1540. But I decided that the original ear pads are much better quality and sound better. Looks like they have an entirely redesigned build and comfort, which is great news for those familiar with the old pairs (especially the 440). Also, no more coiled cable!

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The comfort is great. Good padding on the right places, covers the entire ear and very lightweight construction. I bought a Thomann cable tie which fits perfectly, tightened it around the rotating hinges and now the cans rotate just a little to ensure a comfortable fit, but don't rotate) I have owned the previous generation model of the SRH-840 and love them and used them everyday for the last 4 years. I still have them but wanted to try the new model and see if they still match up sound and quality wise. So my review is mostly comparing them to the previous gen so bare that in mind.

The cord is of high quality and it’s good that it’s straight. But it is oak and has a microphonic effect, transmitting rustles, touches and blows well.

It’s an extremely different sonic soundscape to that of the recently reviewed Austrian Audio Hi-X15, for example. Those take a far more ruthless approach with trip-hammer treble and a more dynamic delivery, while the new Shure ‘phones offer a smoother, more relaxed sound. Shure SRH840A

I keep the AKG371 - cause they give a different perspective. Overall balanced but a little more distant than the 840A. The Shure SRH840A are home studio-grade “professional” monitoring headphones. They’re the follow-up to the minor classic SRH840, which I reviewed a decade ago.

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The depth of the ear pads is the same 18-19 mm, but you can insert a wire or balcony insulation there, this will increase the internal depth and the speaker will not touch the ear, this will not affect the sound much, the stage and body of the sound will increase. I play the guitar in them, the guitar in them sounds dense, full-bodied and angry, like a real pumped-up tube amp. I like it! Shure has made significant changes to the SRH840 series’s design, but the sound is largely familiar. The old and new headphones share the same claimed 5-25000Hz frequency response and have similarly low impedance for use with non-specialist hardware. While some other specs, such as sensitivity, are a little different, you wouldn’t expect a new pair of headphones to have internal hardware identical to that of a pair more than a decade old. The long cable is useful in the studio as you move around your gear, but would be annoying when you're on the move. If you want to use these headphones for commuting, you'll probably want to invest in a shorter one as well.