When comparing Shure SRH440 vs SoundPEATS Q9A, the Slant community recommends Shure SRH440 for most people. In the question“What are the best headphones?” Shure SRH440 is ranked 79th while SoundPEATS Q9A is ranked 124th. The most important reason people chose Shure SRH440 is:
Sound signature is fairly neutral, with slight elevations to the bass, mids and highs. Bass has a nice fullness to it, with some extra depth which gives the sound a lot of body. The mids are neutral but slightly forward, making the vocals sound really clear. Aggressive guitars can sound a bit harsh because of this though. Treble has good extension, and the added peak on the highest frequencies add more sparkle to the sound. Overall, these headphones can be used both for critical listening and for casual music enjoyment as well.
Specs
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking
Pros
Pro Reference quality sound which can be fun to listen to
Sound signature is fairly neutral, with slight elevations to the bass, mids and highs.
Bass has a nice fullness to it, with some extra depth which gives the sound a lot of body.
The mids are neutral but slightly forward, making the vocals sound really clear. Aggressive guitars can sound a bit harsh because of this though.
Treble has good extension, and the added peak on the highest frequencies add more sparkle to the sound.
Overall, these headphones can be used both for critical listening and for casual music enjoyment as well.
Pro Superb sound isolation
The closed back, over the ear design blocks out a significant amount of noise, allowing users to easily focus on the audio. Sound leak is also kept to a minimum.
These are great for tracking and monitoring, and are also great choices for use in quiet environments like a library.
Pro Headphone cable is detachable
You can easily remove the cable when these are not in use, making them easy to store. This also makes the cable easy to replace when needed.
Pro Powerful and deep bass, rich mids and smooth highs
The bass of these in-ear headphones is pretty powerful. It has great depth and punch. Mids are full and rich so vocals, guitars and keys can easily be heard. The highs are rolled off, so sparkle on the high frequencies is not that prominent, but this also results in a smoother sound that is easier on the ears.
Due to the bass-centric sound signature, these in-ear headphones are best for hip-hop, EDM and dance genres.
Pro These have a nice fit in the ears as they are lightweight and incorporate ear hooks in the design
These headphones will stay in place even if you get active. The combination of the lightweight earpieces along with the integrated ear-hooks mean that these headphones will not dislodge easily.
Pro Can be used during physical activity or outdoor trips as these headphones are splash resistant
These headphones are not prone to damage due to getting wet thanks to its sweat resistance. You can run or do similar activities using these headphones with no issues. These are still not water resistant though so submerging these in water can still cause damage.
Pro Convenient to use with your smartphone as these have remote functions and a built-in mic
These in-ear headphones have remote function buttons built into the earpieces, along with a microphone. This means that you do not have to pull out your smartphone in order to control basic music functions or to answer/end calls.
Pro Comes with a lot of extra accesories
Along with the in-ear headphones, you get a shirt clip, flexible bands for managing the headphone cable, three pairs of ear tips in different sizes along with a soft case and a pouch for easy transport of these headphones when on the go.
Cons
Con Build quality is rather poor
The overall build is quite plasticky, with a lot of rattles. While it is not fragile by any means, the build quality certainly does not inspire confidence.
Con Ear pads are not the most comfortable
Pleather is used on the surface of the ear pads which traps heat and can make the area around the ears warm up fast. Also, while the ear pads are large and soft, they are also quite thin. People with larger ears may experience their ears rubbing against the driver housing, which can get quite uncomfortable.
Con Thin headband padding
There is minimal cushioning on the headband, so the plastic may dig into your head when using the headphones for long periods.
Con Bass and recessed highs can make the sound come off as muddy for some
The bass is quite powerful that it can creep up to the lower mids. Combined with the rolled off highs, this can result in a sound that may be muddy or quite less-detailed for some. If you like lot of treble or sparkle in your music then there are other in-ear headphones that have better reproduction of the highs.
