Short answer: the Sennheiser HD 599. It ranks #215 of 481 over-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 3.6/5, at $189.95. The Shure SRH840A ranks #241, rated 3.5/5, at $169, $20.95 cheaper, a saving that is not big enough to make up the sound-quality gap.
Why pick the Sennheiser HD 599: A preference score of 73 and a modest 2.74 dB deviation from the Harman target in oratory1990’s measurement make this a fairly smooth open back. The catch: Sub-bass falls about 6 dB under target below 60 Hz, so the extra warmth sits higher up and the deepest rumble is missing.
The case for the Shure SRH840A: Bass is big, with sub-bass about 3.9 dB and bass about 5.3 dB above target, which suits hip hop, EDM and pop where weight matters. The catch: The bass boost of 5.3 dB can bleed into the low mids and cloud vocals and bass guitar.
Buy the Sennheiser HD 599. It is rated higher for sound quality, and saving $20.95 with the Shure SRH840A does not make up for the sound-quality gap.
Still deciding? The full Headphones rankings cover every ranked option.
A preference score of 73 and a modest 2.74 dB deviation from the Harman target in oratory1990’s measurement make this a fairly smooth open back.
Amazon $189.95 eBay
Bass is big, with sub-bass about 3.9 dB and bass about 5.3 dB above target, which suits hip hop, EDM and pop where weight matters.
Amazon $169.00 eBayPrices on this page were last checked October 16, 2026 at 5:46 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Sennheiser HD 599 | Shure SRH840A | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $189.95 | $169.00 |
| Ranked | #215 of 481 in Over-Ear Headphones | #241 of 481 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 73 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) | 71 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.74 dB standard deviation | 2.25 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.42 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.99 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 45 Hz (-9.3 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+2.6 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Back | Open | Closed |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Impedance | 50 ohms | 44 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 106 dB SPL (1 kHz, 1 Vrms) | 102 dB/mW |
| Weight | 0.6 lbs (250 g) | 0.6 lbs (273 g) |
| Frequency Response | 12Hz - 38.5kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 5Hz - 25kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Drivers | - | 1 x 40mm dynamic |
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