Shure SRH1540 vs Neumann NDH20

Short answer: the Shure SRH1540. It ranks #144 of 216 over-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 3.3/5, at $549; the Neumann NDH20 ranks #194, rated 2.6/5, at $545. With prices this close, go by the sound-quality ranking rather than the cost.

The Shure SRH1540 is the better-sounding option. The smoothest of this group, with just 2.33 dB of deviation and a biggest dip of only 3.3 dB near 8.6 kHz, so treble is more even and cymbals keep their detail. Watch for: Upper bass sits about 5.1 dB above target, which adds warmth and some boom that can cloud kick drums and male vocals.

What the Neumann NDH20 does well: The closed back isolates well, and bass extends to 20 Hz with about 4 dB of extra weight below 200 Hz, a good fit for warm and bassy listeners. Watch for: An 11.2 dB dip near 9.8 kHz in oratory1990’s measurement and air about 3.7 dB under target leave cymbals and room ambience muted, and a 3 dB recession in the upper mids pulls vocals back.

Buy the Shure SRH1540. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $4 saving on the Neumann NDH20 is not enough to make up the difference.

Want more options? Browse the full Headphones rankings.

Specifications Side By Side

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• Shure SRH1840 vs Shure SRH1540
• Focal Azurys vs Shure SRH1540
• Audeze MM-100 vs Shure SRH1540
• Sennheiser HD 598 CS vs Neumann NDH20
• Neumann NDH20 vs Audeze LCD-2 Classic

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The Two Headphones In Full

Shure SRH1540: $549.00 Amazon eBay

Pros: The smoothest of this group, with just 2.33 dB of deviation and a biggest dip of only 3.3 dB near 8.6 kHz, so treble is more even and cymbals keep their detail. Mids are within about 1.2 dB of target and treble sits close to it. At 286 g with a closed back, 46 ohms and 99 dB per mW, it works from a phone and isolates reasonably.

Cons: Upper bass sits about 5.1 dB above target, which adds warmth and some boom that can cloud kick drums and male vocals. Sound is warmer than the Harman target overall, so it suits listeners who like a bassy presentation more than neutral ones. It is wired only, and the Bose QuietComfort 35 II has a higher rating at a lower price with wireless.

Full Shure SRH1540 review and specifications →

Back	Closed
Connection	Wired
Deviation From Target	2.33 dB standard deviation
Driver Type	Dynamic
Drivers	1 x 40mm dynamic
Form Factor	Over-ear
Frequency Response	5Hz - 25kHz (Manufacturer specified)
Harman Preference Score	67 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ)
Impedance	46 ohms
Sensitivity	99 dB/mW
Sub-bass Extension	Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+0.5 dB at 30 Hz)
Tonal Tilt	-1.18 (negative is warmer, positive brighter)
Weight	0.6 lbs (286 g)

EQ preset to match the Harman target

Set a preamp of -3.4 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by AutoEQ from its measured frequency response.

Filter	Frequency	Gain	Q
Low shelf	105 Hz	+1.9 dB	0.70
Peak	107 Hz	-5.7 dB	0.58
Peak	688 Hz	+1.7 dB	0.62
Peak	6,484 Hz	+2.0 dB	0.31
Peak	2,709 Hz	-2.3 dB	1.97
High shelf	10,000 Hz	-0.4 dB	0.70
Peak	4,812 Hz	+2.0 dB	4.68
Peak	5,940 Hz	-2.4 dB	6.00
Peak	40 Hz	-0.6 dB	2.05
Peak	60 Hz	+0.8 dB	4.03

• Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
  • AutoEQ results for the Shure SRH1540 (oratory1990 measurement)
• Head-to-Head Comparisons
  • Shure SRH1540 vs Audeze MM-100
  • Shure SRH1540 vs Focal Azurys
  • Shure SRH1540 vs Shure SRH1840

Neumann NDH20: $545.00 Amazon eBay

Pros: The closed back isolates well, and bass extends to 20 Hz with about 4 dB of extra weight below 200 Hz, a good fit for warm and bassy listeners. At 114 dB/V it gets loud from most sources despite a 150 ohm impedance.

Cons: An 11.2 dB dip near 9.8 kHz in oratory1990’s measurement and air about 3.7 dB under target leave cymbals and room ambience muted, and a 3 dB recession in the upper mids pulls vocals back. At 390 g it is very heavy. The Austrian Audio Hi-X55 carries a higher rating at a lower price.

Full Neumann NDH20 review and specifications →

Released	Jan 2019 (7 years ago)
Back	Closed
Built-in Microphone	No
Connection	Wired
Deviation From Target	3.45 dB standard deviation
Driver Type	Dynamic
Drivers	1 x 38mm dynamic
Form Factor	Over-ear
Frequency Response	5Hz - 30kHz (Manufacturer specified)
Harman Preference Score	50 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ)
Impedance	150 ohms
Sensitivity	114 dB SPL/V
Sub-bass Extension	Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+2.2 dB at 30 Hz)
Tonal Tilt	-1.36 (negative is warmer, positive brighter)
Weight	0.9 lbs (390 g)

EQ preset to match the Harman target

Set a preamp of -6.2 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by AutoEQ from its measured frequency response.

Filter	Frequency	Gain	Q
Low shelf	105 Hz	-2.7 dB	0.70
Peak	194 Hz	-3.7 dB	0.86
Peak	2,307 Hz	+6.0 dB	1.68
Peak	3,430 Hz	-4.7 dB	2.52
Peak	1,753 Hz	+2.5 dB	2.42
High shelf	10,000 Hz	+3.0 dB	0.70
Peak	797 Hz	-0.8 dB	1.69
Peak	83 Hz	+1.2 dB	3.07
Peak	40 Hz	-0.6 dB	1.43
Peak	7,033 Hz	+2.7 dB	5.90

• Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
  • AutoEQ results for the Neumann NDH20 (oratory1990 measurement)
• Head-to-Head Comparisons
  • Neumann NDH20 vs Audeze LCD-2 Classic
  • Neumann NDH20 vs Sennheiser HD 598 CS