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Shure’s SRH550DJ headphones have swivelling cups that make them easier to move away from your ear if you wish to monitor outside sounds. As the name suggests, it’s a nice feature for bedroom DJs and one that adds comfort and flexibility for everyone else. The on-ear headphones’ padded cups sit securely on top of the ear.Like most similarly styled headphones they can get a little warm, but they’re nonetheless comfortable for long use – their cup padding is interchangeable with that of related Shure models. They come with a screw-on 1/4 inch audio adaptor.
We were pleased to find that almost no noise escaped the headphones at comfortable listening volumes and that they also excluded most external noise. They can output plenty of volume from a modest input, and as such are well suited for use with MP3 players. The padding on the headband is minimal, but sufficiently comfortable; the headband itself is sturdy and highly adjustable. The cups fold up for easy storage in the supplied bag.
Sound quality was as good as we’ve come to expect from Shure, with an excellent balance between high, mid-range and bass notes. The bass in particular was rich, intense and beautifully rounded, but didn’t obfuscate the mid-range. Higher notes were crisp and sharp, and subtle details such as fret noises and incidental harmonics were easily audible.
At nearly £60, the SRH550DJ headphones are priced for audio enthusiasts, but they aren’t prohibitively expensive. We were impressed by their reasonable weight and a versatile design that makes them as suitable for listening to your MP3 player on the tube or plugging into your PC as they are for DJing. They’re bassier than most of Shure’s range but still have the precise audio quality we look for in our favourite headphones. They’re our Best Buy on-ear headphones.
