Shure Aonic 40 Hands-On Review: Sound This Good Should Be More Comfortable
Shure’s latest wireless noise-canceling headphones, the Rs. 18,396.89 Shure Aonic 40, made their premiere today at CES 2022, as well as Digital Trends had the opportunity to have some hands-on (and ears-on) time with the new cans before they were officially unveiled. What’s the verdict? They’re great-sounding, adjustable headphones that are only held back from receiving our top rating by the headband’s discomfort.
Shure Aonic 40 Specification
| Features | Aonic 40 |
| Drivers (Dynamic) | 40mm |
| Frequency Response | 20 Hz To 20 Khz |
| Supported Codecs | Aptx, Aptx Hd, Aac, And Sbc |
| Battery Life (Maximum) | 25 Hours |
| Weight | 11 Oz |
| Listening Time After 15-Minute Quick Charge | 5 Hours |
| Price | Rs. 18,396.89 |
| Design / size | Double-hinge design folds flat and collapses |
| ANC | Adjustable digital hybrid |
| Environment Mode | Yes, adjustable |
| Analog audio | Yes |
| USB audio | Music Mode: 16-bit / 48kHz Conference Mode: 16-bit / 16kHz |
| Custom presets | Yes |
| Quick charge | Yes: 15 minutes for five hours |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC, AptX, AptX-HD |
| Accessories | Case / USB cable / analog cable |
Shure Aonic 40 Specification
Heavy Headphones
Shure’s stylists did an outstanding job of making Shure Aonic 40 look stylish. The sculpted, single-sided earcup prongs offer these cans a wonderfully attractive and thin look, whether you pick with the black or white version. They’ll undoubtedly capture people’s attention. They are, however, extremely heavy at 11 ounces, despite their sleek appearance. To put that in context, Sony WH-1000XM4 weighs 8.9 ounces, while Bose Quiet Comfort 45 weighs only 8.4 ounces.
The fact that a set of cans is heavy does not necessarily imply that they will be uncomfortable. Despite the fact that Apple’s AirPods Max are a hefty 13 ounces, thanks to their revolutionary mesh headband and great clamping force, they remain comfortable.
Shure Aonic 40 should be comfy as well, as the headband is coated in a soft yet gripping silicone rubber and grips your head with just the correct amount of pressure. The headband, unfortunately, is thinner than others, and the section that makes touch with your head is even narrower. There isn’t enough of whatever padding Shure has put behind that rubber layer.
Sound Is Pleasant
The comfort issue may not affect everyone, and I hope it doesn’t bother you if you buy these, since once you start to listen, you won’t want to put them off.
Shure’s Aonic Free True Wireless earbuds impressed me with their accuracy and detail, and Shure Aonic 40 earbuds are just as gratifying. The high frequencies are very clear right out of the box, as well as the warm yet balanced middle helps to show a lot of the nuances that weaker headphones can hide.
Clear Calls
Calling on Shure Aonic 40 is a strength, according to Shure, and I tend to concur. Even while strolling down some highly busy streets, the mics were able to filter out the majority of the undesirable noises while maintaining perfect clarity of my voice. Although there was some wind noise, it was never a deal-breaker. They don’t have quite as much natural resonance as JBL’s excellent Tour One, but they’ll suffice for phone conversations and video meetings.
Transparency And Noise Cancellation
Shure Aonic 40 cans successfully block out extraneous noises as noise cancelling headphones. There are three degrees of ANC: light, normal, and maximum; however, I couldn’t tell the difference between them, so I left them on maximum the entire time. It’s powerful enough that you can easily hear callers or podcasts even in noisy environments, but they’re not nearly as magically silent when listening to nothing as, example, the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 or the Apple AirPods Max, but they’re also far less costly.
Controls
When it comes to controls, they’re relatively standard: A single button on the left earcup controls dual power and Bluetooth connectivity, while the right earcup has a three-button cluster that controls playback, volume, track skipping, and call answer/end. ANC and mic muting are controlled by a dedicated button on the right earcup during calls.
They’re simple to use if you don’t use gloves, but the switches are too small and close together to work precisely without bare fingertips.
Battery Life
Shure Aonic Free plays it safe with 24 hours of playability. That’s higher than the AirPods Max or the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 (20 hours), but less than Sony WH-1000XM4 (30 hours), and roughly the same as Bose QC45 (24 hours).
Pros And Cons Of Shure Aonic 40
| Pros | Cons |
| Design is simple and elegant. | Long-term use is uncomfortable. |
| Sound quality is excellent. | There are no wear sensors. |
| Call quality is excellent. | ————- |
| EQ tweaks galore | ————- |
| Digital audio input via USB-C | ————- |
Our Opinion
Shure Aonic 40 should be a slam-dunk suggestion when you consider its incredibly competitive $249 price and many amazing features. However, their uncomfortably tight headband causes us to stop. Still, if you get a chance to put them on and don’t mind the tight headband, you should definitely consider them.
Read Also: 10 Best Gaming Headset Deals For January 2022
Conclusion
Shure Aonic 40 should be considered top contenders if you’re looking for a mix of studio-inspired audio quality, easy lifestyle integration, long battery life, as well as in customization, particularly considering their price.
People May Ask
Q- Is It True That Shure Earphones Are Good?
A- Shure SE215 in-ears are good for critical listening and outperform the higher-end models in the same series.
Q- Is Shure A Reputable Brand?
A- Shure and Sennheiser are two of the greatest brands of wireless microphones, making superb handheld wireless microphone systems.
