If you’re familiar with headphone amplifiers, especially the good ones, you know that some can pretty dramatically improve you pair of can’s sound. But are they worth it, especially if you have to haul yet another gadget around? Initially, we would say “no”, but that’s before we got our hands on the new Shure SHA900 Amplifier.
At $1000, it doesn’t exactly have a disposable price, but then again, if you’re a serious audiophile, it’s tough to put a number on luxurious sound. And that is what the SHure SHA900 will give you…uncompromising, concert quality audio that will turn almost any pair of headphones into something new altogether.
The Problem
With so much digital audio content out there, its highly-compressed audio nature, especially with MP3s and other streaming content, causes you lose a lot of sonic integrity. In short, it doesn’t come close to the quality found in a master studio track. But that’s where the Shure SHA900 comes in.
With the Shure device, all compressed music files sound ions better, thanks to its amplifying technology and its digital-to-analog converter (DAC). The Shure can take any kind of track, whether it comes from a streaming service or a PC file, and give it a mouth-watering jump in sound quality. In fact, it’s such a differential, serious audiophiles will wonder how they ever lived without it.
Shure SHA900 Design
The SHA900 has an incredibly small profile and a deliciously sleek design. Its exterior case is made from a high-finish chrome and aluminum, and the whole device is designed to strap behind your phone. There are two rubberized pads at the back, which provide some scratch protection.
The large left hand knob acts as a command switch, controlling its customizable 4-band EQ and limiter. The power key pulls double duty as well, acting as both the power button and navigational control . There’s also a hold switch to lock in all of the settings you choose.
Input-wise, the Shure SHA900 includes both a micro-USB digital input, which is also a charging port, as well as a 3.5mm analog jack. The device can source both analog and digital audio, which means it can work as a sound card for your computer, and of course as a powerful mini amp for any and all smartphones and smart devices.
The Sure SHA900 comes with a 3.5mm cable as well as a micro-USB adapters to connect to PCs and smart devices (both Android and iOS). There’s also a pair of heavy-duty rubber bands to strap the unit to your phone. And while we’re not huge fans of an additional device to carry, the Shure’s profile and size make for a pretty easy device to tote.
Shure SHA900 Performance
If you want to get down and dirty with the technical specs, the SHA 900 supports up to 24bit/96kHz audio resolution, which is a ton higher than most audio sources. It has a frequency
response of 10Hz-50kHz, and its output impedance is .35 ohms, with a headphone impedance range from 6-600 ohms.
The battery life is outstanding, which we found can give you a solid 22-hours of analog playback, and around 11-12 hours of digital playback.
Performance-wise, I think you can probably guess at this point that the Shure SHA900 gives every
musical note a serious promotion, separating instruments from vocals, uncompressing any compressed files, and delivering a huge and dynamic expression of audio. It also enhances the bass with a richness we think has never before been achieved in a tiny amplifier of its kind, and it improves the balance of the music to the point where an EQ is not completely needed.
In short, the SHA900 brings a whole new level to sound reproduction, getting rid of imperfections, and offering more definition and depth to the music. Additionally, it reveals sounds and characteristics of the music that you might not have noticed before through other listening devices. This is the ultimate tribute to the Shure SHA900’s reproduction talents.
Bottom Line
For serious music lovers, the Shure SHA900 is a “no-brainer”. It enhances audio so dramatically that music transforms into a true sonic experience. True, the price tag is a bit salty, but the results are thrilling including richer bass, deeper instrument/vocal separation, a customizable 4-band EQ….all in a super sexy and slim design.
If you’re not messing around with your music, but truly appreciate the finest of audio quality, the Shure SHA900 is worth the money and the addition to your audio arsenal. You can purchase it for $999 through Shure, here.
.){kind=link}