Which is better for flying and commuting?

The Bose QuietComfort. Its active noise cancellation and wireless Bluetooth are built for noisy travel, and it runs up to 24 hours per charge. The Shure is wired and relies on passive isolation only.

Which sounds more accurate for studio work?

The Shure SRH840A. Its 40 mm neodymium drivers and tailored frequency response (5 Hz–25 kHz) are aimed at monitoring and recording. The Bose is tuned for everyday listening with noise cancellation on.

Can I take calls with either one?

Only the Bose. It has three built-in microphones, including a noise-cancelling mic. The Shure SRH840A has no microphone.

The Shure is likely to outlast the Bose in service life because it has no battery to wear out and its cable is detachable and replaceable. The Bose battery degrades over years of charging.

Is the Shure worth the extra over the Bose?

They are close in price: the Shure has been as low as $139.00 (November 2) and the Bose as low as $130.00 (October 28). Pay the extra only if you need wired studio sound; otherwise the Bose covers more everyday use.

Do either resist sweat or rain?

Neither is waterproof. The Bose has no official IP rating, and the Shure is listed as water resistant but not waterproof, so keep both out of heavy rain and workouts.

Bose QuietComfort Wireless Headphones vs Shure SRH840A

Buy the Bose QuietComfort for travel, commuting, or any noisy room where you want wireless freedom and active noise cancellation. Buy the Shure SRH840A for studio monitoring, recording, or critical listening at a desk, where a wired, neutral-sounding headphone matters more than portability. On price they are close: the Bose has been as low as $130.00 (October 28) and as high as $169.00 (October 30), while the Shure has been as low as $139.00 (November 2) and as high as $169.00 (October 28).

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