I think the voice is just haunting on the acoustic live version but it's not quite as clean and 'perfect' as the studio version which is very different. Let me know what you think! Most people I asked seem to prefer the studio version. Also, this is supposed to be Symphonic Metal, do you think it fits within this category or is it more like Rock?
 

 

I love to watch her, and listen to her. I enjoyed both versions, however, I have read that she never had any formal voice training, and assuming that is true, you can see it in the acoustic version. It's not really a fair comparison though, because the studio track clearly has either some kind of chorus effect on her voice, or she did multiple backup tracks for parts of the song.
 
And while they have been symphonic metal in the past, I'm not sure this album qualifies as such...although in all fairness, I haven't heard it very many times yet.

The acoustic one.
 
The other was too generic, boring, casual. 
 
But I don't like them both. 

She is almost a gorgeous as her voice, I have been a fan since 2003 and I do hope to hear some more of that open spacious epic music a la The Silent Force, now the 5.1DTS release of that album is ungodly good.