[Minarets]

Damn, I hate hearing this, as I had mdr1r and hated them. Comfy, but they creaked which was annoying and they were way to warm sounding for my taste.

 

[Jozurr]

Jozurr can you please provide me a comparison between the first creative aurvana live and the sony mdr 1r? Right now i have the first cals and i just sold my 3rd pair of over ear sennheiser momentums yesterday.... I really loved the sound and the built from the momentums but unfortunately the fit\seal issues annoyed me to the point of not enjoying the music. I am now thinking of getting a pair of mdr 1rs as a replacement for the momentums....

I listen mostly to pop, rock and edm by the way....

Sorry for the trouble m8...

 
The MDR-1r have a mid bass bump whereas the CAL1 have more sub bass
 
The mids on the MDR-1r are very forward and on the CAL they seem to be balanced or even slightly recessed
 
The highs on the MDR-1R are very smooth and on the CAL they're more airy and open but not sibilant at all. You can't really dislike the highs on the CAL even if you don't like treble too much (I hate harsh highs and still dont hate the highs on the CAL)
 
Overall the MDR-1R are cleaner than the CAL.
 
Comfort wise the MDR-1R are WAY better than the CAL. CAL don't cover my full ears and touch part of my ears whereas the MDR-1R are completely circumaural. The MDR-1R have a slight rattle but I'm ok with it since i don't move too much and it doesn't disturb me at all.
 
I tried the momentums but hated the comfort and design. Sound wise they seemed to sound more similar to the CAL than the MDR-1R.
 
For all those genres that you mentioned, you might need more bass than the MDR-1R for EDM, and better highs for rock (guitars).
 
For rock and pop I'm assuming you'd need better mids than the CAL? (Maybe you're ok with them but I'm not sure)
 
The MDR-1R replaced my original CAL (I like the smoother highs on the MDR-1R more). Just wish they had more sub bass.

 

[Pedro Oliveira]

So besides the bass decrease the mdr 1rs are a complete improvement over the first cals right?
Hows the isolation for outside use?

The MDR-1r have a mid bass bump whereas the CAL1 have more sub bass

The mids on the MDR-1r are very forward and on the CAL they seem to be balanced or even slightly recessed

The highs on the MDR-1R are very smooth and on the CAL they're more airy and open but not sibilant at all. You can't really dislike the highs on the CAL even if you don't like treble too much (I hate harsh highs and still dont hate the highs on the CAL)

Overall the MDR-1R are cleaner than the CAL.

Comfort wise the MDR-1R are WAY better than the CAL. CAL don't cover my full ears and touch part of my ears whereas the MDR-1R are completely circumaural. The MDR-1R have a slight rattle but I'm ok with it since i don't move too much and it doesn't disturb me at all.

I tried the momentums but hated the comfort and design. Sound wise they seemed to sound more similar to the CAL than the MDR-1R.

For all those genres that you mentioned, you might need more bass than the MDR-1R for EDM, and better highs for rock (guitars).

For rock and pop I'm assuming you'd need better mids than the CAL? (Maybe you're ok with them but I'm not sure)

The MDR-1R replaced my original CAL (I like the smoother highs on the MDR-1R more). Just wish they had more sub bass.

 

[andreamang]

Sorry for the question...CAL 2 or Sennheiser HD 518 (88€ amazon.it)?
Thanks

 

 

[NimnuL]

andreamang, I'd say CAL!2 are much better phones. HD518 in my opinion are cheap and not interesting cans. The one worth buy are HD558 but they are also open phones which gives different sound signature.

 

[andreamang]

Ok thank's...but compared to the DT770, CAL2 is better or worse? Almost the same price...

 

[iancraig10]

Ok thank's...but compared to the DT770, CAL2 is better or worse? Almost the same price...

That's a tough call! I used to have DT770's and felt that the treble quality was just a little hard sounding so they were a bit fatiguing for me. I was using the 250ohm pro version.

The CAL2 is perhaps looser in the bass and not as 'hard' sounding. Treble is 'softer' and bass can be very sub woofer like. The Beyer build is better imo since I don't like shiny headphones and the 770's are mhatt. You can swap leads on the CAL, which can be useful.

I can see why some guys might not like the CAL with its big bass, but it is a close call with the Beyer tbh.

Perhaps the CAL is more 'organic' sounding than the 770 which is slightly harder sounding in the treble.

 

[andreamang]

We can say that the Beyer 770 and CAL 2 are similar? Only beyer that cost more, or am I wrong?




it really is a good upgrade compared to the CAL 1 ... a really a good headset that defeats the big brands???
I wonder if it will lower the price ... at that time it will probably be mine...

 

[iancraig10]

The first CAL sounds quite different in the bass and I think many might prefer it because of that. The CAL2 is heavier sounding and the bass is looser, which some won't like I think. For me, it's different rather than better. I enjoy its sound sig which is warm and beefy!!
 
The DT770 is cooler and 'beefy'!! The original CAL is more like ham with no beef. It's very clean sounding and is cheaper than the CAL2 as well. Build isn't so good though.
 
You know, I'm not sure what I would choose between the DT770 and CAL2. DT770 is built like a tank but isn't really a portable headphone. The CAL2 can be used from Ipods and the lead can be changed making it really nice for that kind of use while at home, you can stick a long lead onto it for the TV. It has a low impedance, so is easier to drive than the DT770 too.

 

[NimnuL]

Ok thank's...but compared to the DT770, CAL2 is better or worse? Almost the same price...

 
DT770 is nothing special to my ears. I'd say that DT880 and DT990 are very interesting, sparkling and technically precise. 
To me CAL!2 are much better in every way (comfort, precision, fun). 

 

[andreamang]

Well thanks for the info maybe useful to other users ...
 
At this point I understand that the CAL 2 is really a great headset, headphones comparable to higher cost and have always recommended in the forums or am I wrong? If so I'm surprised at those who say that the price is still too high ... is a best buy and if he's going to do some creative offer are to be seized.
The difference with the first CAL is clear...

 

[RoMee]

  Well thanks for the info maybe useful to other users ...
 
At this point I understand that the CAL 2 is really a great headset, headphones comparable to higher cost and have always recommended in the forums or am I wrong? If so I'm surprised at those who say that the price is still too high ... is a best buy and if he's going to do some creative offer are to be seized.
The difference with the first CAL is clear...

 

 
Purist audiophiles won't like the CAL 2, the bass will probably give them ulcer, but for us regular folks who listens to music instead of  analyzing it the CAL 2 is a great headphone. 
I rank the CAL 2 over more expensive headphones like the M80 or MDR-1R or K550 or HD25, etc. But that's based on my preference, YMMV.

 

[NimnuL]

  Well thanks for the info maybe useful to other users ...
 
At this point I understand that the CAL 2 is really a great headset, headphones comparable to higher cost and have always recommended in the forums or am I wrong? If so I'm surprised at those who say that the price is still too high ... is a best buy and if he's going to do some creative offer are to be seized.
The difference with the first CAL is clear...

 

 
Well, if eyes see 'Creative' logo on the phones, automatic blockage in the mind switch on and seeing the price tag with 129EUR on people say 'no way!'. Simple as that. The general opinion is that AKG, Grado, Sennheiser, Beyerdynamic etc. are more likely better in audio than a manufacturer specialized in computer audio. The fact is that the sound specialists can produce a nice set of cans but very often the price doesn't corresponds with the quality in other words - headphones are overpriced especially if we are talking about the range 100-150EUR. 
CAL!2 are well priced however I'd too say that they could be a bit cheaper. Considering the quality, fun and comfort I treat them as a decent competition to well known cans from audio-specialists in similar price. 

 

[andreamang]

Cal 2 is big big dig upgrade than cal 1 probably...goood!!!

 

[iancraig10]

   
Purist audiophiles won't like the CAL 2, the bass will probably give them ulcer, but for us regular folks who listens to music instead of  analyzing it the CAL 2 is a great headphone. 
I rank the CAL 2 over more expensive headphones like the M80 or MDR-1R or K550 or HD25, etc. But that's based on my preference, YMMV.

 
I think that as well. (but quietly!!)

 
Have you been on my site where I wrote about hi fi snobbishness?

 
The CAL2 communicates music really well imo, but perhaps not squarewaves.