[geofsux666]

Hey Head-fi,
 
I currently have a pair of Creative Aurvana Live headphones and I'm currently looking into upgrading them. My budget is 100$ and I mainly use my headphones for listening to metalcore music. What are your opinions on the Alessandro MS-1 headphones? Is it a substantial upgrade from CAL? Are there better headphones that cost a little more that I would rather look into? Thank you!

 

[NA Blur]

In order to get a definite upgrade you may have to spend a little more.  The CAL! is an excellent headphone for the price considering it can be had for less than $80 new and compares well against the ATH-M50.  The MS-1 will certainly sound different, but in the end you will probably find them uncomfortable and lacking sound and instrument separation.  In regards to upgrading it is always wise to save up as long as you can and find something that is a true upgrade like going from the CAL! to the Denon AH-D2000 or AKG K550.  Those would be definite upgrades from the CAL!.
 
You may want to look into the Sennheiser HD 449
http://www.headphone.com/headphones/sennheiser-hd-449.php
 
It runs $120 or less and has positive reviews.
 
I have not personally heard the HD 449, but I have provided some charts so you can get a general idea of the sound signature.
 
HD 449 Frequency Response
http://graphs.headphone.com/graphCompare.php?graphType=0&graphID[]=3751
 
CAL! Frequency Response
http://www.innerfidelity.com/images/CreativeAurvana.pdf
 
Comparing the two you should hear a little more sub-bass on the HD 449 and better instrument separation compared to the CAL!.

 

[PurpleAngel]

Quote:

Hey Head-fi,
 
I currently have a pair of Creative Aurvana Live headphones and I'm currently looking into upgrading them. My budget is 100$ and I mainly use my headphones for listening to metalcore music. What are your opinions on the Alessandro MS-1 headphones? Is it a substantial upgrade from CAL? Are there better headphones that cost a little more that I would rather look into? Thank you!

What source(s) do you plug your headphones into?

 

[geofsux666]

Quote:

What source(s) do you plug your headphones into?

I connect them to my desktop which uses Realtek HD Audio.

 

[Dyaems]

i suggest to mod the CAL! instead of buying another headphone

 

[HeroicPenguin]

I used to own the D1001s, which are supposedly the same as the CAL! I liked the D1001 quite a bit more than the Grado SR-225s, which should be similar to the Alessandros. They're a bit more forward, but the build is quite a bit worse with worse separation. The CAL!s are a bit mid-recessed while the Alessandros are mid-forward, so it's a different sound. The CAL!s have great thumping bass for the price though.

 

[Slivortal]

In order to get a definite upgrade you may have to spend a little more.  The CAL! is an excellent headphone for the price considering it can be had for less than $80 new and compares well against the ATH-M50.  The MS-1 will certainly sound different, but in the end you will probably find them uncomfortable and lacking sound and instrument separation.  In regards to upgrading it is always wise to save up as long as you can and find something that is a true upgrade like going from the CAL! to the Denon AH-D2000 or AKG K550.  Those would be definite upgrades from the CAL!.

You may want to look into the Sennheiser HD 449
http://www.headphone.com/headphones/sennheiser-hd-449.php

It runs $120 or less and has positive reviews.

I have not personally heard the HD 449, but I have provided some charts so you can get a general idea of the sound signature.

HD 449 Frequency Response
=3751]http://graphs.headphone.com/graphCompare.php?graphType=0&graphID[]=3751

CAL! Frequency Response
http://www.innerfidelity.com/images/CreativeAurvana.pdf

Comparing the two you should hear a little more sub-bass on the HD 449 and better instrument separation compared to the CAL!.

If you don't mind me asking, where can one find the CAL!s for under $80?

 

[NA Blur]

Amazon will have a sale at least once a year for the CAL! bringing the price under $80.  I think I saw them at $75 a while ago.
 

 

[XxDobermanxX]

Quote:

In order to get a definite upgrade you may have to spend a little more.  The CAL! is an excellent headphone for the price considering it can be had for less than $80 new and compares well against the ATH-M50.  The MS-1 will certainly sound different, but in the end you will probably find them uncomfortable and lacking sound and instrument separation.  In regards to upgrading it is always wise to save up as long as you can and find something that is a true upgrade like going from the CAL! to the Denon AH-D2000 or AKG K550.  Those would be definite upgrades from the CAL!.
 
You may want to look into the Sennheiser HD 449
http://www.headphone.com/headphones/sennheiser-hd-449.php
 
It runs $120 or less and has positive reviews.
 
I have not personally heard the HD 449, but I have provided some charts so you can get a general idea of the sound signature.
 
HD 449 Frequency Response
http://graphs.headphone.com/graphCompare.php?graphType=0&graphID[]=3751
 
CAL! Frequency Response
http://www.innerfidelity.com/images/CreativeAurvana.pdf
 
Comparing the two you should hear a little more sub-bass on the HD 449 and better instrument separation compared to the CAL!.

+1

 

[iamthem]

Sonically the m50 and the CAL! are pretty equal. I'd only get the m50 for (vastly) superior build quality.
 
It's pretty hard to upgrade from the CAL! for $100 because their killer value. I'd be looking at the D2k, but seriously, the CAL! is crazy good. I would just stick with it, or upgrade to a mid tier headphone.

 

[valerianaoff]

+1 for saving more...and then perform an upgrade...