TenryuuThe live 2 is creative's own attempt at a headphone and most people think it's a step back from the original aurvana. This one is made by fostex with creative's branding on it. If you are curious who fostex is, they are the company that made denon's older headphones till they decided to make their own, which again people prefer the older denon headphones over their newer cans..... Basically because fostex > creative.
TenryuuGood question! As some other folks have mentioned, I myself find the original Live to sound fantastic. one of the best headphones at its respective price point.
Talking through the bundle with Creative, it just made a lot of sense. The original CAL! is a fantastic headphone, and having the ability to pick up an affordable amp/DAC combo along with it makes it a pretty sweet rig for someone looking for a good start into Audiophile.
MicrowaveI figured Fostex made the CAL!2 as well since it uses the same drivers as the CAL!.
CAL!2 is a little gem for the price, nevertheless, and I'd like to get one again. I suppose I'll be giving these a shot, too, with this nice drop.
Valensilius_ZephyrusThe CAL!2 does NOT have the same bio-cellulose diaphragm driver as the CAL!1. This diaphragm tech is originally designed/manufactured by Fostex and found in the discontinued Denon AH-D1001/D2000/D5000/D7000 and in the current Fostex TH600/900. The CAL!2 are more expensive than the CAL!1 but sound worse and are not OEM'd by Fostex. The CAL!1 is a legendary audiophile headphone whereas the CAL!2 is not. A lot of people who are considering the M50x or their first closed back/entry into headphone audiophile should really consider these!
MicrowaveI got these and another CAL!2 to find out just how much Creative "walked backwards" from the CAL!1. Well, the headband padding is a downgrade from the CAL!1 for sure, but if it weren't for the CAL!1's slightly more forward sonic presentation and slightly stronger upper midrange, I sure as hell would never be able to tell these two apart on sound.
Surely those "most people" heard a difference based on lack of burn-in + manufacturing variance, it is quite clear to me.
Well this is slightly less disappointing than hearing the CAL!1 outdo the CAL!2, I suppose. I'll be selling off the CAL!2 just because it is worth more and I don't like its headband, haha.
Then HM5 pads take the sound to the next level.