So the HE-500 arrived today, and I plugged them into my Fiio E09k/E17 combo as my audio-gd NFB15 amp/dac is still en route from HK, and even on the Fiio, they sound fantastic, an enormous improvement on my AT50s (which one would hope given the non-small price difference).  Even with the amp's...

Warmer, I guess, but honestly having not done any AB comparisons between headphones considered to be "warm" vs. ones considered to be "neutral," it is a little hard for me to say.  I think I'll get the 500 (which seems to be considered to be warmer than the 4) and take it from there.

NFB15 ordered!    Now to decide between the HE-4 & HE-500.  Not sure if the extra weight of the 500s would bug me or not, as my M50s are pretty light (280g vs. 350g (HE-4) & 502g (HE-500)).  Most reviews that mention both seem to prefer the 500, but I'm trying not to fall into the trap of "but...

Easier still then - I sort of know what DSD is, and I don't care about it :)

  Oh well that simplifies things then - Audio GD NFB11, then HE-{4,500} :)

OK cool, thanks folks.  Looks like a semi-consensus for Hifiman - are the HE-500s at $500 worth an extra $50 over the HE-4?  Reviews would seem to suggest that the answer is "yes!"    Is my Fiio E09k/E17 are capable of driving these until such time as I plunk down for either an Audio GD...

Thanks for the reply, Za Warudo,   An open box even at $700 is pretty far over budget, tho I suppose the Headphones+AMP/DAC total is on target.  The reason I want to upgrade in pieces, though, is to avoid any >$500 purchases until I replace the speakers.   Any other thoughts?   Thanks...

HI folks,   Long time lurker, first time poster here.   Courtesy of advice here and elsewhere, 18 months ago I got a decent'ish set of headphones & a DAC & AMP, and now find myself wanting to upgrade my setup.   What I have now: - home-built PC (specs not important, I think) - Fiio E09k...