I’m listening to mine now and I’m very, very impressed. The only other in ear phones I’ve had that cost this much (actually more) were Shure 425’s. I didn’t like them, they were stolen, I don’t miss them. These FiiOs are from another world. So much detail across the board. The killer to me is how fantastic they sound when you are playing them quietly. I think they are better than Audeze EL8’s (fancy planar magnetic over ears) for this. Sorry, I don’t know all the head-fi lingo, but I have listened to some stupidly expensive headphones and earphones and these a) sound great, b) are made in a way that isn’t going to break (metal shells), and c) are comfy. I wouldn’t spend more unless your ears are from Mars or something (I do sensory science for a living).