I haven't read the thread, so maybe this has been covered by someone.
Put some music on your phone, 16/44 uncompressed (ripped from CD) and go listen to some 'phones at a bricks-and-mortar store. Then decide.
Start with models you cannot afford, find a baseline you like, then go down to your budget and try to re-create what you liked about the "big" set within your budget. Don't be afraid to try some less than your budget, you might be pleasantly surprised and save a few $$$