Dan, when I was in college I bought a pair of Senn HD570s and drove them with a Denon bookshelf system. I really like the smooth sound of the Senns. Unfortunately, I haven't had a chance to listen to other brands to offer a comparison.

An important thing for me was comfort. The Senns were very lightweight and comfy around my ears--could wear them and listen to them for hours without fatigue.

With open designs like the Senns, quite a bit of sound escapes--something to consider if your roommate has rabbit ears. Luckily my roommate slept like a log.

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"Nothin' up my sleeve. . ." --Bullwinkle J. Moose