i bought these to wear at work, where we work fairly independently & are allowed to listen to music. They fit the bill just fine. They block outside noise much better than the open-foam headphones that came with my player, which is a great bonus when loud machinery is operating nearby. The sound quality is just fine, and the ear cups are very comfortable - loose enough to not hurt after extended wear, yet tight enough to not fall off when moving around and leaning over. The cord is the standard length, I was hoping it would be a smidge longer than the headphone packed with my player - just a personal note, as it did not claim to be longer. Overall, a good value for the price. And everyone at work had to check them out, since they are so different & funky looking!