Closed back design with good sound quality with little listener fatigue during long sessions. Spare pads are available and I've found it's a good idea to have a spare set and rotate them periodically.   The cable is a straight, thin affair which enters through the left earpad. The earpads are removable via 3 small crosshead screws so a DIY upgrade might be to replace the straight cable with a coiled cable to prevent accidental tugging by standing on it. It's an easy enough soldering job.   Overall, a very good product at a decent price.