The Audio-Technica ATH-M50's are a set of high quality studio headphones. They're perfect in a recording studio setting or anywhere else where you might need a great sound coming through directly to your ears. The ATH-M50's can be used either for monitoring during recording or for simple listening and playback purposes. I'm not sure I'd try these for mixing, as in general this isn't always the best idea. However, if there was a set of Audio Technica headphones that you could mix on, these would be it. The headphones feel very sturdy and definitely professionally made and they fit on your head nice and snug as to insure very little bleed coming out of them. They've got a closed back and on the end of the wire is an 1/8" connection which also includes a screw on adapter for turning it into a 1/4" connection. As far as sound quality is concerned, these are definitely a top notch sounding set of headphones. I've really only used them for monitoring during recording, but judging from this sound, I think they'll be useful more or less across the board. I don't know if Audio Technica has a set of headphones that are of a higher quality or more expensive, but these are definitely the best that I've seen from them. The price doesn't make them the cheapest pair of headphones out there but, but nonetheless they're a pretty good deal when you compare them to most of the other headphones in the price range. I don't know how well they'll last over time, but again they seem like they're made very well and should last a while as long as you treat them properly. If you're looking for a high quality set of all purposes studio headphones, the Audio-Technica ATH-M50's definitely need to be on the list to check out.