The color is charcoal black. I purchased it in 2017 and used it in the winter and when traveling by plane. In 2000, I replaced the ear pads with new ones (compatible) and, as the headband was also worn out, I replaced it with a leather-like synthetic leather. There are no problems with basic functions such as music playback and noise canceling, but there are some scratches, and there are cracks in the plastic on the outside of the headband. There is a metal base inside, so the cracks don't make it unusable, it's just a cosmetic issue. The outer box and USB cable are missing, but the carrying case, wired connection cable, and instruction manual are included.