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Want active noise cancelling without paying Bose prices? The COWIN E7 costs around $50 and actually works.
I bought the COWIN E7 Bluetooth headphones to listen to podcasts while mowing the lawn. Here’s what’s in the box, how the controls work, and how they sound. The listing I originally linked is gone, so the box below links the current E7.
- Active noise cancelling that works
- Sounds really good with lots of detail
- Plush, comfortable ear cups and padded headband
- Independent volume from your phone
- Wired option included
- Pleather ear pads don’t breathe
- Glossy plastic shows fingerprints
- Cups are on the smaller side for big ears
▶ Watch the full review on YouTube
Look for the word “active”
A lot of headphones say noise cancelling or noise reduction but just mean the ear pad seals out sound. If you want real noise cancellation, look for the word active.
Bose is the gold standard, but it’s brutally expensive. I wanted a cheap pair with active NC that I wouldn’t worry about beating up.
What’s in the box
You get a synthetic-pleather drawstring pouch, a very long 3.5 mm cable for wired use, a micro USB cable for charging, and the headphones in glossy piano black.
Design and comfort
The ear cups are plush, soft pleather that should seal well, with a foam layer under the liner. Pleather doesn’t breathe well, so I take them off now and then to air out my ears.
The headband adjusts with clicks on an alloy bar and is heavily foam padded. It’s mostly plastic in black and chrome, but it looks pretty nice, maybe too nice to wear outside.
Controls and the NC switch
One cup has volume buttons, the 3.5 mm jack, and a three-position switch: Off, Bluetooth, and NC for noise cancellation. Little translucent lights show when it’s on and pairing.
Tap minus to go back a track, tap plus to skip forward, and hold them for volume. The headphone volume is independent of your phone’s, so you get two volume controls to dial it in.
Sound and noise cancelling
Pairing was simple; it shows up as E7. Stereo works great, and I picked up a lot of detail I can’t hear in the car or on home speakers.
With NC on and nothing playing, I couldn’t hear much of the ambient noise around me. For my average-size ears they covered the whole ear, so I didn’t need the big ones.
Verdict
They feel solid, almost premium, sound really good, and the price is great. I bought them for outdoor work, but they’d also be great everyday headphones on the train or in the office.
FAQ
Does the COWIN E7 have active noise cancelling?
Yes. There’s an NC position on the power switch.
Can you use them wired?
Yes, a 3.5 mm cable is included.
How do they charge?
Micro USB.
Do the volume buttons change the phone volume?
No, they’re independent, so you have two volume controls.
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