Our Verdict
Decent for mixed usage. The Cowin E8 have good isolation and a more premium design than the previous models. This makes them a good choice for commuting and to cancel the noise of a noisy office environment. Unfortunately, they are a little bulky and cumbersome so they won't be the easiest headphones to carry around and won't be the best option for running and sports. They also make your ears fairly warm during long listening sessions but on the upside, they are better built than most Cowin headphones.
- Good noise isolation.
- Comfortable.
- Good build quality.
- High leakage.
- Bulky, cumbersome design.
- Slightly muddy audio reproduction.
Average for neutral listening. The Cowin E8 have a lot of bass but can sound a bit muddy and boomy. The slight dip in the higher frequencies also makes instruments and vocals sound a bit less clear and detailed than typical neutral listening headphones. They also have a poor soundstage since they are closed-back noise-canceling headphones. They won't be the best choice for more neutral listeners but should sound good enough for most.
Above-average for commuting. They cancel enough noise for commute and travel. They're also comfortable and easy to use. However, they're a bit bulky and are not the most portable headphones to carry around on your person.
Average for sports. They're wireless and have a tight fit which prevents them from easily falling off your head. However, they're too bulky for running and will hinder your movements when working out. They also make your ears fairly warm even during casual listening sessions, so they will not be the best option for sports.
Decent for office use. They leak a lot so they won't be the ideal option for a quiet office but on the upside, they are comfortable, sound good and isolate well enough to cancel the ambient chatter in a lively and noisy work environment.
Sub-par for gaming. The Cowin E8 have too much latency, they're not compatible with consoles via Bluetooth and cannot be customized to the extent of other gaming headphones. They also have a mediocre integrated microphone and their audio cable will only provide audio and not chat support when connected to your console's controller.
Changelog
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.1.
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.
- Updated Mar 11, 2019: We've updated the Comfort score to better reflect user experience.
- Updated Jun 08, 2018: Review published.
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Popular Headphones Comparisons
The Cowin E8 are slightly better headphones for commuting and mixed usage than the Cowin E7 headphones. They have a decent build and sound quality although they do look a little cheap in some parts and their audio reproduction can be a bit muddy and boomy. On the upside, they have a great wireless range and fairly long battery life. Their bulky and somewhat cumbersome design will not be for everyone and they lack a bit of polish and features compared to some of the headphones below. See our recommendations for the best budget noise cancelling headphones and the best wireless headphones.
The Cowin E8 Wireless are better noise cancelling headphones than the Cowin E7 Pro Wireless. The E8 have a better noise cancelling performance and are a bit more comfortable than the E7 Pro. They also have easier-to-use controls and a bit more bass, which some may prefer. On the other hand, the E7 Pro have a more detail-oriented sound profile that pushes instruments and vocals to the front of the mix but can sound a bit sharp. They also have a longer battery life than the E8 and they support NFC, so they're a bit easier to pair with your phone.
The Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2 Wireless 2016 are better-balanced and a much better noise cancelling headset than the Cowin E8 Wireless. The Plantronics have a better build quality, a longer battery life and a more exciting, bass-rich sound that's also better balanced with instruments and vocals than the Cowin. The Plantronics also have a much more intuitive control scheme, a better build quality, and support multiple codecs. On the other hand, the Cowin block a bit more noise with their ANC feature than the Plantronics.
The Cowin E8 Wireless are better noise-canceling headphones than the Cowin E7. The E8 have a better noise canceling performance and are a bit more comfortable than the E7. They also have easier to use controls and a better-balanced sound overall. On the other hand, the E7 have more bass, which some listeners may prefer. They also have a longer battery life and support NFC, so they're a bit easier to pair with your phone.
The Cowin E8 Wireless are slightly better headphones than the Skullcandy Hesh 3 Wireless, but not by much. The Skullcandy charge much faster than the Cowin, which is convenient if you forget to charge them overnight. They also have an easier-to-use control scheme, a better sound quality with more bass, and a better wireless range. On the other hand, the Cowin have a slightly more comfortable over-ear fit and a more sturdy design. They also have a longer battery life and a good case that makes them decently portable, although the Skullcandy are a bit more compact since they fold.
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