COWIN Review: ANC Headphones Around $50, and the Return Fees to Know
COWIN is a consumer audio brand best known for budget active noise cancelling (ANC) headphones, most famously the E7, which it says made its name as a best seller on Amazon. Its official store at cowinaudio.com sells headphones, earbuds, TV sound bars and speakers in US dollars. A site statement links the brand to Shenzhen MeiDong Acoustics Co., Ltd, and returns go to City of Industry, California.
This review covers the range, key specs, prices, shipping and the return and warranty fine print.
At a glance Checked October 2026
COWIN sells budget active noise cancelling headphones, such as the E7, E11A and SE7D, at $50 to $60. The main catch is the return policy: it advertises a money-back guarantee but also deducts a 25% to 40% restocking fee on returns that are not the store's fault.
- Best for: Budget shoppers who want ANC over-ear headphones for flights, commutes or the office at around $50 to $70.
- Typical price: Most in-stock headphones and earbuds cost $49.99 to $69.99; the E9 is about $120; sound bars run $89.99 to $199.99.
- Shipping: Free on orders over $59.99 to the US; the E7 FAQ lists standard 4–7 business days, expedited 2–4 and priority 1–2.
- Returns: 30 days, undamaged and in original packaging; you pay return shipping unless defective or wrong; refunds take up to 14 business days.
- Watch out for: A 25% to 40% restocking fee on non-fault returns, and duplicate listings priced far higher, such as an "E7 (Blue)" at $199.00.
What COWIN sells
The store listed 61 products, many sold out or duplicated. The main groups are:
- Over-ear ANC headphones. The core of the range: the E7 family (E7, E7 Pro, E7 Ace, E7 Basic), the SE7 and SE7D, the E9, the newer E11 and E11A hybrid models, and a BT 5.4 headband model.
- Wireless earbuds. Two LED-display charging-case models are in stock; the Apex, Apex Elite and BT618 ANC earbuds were sold out.
- TV sound bars. 60W to 120W bars, several with a separable two-piece design or a wired subwoofer.
- Speakers. Floating IPX7 shower and pool speakers (Whale, Smile, Swimmer) and two karaoke speakers; the waterproof speakers were sold out.
- Accessories. Travel cases and an ear-cushion kit, all sold out.
The full catalog also includes unrelated listings, such as misting fans, a golf rangefinder and a slushie machine, outside the audio menus.
Specs to compare: ANC type, battery, Bluetooth and codecs
Product pages vary in detail and sometimes contradict themselves. As the store states them:
- Standard vs hybrid ANC. The E7 lists a noise reduction depth of 28 dB, and its page says ANC mainly targets low-frequency noise like engines and traffic, not talking or high-pitched sounds. The newer E11A, SE7D and BT 5.4 headband model are described as hybrid ANC with a Transparency Mode, and the E11A and BT 5.4 model claim up to 33 dB of reduction. The $39.99 Cowin E7 Wireless listing does not mention ANC at all, so check the title carefully before buying.
- Battery life. Most over-ear models claim about 30 hours. The E11A and BT 5.4 model specify 30 hours without ANC and 25 hours with it. The E7 page lists its battery as both 600mAh and 750mAh.
- Bluetooth version. This ranges from Bluetooth 4.1 (Cowin E7 Wireless, E7 Ace) and 5.0 (E7, SE7, E9) to 5.2 (E11A) and 5.4 (the headband model and LED earbuds). One earbud listing says Bluetooth 5.0 in its title but 5.3 in its description.
- Codecs. Only some pages name codecs: the SE7 lists aptX, and the E9 lists aptX, aptX HD, aptX Low Latency and AAC. Others do not say.
- Water resistance. The sold-out Apex earbuds and floating speakers are rated IPX7. The in-stock LED earbuds mention a "waterproof rating" without giving a number, and the other earbud listing claims IPX7 only in its title.
Prices
Prices are in US dollars. Most in-stock headphones and earbuds cost $49.99 to $69.99, with the E9 at about $120; sound bars run from $89.99 to $199.99. Examples at the time of writing:
- E7 ANC headphones: $49.99 Black, $59.99 other colors (listed from $69.99)
- E11A hybrid ANC headphones: $49.99 (listed from $69.99)
- SE7D hybrid ANC headphones: $59.99 (listed from $69.99)
- BT 5.4 ANC headband headphones: $69.99 (listed from $99.99)
- E9 ANC headphones: $119.99 in Silver, the only color in stock (listed from $169.99)
- KY8000 60W separable sound bar: $89.99 (listed from $129.99); 120W sound bar with subwoofer: $169.99 (listed from $299.99)
Watch for duplicate listings. A separate "E7 (Blue)" listing costs $199.00, an "E8 [Upgraded]" listing $299.99 and several sound bars $399.00, far above comparable models elsewhere in the same store. Compare listings before adding to cart.
Shipping
A site-wide banner offers free shipping on orders over $59.99 to the US. The store's shipping policy page does not contain shipping terms; it only explains how to pay. The most specific timing is in the E7 product FAQ: standard shipping 4–7 business days, expedited 2–4 and priority 1–2, with "different regions" affecting delivery. The warranty page also mentions "long international shipping", so not every order may ship from inside the US.
Returns and warranty
COWIN's return policy covers purchases made directly on cowinaudio.com, with a 30-day window. Items must be undamaged and in original packaging, and accessories are excluded. You email support.global@cowinaudio.com with a return form, then ship to California at your own cost unless the item is defective or wrong. Refunds can take up to 14 business days, and original shipping, duties and taxes are not refunded.
The policies contradict each other on fees. The warranty page promises a "30-Day Money-Back Guarantee for Any Reason" with a full product refund, but both the refund policy and the same warranty page also say a restocking fee of 25% to 40% of the product price is deducted when the return is not the store's fault.
On warranty, the homepage and warranty page say website purchases get 24 months automatically. The older refund policy instead describes one year, extendable to 24 months by registering the product. A 7-day dead-on-arrival guarantee offers a replacement or refund. Defect replacements may be factory refurbished, and the warranty is void outside the country of purchase.
Payment
Checkout icons include Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, Diners Club, JCB, Maestro, Cartes Bancaires, PayPal and Venmo. No buy-now-pay-later option was listed.
Who should buy from COWIN
- Budget shoppers who want ANC over-ear headphones for flights, commutes or the office at around $50 to $70.
- Buyers who want a color choice: the E7 comes in eight colors, seven of them in stock.
- TV owners looking for a sub-$200 sound bar with ARC, optical and AUX inputs.
Think twice if you want waterproof earbuds with a clear IP rating, since the rated models were sold out, or if you may change your mind: the restocking fee of up to 40% plus return shipping makes a non-defect return costly.
COWIN coupon codes
We did not find a verified public coupon code at the time of writing, and we do not publish codes we cannot confirm. The site banner and several product pages advertise a code for 18% off, but we could not confirm it applies at checkout. The savings you can rely on are the store's own sale prices, often $20 to $50 below the listed compare-at price, and free US shipping on orders over $59.99. Any working offers we find are listed on our COWIN coupons page.
Frequently asked questions
Is COWIN legit?
A statement on COWIN's site links the brand to Shenzhen MeiDong Acoustics Co., Ltd, and returns go to City of Industry, California. It publishes a 30-day return policy and says website purchases get a 24-month warranty, although its older refund policy describes one year. Checkout shows PayPal, Venmo and major cards. The main things to check are the 25% to 40% restocking fee, the conflicting warranty terms and duplicate listings at much higher prices.
How long is the COWIN warranty?
The warranty page says purchases on cowinaudio.com get 24 months. The refund policy says one year plus 12 more months if you register the product, so keep your order confirmation.
Does COWIN charge a restocking fee?
Its policies say a 25% to 40% restocking fee applies when a return is not caused by the store, even though the warranty page also advertises a 30-day money-back guarantee. Ask support before returning.
Which COWIN headphones support aptX?
Of the in-stock models, the SE7 page lists aptX and the E9 lists aptX, aptX HD, aptX Low Latency and AAC. Most other pages do not name codecs.
How long does COWIN shipping take?
The E7 product FAQ lists 4–7 business days for standard shipping, 2–4 for expedited and 1–2 for priority, with delivery times varying by region.
The bottom line
COWIN offers inexpensive ANC headphones such as the E7, E11A and SE7D at $50 to $60. Read the fine print first: listings and specs are inconsistent, some duplicate listings carry much higher prices, and the return policy pairs a "money-back guarantee" with a restocking fee of up to 40%.
Disclosure: this article contains affiliate links. If you buy through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. Prices and policies were checked on the COWIN website at the time of writing and may change.