Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

A few months ago I purchased the Cowin E7 noise cancelling headphones (non-pro model) for daily use during my commute, and occasional use for conference calls and other phone calls for work. I was not happy with the ability to use it for calls - I was told I always sounded muffled and distant, but thought the other features were good enough to try this newer model. The upgrade is worth it. I've now used the E7 Pro for calls several times without a complain, and other features also got an upgrade. In short, the newer model is worth upgrading to, or paying the extra cost over the E7 if you're buying for the first time. Overall impressions and comparison to the E7: The look is different. The E7 Pro is mostly black, with a few silver highlights, whereas the E7 has more silver, giving it a shinier/more metallic look. I like the E7 Pro look better although this is really individual preference. The materials used in both are very similar - the pads and headband look and feel identical, and the quality is very good. The E7 Pro is heavy, a tiny bit heavier than the E7, due to the larger drivers. However, they don't feel uncomfortable, if anything, the weight contributes to the premium feel of the unit. The sound reproduction is excellent, and slightly improved from the already good E7, with the midrange sounding a bit crisper and the bass less muffled. However, where this unit excels, is the active noise cancelling. I don't have experience with different ANC headphones, but the first time I put on the E7s and turned them on, it was striking to realize how much noise was around me and was no longer there. Wind noise, AC, engine noise, other background stuff that you don't pay attention to, but oh what a difference it makes when it's gone. Quite amazing. The ANC seems to have gotten even better with the E7 Pro but marginally so and it definitely improves your overall music listening and phone conversation experience. The ear pads are wide and soft, making the E7 Pro comfortable to wear for extended periods of time. However, if it's hot you do get sweaty, and even the manufacturer recommends to not wear them longer than a couple of hours at a time in hot weather. As I already mentioned, the biggest improvement in this newer E7 model is the microphone. Other parties in phone conversations could hear me fine, which checks a big box for me in usefulness. Lastly, both models have batteries that just last forever. The manufacturer says 30 hours but I really think it's forever. I've never ran out of battery with either set, and only charge them when I think of it. The E7s have seen weeks of occasional use without a charge and even though I haven't had the Pro for very long I would venture a guess that their battery life is excellent as well. My one complain, minor for me and not worth a point deduction, is that if you move the headphones (or even when you walk briskly and the headphones shift around on your head), there is a pop, which I think comes from an adjustment that the ANC makes when re-positioning. This is annoying but it's easy enough to switch ANC off if you're moving around. Cowin please try to fix this but do not compromise the ANC quality to do so. Overall, these headphones feel and sound premium, much more so than their price indicates. The manufacturer reaches out to make sure you have a good experience with their product, and even the packaging feels premium. I would recommend the price premium over the E7 to get the E7 Pro, especially for phone calls.