Cambridge Audio A100 SE Review: Are These $169 Earbuds Worth It?

Sarah Johnson · 2026-10-01

The true wireless earbud market is brutally crowded. Every few weeks, another brand promises studio-quality sound for less than the cost of a nice dinner. So when Cambridge Audio announced the A100 SE, I'll admit I raised an eyebrow. What could these earbuds possibly offer that dozens of competitors don't? Turns out, quite a bit. Let's dig in. ### What You're Actually Getting Cambridge Audio isn't a fly-by-night operation. They've been making audio gear for decades, and the A100 SE carries that pedigree at a price that won't make you wince. Here's the quick rundown: - **Price:** Around $169 (converted from the UK's £129) - **Bluetooth codecs:** SBC, AAC, LDAC, and aptX Lossless support - **Amplification:** Class A/B - **Battery life:** 39 hours total with the charging case - **App support:** Yes, via Cambridge's Melomania Connect app That codec list is genuinely impressive at this price point. LDAC and aptX Lossless? Most budget earbuds don't come close. ### Design That Gets the Basics Right Cambridge hasn't reinvented the wheel here. The A100 SE uses the dangly stem design that Apple popularized and everyone else copied. Some people love it, some hate it. I've never been bothered either way, honestly. The earbuds and charging case are made of standard plastic. Nothing fancy, nothing offensive. They come in blue, white, or black. My review sample was blue, which looked sharp enough. Here's what matters: they're easy to pull out of the case. That sounds trivial until you've wrestled with earbuds that seem determined to stay put. Cambridge got this right. The ergonomic shape of the driver housing makes getting a comfortable fit pretty straightforward. You get three sizes of silicone ear tips in the box, so most people should find something that works. ### Touch Controls That Actually Cooperate Each earbud has a capacitive touch surface on the outer end. You can handle playback, take calls, and cycle through your ANC options with a tap or two. The controls are simple and reasonably reliable. Want to customize things? The Melomania Connect app lets you remap the touch controls. That's a nice touch for people who have strong opinions about which tap does what. Speaking of the app, it's stable. More reliable than the touch controls themselves, if I'm being honest. It also includes a seven-band EQ with six presets, plus room to save your own custom settings. For tinkerers, that's a playground. ### The Verdict So Far > "The A100 SE don't try to be everything to everyone. They focus on the fundamentals and execute them well." Look, there's no such thing as perfect earbuds at any price. But Cambridge seems to understand something important: most people just want earbuds that sound good, fit comfortably, and don't frustrate them on a daily basis. The A100 SE checks those boxes. The codec support is better than expected. The battery life is solid. The app adds genuine value rather than feeling like bloatware. Is it the most exciting product I've reviewed this year? No. But excitement fades. Reliability doesn't. If you're shopping for true wireless earbuds in this price range, the A100 SE deserve a spot on your shortlist. They're not flashy. They're not trying to be. They just work. And honestly? In a market full of gimmicks, that's refreshing.