Did Not Expect This! 🤔 Cambridge Audio P100 SE vs P100 vs Px7 S3 vs WH-1000XM6
The main differences between the P100 SE and the older P100 is the lighter clamping force of the headband, and the addition of DynamEQ. It’s basically digital processing that bumps up the bass and treble when playing music at softer volumes. Because below 45% volume, the bass and treble is much softer without DynamEQ.
Testing it at mid or high volumes there did seem to be a difference also. It seems to put a lid on the bass and treble to maintain a balanced sound, but it’s much less noticeable than at low volumes. Cambridge Audio has also changed the sound signature a bit. Based on user feedback, they’ve bumped up the bass and increased the presence and brilliance of the high frequencies.
And they may have done the same for the older P100 through a firmware update, although I am currently waiting for confirmation from the engineers that this is the case. Apart from that, it still has the same battery life of up to 60 hours with ANC, battery is still user replaceable, and still has the same features and codecs supported.
Performance, though? Well, almost similar, because the P100 SE is not a 1-1 copy of the older P100 if we’re talking about sound quality and noise canceling performance. We’re going to look at some graphs and sound samples. And to make this comparison a little more fun, I’m going to throw in the Px7 S3 and the Sony WH-1000XM6, just in case you guys were also considering those options.
Microphone Quality
In terms of microphone performance, the P100 SE has seems largely similar to the P100 in terms of noise reduction performance, only that my voice seems to be a little more amplified. Compared to the Sony and B&W, it still doesn't filter as much background noise, but in quiet conditions, my voice sounded very good through the microphones.
👉 Have a listen to the mic quality samples
Active Noise Cancelling
Its active noise canceling is rather similar to the older P100, which means if we compare them to the Px7 S3 and the Sony, you’ll notice that they aren’t the most quiet in terms of general noise canceling. Although in reality, their noise canceling isn’t weak. They’ll still do a great job at reducing ambient noises so you don’t have to raise the volume to beat the noise around you. And when you’re playing music, you can’t hear outside noises at all.
👉 Have a listen to the ANC quality samples
Transparency Mode
The P100 SE’s transparency mode sounds similar to the last version, pretty acceptable for general awareness and verbal exchanges, but it doesn’t feel as airy or clear as other competitors like the Sony and B&W. For those headphones, face to face conversations with people will feel more natural because there’s less occlusion and muffling.
Sound quality
In terms of sound quality, even with the change in tuning, both the P100 SE and the P100 are still some of the best sounding headphones. The 3D layering is preserved, but bass is heavier now, and there’s now more spice and sizzle in the vocals and instruments instead of sounding laid back.
Between them, though, there are some differences. The older P100 seems to have flatter mids because the newer P100 SE has even more of a pulling back in the 4khz region, with a slightly larger Q factor. The P100 SE also sounds a bit more brilliant in the highs.
So when you listen to the samples later, you’ll notice that, between the newer and older P100s, there is a difference in the vocals’ tonality, and in the airyness of the soundstage. In contrast, the Px7 S3 sounds brighter and crisper, while the Sony sounds the most flat on its default tuning.
👉 Have a listen to the sound quality samples
So the P100 SE isn’t a huge upgrade over the P100, and while it may not outperform the more mass market brands in terms of noise canceling performance, it still remains one of the best sounding headphones.
I see it as more of a relaunch, than anything because when the original P100 first came out, there were software issues with it that had to be corrected. This time, the P100 SE seems pretty smooth. Multipoint pairing works as expected also, switching between devices requires pausing your music on one device first.
Verdict
One more improvement I hope to see in future models is a more gentle headband. Yes, they did change the material of the top cushioning to foam (previously it was a rubber tube), it’s still too stiff, like, if I wear them long enough, I can feel the pressure just building up on my head, prompting me to take a break every few hours.
I also want its voice passthrough during phone calls, or sidetone, to amplify my voice clearer and louder, so it sounds more natural when I’m speaking over the phone.
Apart from those tiny issues, the P100 SE right now is still one of the best sounding headphones. If sound quality is your priority, definitely check them out.
Check Latest Prices:
Cambridge Audio Melomania P100 SE - https://amzn.to/4mj8Zu2
Cambridge Audio P100 - https://amzn.to/4mILk6c
Sony WH-1000XM6 - https://amzn.to/4n6OcuL
B&W Px7 S3 - https://amzn.to/4mn593q (UK)
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