Cambridge Audio supports music charity with pay-what-you-want earphones

Here’s a novel approach to product development: Cambridge Audio’s technical director Dominic Baker decided to create a new pair of earphones as a “passion project” to share the company’s sound with close friends and colleagues. They were never intended to go on sale.

But then the company heard about Youth Music’s work with thousands of children nationwide, and decided to raise money for the charity by making 1000 pairs of SE1s available on a pay-what-you-want basis through the Cambridge Audio website. The SE1s would be worth around £150-£250 on the open market, the company says.

James Johnson-Flint, CEO of Cambridge Audio, says: “This cause is something that we feel really deeply about, as we believe in the power of music to improve wellbeing and to make the world a happier, more connected place.”

Andy is Global Brand Director of What Hi-Fi? and has been a technology journalist for 30 years. During that time he has covered everything from VHS and Betamax, MiniDisc and DCC to CDi, Laserdisc and 3D TV, and any number of other formats that have come and gone. He loves nothing better than a good old format war. Andy edited several hi-fi and home cinema magazines before relaunching whathifi.com in 2008 and helping turn it into the global success it is today. When not listening to music or watching TV, he spends far too much of his time reading about cars he can't afford to buy.