Reasons to Trust TechRadar
We dedicate hours to testing each product or service we evaluate, ensuring you’re making a wise purchase. Discover more about our testing process.
Cambridge Audio Melomania A100: Quick Review
Previously, Cambridge Audio’s attempts in the true wireless earbuds market have been acceptable, but “acceptable” often falls short in this competitive field. The brand returns with a clear focus, introducing the Melomania A100.
For $149 / £119, or its equivalent, you get a pair of true wireless earbuds that come in an elegant charging case and feature a ‘stem’ design, available in both black and white. These earbuds are packed with impressive specifications, including Bluetooth 5.4 for wireless connection, LDAC and aptX Lossless codec compatibility, Class AB amplification, nearly 40 hours of battery life, and 10mm Neodymium dynamic drivers. Such features would be appreciated in products costing twice as much. Plus, there’s an entertaining array of control options featuring Matt Berry’s voice. Are they among the top noise-cancelling earbuds? Possibly among the best overall? Absolutely.
Above all, what you get for your investment in Cambridge Audio’s latest is an insightful, well-balanced, and enjoyable audio experience. The A100 combines unparalleled clarity with an energetic and engaging sound, making them truly ‘musical.’
In terms of value, the Melomania A100 stands out as a top contender.
Cambridge Audio Melomania A100 Review: Pricing and Availability
- Release date: June 26, 2025
- Price: $149 / £119 / AU$TBC (approximately AU$249)
As of this review, the Cambridge Audio Melomania A100 earbuds launched today (June 26, 2025), priced at £119 in the UK. In the United States, they are set at $149, and while Australian pricing hasn’t been confirmed, it’s expected to be around AU$249.
This pricing is competitive for a brand that has recently focused on higher-end equipment; however, the A100 faces tough competition. For example, Sony’s accomplished WF-C710N earbuds retail for just under £100, making this market quite competitive. Therefore, the A100 must offer more than just an appealing price.
Cambridge Audio Melomania A100 Review: Specifications
Weight: | 4.7g per earbud |
Drivers: | 10mm Neodymium dynamic |
Battery life: | 11 hours per charge; up to 39 hours with the case |
Bluetooth: | 5.4 with LDAC and aptX Lossless |
Cambridge Audio Melomania A100 Review: Features
- Bluetooth 5.4 featuring aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless, and LDAC
- Six-microphone setup for active noise cancellation (ANC) and calls
- Class AB amplification; equipped with 10mm Neodymium dynamic drivers
Considering the price point, the Melomania A100 is impressively equipped. There are true wireless earbuds out there that cost significantly more yet don’t boast such quality specifications.
For instance, these earbuds utilize cutting-edge Bluetooth 5.4 for seamless connectivity and support aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless, and LDAC codecs. They also feature multipoint connectivity, and the six microphones are designed for noise-cancellation, phone calls, and voice assistant functionality, enhanced by Clear Voice Capture for echo cancellation and noise suppression.
Moreover, they include Class AB amplification, which is a clear upgrade from the common Class D amplification often found in similar products. Equipped with a dual-core Qualcomm Kalimba DSP, distortion is minimized while sound clarity is maximized, thanks to the two 10mm Neodymium drivers.
Under optimal conditions (like lower volume and with ANC turned off), the earbuds offer a commendable 11 hours of playtime on a single charge. When factoring in the charging case, you can stretch that to 39 hours. A complete charge takes about 70 minutes, and a quick 10-minute charge via USB-C can provide over three hours of listening time (as long as you keep ANC off).
Given that portable devices require a certain level of durability, the A100 sports an IPX5 rating, ensuring they can handle most situations without worry.
Cambridge Audio Melomania A100 Review: Sound Quality
- Energetic and engaging sound
- Equally detailed and dynamic
- A few minor issues with low-end integration
A common pitfall of many true wireless in-ear headphones in the same price range as the Melomania A100 is to overly amplify low frequencies for added ‘excitement,’ sacrificing overall balance. However, Cambridge Audio has adopted a more moderate approach, resulting in a superior listening experience.
When leaving the EQ settings untouched in the app, the A100 presents a fairly neutral tonal character and nearly perfect frequency response. High frequencies are crisp and clear while listening to Daniel Avery’s Diminuendo, offering enough substance to avoid harshness. Similarly, the low end is detailed and controlled, delivering robust bass without compromising the momentum of the track.
Switching to Last Night by Arooj Aftab reveals an open and articulate midrange, adept at conveying vocal nuances. The detail levels remain impressively high, and the A100 merges the frequency ranges effectively. Even though the lowest frequencies may seem slightly detached from the lower midrange and above, their shared tone helps to alleviate this concern.
The soundstage created by Cambridge Audio is expansive, well-defined, and meticulously controlled—textures in a complex arrangement like Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue with the New York Philharmonic sound spacious and well-placed. Each musician has their own distinct space, and the dynamics remain robust, capturing even the nuances during solo piano sections.
While the A100 may appear analytical due to its ability to dissect recordings and offer deep insights, they are foremost an engaging and enjoyable pair of earbuds. They convey a passion for your favorite music that matches your own. It’s a challenge to merge ‘analytical’ with ‘entertaining’ harmoniously—regardless of the price—and Cambridge Audio deserves commendation for achieving that balance.
Regarding active noise-cancellation, the Melomania A100 stands up well against its similarly priced competitors. The ANC system does not affect the sound quality and operates quietly without disturbances, effectively minimizing most external noises apart from the loudest ones. It provides a commendable level of noise-cancellation second only to top-tier models, making these earbuds a notable competitor in the market.
- Sound Quality Score: 5 / 5
Cambridge Audio Melomania A100 Review: Design
- Dimensions: 45 x 61 x 25mm (charging case)
- Weight: 4.7g (each earbud)
- Available in black or white finishes
In contrast to previous models from Cambridge Audio, the Melomania A100 adopts a design reminiscent of Apple’s ‘dangly stem’ style. The earbuds are compact and tidy, and various eartip sizes, combined with their light weight of just 4.7g, ensure comfort even during prolonged use. The charging case also shares this neat and tidy aesthetic, which…
The dimensions of the earbuds are 45 x 61 x 25mm (HxWxD). While this slim design makes it a bit more challenging to retrieve them from the case, the compact size is a worthwhile trade-off. The construction quality and finish are commendable, and both the black and white versions look great.
When it comes to usability, I can confidently say it’s ‘impressive’ as well. Each earbud features a capacitive touch area at the top of the stem, allowing for a combination of taps and holds to control playback, switch between ANC options, or activate your voice assistant. The touch interactions are quick and reliable, and the ‘Melomania’ app provides customization options for each control sequence.
The app offers useful extended features, including six EQ presets and a seven-band equalizer for personalized settings. It also has a toggleable ‘dynamEQ’ that helps maintain sound quality at lower volumes, with ANC settings for ‘transparency’, ‘normal’, and ‘noise-cancelling’ options, including levels of ‘low’, ‘medium’, or ‘high’. Features like ‘gaming mode’, ‘wear detection’, and ‘sleep mode’ are also included. The app’s ‘audible feedback’ has a fun twist, allowing users to choose various tones, including a comedic delivery by Matt Berry with the ‘Southwark’ option.
Even without this entertaining feature, the ‘Melomania’ app is stable and straightforward, though it could benefit from streaming service integration to be perfect.
Cambridge Audio Melomania A100 review: Value
- Excellent specifications
- Secure and comfortable fit
- Outstanding sound for the price
With the Melomania A100, Cambridge Audio has really exceeded expectations.
These true wireless earbuds outperform any similarly priced alternative, offering comfort, great battery life, and well-executed controls. Plus, they deliver exceptional sound quality for their price range. Currently retailing at $149 / £119, they offer the best value in wireless earbuds by a significant margin.
Should I buy the Cambridge Audio Melomania A100?
Section | Notes | Score |
|---|---|---|
Features | Exceptional codec support; great microphone quality | 5 / 5 |
Sound quality | Remarkable clarity for the price – far superior for this level | 5 / 5 |
Design | Robust, ergonomic, and well-thought-out | 5 / 5 |
Value | The best sound-quality-to-price ratio available | 5 / 5 |
Consider buying if…
Avoid purchasing if…
Cambridge Audio Melomania A100 review: Other options to consider
How I evaluated the Cambridge Audio Melomania A100
- Connected to both an iOS phone and an Android DAP
- Used various digital file formats and sizes
- Tested in multiple environments
As iOS devices don’t recognize sound quality beyond the AAC codec, I was pleased that my FiiO DAP does, allowing the Melomania A100 to demonstrate its full sound capabilities.
The DAP also includes a lot of high-resolution content and mirrors the music streaming apps from my iPhone. This gave me the opportunity to try out different audio file types and sizes.
I tested the earbuds both indoors and outdoors, in quiet spaces as well as noisy environments where even the best noise-cancelling can struggle. I did this for over a week since using these Cambridge Audio earbuds was a true pleasure.
For further details on our testing process, check out our methods.
Originally reviewed: June 2025
