Cambridge Audio Melomania A100 Review: One Major Drawback to Consider

Explore the Cambridge Audio Melomania A100 wireless earbuds and their standout sound quality, compact design, and battery life—plus the one big downside you should know.

Introducing the Cambridge Audio Melomania A100

Today, we're diving into the Cambridge Audio Melomania A100—a fresh face in the Melomania series that offers a refreshing alternative to the usual wireless earbuds crowd. Known for their Hi-Fi excellence, Cambridge Audio impressed many last year with the Melomania P100 over-ear headphones, which remain a favorite for home listening.

While the design might not have been everyone's cup of tea, the sound quality was stellar, and boasting 60 hours of battery life with noise cancellation on, they offered tremendous value. These can now be snagged for under $200, a real steal.

However, the wireless earbuds lineup from Cambridge Audio isn't without its quirks. The new Melomania A100 earbuds build on last year's M100 model but bring a more compact design that takes up less space. The big question: can they correct the software and usability hiccups seen in earlier Melomania models like the 1+?

Switching from the M100 to the Melomania A100 is an intriguing move. According to Cambridge Audio, "The A100 will replace the M100 as stocks run out," yet the A100 earbuds are quite different. They are smaller but come with reduced battery life to match their size. On the bright side, their price point is appealing at around $150.

The competition here is stiff: Apple's AirPods 4 are just a bit pricier, Sony's LinkBuds S sit in a similar range, and Bose's QuietComfort earbuds cost a bit more. All are formidable rivals for the A100.

Cambridge Audio Melomania A100: Design

Simple Yet Refined

Crafted from smooth plastic, the A100 earbuds don't feel cheap by any means and sit comfortably in your ears right out of the box. Unlike many other earbuds, I felt no discomfort even after extended wear, which is a big plus for daily use.

The build quality is solid with no annoying lid play common in many wireless cases. On the front, LED indicators show the battery status and pairing mode, while the back houses a USB-C port plus wireless charging capability. There's a pairing button on the bottom of the case.

The A100 comes in black or white and includes medium-sized ear tips by default. In the box, you'll also find two additional sizes to fit smaller or larger ear canals comfortably.

Cambridge Audio Melomania A100: Features and Specs

Plenty of Codec Support but Shorter Battery Life

Hardware-wise, these earbuds pack a punch with support for an extended array of codecs: LDAC, aptX Lossless, aptX Adaptive, AAC, and SBC. Thanks to Bluetooth 5.4, multipoint connectivity lets you link to multiple devices simultaneously.

While they aren’t the toughest earbuds in the market, the A100 sports an IPX5 rating, meaning you can use them confidently even in heavy rain.

Battery life is where things take a hit compared to the M100. The older M100 provided a whopping 52 hours with the case and up to 16 hours per charge without ANC. The A100, however, offers a total of 39 hours—11 hours on the earbuds with ANC off, and about 6.5 hours when it's on.

Though ANC seems more power-hungry here, in real-world use, most won't notice much difference, especially if you’re used to earbuds lasting only three to four hours on a charge.

Fast charging is a lifesaver, giving you up to three hours of playtime from just a 10-minute charge.

Intuitive Controls

One of my favorite carryovers from earlier Cambridge models is the easy-to-use control scheme. A single tap cycles between noise cancellation, transparency mode, and ANC off, with clear voice prompts—no cryptic beeps requiring guesswork. Double tap activates your voice assistant for hands-free convenience.

Cambridge Audio Melomania A100: Sound Quality

Surprisingly Excellent Audio

The sound quality of these earbuds punches well above their price tag, whether you're jamming out to your favorite tunes or catching up on podcasts.

The noise cancellation matches their cost—blocking out typical background noise effectively. Conversations nearby were barely audible even at moderate volume. However, wind noise outdoors proved bothersome, reducing their effectiveness during calls on the move. This is a downside if you frequently answer calls while walking or running.

Transparency mode works fine, but I tend to just turn off ANC when I want to hear the world around me—a handy option for city strolls or busy environments.

Cambridge's proprietary DynamEQ tech helps maintain sound balance even at low volumes, and I found this feature worked well. The companion app lets you toggle it and provides a 7-band equalizer for detailed sound customization.

App and Customization

A Big Step Up

Cambridge Audio has seriously improved the Melomania app this time around. The A100 gets access to a wealth of options—from adjusting noise cancellation levels to battery checks.

You can enable or disable wear detection, which pauses playback when you take the earbuds out, and even set modes optimized for sleep or gaming. There's also an auto-off timer for better power management.

The only minor gripe I had was during pairing—sometimes the earbuds took a few moments to recognize each other after connecting to my phone. Still, overall, the app is a definite upgrade, even in its beta form.

"The quality of these earbuds surpasses expectations, sounding pricier than they really are."

— Cambridge Audio Melomania A100 Review

Final Verdict on Cambridge Audio Melomania A100

Sure, there are earbuds out there with better noise cancellation, but they often come with a heftier price tag. As an everyday pair that won’t break the bank, the Melomania A100 is a solid choice.

Noise cancellation handles everyday sounds well, but wind noise can make music hard to hear outdoors. Nevertheless, these earbuds deliver an engaging listening experience with sound quality that belies their compact size and affordable cost.

There are compromises, which explains the four-star rating, but these buds earn our "Recommended" badge because I genuinely enjoyed using them—and chances are, you will too.

• What makes the Melomania A100 earbuds stand out?
  The A100 offers excellent sound quality with support for multiple high-res codecs and strong battery life in a compact design.
• How long does the battery last on the Melomania A100?
  You get up to 39 hours total with the charging case, around 11 hours per charge with ANC off, and 6.5 hours with ANC on.
• Are the Melomania A100 earbuds water-resistant?
  Yes, they have an IPX5 rating, making them resistant to sweat and rain.
• Can I customize the sound on these earbuds?
  Definitely! The Melomania app includes a 7-band equalizer and allows toggling features like DynamEQ for personalized audio.
• How reliable is the noise cancellation?
  It effectively blocks common background noises but struggles with strong wind, which can affect outdoor listening and calls.

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