When a longtime firm enters a brand new product class, there’s plenty of strain on it to right away impress the plenty, particularly when it has a confirmed observe document in its business. That’s what Cambridge Audio confronted this yr when it debuted its first wi-fi headphones, the Melomania P100 ($279). It had already made the Melomania M100 wireless earbuds, however with a fame largely constructed on hi-fi amplifiers, digital-to-analog converters (DACs) and audio system, the corporate was getting into uncharted waters.
With the P100, Cambridge Audio managed to go away a long-lasting first impression proper out of the field. Beginning with the refined look, it’s evident that the corporate is severe about taking intention at the very best within the class. It partnered aesthetics with lengthy battery life, user-friendly upkeep choices and a crisp, clear sound profile for a really compelling package deal on its first try.
Cambridge Audio’s first wi-fi headphones have a high-end look with lengthy battery life as the corporate prioritized element and readability over booming bass.
- Refined design
- 60-hour battery life with ANC
- Person-replaceable battery
- Crisp, clear sound profile
- Inventory tuning favors mids and treble
- Ear pads get uncomfy throughout longer classes
- No superior options
What’s good concerning the Melomania P100?
The P100 actually appears to be like like a set of flagship headphones. In an age when plenty of corporations go for plastic-heavy builds, even for his or her high-end fashions, it’s good to see a sophisticated design for lower than $300. Cambridge Audio mixed aluminum accents with vegan leather-based and comfortable reminiscence foam ear cups to do a lot of the heavy lifting right here. There’s additionally cross-hatched material on the underside of the scarf that provides a textural distinction whereas sustaining the colour scheme.
Cambridge Audio didn’t make any sacrifices on battery life with the P100, promising as much as 60 hours of use with lively noise cancellation (ANC) turned on. What’s extra, the corporate says you’ll be able to eke out as much as 100 hours of play time with ANC disabled, relying on quantity ranges and different settings. I had no hassle hitting 60 hours throughout my battery checks, which I run nearly fully whereas using noise cancellation. And to maintain the P100 working longer than some headphones would, the corporate permits customers to exchange the battery themselves when efficiency dips (ear pads are additionally replaceable).
The P100 makes use of the identical Class AB amplification that powers Cambridge Audio’s CX series hi-fi amps. This gives sound efficiency that’s “audibly higher” than what’s present in practically all wi-fi headphones, in response to the corporate. Three-layer 40mm drivers full the audio platform, which is tuned for “exact highs and dynamic lows.”
Throughout my checks, the P100 excelled at reproducing crisp, clear particulars throughout each style I threw at it. Even within the heaviest elements of Sleep Token’s “Vore,” the snare hits remained punchy, reducing via distorted guitar riffs with vocals layered in. Prominence is given to treble and mids although, as bass-heavy tracks like that one don’t fairly have the booming punch they usually do. As such, the P100 was at its greatest for types that demanded much less low-end growl — genres like nation, jazz and ‘90s grunge.
What’s not so good concerning the Melomania P100?
My notes on the general sound profile of the P100 aren’t nice information for many who crave a bombastic blast when listening to music by Kendrick Lamar, Kaytranada and different bass-heavy tunes. Cambridge Audio does provide a collection of presets to change the tuning, in addition to a full EQ for customized profiles. The modifications have been extra refined for the EQ sliders, in order that they didn’t ship the thump I used to be after. However, in contrast to plenty of equalizer choices from different corporations, none of those muddied the sound or made issues worse.
Regardless of the comfortable contact of the P100’s ear pads, they don’t provide sufficient buffer from the ridges of the ear cups throughout longer listening classes. I used these on a cross-country journey that concerned a full day of air journey and carrying headphones for a stable six hours. After about half-hour, I might begin to really feel these edges. And whereas they by no means turned painful, this saved the P100 from competing with the likes of the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones and Sony’s WH-1000XM5 when it comes to general consolation.
Cambridge Audio did properly to cowl all of the fundamentals on the P100. There’s dependable, easy-to-use bodily controls, stable adaptive ANC efficiency and assist for aptX Lossless. Put on detection and multipoint Bluetooth are additionally in tow, as is wired listening at 24-bit/96kHz high quality and a five-minute fast cost instrument. What you gained’t discover are issues like speech detection, any point out of spatial audio or a few of the automated options the competitors presents. Certain, I can excuse the omissions on the P100 given the value, however these are the kinds of conveniences which can be more and more changing into core specs, so one or two would’ve been good to have.
Closing verdict on the Melomania P100
I’m impressed by what Cambridge Audio has constructed for its first set of wi-fi headphones. It’s apparent the corporate is aware of learn how to produce clear, balanced audio, even when the P100 might use a smidge extra low-end tone. The mix of design, sound, repairability and battery life make this a compelling choice at properly underneath $300. And now that the corporate has a stable basis to construct on, I count on to be blown away by no matter comes subsequent.
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