The true wireless earbuds market is a bloodbath—shark-infested waters where brand recognition often trumps sound quality, and where Apple’s AirPods dominate like a smug trust fund kid who always gets picked first. I was reminded of this unfortunate reality on a pre-dawn NJ Transit train into the city, bleary-eyed and half-caffeinated, on a mission to pick up a travel document that somehow got rerouted into bureaucratic purgatory.
In every direction—Penn Station, the guy across from me picking his nose while watching the Panthers celebrate back-to-back Stanley Cups, and the walk from 32nd to the upper 40s past Grand Central where, naturally, the NYPD were investigating a double stabbing in the subway—one thing was consistent: everyone had AirPods jammed in their ears or something trying very hard to look like them.
Same story in Europe this week. Train platforms, cafés, airport security lines—wall-to-wall Apple stems. Which begs the question: in a world oversaturated with generic white earbuds, can something like the new Cambridge Audio Melomania A100—$149 true wireless earbuds with ANC, Class A/B amplification, and actual hi-fi heritage—cut through the noise?
Cambridge Audio Melomania A100: Hi-Fi Sound Meets True Wireless Convenience for $149
The original Cambridge Audio true wireless earbuds were better than most people remember—solid sound, great tuning, and a clear step up from the plasticky noise-makers flooding the sub-$200 market. But let’s be honest: they never got the attention they deserved. Thanks, Apple. When you control the ecosystem and the style trend, sound quality ends up taking a back seat to brand loyalty.
With the new Melomania A100, Cambridge Audio isn’t just trying to be “different”—they’re aiming to actually matter in a market that throws everything from $50 budget buds to $500 luxury pairs at your ears and hopes something sticks. And they’ve brought some real tech to the table this time.
New for the A100 is DynamEQ, Cambridge’s own dynamic EQ tech that keeps music sounding balanced and full—even at low volumes. It subtly tweaks bass and treble across the volume curve, so you’re not constantly reaching for the volume just to get clarity.
The revamped Melomania Connect app also brings serious flexibility. You can fine-tune the sound with a 7-band EQ, load up genre-based presets, or save your own custom profiles. Touch controls are now fully mappable, meaning no more mystery taps or volume jumps when you meant to skip a track.
Fit and finish? Solid. The A100 is light, ergonomic, and available in black or white—thankfully without the generic dental-floss aesthetic. It’s part of a larger shift for Cambridge too, with the A100 carrying the brand’s new look and feel, and working seamlessly with the updated app.
At $149, Cambridge isn’t trying to win with price alone—they’re betting that good sound, smart features, and thoughtful design can finally earn some real attention.
Staying at the forefront of wireless audio tech, the Melomania A100 supports LDAC, aptX Adaptive, and aptX Lossless—a rare combo at $149—Whether you’re blasting your favorite album or listening quietly on a red-eye flight, the A100 doesn’t let the sound fall apart.
Battery life clocks in at up to 11 hours of continuous playback, which is decent, but let’s be honest—it’s on the lower side compared to some competitors pushing 15+ hours.
The charging case gives you an additional 28 hours, and if you forget to charge before heading out (we’ve all done it), fast charging gives you three extra hours with just 10 minutes on the cable. Not bad for something that fits in your pocket without turning it into a brick.
Cambridge didn’t skimp on comfort, either. The A100 is built from lightweight premium materials with multiple silicone tip sizes are included to help you find that perfect, noise-isolating fit, which also helps the ANC do its job more effectively. Because there’s nothing immersive about earbuds that won’t stay in your ears.
Whether you’re zoning in at your desk or trying to ignore humanity on your morning commute, they stay put and stay comfortable. That said, maybe don’t tune out the subway completely at 7 a.m. in NYC—being able to hear the guy stabbing people eight feet away on the platform might actually be the smarter move.
Melomania A100: Hi-Fi Pedigree, Class AB Power, and Noise Cancelling That Doesn’t Phone It In
Cambridge Audio’s been in the game since 1968, back when the P40 amplifier made it clear the Brits weren’t messing around when it came to sound. Fast forward a few decades, and the same team behind their award-winning hi-fi gear has turned its attention to your ears—literally—with the new Melomania A100, engineered and tuned at their HQ/music venue in London, aka Melomania.
Unlike most true wireless earbuds crammed with off-the-shelf Class D guts and plastic drivers, the A100 goes full hi-fi nerd with Class AB amplification—a rarity in this category. That amp is paired with custom-tuned 10mm Neodymium drivers, which bring more warmth, clarity, and actual musicality to the table. It’s not marketing fluff—this thing is voiced by people who know what real hi-fi is supposed to sound like.
Running the show behind the scenes is a dual-core 240MHz Qualcomm Kalimba DSP, making sure the sound stays clean, clear, and low on distortion
And yes, there’s hybrid ANC, using both feedforward and feedback mics—inside and outside the ear—to knock out unwanted noise without nuking the details. It’s proper active noise cancellation, not the lazy “meh, close enough” stuff you get in most $150 buds.
Stay Connected—Whether You’re Streaming Music or Reporting a Midtown Stabbing
The Melomania A100 is built for modern chaos, not just music. With Bluetooth 5.4 and Multipoint Connectivity, it easily juggles two devices at once. So if you’re watching Love Island reruns on your laptop but suddenly need to jump on a work call—or switch over to your phone to cue up some Slayer to mentally recover—it’s a seamless handoff. No disconnect dance, no Bluetooth meltdown.
When it’s time to actually talk to another human, the A100’s six-microphone array kicks in. Voices come through clean, sharp, and surprisingly natural—even if you’re pacing outside a noisy café or calling the NYPD to report yet another underground swordfight on the 6 train. Advanced noise isolation tech helps filter out the background nonsense, so you sound like you’re in a quiet room—even if you’re absolutely not.
Cambridge made sure the A100 handles all this without drama. It’s smart, stable, and keeps you connected without missing a beat—or a siren.
Key Features – Cambridge Audio Melomania A100
- Class AB Amplification with custom-tuned 10mm neodymium drivers for Cambridge’s signature hi-fi sound
- DynamEQ Technology for balanced, full-range sound at any volume
- High-Resolution Audio Codec Support: LDAC, aptX Lossless, aptX Adaptive, AAC, SBC
- Battery Life:
- Up to 11 hours (ANC off) / 6.5 hours (ANC on) on a single charge
- Up to 39 hours total with charging case
- Fast Charge: 10-minute charge = up to 3 hours playback
- Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) and Transparency Mode for immersive or aware listening
- 7-Band Adjustable EQ with 6 genre-based presets and fully customizable profiles
- Bluetooth 5.4 with Multipoint Connection (connect to two devices simultaneously)
- Six-Microphone Array for crystal-clear call quality with background noise isolation
- Customizable Touch Controls for playback, calls, ANC, and voice assistant
- IPX5 Water Resistance – splash and sweat-proof for daily use and workouts
The Bottom Line
The Cambridge Audio Melomania A100 packs a serious punch with Class AB amplification, advanced codec support including LDAC and aptX Lossless, robust ANC, and a host of smart features like Multipoint Bluetooth and customizable EQ—all wrapped in a comfortable, splash-resistant design. At $149, these earbuds deliver a level of sound quality and functionality that puts them squarely in the ring with the likes of SoundPEATS Air5 Pro and Apple’s AirPods Pro 2, but without the hefty price tag.
For anyone looking for genuine hi-fi sound and versatile features on a budget, the A100 isn’t just an option—it’s a contender that demands your attention. Just remember: while these buds can drown out the world, it’s probably smart to keep an ear open for the subway announcements—and don’t be afraid to hang up on Mom when the timing’s just right.
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