If you’re still not thinking of Cambridge Audio as a serious contender in the premium wireless headphone space, you might want to check your firmware. The British manufacturer, best known for its hi-fi components, has quietly—and now not so quietly—built some of the best-performing wireless audio gear in the game. The Melomania A100 already proved that Cambridge knows how to design wireless earbuds that actually sound like music, and now the new Melomania P100 SE aims to push that even further.
This new Special Edition keeps the headline-grabbing 100 hours of battery life (60 with ANC engaged), adds a more luxuriously cushioned headband for extended listening sessions, and drops a bold new blue finish that’s less “corporate grey” and more “don’t mistake me for your coworker’s headphones.”
Under the hood, it’s been fine-tuned for even better performance: Cambridge’s DynamEQ tech keeps playback balanced across volume levels, while the 40mm custom drivers with neodymium magnets—driven by a hi-fi-grade Class AB amplifier—have been retuned for more dynamics, improved clarity, and greater output.
Control freaks and genre hoppers will appreciate the updated Melomania Connect app, which gives you six useful EQ presets plus a seven-band manual EQ to dial things in exactly how you want. Long story short: this isn’t a fashion-first update. The P100 SE is Cambridge Audio doubling down on making great-sounding, seriously usable headphones that don’t need to shout to be heard.
The P100 SE joins the recently launched A100 true wireless earphones as the latest Melomania launches, both bearing Cambridge’s new bold branding—in a subtle, British kind of way.
Cambridge Audio Melomania P100 SE: Signature British Sound Gets a Bold New Tune-Up
The Melomania P100 SE isn’t just a paint job and a firmware bump — Cambridge Audio went deeper. Under the hood is the same 40mm three-layer composite driver with neodymium magnets that helped the original stand out, now matched to a Class AB amplifier pulled straight from Cambridge’s award-winning CX Series hi-fi amps. Translation: rich, dynamic audio with legitimate bass weight, clear mids, and no sizzle in the top end.
And then there’s the codec support. Snapdragon Sound with aptX Lossless means CD-quality playback over Bluetooth — none of that lossy, half-baked streaming nonsense. You get to hear what the artist intended, assuming your source and streaming service are up to the task.
ANC gets a bump too, with three adjustable levels that let you tune the world out as needed, whether you’re battling jet engine hum or just trying to ignore your neighbor’s espresso grinder. The reworked headband deserves props too — it’s been rebalanced for comfort and reduced clamping force, so even larger noggins won’t feel like they’re being hugged by a vice.
Also worth noting: Cambridge didn’t ignore the planet. The P100 SE uses 50% recycled plastic, comes in fully recyclable packaging, and features user-replaceable batteries and ear cushions — a rare move in the fast-disposable world of headphones. Sustainability meets longevity, and that’s a combo we can get behind.
Customise Your Listening Experience with Precision EQ and App Control
Right out of the box, the Melomania P100 SE delivers the signature Cambridge Audio sound—clean, transparent, and natural—without slapping a fake smile on your music. But here’s the thing: not everyone hears the same way, and Cambridge gets that. Whether you’re team jazz, hip-hop, or synthwave revival, this headphone gives you the tools to make your music feel personal.
The updated Melomania Connect app still gives you six genre-based EQ presets, but for those who prefer to fine-tune things, the seven-band manual EQ gives you all the control you need to dial in your own sonic fingerprint. Cambridge’s DynamEQ tech continues to do its job in the background—gently boosting bass and treble as the volume dips—so you don’t have to crank it just to hear everything.
Oh, and gamers? Cambridge didn’t forget you. P100 SE includes a low-latency gaming mode that drops lag to just 80ms. That means your gunfire and explosions stay locked to what’s happening on screen—because what’s the point of winning if the soundtrack is late to the party?
Battery That Keeps Going: 100 Hours of Playback Without the Panic
The Melomania P100 SE doesn’t just sip battery—it sips it with manners. You’ll get up to 60 hours with ANC on and a staggering 100 hours without. That’s a full workweek, a vacation soundtrack, or multiple long-haul flights without scrambling for a charger.
In a rush? Fast charging gives you 2 hours of ANC playback (or 4 without) from just a 5-minute top-up. Cambridge clearly understands that nobody wants their headphones dying mid-flight—or mid-guitar solo.
Melomania P100 SE: Key Features at a Glance
The Cambridge Audio Melomania P100 SE packs serious upgrades under its sleek new Blue finish, delivering audiophile sound with modern flexibility:
- Enhanced Sound: Retuned EQ for higher volume, punchier bass, and more dynamic listening. Cambridge’s DynamEQ keeps things balanced even at low volumes.
- Signature Audio: High-performance 40mm three-layer composite drivers powered by Class AB amplification, just like Cambridge’s award-winning hi-fi gear.
- Bluetooth Done Right: Supports aptX Lossless for CD-quality wireless audio, plus SBC, AAC, and aptX Adaptive (up to 24-bit/96kHz).
- All-Week Battery Life: Get up to 60 hours with ANC (or 100 without). A quick 5-minute charge gives 2 more hours of listening with ANC.
- Comfort Overhaul: A redesigned headband provides a better fit for all head shapes and extended listening sessions.
- Noise Control: Active Noise Cancellation with Transparency Mode for when you want to tune in or out of your environment.
- Custom Sound: Use the Melomania Connect app to adjust the 7-band EQ or pick from six presets based on your musical taste.
- Gaming-Ready: Low-latency mode for tighter sync between audio and visuals.
- Smart Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.3, multipoint pairing, and wired options via USB-C or 3.5mm (both cables included).
- Built to Last: User-replaceable battery and ear pads, plus sustainable packaging with 50% recycled plastics.
- Bonus Quirk: Audible feedback voiced by British legend Matt Berry—because who doesn’t want a little humor with their hi-fi?
The Bottom Line
At £249 / €279 / $299, the Cambridge Audio Melomania P100 SE walks straight into the lion’s den — where Apple, Sony, Bose, and Sennheiser rule the noise-canceling jungle with massive marketing budgets and brand loyalty baked in. But Cambridge isn’t playing influencer games. They’re banking on decades of audiophile engineering chops, and in the P100 SE, that bet pays off.
With Class AB amplification, aptX Lossless, seriously long battery life, and a comfort overhaul that actually matters, these headphones aren’t chasing gimmicks. They’re offering a cleaner, more dynamic take on hi-fi wireless sound, and they do it without trying to be everything to everyone. The ANC is solid, the EQ options are deep, and the Matt Berry voice prompts are just the right kind of weird to set them apart.
If you want something different from the usual plastic mainstream suspects — and you actually care about how your music sounds — the P100 SE deserves your shortlist. Just don’t expect splashy ads during the Super Bowl. Cambridge is counting on your ears, not your algorithm.
Where to buy: £249/€279/$299 and in a choice of Blue, White or Black finishes at Cambridge Audio.
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