At Axpona 2025, I had the pleasure of visiting with the guys at Cambridge Audio and was introduced to the noteworthy Melomania P100 wireless headphones. After a fairly quick listen at the show, they grabbed my attention both sonically and aesthetically which led to my ordering a pair.
The Melomania P100’s come in two color choices, a traditional matte black and a stylishly creamy white. The SE models offer the same color choices but with an additional rich yet somehow warm blue.
They boast a 100-plus hour listening time with one charge to which I can confirm. However with the active noise cancellation (ANC) engaged, the the listening time drops somewhat, but not dramatically nor disproportionately. The Melomania headphones are exceptionally comfortable; I have heard mixed reports about that, but honestly, I cannot find much justification. The SE claims additional comfort over long listening periods, which surprises me as the P100’s were, as I said, quite exceptional. I own several headphones at two and three times the price point which are not as comfortable and the sound quality in a few cases barely compete.
The Melomania sounds like a device well beyond its price at $239.00 a pair. I listened to my go-to Annie Lennox and they delivered an open and crisp sound that was even better than what I remembered from listening at Axpona. I paired them with my iPad and streamed Apple music.
Just to be thorough, I listen to a variety of artists like Yes, with their complex progressive rock harmonies, and Al Stewart, with his acoustic Spanish guitar and distinct vocal range. The Melomania brought Yes’s “Close To The Edge” right up to the edge of delight and seemed to unapologetically push me into that I’ve-never-heard-that-before epiphany. The ethereal harmonics that opens the piece had a distinction I’ve only experienced with higher-end headphones.
Al Stewart’s Rhymes in Rooms album featuring Peter White’s tumbling Spanish guitar rhythms keep their acoustic pluck and distinctiveness as if I were attending one of Al’s intimate club-style concerts. Listening to him through the Melomania headphones felt appropriately fitting. Al Stewart being the wine enthusiast that he is, the P100’s feel like that twenty-five dollar Pinot Noir that you’d swear was a vintage bottle at four times the price.
Finally, I want to mention what may seem trivial to some, but not to me. The easy touch controls are smartly spaced and sized so that pausing or volume changes are stumble free. Even my sausage fingers found their targets with ease. The Melomania P100’s have been wisely marked with a very visible L and R accordingly inside the ear cradle so as to guide the user at a glance. There’s no squinting nor any tedious search for which is left and which is right. Thank you Cambridge Audio for your infinite common sense and customer-focused designs!
Key Takeaways:
- sound quality at 2 to 3 price point
- exceptional listening time
- sleek and comfortable
- well-designed controls