You don’t always have the luxury of sitting down in front of a proper hi-fi system to enjoy your favorite album. Sometimes, your listening room is a crowded train, and your listening chair is whatever seat you managed to get. That’s where a good pair of earbuds comes in. Cambridge Audio’s new Melomania A100 SE wants the job.
The British audio hardware maker has paired 10 mm drivers, featuring recycled neodymium magnets, with Class A/B amplification developed by the same engineers behind its amplifiers. There’s also LDAC support for up to 24-bit/96 kHz wireless audio, plus aptX Lossless for CD-quality listening with compatible devices. aptX Adaptive, AAC, and SBC round out the codec selection.
The new addition is Dolby Audio, which promises a wider stereo presentation with clearer separation. Crucially, the processing happens inside the earbuds, so it works with any paired device. You don’t have to buy a particular phone to join in.
For the less glamorous parts of everyday listening, there’s adaptive noise cancellation, transparency mode, and six microphones for calls. Bluetooth 5.4 supports multipoint connectivity, allowing you to stay connected to two devices. Each earbud weighs 4.7 grams (0.17 ounces), with IPX5 water resistance for the occasional splash.
Meanwhile, the Melomania Connect app lets you adjust the noise cancellation, switch Dolby Audio on or off, tweak a seven-band EQ, and customize each earbud’s touch controls. If you keep skipping tracks when you mean to pause, that last feature deserves some attention.
Battery life reaches up to 39 hours with the charging case, dropping to 21 hours with ANC enabled. Charging is available through USB-C or wirelessly, while a 10-minute top-up delivers up to 3.2 hours of playback with ANC off.
The Cambridge Audio Melomania A100 SE arrives this October for US$149, in black, white, or a new blue finish. Your favorite album can come along. The amplifier can stay home.
Images: Cambridge Audio.