Written by Guy Lerner

G’day audio addicts, and welcome to the wild world of wireless, over-ear, noise-cancelling headphones!

Let’s face it: vying for prime position in this crowded market space is like auditioning for a role in a blockbuster – competition is fierce, and the reigning champions (looking at you, Sony) don’t give up their crowns easily.

But Cambridge Audio has swaggered onto the scene with its debut over-ear cans, Melomania P100, claiming it has the chops to shake things up. Spoiler alert: they might just be onto something.

First Impressions: Sleek, Stylish, and Matt Berry?!

Straight out of the box, the Cambridge Audio Melomania P100 (Price: $399) look and feel every bit as premium as you'd hope. With plush memory foam and vegan leather earpads, an aluminium frame, and a robust (albeit not-so-compact) travel case, they scream quality. 

They're available in black and white, but honestly, the black wins the beauty contest – it's just...styling. These headphones balance sturdiness with comfort, sporting just the right clamping force to keep them snug without feeling like a medieval torture device.

But the real cherry on top? Matt Berry. Yes, that Matt Berry. What We Do In The Shadows Matt Berry. If you choose the “Southwark” audible feedback option in the Melomania Connect app, the actor's velvety voice will narrate your headphone commands in a way that’s hilariously dignified. “Device one... disconnected,” he purrs, and somehow, your day feels better.

Design: elegance meets engineering

When it comes to design, the Cambridge Audio Melomania P100 strikes a balance between understated sophistication and clever functionality. These headphones don’t shout for attention – they earn it with thoughtful details that make the experience of using them a pleasure. From the choice of materials to the subtle finishing touches, the P100 feels like a product that’s been crafted rather than merely manufactured.

First up, the earpads: they’re crafted from memory foam wrapped in vegan leather, which is not only cruelty-free but also surprisingly luxurious. The foam moulds gently to the shape of your ears, creating a snug but never suffocating fit.

On the outside, the headband continues this theme with vegan leather over its exterior and a soft, padded fabric lining the inside. This balance of structure and comfort means you can wear the P100 for hours without that dreaded “headphone fatigue” that plagues heavier or more rigid designs.

Speaking of weight, at 330 grams, these headphones sit comfortably in the middle of the pack. They’re substantial enough to feel premium and robust, yet light enough not to press down on your noggin. The clamping force is Goldilocks-approved – not too tight, not too loose. They stay secure even if you’re bobbing your head to an irresistible beat but won’t leave you reaching for painkillers after a marathon listening session.

The aluminium arms and yokes give the P100 an air of durability without skimping on elegance. You can adjust the fit seamlessly, thanks to a cleverly concealed mechanism inside the headband. No clicky notches or exposed wires here, just smooth, ergonomic engineering.

On the practicality side, Cambridge Audio has distributed the controls across both earcups in a way that feels intuitive and uncluttered. The left earcup hosts a slider for power and Bluetooth pairing, along with a button for toggling ANC modes or summoning your preferred voice assistant.

On the right, there’s the classic three-button strip for playback and volume adjustments. The buttons have just the right amount of tactile feedback – no accidental presses or fumbling required. There’s no touch controls anywhere, but in all honesty, you won’t miss them.

Then there’s the travel case. It’s robust enough to withstand the rough-and-tumble of a commuter’s backpack or a carry-on suitcase, though it does lean toward the chunky side. If you’re a minimalist who prefers slipping your headphones into a slim laptop sleeve, you might find this case a bit overprotective. However, the included USB-C and USB-C-to-3.5mm cables are a thoughtful addition, giving you multiple ways to connect and charge.

Finally, kudos to Cambridge Audio for its commitment to sustainability. From recyclable, plastic-free packaging to replaceable earpads and batteries, the P100 is designed with longevity in mind. Even the use of recycled materials in the headphones themselves is a refreshing nod to eco-consciousness. While many brands pay lip service to sustainability, Cambridge Audio seems genuinely invested in creating a product that’s as kind to the planet as it is to your ears.

Battery life

When it comes to battery life, the P100 sets a new benchmark in its class, offering endurance that ensures you’re never tethered to a charger.

With ANC turned off, the P100 delivers an impressive 100 hours of playback on a single charge (no, that’s not a typo). This is a staggering figure that places it well ahead of most competitors in the premium headphone space.

For those who rely on ANC to tune out the world, the battery life is a slightly reduced but still remarkable 60 hours. This means you can easily get through a week of commuting or even a transcontinental flight without needing to recharge, let alone a quick hop from Melbourne to Sydney.

In today’s fast-paced world, waiting hours for your headphones to recharge simply isn’t an option. Thankfully, the P100 includes fast-charging capabilities via USB-C. A quick 5-minute charge provides up to four hours of playback – a lifesaver when you’re in a hurry. Fully recharging the headphones takes around two hours, which is more than reasonable considering their massive battery capacity.

The P100 also features intelligent power-saving technology. If no audio is playing for a set period, the headphones automatically power down to conserve energy. This is particularly useful for forgetful users who might leave their headphones on overnight.

Features

The P100 is not just a set of headphones; it’s a treasure chest of features designed to elevate every aspect of your listening experience. From advanced connectivity options to tailored personalisation, this headset aims to offer a comprehensive solution for audiophiles and casual users alike.

At the forefront is a highly capable hybrid active noise cancellation (ANC) system. By deploying six microphones – strategically positioned both inside and outside the earcups – this system continuously monitors ambient noise and generates counter-signals to neutralise unwanted sounds.

Unlike simpler ANC implementations, the hybrid system combines feedforward and feedback techniques, ensuring effective cancellation across a broad frequency range. This results in a dramatic reduction of low-frequency disturbances, such as airplane engine hum, while also tackling mid-to-high frequency distractions like chatter or keyboard noise.

The transparency feature, a crucial aspect of modern headphone design, provides nuanced control over ambient sound levels. With three settings – High, Low, and Voice Focus – users can tailor how much of the external world filters through the earcups.

High mode amplifies ambient sounds for heightened awareness, while Voice Focus emphasises speech frequencies, making it ideal for face-to-face interactions without removing the headphones. These settings can be adjusted through the Melomania Connect app, ensuring full situational adaptability.

Wireless connectivity is powered by Bluetooth 5.3, a standard that offers enhanced bandwidth, range, and energy efficiency. The P100 supports a comprehensive range of codecs, including SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive, and aptX Lossless, covering everything from basic streaming needs to high-resolution audio playback.

AptX Adaptive dynamically adjusts its bit rate to balance audio quality and connection stability, while aptX Lossless enables true CD-quality sound (16-bit/44.1kHz) for those with compatible source devices. This makes the P100 suitable for demanding listeners who expect top-notch audio fidelity, whether they’re streaming via Spotify or playing lossless tracks from Tidal or Qobuz.

For wired listening, the P100 offers both a USB-C input and a traditional 3.5mm headphone jack. The USB-C connection supports digital audio signals directly from compatible devices, ensuring bit-perfect playback without reliance on Bluetooth. This flexibility makes the P100 as versatile in wired mode as it is wireless, appealing to both purists and modernists alike.

Personalisation is taken to the next level with the Melomania Connect app. A seven-band equaliser lets users fine-tune the sound signature to match their preferences, with presets such as Blues, Rock, and Electronic catering to specific genres. Custom EQ profiles can also be created and saved for repeated use.

Beyond audio customisation, the app facilitates firmware updates, ensuring the headphones remain future-proof with access to new features and performance tweaks over time. It also houses a Find My Headphones function, using Bluetooth signal strength to locate misplaced devices.

A thoughtful inclusion is the multipoint connectivity feature, enabling the P100 to simultaneously pair with two devices. This is particularly valuable for users juggling work and leisure, allowing effortless switching between a laptop for conference calls and a smartphone for music or calls.

Gamers, too, benefit from the low-latency mode, which reduces audio lag to less than 80 milliseconds. This synchronisation ensures that sound effects are perfectly in step with on-screen action, significantly enhancing gaming immersion.

Sound impressions

I’ve been testing the P100 over the past few weeks with a wide range of music from my regular playlists, along with new releases on various streaming services. Listening was mostly wireless from my LG smartphone, but also from my MacBook, and on occasion, wired to both.

Let’s cut to the chase: the Melomania P100 delivers the kind of sound that made me want to revisit my entire music library. Whether you’re a bass-head, a classical purist, or someone who just wants their podcasts to sound crisp and clear, these headphones rise to the occasion. They don’t just play your favourite tracks—they elevate them.

There’s some technical reasons for this sonic awesomeness worth mentioning. First, a defining feature of these headphones is a hybrid Class AB amplification system. While most competitors use Class D amplifiers for their energy efficiency, Cambridge Audio opts for Class AB technology, the same system found in its high-end home audio products. This delivers superior linearity and reduced distortion, ensuring a warm, natural sound signature.

Then there’s the drivers, 40mm full-range dynamic units, constructed using a triple-layer composite diaphragm – polyurethane sandwiched between layers of polyether ether ketone (PEEK). This design strikes an ideal balance between stiffness and flexibility, allowing the drivers to reproduce accurate sound across the frequency spectrum.

The result is a balanced tonality, sitting just north of neutral with a touch of earthy warmth and a big dollop of punchiness and clarity.

Bass is substantial without being overpowering – a tricky balance to strike. Tracks like Billie Eilish’s bad guy showcase the P100’s ability to deliver deep, punchy lows without sacrificing clarity. Each thump feels precise, not bloated, ensuring that bass-heavy genres like hip-hop and EDM sound energetic but never overwhelming.

At the same time, the mids are gloriously expressive. Vocals, whether whispered or belted, are rendered with warmth and nuance, allowing you to connect with the emotion behind the music. Listening to Adele’s Someone Like You feels like being in the front row of a live performance – every inflection and breath is beautifully preserved.

Up in the treble range, the P100 continues to shine. High frequencies are bright and articulate, adding sparkle to cymbals, strings, and synths without ever veering into harshness. Tracks like Fleetwood Mac’s Go Your Own Way highlight the headphones’ ability to balance complexity with coherence, ensuring every instrument gets its moment in the spotlight. The result is a soundstage that feels wide and immersive, pulling you into the heart of the music.

Technically speaking, dynamic range is another area where the P100 excels. From the quiet intimacy of Norah Jones’ Don’t Know Why to the explosive crescendos of Hans Zimmer’s Time, these headphones handle it all with finesse. The transitions between soft and loud are seamless, and the P100 never loses its composure, even during the most demanding passages.

Staging is also impressive for a closed-back wireless headphone, and is in many ways superior to that of in-ear monitors, even the more expensive wired type that I tend to use fort critical listening.

Importantly, when it comes to sound quality on the go, the P100 doesn’t play favourites when it comes to genres or formats. Whether you’re spinning vinyl classics, streaming chart-toppers, or diving into audiobooks, these headphones adapt beautifully.

Overall, the P100 offers rich, dynamic sound performance that’s just relaxed enough for my preferences, and which can easily be tweaked if you crave more liveliness and energy from your music.

Closing thoughts

So, should you grab a pair of Melomania P100s? If you’re a music lover who values exceptional sound quality and doesn’t mind merely "good" noise cancellation, these are a no-brainer. They’re perfect for long commutes, work-from-home marathons, or globe-trotting adventures, thanks to their record-breaking battery life and travel-friendly design.

Not an audiophile? Don’t worry, the P100 doesn’t judge. With their accessible sound signature, comfortable build, and user-friendly app, they’re as much for casual listeners as they are for sound geeks. And if you’re someone who appreciates thoughtful, eco-conscious design, these headphones will have you swooning.

In short, the Cambridge Audio Melomania P100 is a strong contender in a fiercely competitive market. While they may not topple Sony’s XM series entirely, they’ve carved out their own niche: unbeatable battery life, stellar sound, and a sprinkle of Matt Berry magic.

Whether you’re binge-watching, bass-bumping, or conference-calling, the P100 promises to keep you entertained for hours on end – literally.