Cambridge Audio Melomania 1 Plus review: A cheaper, better-sounding AirPods alternative
Our Verdict
The Cambridge Audio Melomania 1 Plus is a superb set of wireless earbuds that delivers tiptop-notch performance at an enticing price point.
For
- Stellar audio performance
- Long battery life
- Attractive companion app with useful features
- Elegant and water-resistant design
- More affordable than the AirPods
Against
- No ANC or transparency way
- Disappointing phone call quality
Tom's Guide Verdict
The Cambridge Audio Melomania ane Plus is a superb set of wireless earbuds that delivers meridian-notch performance at an enticing price bespeak.
Pros
- +
Stellar audio functioning
- +
Long battery life
- +
Attractive companion app with useful features
- +
Elegant and h2o-resistant blueprint
- +
More affordable than the AirPods
Cons
- -
No ANC or transparency mode
- -
Disappointing call quality
When Cambridge Audio appear the Melomania 1 Plus (also known equally the Melomania i+), it was hard to comprise my excitement. If you have always experienced the brand'southward honor-winning audio, be information technology through hello-fi audio systems or powerful speakers, you would be empty-headed equally well, especially after seeing the buds' entry price of $139 — handily undercutting the Apple AirPods.
Cambridge Audio Melomania ane Plus specs
Colors: Black, white
Battery life (rated): seven hours (High Performance Way), 9 hours (Low Ability Mode), 45 hours (with charging case)
Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.0
Processor: Not stated
Size: 1.i ten 0.6 x 0.vi inches (per bud), 2.iii x one.ix x 0.8 inches (charging case)
Weight: 0.2 ounces (per bud), 1.3 ounces (charging case)
I've spent a week testing the Melomania 1 Plus and was extremely satisfied with the terminal product. In addition to a clean and striking design, listeners are rewarded with dynamic and versatile sound that can exist personalized via companion app, along with extensive playtimes. Unique features like enhanced listening modes and multi-codec back up likewise help cement its place among the best wireless earbuds available. Read on for our full Cambridge Sound Melomania one Plus review.
- The best headphones overall
- Find a bargain with the all-time Apple AirPods alternatives
Cambridge Audio Melomania 1 Plus review: Cost and availability
- Cambridge Sound Melomania i Plus for $139.95 at Amazon
You tin can buy the Cambridge Audio Melomania 1 Plus from Amazon or direct from Cambridge Audio. It'southward available in two color options: blackness and white.
Again, $139 is a relatively affordable price for wireless earbuds with such a solid range of features. In addition to the standard AirPods, the Melomania one Plus has a lower MSRP than some of the best noise-cancelling earbuds out there. similar the AirPods Pro ($249) and Samsung Milky way Buds Pro ($199) though the Melomania 1 Plus itself lacks active noise cancellation (ANC).
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Cambridge Audio Melomania 1 Plus review: Design and comfort
If you're bored of the long-stem silhouette that Apple has made synonymous with the category, the Melomania one Plus is a breath of fresh air. The nearly bullet-shaped blueprint gives information technology a contemporary, sleeker appearance than both the AirPods and AirPods Pro, which likewise allows for seamless insertion into the ear. The buds don't dangle, nor do they stick out like the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds and Jabra Elite 85t practice, making for a more discrete wear.
Build quality is substantial, with the hard-plastic casing and soft-affect matte stop hitting that sweet spot between durable and elegant. You won't panic if these fall from a high distance or if they become exposed to water, as Cambridge Audio designed the buds with IPX5 splash resistance. Just don't drop them in the jacuzzi, because they aren't built to survive submersion or pressurized water jets.
At that place are some notable details that deserve recognition. I similar how the designers were able to give the multifunctional button a flush appearance, despite information technology beingness slightly raised. The indented logo is a nice impact as well. Something else that is unique is how the buds accuse, which is the perfect segue into the charging case.
Cambridge Audio's case looks meliorate the standard AirPods instance. Information technology's too one of the lighter cases out there, and is meaty enough to shop in your jeans pocket or everyday pocketbook. The lid shuts securely too. However, the charging organization was what defenseless my attention most. Information technology uses electric contacts (the metal ring and ear tip grille) that are neatly disguised to generate a charge. Information technology is something dissimilar and an example of the brand's commitment to ingenuity.
Six silicone tip sizes and iv retention foam tip sizes come bundled to accommodate dissimilar ear shapes. The default pair created a decent seal to keep the buds stabilized when moving around. I felt the AirPods Pro was the improve fitting option, though, and Apple's Ear Tip Fit Test assists with achieving optimal fit.
You will enjoy acceptable condolement with the Melomania 1 Plus, merely I would be mindful well-nigh wearing the earbuds for long stretches as you lot might feel some soreness effectually the concha after 2 hours of listening. Furthermore, pressing the buttons means pushing the buds further into your ears, which tin get aching subsequently a while.
Cambridge Audio Melomania one Plus review: Controls and digital assistant
The Melomania 1 Plus doesn't boast touch controls or on-ear detection. Instead, it has concrete buttons that support a full suite of media controls. These are divvied up between each bud and can be activated through hold and unmarried/double-printing gestures. Functions include playback (play/interruption/adjacent track/previous rails), volume, respond/end phone call, and vocalisation aid. The buttons are responsive and produce bully tactility to ensure users of intended commands.
Siri and Google Banana are available to handle daily tasks and inquiries hands-free. Cambridge Audio's mic array demonstrated excellent speech recognition, picking up every discussion and understanding long-winded requests without any confusion. To create calendar invites, open programs, and pull up basketball scores was a breeze on Android, iOS and macOS devices alike.
Cambridge Audio Melomania 1 Plus review: Sound quality
Cambridge Audio went the extra mile to give these buds stellar audio representation. On top of 5.8mm graphene-enhanced drivers and support for the latest aptX and AAC codecs, the Melomania 1 Plus includes a special mode called High Performance. This employs the same hi-fi-grade amplification establish in Cambridge Audio'south renowned CX range of stereo amplifiers to optimize sound.
Virtually the songs I played sounded pretty close to their original mixes, especially jazz classics. The instrumental separation on Freddie Hubbard's "Red Clay" was the finest that I've heard on a pair of buds in this cost range, as the lively horns, melodic bassline, and steady hi-hats were all well-baked and distinctive. Much of this performance carried over into fusion genres like jazz-rap: Gang Starr'due south "Words I Manifest (Remix) maintained its polish and up-tempo resonance with the buds wonderfully reproducing DJ Premier'due south impactful drum patterns and piano samples.
Vocal range is another highlight on the Melomania 1 Plus. I loved the definition on Led Zeppelin's "Babe I'chiliad Gonna Go out You lot" with the default sound profile emphasizing the plaintive vocals, which helped establish the tape'due south somber mood. The acoustic guitar too had an openness that felt surreal with every string plucked.
If in that location is any complaint, it'due south that the passive noise isolation isn't very effective. While the tips keep the buds in place, the seal struggles to block out noise at a high level, letting external sounds into the soundscape. This is where ANC would have been clutch. The expert news is that any noises heard aren't distracting enough to pull you away from the music, unless an alarm goes off a few feet away from your ears.
Cambridge Sound Melomania ane Plus review: App and special features
The Melomania app hosts a handful of features with the Equaliser being its near serviceable. You lot get the choice of creating three custom sound profiles that can exist fined-tuned to your hearing preferences or select from six unlike, well-counterbalanced presets: Balanced (the default), R&B, Electronic, Bass Heave, Rock, and Vox. Each of these pair well with their specific genres and content. While I recommend sticking with Balanced, at that place's much pleasance to feel when enabling Vox for YouTube clips and podcasts. Bass Heave and R&B are solid options for urban music categories too.
Tap the Settings icon at the bottom and there are toggle controls for the codec selection and all other functions, too as an Sound Way that has two settings: Depression Ability and the same High Performance. I already explained the do good of enabling High Performance, merely not the merchandise-off, which is lower battery life (7 hours). Depression Ability prioritizes battery life (9 hours) over audio quality.
The Hub (aka the dwelling house screen) is basic in functionality, but visually highly-seasoned, as the tinted night blue background with white text and neon symbols are aesthetically highly-seasoned. I similar how the battery level indicators for each bud are presented and that the Observe My Earphones option is easily accessible at the bottom.
Firmware updates are available, though I experienced a technical difficulty when trying to download the latest 7.2.3 version. I got to update the right bud, but the left wouldn't pair to my Google Pixel 2 XL, so I managed to connect the unit to my Pixel 3 XL, and the download completed. Information technology's an odd issue, but one worth noting.
Cambridge Audio Melomania 1 Plus review: Battery life and charging case
In depression Power mode, playtimes are some of the highest in the category with a full charge generating 9 hours of utilise.. Phone calls, streaming, and volume decrease battery life by nigh an hour in this mode, though eight hours is still a more than-than-sufficient corporeality to work with. Information technology's also nearly double that of the AirPods Pro (4.five hours) and not too far off from top performers like the Beats Powerbeats Pro (ix hours) or Master & Dynamic MW08 (10 hours ). I was content using the buds 1.five hours daily before recharging them around the 5th day.
The charging case holds up to 45 hours when fully charged. Do the math and that'due south 5 extra charges: almost double the 24 extra hours that the AirPods charging case offers. Wireless charging, sadly, didn't make the cut.
Cambridge Audio Melomania one Plus review: Call quality and connectivity
Every bit capable every bit the Melomania one Plus is with music, I wasn't also addicted of information technology every bit a calling headset. Whenever I spoke with my wife during walks, she mentioned my vocalism was muffled and afar, and heard the numerous ambience noises (similar canis familiaris barks, speeding cars and air current) that surrounded me. Indoors, she could hear me slightly ameliorate, but it wasn't a massive comeback. This was very disappointing since the mics performed superbly when firing upwardly the digital assistant.
Bluetooth v.0 operates reliably on the Melomania ane Plus. Range is standard at thirty feet; stepping out of this distance volition cause audio stuttering or dropped calls. Connectivity is strong too, as the buds are instantly recognized when entering pairing mode and re-pair to known devices automatically. I just wish other wireless features were included, like Google Fast Pair or multipoint technology to pair the model with two devices at the same fourth dimension.
Cambridge Audio Melomania 1 Plus review: Verdict
If yous're on a (relative) budget and want affordable fashionable earbuds that non just look and sound better than both AirPods models, but likewise get you double the playtime, then the Melomania 1 Plus is practically a a must-buy.
The sound profile lends itself well to all music genres and complements other media such as movies, podcasts, and eBooks. Craftsmanship is sharp, plus having 45 hours of playtime at your disposal is awesome. Well-nigh importantly, the Melomania 1 Plus offers these hallmarks at near one-half the cost of luxury options similar the AirPods Pro and the MW08.
Some may not fifty-fifty be bothered by the lack of ANC and transparency modes, though this does join call quality as the earbuds' two big disappointments. I've recently tested the Edifier TWS NBQ, which provides ANC for just $59, and then information technology's difficult not to come across the omission as negative fifty-fifty if it'south also not a dealbreaker.
Yet, the Melomania 1 Plus is well deserving of an Editor'due south Option badge, and is a great bargain that y'all'd exist remiss not to at least consider.
- More: The best headphones with a mic for vocalism and video calls
Source: https://www.tomsguide.com/reviews/cambridge-audio-melomania-1-plus
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