Cambridge Audio Melomania 1 Plus review: A cheaper, better-sounding AirPods alternative
Our Verdict
The Cambridge Sound Melomania one Plus is a superb set of wireless earbuds that delivers elevation-notch performance at an enticing price point.
For
- Stellar sound performance
- Long battery life
- Attractive companion app with useful features
- Elegant and water-resistant design
- More than affordable than the AirPods
Confronting
- No ANC or transparency fashion
- Disappointing call quality
Tom'due south Guide Verdict
The Cambridge Audio Melomania ane Plus is a superb set of wireless earbuds that delivers top-notch performance at an enticing price point.
Pros
- +
Stellar audio operation
- +
Long bombardment life
- +
Attractive companion app with useful features
- +
Elegant and water-resistant design
- +
More affordable than the AirPods
Cons
- -
No ANC or transparency way
- -
Disappointing call quality
When Cambridge Audio announced the Melomania 1 Plus (also known as the Melomania 1+), it was difficult to contain my excitement. If you lot take ever experienced the brand's award-winning sound, be it through hello-fi sound systems or powerful speakers, you lot would be light-headed as well, especially after seeing the buds' entry price of $139 — handily undercutting the Apple AirPods.
Cambridge Audio Melomania i Plus specs
Colors: Blackness, white
Battery life (rated): vii hours (Loftier Performance Mode), ix hours (Depression Power Mode), 45 hours (with charging case)
Connectivity: Bluetooth v.0
Processor: Not stated
Size: 1.1 10 0.half dozen x 0.vi inches (per bud), 2.iii ten 1.ix x 0.viii inches (charging example)
Weight: 0.2 ounces (per bud), ane.3 ounces (charging instance)
I've spent a week testing the Melomania 1 Plus and was extremely satisfied with the final product. In improver to a make clean and striking pattern, listeners are rewarded with dynamic and versatile sound that can be personalized via companion app, forth with extensive playtimes. Unique features similar enhanced listening modes and multi-codec back up also assist cement its place among the best wireless earbuds available. Read on for our full Cambridge Audio Melomania 1 Plus review.
- The best headphones overall
- Find a deal with the best Apple AirPods alternatives
Cambridge Audio Melomania 1 Plus review: Cost and availability
- Cambridge Audio Melomania 1 Plus for $139.95 at Amazon
Y'all tin can buy the Cambridge Audio Melomania 1 Plus from Amazon or directly from Cambridge Sound. It's available in two color options: black and white.
Over 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. like the AirPods Pro ($249) and Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro ($199) though the Melomania i Plus itself lacks active noise cancellation (ANC).
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Cambridge Audio Melomania 1 Plus review: Design and condolement
If you're bored of the long-stem silhouette that Apple has fabricated synonymous with the category, the Melomania 1 Plus is a jiff of fresh air. The near bullet-shaped design gives it a contemporary, sleeker appearance than both the AirPods and AirPods Pro, which also allows for seamless insertion into the ear. The buds don't dangle, nor do they stick out similar the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds and Jabra Elite 85t do, making for a more discrete wearable.
Build quality is substantial, with the hard-plastic casing and soft-touch matte end hitting that sweet spot between durable and elegant. You won't panic if these fall from a loftier distance or if they become exposed to h2o, as Cambridge Audio designed the buds with IPX5 splash resistance. Only don't drib them in the jacuzzi, because they aren't congenital to survive submersion or pressurized water jets.
There are some notable details that deserve recognition. I like how the designers were able to requite the multifunctional push a flush appearance, despite it being slightly raised. The indented logo is a prissy touch on besides. Something else that is unique is how the buds charge, which is the perfect segue into the charging case.
Cambridge Sound'southward example looks better the standard AirPods case. Information technology's also one of the lighter cases out there, and is meaty enough to shop in your jeans pocket or everyday bag. The chapeau shuts securely as well. However, the charging organization was what defenseless my attention most. It uses electrical contacts (the metal ring and ear tip grille) that are neatly disguised to generate a charge. Information technology is something different and an example of the brand's commitment to ingenuity.
Six silicone tip sizes and four retentiveness foam tip sizes come bundled to adjust 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 amend fitting selection, though, and Apple'south Ear Tip Fit Test assists with achieving optimal fit.
Y'all will bask acceptable comfort with the Melomania 1 Plus, but I would be mindful about wearing the earbuds for long stretches every bit yous might experience some soreness effectually the concha after two hours of listening. Furthermore, pressing the buttons means pushing the buds farther into your ears, which tin become agonized subsequently a while.
Cambridge Audio Melomania 1 Plus review: Controls and digital banana
The Melomania 1 Plus doesn't avowal 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 single/double-press gestures. Functions include playback (play/intermission/next rails/previous track), book, respond/end call, and voice assistance. The buttons are responsive and produce corking tactility to ensure users of intended commands.
Siri and Google Assistant are available to handle daily tasks and inquiries hands-free. Cambridge Sound's mic assortment demonstrated excellent speech recognition, picking upwards every discussion and understanding long-winded requests without whatever confusion. To create calendar invites, open programs, and pull upwardly basketball scores was a breeze on Android, iOS and macOS devices alike.
Cambridge Audio Melomania 1 Plus review: Sound quality
Cambridge Audio went the actress mile to give these buds stellar audio representation. On summit of 5.8mm graphene-enhanced drivers and support for the latest aptX and AAC codecs, the Melomania 1 Plus includes a special mode chosen Loftier Operation. This employs the aforementioned hi-fi-course distension found in Cambridge Sound'south renowned CX range of stereo amplifiers to optimize sound.
Most the songs I played sounded pretty close to their original mixes, especially jazz classics. The instrumental separation on Freddie Hubbard'southward "Red Clay" was the finest that I've heard on a pair of buds in this price range, as the lively horns, melodic bassline, and steady hi-hats were all crisp and distinctive. Much of this operation carried over into fusion genres like jazz-rap: Gang Starr's "Words I Manifest (Remix) maintained its smooth and up-tempo resonance with the buds wonderfully reproducing DJ Premier's impactful pulsate patterns and piano samples.
Vocal range is some other highlight on the Melomania 1 Plus. I loved the definition on Led Zeppelin'south "Baby I'one thousand Gonna Exit You" with the default sound profile emphasizing the plaintive vocals, which helped establish the tape'south somber mood. The acoustic guitar also had an openness that felt surreal with every string plucked.
If at that place is any complaint, it'southward that the passive noise isolation isn't very constructive. 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 good news is that any noises heard aren't distracting enough to pull y'all away from the music, unless an alarm goes off a few feet away from your ears.
Cambridge Audio Melomania ane Plus review: App and special features
The Melomania app hosts a handful of features with the Equaliser existence its nearly serviceable. Y'all get the option of creating three custom audio profiles that can be fined-tuned to your hearing preferences or select from six dissimilar, well-balanced presets: Counterbalanced (the default), R&B, Electronic, Bass Boost, Stone, and Voice. Each of these pair well with their specific genres and content. While I recommend sticking with Balanced, there's much pleasance to experience when enabling Voice for YouTube clips and podcasts. Bass Boost 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 pick and all other functions, as well as an Audio Manner that has two settings: Depression Power and the aforementioned High Performance. I already explained the do good of enabling High Performance, but not the trade-off, which is lower battery life (7 hours). Depression Power prioritizes battery life (9 hours) over sound quality.
The Hub (aka the abode screen) is bones in functionality, only visually appealing, as the tinted night blue background with white text and neon symbols are aesthetically appealing. I like how the battery level indicators for each bud are presented and that the Find My Earphones option is easily attainable at the bottom.
Firmware updates are available, though I experienced a technical difficulty when trying to download the latest 7.2.iii version. I got to update the correct bud, simply the left wouldn't pair to my Google Pixel 2 XL, so I managed to connect the unit of measurement to my Pixel iii XL, and the download completed. It's an odd result, but one worth noting.
Cambridge Audio Melomania 1 Plus review: Bombardment life and charging case
In depression Power style, playtimes are some of the highest in the category with a full charge generating 9 hours of use.. Phone calls, streaming, and volume decrease battery life by most an hour in this mode, though viii hours is still a more-than-sufficient amount to work with. It's also nearly double that of the AirPods Pro (iv.5 hours) and not also far off from elevation performers like the Beats Powerbeats Pro (ix hours) or Master & Dynamic MW08 (10 hours ). I was content using the buds 1.5 hours daily earlier recharging them effectually the fifth day.
The charging case holds up to 45 hours when fully charged. Do the math and that's v extra charges: nearly double the 24 actress hours that the AirPods charging example offers. Wireless charging, sadly, didn't make the cut.
Cambridge Audio Melomania one Plus review: Phone call quality and connectivity
As capable equally the Melomania 1 Plus is with music, I wasn't likewise fond of it as a calling headset. Whenever I spoke with my wife during walks, she mentioned my phonation was muffled and distant, and heard the numerous ambient noises (like domestic dog barks, speeding cars and wind) that surrounded me. Indoors, she could hear me slightly better, merely it wasn't a massive improvement. This was very disappointing since the mics performed superbly when firing upward the digital assistant.
Bluetooth 5.0 operates reliably on the Melomania ane Plus. Range is standard at 30 feet; stepping out of this altitude will crusade sound stuttering or dropped calls. Connectivity is strong as well, every bit the buds are instantly recognized when inbound pairing mode and re-pair to known devices automatically. I merely wish other wireless features were included, like Google Fast Pair or multipoint technology to pair the model with 2 devices at the same time.
Cambridge Audio Melomania 1 Plus review: Verdict
If you're on a (relative) budget and want affordable stylish earbuds that not just look and audio better than both AirPods models, merely also go you double the playtime, and so the Melomania 1 Plus is practically a a must-buy.
The audio 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 nearly half the price of luxury options like the AirPods Pro and the MW08.
Some may not even be bothered by the lack of ANC and transparency modes, though this does bring together call quality every bit the earbuds' two large disappointments. I've recently tested the Edifier TWS NBQ, which provides ANC for merely $59, then it's hard non to see the omission as negative fifty-fifty if it'southward too not a dealbreaker.
Withal, the Melomania 1 Plus is well deserving of an Editor'southward Choice badge, and is a nifty bargain that you'd be remiss not to at to the lowest degree consider.
- More than: The best headphones with a mic for voice and video calls
Source: https://www.tomsguide.com/reviews/cambridge-audio-melomania-1-plus
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