Cambridge Audio Melomania 1+ True Wireless In-Ear Headphones

[VSG]

Cambridge Audio is a stellar name when it comes to Hi-Fi amplifiers and streamers, and now wants to do the same with headphones. Today, we put the Melomania 1+ true wireless earphones through its paces, which is a fairly unique-looking set of ear buds that promises an award-winning British sound!

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[Chrispy_]

I've had a few CA products over the years, previously running some Mission M772 speakers off a CA stereo amp, and my current DacMagic Plus has driven some M-Audio BX8 and now some Presonus E5 monitors.

I picked up a tiny little DacMagic XS a couple of years ago and the quality side has definitely dropped since CA's heyday. It's still a fine amp but having used more expensive and higher-end DACs I'm not going to give it five stars. The AQ Dragonfly black is barely half the price and half the size yet it sounds just as good to me, if not better. The FiiO E10K for a similar price is a classic that does everything the DacMagic XS does with better drivers and better sound, albeit in a larger form factor. Given its age and popularity you can usually find it cheap, too.

So yeah, Cambridge Audio need to compete in the current market and not just live off their old reputation. They haven't made a bad product yet (that I'm aware of) but they run the risk of being buried in a sea of competitive alternatives. Like you said, wireless headphones are a saturated market with ruthless competition - coming in at even $100 they need to distinguish themselves rather than just be another "ok" option.

 

[Tardian]

• Instrument distinction can be quite muddy, especially in high performance mode
• Soundstage and resolution in the mids is lacking

Worrying?

the average consumer tends to prefer an elevated bass and warm vocals, all signs of a characteristically bright listening experience.

We don't.

Soundstage does seem wider in high performance mode, but there is a haze over instruments that is not present in low performance mode, where it also aids with imaging. It's almost as though the same data source is stretched to fill a larger room, resulting in some ambiguity on where the music is coming from.

My son frowns.

the lower mids many will no doubt appreciate while others will not, making this TWS more polarizing for audiophiles and generally well-suited for the average consumer

Recommended for average people.

 

[Upgrayedd]

@VSG I mow a lot of grass and would like to know which pair of earbuds are the best at noise isolation so I don't have to turn volume way up to hear anything. I would be playing high res .wav files from a Samsung S21.

 

[VSG]

@VSG I mow a lot of grass and would like to know which pair of earbuds are the best at noise isolation so I don't have to turn volume way up to hear anything. I would be playing high res .wav files from a Samsung S21.

Are you looking for passive noise isolation or active? If purely NC is your concern then perhaps something from Sony or Bose might be worth exploring? I don't have enough experience with them first-hand but generally they seem recommended for good noise cancellation.

Of course the industrial solution would be to get a set of good foam ear buds and call it a day, but then you can't listen to music.

 

[Chrispy_]

Of course the industrial solution would be to get a set of good foam ear buds and call it a day, but then you can't listen to music.

Noise-cancelling wireless earbuds underneath a pair of these

 

[Upgrayedd]

Are you looking for passive noise isolation or active? If purely NC is your concern then perhaps something from Sony or Bose might be worth exploring? I don't have enough experience with them first-hand but generally they seem recommended for good noise cancellation.

Of course the industrial solution would be to get a set of good foam ear buds and call it a day, but then you can't listen to music.

I think I would want passive. Active would just be making more noise right?

When I put them in but have them turned off I want them to be just like earplugs. Would just a different tip do that?

 

[VSG]

I think I would want passive. Active would just be making more noise right?

When I put them in but have them turned off I want them to be just like earplugs. Would just a different tip do that?

Active would encompass passive isolation too, a well executed active noise cancellation protocol would generate a sound signal that is the opposite phase as the ones heard from microphones integrated in the headphones/earphones. So I would recommend ANC sets, as before, and @Chrispy_ 's idea isn't a bad one tbh.

 

[Chrispy_]

Active would encompass passive isolation too, a well executed active noise cancellation protocol would generate a sound signal that is the opposite phase as the ones heard from microphones integrated in the headphones/earphones. So I would recommend ANC sets, as before, and @Chrispy_ 's idea isn't a bad one tbh.

ANC works great for continuous noise like engines, whether that's a lawnmower or a jet engine - but their limitations are that they can only cancel out so many decibels. By reducing the incoming sound levels with the ear defenders, the ANC will likely get rid of almost all of the lawnmower noise. From experience on construction sites using Airpods MAX with ANC and a mandatory set of ear defenders, stuff like diesel generators and pneumatic drills become strangely silent.

 

[Upgrayedd]

ANC works great for continuous noise like engines, whether that's a lawnmower or a jet engine - but their limitations are that they can only cancel out so many decibels. By reducing the incoming sound levels with the ear defenders, the ANC will likely get rid of almost all of the lawnmower noise. From experience on construction sites using Airpods MAX with ANC and a mandatory set of ear defenders, stuff like diesel generators and pneumatic drills become strangely silent.

I think the earmuffs is a good idea but the stuff I have to mow is really rough. I think I'd just be battling to keep them on my head lol

Would foam eartips do anything over the normal rubber ones everyone uses?

 

[VSG]

I think the earmuffs is a good idea but the stuff I have to mow is really rough. I think I'd just be battling to keep them on my head lol

Would foam eartips do anything over the normal rubber ones everyone uses?

Those over-ear protective sets have a tight clamping pressure, I don't think they're going to leave your head anytime soon.

As for why foam, or more specifically memory foam, over silicone? It's because you can squish the tips in, insert into your ear canal, and hold in place while it expands to fill the shape of your specifications ear canal as best as possible. It's not for everyone, especially combined with ANC where you can get that weird pressure imbalance feeling, but it can provide for a more secure fit than silicone.