Why did British Company Cambridge Audio choose the name “Melomania” for their earbuds? According to the company “Melomania” means ‘obsessed with music.” After testing two of the Melomania true wireless earbuds (the Brits call them “in-ear monitors”) we are becoming obsessed with Cambridge Audio. These Melomania earphones make life easier, more satisfying, and more fun.
In this Story, we are reviewing two Different Types of Cambridge Audio earbuds in both black and white. The Melomania 1+ functions work by lightly pressing the center. The Melomania Touch uses a swipe to activate the functions. The clamshell cases for the two in-ear monitors (earbuds) we tested are small and compact and small enough to put in a pocket. The Melomania Touch case is oval, the Melomani 1+ earbuds are in a tapered square case. You can charge the headphones in them. However, when it comes to pairing, you need to take them out of the case and pair them separately.
Easy to Love, Melomania 1+:
The round earbuds True Wireless Headphones are on sale on the website and a real bargain at $60 (regularly $140). These are available in black and in white. However, the black version looks more obvious than the white ones sticking out of your ears. If your hair covers your ears, this isn’t an issue.
The thing we love about these is that while they do stick out of your ear, they fit into anyone’s ear comfortably and securely without having to adjust the trajectory or the fit with new ear tips. You do get extra sizes of the ear tips if you want to personalize the fit a bit more. Left and Right are clearly marked.
Once charged you get up to 45 hours of battery life – with up to 9 hours of continuous playback Enjoy clear voice calls with minimal distraction. The earbuds feature Qualcomm’s Clear Voice Capture (cVc) technology for making and receiving phone calls.
Simply Press the Button:
5.8mm Graphene drivers and a High-Performance Audio Mode make using these for talking or listening very enjoyable. The middle of the earbud has a button that you press to make it function, and it’s super easy to use.
Another thing worthy of note is the noise isolation which, on both the Melomania 1+ and the Melomania Touch is considerable. In our tests, we could see lips moving, but could not hear anything at all. The earphones are also Siri & Google Compatible. Simply double-tap your earbud to activate your favorite voice assistant. Control everything from volume, to calls, to notifications – without touching your phone.
Tech Specs Melomania 1+
All the specs are in this graphic. Please use your computer zoom in if you can’t read it clearly:
Melomania Touch – Sleek Personalized Design:
The Cambridge Audio Melomania Touch is also on sale right now at $99.95 from $150. They are also available in black or white.
The advicesisters.com’s tech editor Anthony Sabatini found the customizable design easy to use and comfortable in his ear. My ears (Alison Blackman, as I am writing typing up this review) must be oddly shaped because I have never found this kind of sleek in-ear design to fit comfortably or properly no matter how much I customize them. These earbuds are unobtrusive and I love the touch action. I just wish that they fit me better, This is not a fault at all of the Melomania Touch earbuds., but perhaps others have the same issues, so I feel justified in mentioning it.
Apart from the Melomania Touch’s good looks is the fact that you can swipe your function instead of tapping or pushing them on your ears. This is a real plus, except if you reach up to adjust the earbuds. That can confuse the Touch into thinking you want it to do something when you don’t.
It’s challenging for any audio designer to pack a lot into small wireless earbuds but Cambridge Audio does it well. The 7mm Graphene drivers and the same unique High-Performance Audio Mode as in the Melomania 1+ make listening and talking a joy. It’s made even better with the Cambridge Audio app that works for both earbud designs.
These wireless Touch earbuds give you a little more battery life (up to 50 hours) than the Melomania 1+ with the same 9 hours of continuous playback time. The noise isolation is excellent. And, as with the 1+ earbuds, the Cambridge Audio App makes these earbuds even more fun to use.
Tech Specs Melomania Touch:
All the specs are in this graphic. Please use your computer zoom in if you can’t read it clearly:
The Cambridge Audio Melomania App:
This app works for both the Melomania 1+ and the Melomani Touch. On both earbuds, the sound is good in the mid and high range but you might want to use the Cambridge Audio app to improve the bass, especially when listening to rock and roll.
The equalizer on the app is one of the best we’ve experienced. Download it for IOS or for Android. It is intuitive to use, and with it, you get a range of preset EQs that significantly enhance your listening experience. You can also create your own presets, a nice plus.
We also love the fact that you can use the app to find your headphones, update the firmware, select high or low power (for more battery life) and check your battery levels. One thing to note is that if you want to update the firmware you have to take the headphones out of their case.
Obviously, we didn’t dump the Melomani 1+ earbuds in a pool of water, but it’s good to know that if you get caught in the rain or snow, IPX5 splash resistance will keep the earbuds safe.
No Music on a Dead Planet:
Cambridge Audio is a Founding Donor of EarthPercent, the environmental charity co-founded by Brian Eno to fund meaningful climate action. As such, Cambridge Audio will be supporting EarthPercent’s operating costs over a three-year period. The company will also advocate for other hi-fi and music manufacturing companies to donate a percentage of their incomes to charity. Cambridge Audio is the first brand to join the music industry initiative – alongside artists such as Coldplay, Billie Eilish, Merck Mercuriadis, Fraser T Smith, and (of course) Brian Eno. Cambridge Audio Managing Director, Stuart George was quoted as saying: “We’re doing this because there’s no music on a dead planet.”
The Bottom Line (Alison Blackman):
I am using the Melomania app equalizer with Melomania 1+ earbuds
Matt Reilly, Cambridge Audio, US Product Expert says: “If you’re a little stuck on what gift to get the music lover in your life this year then look no further as Cambridge Audio has you covered. MELOMANIA HEADPHONES are the perfect present to put in a Christmas stocking. These are for the music lover on the move, the fitness fanatic, or the podcast obsessive. Melomania headphones were made to make those moments better by giving you the great sound you deserve. They really are a treat for the ears.”
As Editor in Chief of advicesisters.com I’m taking the liberty of getting the last word.
When it comes to in-ear headphones, audio monitors, or earbuds (call them what you will), wireless headphones are not one size fits all. While our tech editor Tony Sabatini loved the Melomania Touch earbuds, I didn’t find them as comfortable as the Melomania 1+ style. Different strokes for different folks and both are excellent.
The drivers in the touch are different but, overall, both earbuds provide easy-to-use, excellent talk and sound made even better with the Melomania App. These are both some of the best earbuds we have tried in a long time. And the price points are great for the quality. For my personal use, I purchased Cambridge Audio audio equipment as well. I am very happy I did. For more information visit the Cambridge Audio Website.
*photos in this article other than a few stock photos are by Anthony Sabatini