UK audio gear maker Cambridge Audio launched a pair of wi-fi ANC headphones final yr that hated being plugged right into a wall outlet for a recharge. Now the corporate has refined the sound, improved on the long-haul consolation and launched a brand new colorway.
At launch, Cambridge Audio stated that its first pair of over-ear headphones “builds on over 50 years of audio experience and an unashamed ardour for music to ship really emotive sound from meticulously tuned premium drivers and hi-fi-grade Class AB amplification.”
With lively noise-canceling engaged, the built-in battery was designed to final 60 hours between expenses, which may stretch to 100 hours if ANC was turned off. There was help for fast-charging as effectively, which promised round 2 hours of ANC listening for simply 5 minutes plugged right into a wall outlet over USB-C. And a Melomania Management cell app catered for tone tweaking to private style utilizing the seven-band EQ.
Cambridge Audio
These P100 headphones have now been joined by a Particular Version launch. The revised over-ears nonetheless profit from customized 40-mm three-layer composite drivers rocking neodymium magnets, and the identical form of Class AB amplification discovered within the firm’s CX Sequence hi-fi amplifiers. However the up to date cans have been handled to “new tuning for extra highly effective, immersive playback, improved bass weight, and refined dynamics.”
Diving proper in
I used to be despatched the all-new stunning blue colorway for my evaluation, although black or white may also be had. Out of the field, the SE cans provided up a clear punchy sound throughout an uncluttered, spacious soundstage. Cambridge Audio has reportedly pumped up the bass finish for a extra impactful pay attention than with the unique P100s, in addition to giving mids some extra pep whereas boosting the presence for larger frequencies.
The usually punishing double-kick insanity present in a lot of the music I appear to be listening to lately was delivered with sufficient drive to maintain me engaged, with out muddying the readability of devices and vocals occupying larger frequencies. The sonic unfold for much less thunder-driven tracks was equally pleasing, with numerous room throughout the stereo picture for every instrument to shine.
Agency favorites like Pat Metheny’s Cathedral in a Suitcase and Money by Pink Floyd had been delivered with precision and spacious refinement. The headphones even managed to disclose particulars in pretty busy tracks equivalent to Crumplepenny – from the multi-dimensional wizardry of Ed Wynne (Ozric Tentacles) – that I would not beforehand registered throughout extra informal listening.
Hindsight is a superb factor, and searching again to the very first monitor I performed via these headphones has me questioning what the hell I used to be pondering. The amount out of the field was startlingly loud, and never figuring out this beforehand I made the rookie error of choosing American Sleep by Clutch as my opening gambit, as a substitute of one thing far much less jarring – even RATM’s Bombtrack would have been a quieter entry to the music marathon to come back.
Digital dynamics
The Particular Version launch additionally brings the corporate’s personal DynamEQ know-how to the over-ear listening occasion, which dynamically adjusts bass and treble frequencies “so each monitor sounds full and pure” even at low volumes.
Cambridge Audio
Playing cards on the desk time. For many of my listening classes I are inclined to purpose for a reasonably flat response, maybe as a result of I need to hear the form of sound the artists need me to listen to with none of my novice EQ meddling. In any case, these guys can spend an eternity making minor changes right here and there earlier than they’re joyful to launch tracks into the wild – after which I storm in with my fader frolicking and spoil every thing.
Nonetheless, it’s good to have the chance to tweak if I need to, and this may be undertaken via the up to date Melomania Join app. There are actually six style presets in addition to handbook adjustment through the seven-band equalizer – the default setting is the flat preset.
Cambridge Audio additionally has DynamEQ lively by default, however this may be disabled utilizing the app. So with DynamEQ toggled on, the unique combine will get interfered with within the identify of readability and drive. This pushes treble and bass ahead slightly for a extra aggressive punch at decrease output ranges whereas pulling them again a bit for extra balanced playback at larger volumes.
Switching between on and off for this characteristic revealed that the change in supply was fairly delicate, however the mid zone occupied by guitars and vocals did take a small step again within the combine when the amount was decrease. And although the digital remixing at larger output ranges definitely occurs, it was a lot much less noticeable.
I’ve to say that I actually like Cambridge Audio’s refined sonic signature, and the SE headphones sounded nice whether or not this characteristic was on or not. But when I had to decide on, my choice can be for the characteristic to be disabled when listening to acquainted favorites in a quiet area – with or with out ANC powered on. Although it may have gone both manner when listening to new songs for the primary time.
As I entered areas the place background noise threatened to creep in and spoil the listening session, I appreciated having each ANC and DynamEQ serving to me to concentrate on the music with out essentially needing to crank up the amount.
In the long run, I think that this sort of digital manipulation – even when it is finished very effectively, which is the case right here – will probably be very a lot down to private choice. As such, I would advocate giving each modes a attempt to select your personal specific poison. I do know… not significantly useful, however as I stated – both manner I discovered the listening expertise to be wonderful.
The companion app may also be used to examine battery degree, set ranges of ANC (excessive, medium or low), activate or deactivate put on detect and gaming modes, entry the consumer information, and replace firmware.
Apparently, as with the unique P100 headphones, actor/comic Matt Berry gives the audio suggestions when the “Southwark” possibility is chosen through the app, which introduced again fond recollections of the hit sitcom Toast of London and prompted a cheeky grin from me each time the system had one thing to say.
Cambridge Audio
Massive battery
The headline characteristic right here is in fact the monstrous battery lifetime of 60 hours per cost with ANC on, and as much as 100 hours in regular mode. I have been taking part in tracks at reasonable quantity in wi-fi mode – with ANC lively – for a few hours every day over the previous few weeks and nonetheless have greater than 50% of cost remaining. Marvelous.
The batteries are user-replaceable too, which is at all times good to see and will prolong the operational life of those headphones. The plush reminiscence foam earcups may also be changed when time and put on inevitably take their toll as effectively.
If you are going to spend all that point with private loudspeakers connected to your head, consolation is a crucial consideration. Cambridge Audio says that the headscarf has been refreshed for this outing, with a recalibrated clamping pressure promising lighter, extra cushioned extended-session consolation throughout a wide range of head shapes.
I am unable to touch upon the unique P100s as I’ve not tried them for any size of time, however I discovered the SE variant provided stable match on the ears – which helped with passive isolation. I did undergo from long-haul strain discomfort on the crown of my head although – which was alleviated considerably by sporting a cap or transferring the headscarf to a barely completely different place. The up to date headphones weight in at 330 g (11.6 oz).
Whereas the earcups and housing can flop round a bit on the swivel hinges between makes use of, the dimensions/match adjustment mechanism proved clean and solid-feeling. The arms will have to be pushed all the best way in earlier than inserting the headphones within the (relatively massive) provided carry case for storage.
Soundproofing whilst you stroll
A button on the left housing permits the wearer to modify between regular mode (ANC off), full ANC mode, and transparency mode – the place outdoors sounds are allowed via through the six beamforming microphones. Even on the highest ANC setting, the noise cancellation right here just isn’t going to be worrying the parents at Sony or Bose an excessive amount of.
However it did a good sufficient job of eradicating a lot of the rumble of visitors as I ambled alongside within the firm of Bab L’ Bluz, Larkin Poe, Black Sabbath, Eric Gales, Ren, Clutch and lots of extra. Chatter in a crowded room, the grind of steel on practice tracks and the boisterous wall of sound backstage at a gig had been additionally successfully subdued however not utterly obliterated.
There is no dynamic mode right here although, the place the headphones would mechanically change between ANC modes relying on the atmosphere the wearer is in. And if music is not taking part in, the ANC does hiss slightly when lively.
Cambridge Audio
The SE headphones characteristic Qualcomm Snapdragon Sound, with tri-core processing and 32-bit DSP. There’s Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity with aptX Lossless for CD-quality wi-fi playback, plus aptX Adaptive too.
Multi-point pairing caters for simultaneous connectivity to a couple of Bluetooth music supply, which means you needn’t unpair and re-pair every time you need to take heed to a monitor on a distinct system. It additionally allowed me to benefit from the EQ and different options within the app operating on my smartphone whereas I performed my tunes via a separate digital audio participant.
There is a low-latency gaming mode as effectively, which reportedly cuts lag over Bluetooth to underneath 80 milliseconds “for near-perfect display screen and sound syncing whereas taking part in the newest sport.” I am not a gamer however did use this characteristic when watching films on my sensible projector and listening to the soundtrack over Bluetooth.
And playback will pause when the headphones detect they’re being faraway from the wearer’s head, then resume when plonked again on.
Name ready
The headphones embody a dual-microphone echo canceling and noise suppression system from Qualcomm, plus wind noise discount. When making and taking calls, mates reported that my voice wasn’t as clear or as loud in comparison with when speaking instantly into the telephone however the name high quality was stable sufficient that I did not must shout or repeat.
The SE over-ears ship with a USB-C to USB-C cable and a USB-C to three.5-mm jack cable for seller’s alternative of wired modes. Listeners profit from playback at as much as 24-bit/96-kHz decision when cabled. Nonetheless, even when plugging into the headphone jack of a supply system, the P100 SE’s electronics have to be powered on to listen to something (in different phrases, there is not a passive analog mode right here).
The underside line
The unique Melomania P100 headphones launched simply over a yr in the past, with the epic battery life being universally praised however sonic efficiency was a little bit of a blended bag in subsequent critiques. Cambridge Audio seems to have taken minor niggles from its consumer neighborhood to coronary heart and this replace is the consequence.
As with the P100s, there is a fingertip-sized recessed dot on the outer housing of every earcup. Given the replace nature of the Particular Version launch I did surprise if there is perhaps contact performance right here, however there wasn’t. As a substitute, you get precise on-earcup buttons – which is OK with me, as I’ve but to seek out touch-enabled ear sweet that hasn’t led to misfires or playback mishaps.
On the left are energy/pairing and ANC controls, with the latter additionally serving to mute the microphone throughout a name or to get up a telephone’s voice assistant if wanted. The best earcup is the place you will discover playback controls, together with a operate button that is used for taking or rejecting calls in addition to pausing music.
I discovered the sound high quality out of the field to be punchy, detailed and fascinating. The stereo unfold throughout the headphone cocoon made for a really satisfying pay attention, significantly when plugged in, however competitor fashions boasting spatial audio know-how would possibly supply a extra immersive expertise.
The presets accessible via the app are a helpful addition, however you too can modify the EQ to seek out your personal customized candy spot in that case inclined. The delicate digital manipulation undertaken by DynamEQ just about did what was promised on the field, however I appreciated the flexibility to show it off. And I would say that the ANC was adequate for sending the surface world into the background throughout playback, however these searching for full isolation might need to look elsewhere.
Cambridge Audio
The Melomania P100 SE headphones can be found now for US$299 in black, white or blue – with that worth together with supply in plastic-free recyclable packaging plus a tough carry case and a few cables. They’re additionally accessible via Amazon.
For what it is price, the unique Melomania P100 headphones are nonetheless listed as accessible, for a ticket worth of $239 – so if the upgrades outlined right here do not imply a lot to you, maybe try the usual cans first.
Is it price upgrading to the SE headphones in the event you’re already rocking a pair of the unique P100s? Effectively, both manner, you are promised an incredible pay attention for an epic about of time between expenses. And although this can be a worthwhile replace for brand new consumers, it can most likely make extra sense to attend for the next-gen flagship earlier than splashing your money if you have already got the P100 headphones.
Product web page: Melomania P100 SE
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