If you want better Frequency response accuracy
Choose Cambridge Audio Melomania P100 Headphones. It scores 4.4 vs 3.3 for Frequency response accuracy, with a 4.3 overall score.
Cambridge Audio Melomania P100 SE Headphones Review
Bottom Line
Choose the P100 SE for huge battery life, strong sound, useful EQ, and standout value. Skip it if you need class-leading ANC, the lightest comfort, spatial audio, or a compact travel case.
Best for
Best for listeners who prioritize battery life, detailed sound, flexible EQ, and strong value over having the absolute strongest ANC. It also suits buyers who appreciate repairability and physical controls.
Not for
Not for travelers who need the smallest folding case, users who are sensitive to headband pressure or weight, or buyers who want spatial audio and top-tier ANC above all else.
Verdict
The Cambridge Audio Melomania P100 SE earns broad praise for battery stamina, sound quality, and value, with several reviewers calling it one of the strongest wireless ANC buys around its price. Its biggest strengths are long ANC-on runtime, detailed and engaging audio, responsive EQ, sturdy materials, and repair-minded touches such as replaceable batteries or pads. The main tradeoff is that it is not the easiest travel or comfort pick: multiple reviewers note weight, headband pressure, bulk, or a large case. Noise cancelling is improved and often good, but not consistently framed as class-leading, and DynamEQ divides listeners who prefer the older neutral tuning.
Feature Scorecards
Summary
75 reviewed features-
Very positive 4.5-5.038 (51%)
-
Positive 3.5-4.428 (37%)
-
Neutral 2.5-3.47 (9%)
-
Negative 1.5-2.42 (3%)
Pros
-
Battery life is one of the clearest strengths, repeatedly called excellent, incredible, extraordinary, or best-in-class.
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Overall recommendations are very positive, especially for sound-first buyers and value seekers, with caveats around ANC, comfort, and bulk.
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Sound quality is the strongest repeated praise, described as detailed, clear, engaging, and high value for the price.
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Build quality is consistently praised as sturdy, premium, or strong for the price, with only minor creaking noted in one review.
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Value is one of the strongest themes, with reviewers repeatedly calling the P100 SE well priced or exceptional for sound quality per dollar.
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Sustainability and repairability are praised thanks to recyclable packaging, recycled materials, user-replaceable batteries, and removable pads.
Cons
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LDAC is a clear omission for reviewers who expect high-res wireless codec support.
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Water resistance is a weakness because one reviewer warns users to be careful due to no rating.
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Sidetone/voice passthrough needs improvement according to one reviewer who wanted clearer, louder self-voice feedback.
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Spatial audio is absent, which some reviewers list as a limitation, though others say the natural soundstage reduces the sting.
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Portability is a weakness because the headphones and case are not especially compact.
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Microphone noise reduction is weaker than some competitors, with one reviewer saying it does not filter as much background noise.
Compared With Category Average
Compared with other Over-Ear Headphones, this product is above average in aptX, Sustainability and repairability, Voice prompts/feedback, near average in Active noise cancellation, Design and Aesthetics, below average in Sidetone adjustment quality, LDAC, Weight comfort.
Comparison summary
75 compared features-
Above average 0.4+ pts higher42 (56%)
-
Same as average within 0.3 pts24 (32%)
-
Below average 0.4+ pts lower9 (12%)
Largest category differences
| Attribute | This product | Category average | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| aptX | 5.0 | 3.1 | +1.9 |
| Sidetone adjustment quality | 2.5 | 4.0 | -1.5 |
| Sustainability and repairability | 4.9 | 3.5 | +1.4 |
| Voice prompts/feedback | 5.0 | 3.7 | +1.3 |
| Codec support | 5.0 | 3.7 | +1.3 |
| Replaceable earpads | 4.9 | 3.8 | +1.1 |
| Hinge durability | 5.0 | 3.8 | +1.2 |
| Equalizer customization | 4.9 | 3.8 | +1.1 |
Consider This Instead
If you want better Portability/foldability
Choose Marshall Monitor III A.N.C. Over-Ear Bluetooth Headphones. It scores 4.8 vs 3.0 for Portability/foldability, with a 4.2 overall score.
If you want better Weight comfort
Choose Bose QuietComfort Ultra Wireless Headphones. It scores 4.7 vs 3.3 for Weight comfort, with a 4.0 overall score.
If you want better LDAC
Choose JLab Epic Lux Lab Edition Wireless Headphones. It scores 4.6 vs 2.0 for LDAC, with a 4.2 overall score.
Compared in Reviews
Products reviewers directly compared with this model, grouped into quick takeaways.
- Compared: overall competition RecordingNow says the P100 SE competes very well against Sony WH-1000XM6.
- Worse: battery life The P100 SE is described as offering double the ANC-on battery life of Sony WH-1000XM6.
- Compared: overall competition RecordingNow includes Apple AirPods Max among the P100 SE's serious competitors.
- Compared: overall competition RecordingNow says the P100 SE competes very well against Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3.
FAQ
How good is the P100 SE battery life?
Reviewers repeatedly describe it as exceptional, with 60 hours quoted with ANC on and 100 hours with ANC off, and several found those claims impressive or accurate.
Is the P100 SE sound quality good?
Yes. Reviewers generally praise its detail, clarity, bass potential, soundstage, and EQ responsiveness, though some prefer the original P100's more neutral stock tuning.
Is the noise cancellation class-leading?
No. Reviewers describe it as good, improved, or very acceptable, but several still place it behind elite Sony, Bose, Apple, or Sonos options.
Are the P100 SE headphones comfortable?
Comfort is mixed. Some reviewers found the SE comfier or comfortable for longer sessions, while others criticized the weight, snug fit, and stiff headband pressure.
Is DynamEQ worth using?
It depends on taste. Some reviewers liked the extra bass and treble at lower volumes, while others found it more aggressive or preferred leaving it off.
Are they good for travel?
The battery life is excellent for travel, but the case is repeatedly described as large or not especially compact, and the headphones do not fold very small.
Do they offer good long-term repairability?
Yes. Reviewers praise the user-replaceable battery and removable or replaceable ear cushions as consumer-friendly, longevity-focused touches.
Sample Expert Reviews We Analyzed
These are a few of the reviews included in our analysis.
Video Reviews
YouTube - Youtube
- Review score
- 4.2
Article Reviews
whathifi.com
- Review score
- 4.0
architeg-prints.com
- Review score
- 4.2
loudnwireless.com
- Review score
- 3.8
tomsguide.com
- Review score
- 4.8
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