Cambridge Audio offers the Melomania Touch as wireless headphones that serve as the gateway to their legendary sound.
We are talking about one of the most desired brands in the sound sector, one of the references for audiophiles for its amplifiers and players; But like many others, it has also had to modernize, offering what users ask for: wireless headphones like AirPods (although wired headphones are recovering popularity).
The Melomania Touch are the answer to that demand, and the truth is that Cambridge Audio had it very easy: they just had to put their brand on mediocre headphones and let their image do the rest. They would not be the first, nor the last, to do something similar.
Exceptional quality
It’s always good news when my cynicism is proven wrong. The Melomania Touch are one-of-a-kind wireless headphones, both through the good and the bad. They are not a product designed at the last minute to take advantage of market trends, but rather represent the brand very well; although that implies that they are not for everyone.
Starting with the obvious, the manufacturing quality is exceptional for the price of 139.95 euros (119.95 euros now reduced) that they have. The materials chosen are very different from those of the competition, and that makes them stand out. For example, with the charging case, which is covered in microfiber leather ; Even if it is synthetic leather (and it shows), the feeling in the hand is very good and offers a great grip. The unit I have tested is white, but it is also available in black.
This finish is not something that I expected to see at this price, and the truth is that it has surprised me, although it comes with its drawbacks: given the large size of the case and the leather surface, it is sometimes difficult to put it in and take it out of the pocket, but otherwise, it is a sacrifice that I would gladly do.
The headphones themselves also offer a great sense of quality, despite being made of plastic, the glossy finish is very appropriate, and there are no distractions beyond the Cambridge Audio logo. I also really liked the ergonomics, with a shape that adapts perfectly to the ear thanks to the included ‘fins’ that obtain the necessary tension so that they do not fall, although I would not exercise with these headphones.
Quality sound with minimal loss
The use of quality materials reaches the inside of the headphones, where 7mm graphene diaphragms (or ‘drivers’) are used. Although they are not the largest that we have seen in this price range, it is good to remember that the important thing is to know how to use them, and this is where the experience of the British brand is noticeable.
The sound of the Melomania Touch is exceptional in all kinds of situations, although where they really do their best is playing music , be it electronic, rock or jazz. By default, the EQ gives more priority to the bass, causing the mid-spectrum to disappear a bit. The good thing is that it is not annoying, and in my experience I think it has enhanced my favorite songs by giving them that extra “punch” that they can sometimes lose with other headphones. The sound doesn’t feel very open, and it really feels like the drums are pounding in your head, something you can love, or you can hate; Personally, I always prefer the ‘flatter’ sound possible, but even I have accepted that this sound treatment has its advantages.
With other types of multimedia content, such as movies or games, those marked bass play in favor of the Melomania Touch, with strong impacts in explosions without obscuring the dialogues or other sound effects.
The ‘fault’ of this sound is not only in the ‘drivers’ or in the processing of Cambridge Audio: the codecs used also matter. The Melomania Touch are SBC and AAC compatible for greater compatibility with all types of smartphones and devices, but more importantly, they are also compatible with aptX , a technology developed by Qualcomm to improve the bitrate of audio transmitted over Bluetooth.
The big problem with using Bluetooth is the low bandwidth, which prevents high definition sound from being reproduced; Although lossless sound has yet to be delivered, we are very close, and aptX is a step in that direction. The recommended thing if you use the Melomania Touch is to install the official Melomania app and thus be able to activate aptX on your device: the results are worth it, and you will immediately notice a clearer sound and you will appreciate more details that could have gone unnoticed before.
In the app we also find an equalizer, with several predefined options that allow us to achieve a more ‘flat’ sound or adapted to different genres, as well as select a “High performance” mode, which offers a better experience, reducing latency (the time that passes between you see something on the screen and it sounds). The bad thing is that it affects the battery; The good thing is that the battery life is very good even with that activated, 7 hours per earphone and 40 hours with the case, although I do miss fast charging.
Little technology
How is it possible to get such good sounding headphones and high quality materials for this price? Well, saving in other aspects, of course; In the case of the Melomania Touch, the great weak point is the lack of new technologies that are already present in the competition.
The great shortcoming is active noise cancellation; Although the headphones isolate well, we will not be able to activate this technology to remove unwanted sounds from our environment. Interestingly, we do have a transparency mode, which uses the built-in microphones to amplify external sounds and thus find out, for example, announcements at the airport.
We can also use the Melomania Touch for personal assistants like Siri or Google Assistant, but in that sense they are no more special than any other headset with a microphone.
One of the best for music
The Cambridge Audio Melomania Touch are exceptional wireless headphones for listening to music, I’d say they are even the best for this price; For 120 euros, there are few alternatives that offer similar sound quality, so if that is your absolute priority, you will not be disappointed.
On the other hand, if you are looking for something more in headphones other than that they sound good, you will not find it here. Models like the Nothing ear (1) , which for 100 euros offer a variety of new technologies, have changed the market and our demands.
