Audio-Technica ATH-SR50BT vs Cambridge Audio Melomania P100 SE: which should you buy?

On aggregated review scores the Cambridge Audio Melomania P100 SE comes out ahead with a HearWiki score of 81. The full breakdown - sub-scores, specs and what reviewers actually said - is below.

Our pick: Cambridge Audio Melomania P100 SE - Great overall at around $249.

Over-Ear

Audio-Technica ATH-SR50BT

54Average

$120

Full review data

Over-Ear

Cambridge Audio Melomania P100 SE

81Great

$250

Full review data

Score breakdown

Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.

Cambridge Audio Melomania P100 SE leads on 6 of 7 measures.

Audio-Technica ATH-SR50BT
Cambridge Audio Melomania P100 SE

HearWiki score

Sound

7.4

8.6

Noise cancelling

3.2

7.8

Battery

5.2

10.0

Calls

4.2

7.4

Value

8.8

Price (USD)

$120

$250

Generation & platform

The scores rank quality. This is the other question: is the newer one actually newer technology, or the same platform in a new shell?

New platform

Cambridge Audio Melomania P100 SE (2025) against Audio-Technica ATH-SR50BT (2020). The Cambridge Audio Melomania P100 SE is the newer platform here: Bluetooth 5.3 against 5.0, Top codec aptX Lossless against aptX and ANC type Hybrid against None. It also adds Multipoint pairing, USB-C and Custom EQ.

ATH-SR50BT2020
Melomania P100 SE20255 yr newer

What differsATH-SR50BTMelomania P100 SE

Bluetooth: 5.0; 5.3
Top codec: aptX; aptX Lossless
ANC type: None; Hybrid
Multipoint pairing: No; Yes
USB-C: No; Yes
Custom EQ: No; Yes

Level on: Transparency mode, Companion app.

Specifications

ATH-SR50BTMelomania P100 SE

Type: Over-Ear; Over-Ear
Price (USD): $120; $250
HearWiki score: 54; 81
Released: 2020; 2025
Availability: Discontinued; Sold new
Driver: 2× 45 mm dynamic; 40 mm dynamic
Driver type: dynamic; dynamic
Driver size: 45 mm; 40 mm
Drivers per side: 2; 1
Frequency response: 5 Hz - 40 kHz; 20 Hz - 40 kHz
Impedance: 47 Ω; -
Sensitivity: 100 dB/mW; -
Bluetooth: 5.0; 5.3
Codecs: SBC, AAC, aptX; SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless
Multipoint pairing: No; Yes
Latency: -; 80 ms
Battery life: 28 h; 100 h
Battery life (ANC on): -; 60 h
Full charge time: 330 min; 160 min
Quick charge: -; 5 min → 4 h
Wireless charging: No; No
Active noise cancelling: Yes; Yes
ANC type: -; hybrid
Transparency mode: Yes; Yes
Companion app: Yes; Yes
Custom EQ: No; Yes
Wear detection: No; -
Controls: buttons; touch
Voice assistant: -; Yes
Weight: 262 g; 330 g
Water resistance: none; none
Foldable: Yes; -
Detachable cable: Yes; -
USB-C: No; Yes
Connector: 3.5 mm; -
Microphones: 1; 6
Microphone type: condenser; -
Mic sensitivity: -44 dBV; -

Specification comparison of Audio-Technica ATH-SR50BT vs Cambridge Audio Melomania P100 SE
Spec	Audio-Technica ATH-SR50BT	Cambridge Audio Melomania P100 SE
Type	Over-Ear	Over-Ear
Price (USD)	$120	$250
HearWiki score	54 / 100 Average	81 / 100 Great
Released	2020	2025
Audio
Driver	2× 45 mm dynamic	40 mm dynamic
Driver type	dynamic	dynamic
Driver size	45 mm	40 mm
Drivers per side	2	1
Frequency response	5 Hz - 40 kHz	20 Hz - 40 kHz
Impedance	47 Ω	-
Sensitivity	100 dB/mW	-
Wireless
Bluetooth	5.0	5.3
Codecs	SBC, AAC, aptX	SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless
Multipoint pairing	No	Yes
Latency	-	80 ms
Battery
Battery life	28 h	100 h
Battery life (ANC on)	-	60 h
Full charge time	330 min	160 min
Quick charge	-	5 min → 4 h
Wireless charging	No	No
Features
Active noise cancelling	Yes	Yes
ANC type	-	hybrid
Transparency mode	Yes	Yes
Companion app	Yes	Yes
Custom EQ	No	Yes
Wear detection	No	-
Controls	buttons	touch
Voice assistant	-	Yes
Design
Weight	262 g	330 g
Water resistance	none	none
Foldable	Yes	-
Detachable cable	Yes	-
USB-C	No	Yes
Connector	3.5 mm	-
Calls
Microphones	1	6
Microphone type	condenser	-
Mic sensitivity	-44 dBV	-

What reviewers said

Audio-Technica ATH-SR50BT

The ATH-SR50BT is a comfortable over-ear wireless headphone with active noise cancellation, a balanced and natural sound profile, and an impressively long battery life that can stretch well beyond a day of use. It feels well-built and portable, though its noise reduction is only moderate and it relies on an older micro-USB port for charging, which is slow. While it lacks conveniences like multipoint pairing and a companion app, it offers a solid, versatile listening experience for everyday use.

Pro:Very long battery life (around 28–33 hours)
Pro:Comfortable fit for larger ears
Pro:Natural, flexible sound with good bass presence

Con:Noise cancellation is only moderate, not class-leading
Con:Charging is slow via micro-USB (no USB-C)
Con:No Bluetooth multipoint or app support

Cambridge Audio Melomania P100 SE

The Cambridge Audio Melomania P100 SE is a well-rounded wireless over-ear headphone with a focus on portability, offering an outstanding battery life of up to 100 hours without ANC and 60 with it. It delivers a premium feel and sound, though its bulky build and a bass-heavy default tuning may not suit everyone, and the noise cancellation performance is decent but not top-tier.

Pro:Exceptional battery life, especially with ANC off
Pro:Premium build and sound quality for the price
Pro:Supports aptX Lossless and multipoint Bluetooth 5.3

Con:Bulky and heavy design may cause fatigue for some
Con:Bass is overly boosted out of the box
Con:Noise canceling is inconsistent in varying conditions

Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.

Compare something else

Swap either side out, or start again from the picker.

New comparison Audio-Technica ATH-SR50BT Cambridge Audio Melomania P100 SE