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Cambridge Audio Melomania A100 vs Nothing CMF Buds Neo: which should you buy?

On aggregated review scores the Cambridge Audio Melomania A100 comes out ahead with a HearWiki score of 85. The full breakdown - sub-scores, specs and what reviewers actually said - is below.

Our pick: Cambridge Audio Melomania A100 - Outstanding overall at around $99.

Score breakdown

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

Neither pulls ahead overall - they trade wins across the measures.

  • Cambridge Audio Melomania A100
  • Nothing CMF Buds Neo
HearWiki score
85
85
Sound
9.0
7.4
Noise cancelling
7.8
7.8
Battery
8.5
9.0
Calls
8.0
7.8
Value
9.6
9.8
Price (USD)
$99
$22

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?

Same generation

Nothing CMF Buds Neo (2026) against Cambridge Audio Melomania A100 (2025). These are the same generation of hardware - nothing in the radio, the codecs or the noise cancelling separates them. Nothing separates them on convenience features either, so the choice comes down to tuning and price.

  • Melomania A1002025
  • CMF Buds Neo20261 yr newer

Level on: ANC type, USB-C, Custom EQ, Companion app.

Specifications

Melomania A100CMF Buds Neo
Type
True Wireless
True Wireless
Price (USD)
$99
$22
HearWiki score
85
85
Released
2025
2026
Availability
Sold new
Sold new
Driver
10 mm dynamic
12.4 mm dynamic
Driver type
dynamic
dynamic
Driver size
10 mm
12.4 mm
Drivers per side
1
1
Frequency response
20 Hz - 20 kHz
-
Impedance
25 Ω
-
Bluetooth
5.4
-
Codecs
SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless, LDAC
-
Multipoint pairing
Yes
-
Battery life
11 h
11 h
Battery life (ANC on)
6.5 h
-
Battery incl. case
39 h
52 h
Full charge time
66 min
10 min
Quick charge
10 min → 3.2 h
10 min → 5.5 h
Wireless charging
Yes
-
Active noise cancelling
Yes
Yes
ANC type
adaptive
adaptive
Transparency mode
Yes
-
Companion app
Yes
Yes
Custom EQ
Yes
Yes
Wear detection
No
-
Controls
touch
-
Voice assistant
Google Assistant, Siri
-
Weight
9.4 g
-
Case weight
38.7 g
-
Water resistance
IPX5
-
USB-C
Yes
Yes
Pad material
silicone
-
Microphones
6
4
Call noise reduction
Yes
Yes

What reviewers said

Cambridge Audio Melomania A100

The Cambridge Audio Melomania A100 are true wireless earbuds that combine adaptive active noise cancellation with a robust feature set, including LDAC support, multipoint connectivity, and a long-lasting battery. With a 10mm dynamic driver and a custom EQ via the companion app, they aim to deliver flexible, high-quality sound for everyday use. Their IPX5 rating and wireless charging add practical durability and convenience.

  • Pro:Excellent battery life with ANC off
  • Pro:Supports high-resolution LDAC codec
  • Pro:Adaptive noise cancellation adjusts to surroundings
  • Con:Battery life drops significantly with ANC on
  • Con:Touch controls may be sensitive for some users
  • Con:No mention of wireless charging case included

Nothing CMF Buds Neo

The Nothing CMF Buds Neo deliver impressive value in the budget true wireless segment, combining punchy bass-heavy sound, effective adaptive noise cancellation, and long battery life in a lightweight design. While they lack premium features like wear detection and have a gimmicky spatial audio mode, their strong performance and app support make them a solid pick for the price.

  • Pro:Punchy, bass-forward sound with loud output
  • Pro:Surprisingly effective adaptive ANC for the price
  • Pro:Excellent battery life with 52 hours total including case
  • Con:No wear detection sensor
  • Con:Spatial audio mode feels gimmicky and adds little
  • Con:Audio can distort at very high volumes

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 comparisonCambridge Audio Melomania A100Nothing CMF Buds Neo