True Wireless
Cambridge Audio Melomania A100
86Outstanding
$99
Full review dataCambridge Audio Melomania A100 vs Xiaomi Buds 5: which should you buy?
On aggregated review scores the Cambridge Audio Melomania A100 comes out ahead with a HearWiki score of 86. The full breakdown - sub-scores, specs and what reviewers actually said - is below.
Our pick: Cambridge Audio Melomania A100 - Outstanding overall at around $99.
True Wireless
Xiaomi Buds 5
69Good
$110
Full review dataScore breakdown
Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.
Cambridge Audio Melomania A100 leads on 7 of 7 measures.
- Cambridge Audio Melomania A100
- Xiaomi Buds 5
HearWiki score
86
69
Sound
9.0
7.8
Noise cancelling
7.8
4.8
Battery
8.5
5.8
Calls
8.0
5.9
Value
9.6
7.4
Price (USD)
$99
$110
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?
Mixed generations
Cambridge Audio Melomania A100 (2025) against Xiaomi Buds 5 (2024). Neither is straightforwardly newer: the Cambridge Audio Melomania A100 brings Top codec aptX Lossless against LC3, while the Xiaomi Buds 5 answers with LE Audio (LC3).
- Melomania A10020251 yr newer
- Buds 52024
What differsMelomania A100Buds 5
- Top codec
- aptX Lossless
- LC3
- LE Audio (LC3)
- No
- Yes
- Wireless charging
- Yes
- No
- Wear detection
- No
- Yes
- Water resistance
- IPX5
- Not rated
Platform
Everyday features
Level on: Bluetooth, Multipoint pairing, USB-C, Transparency mode.
Specifications
Melomania A100Buds 5
- Type
- True Wireless
- True Wireless
- Price (USD)
- $99
- $110
- HearWiki score
- 86
- 69
- Released
- 2025
- 2024
- Availability
- Sold new
- Still sold new
- Driver
- 10 mm dynamic
- 11 mm dynamic
- Driver type
- dynamic
- dynamic
- Driver size
- 10 mm
- 11 mm
- Drivers per side
- 1
- 1
- Frequency response
- 20 Hz - 20 kHz
- 16 Hz - 40 kHz
- Impedance
- 25 Ω
- -
- Bluetooth
- 5.4
- 5.4
- Codecs
- SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless, LDAC
- SBC, AAC, aptX, LC3, aptX Adaptive
- Multipoint pairing
- Yes
- Yes
- Latency
- -
- 73 ms
- Wireless range
- -
- 10 m
- Battery life
- 11 h
- 6.5 h
- Battery life (ANC on)
- 6.5 h
- 3.5 h
- Battery incl. case
- 39 h
- 39 h
- Full charge time
- 66 min
- 90 min
- Quick charge
- 10 min → 3.2 h
- 10 min → 2.5 h
- Wireless charging
- Yes
- No
- Active noise cancelling
- Yes
- Yes
- ANC type
- adaptive
- -
- Transparency mode
- Yes
- Yes
- Companion app
- Yes
- -
- Custom EQ
- Yes
- -
- Wear detection
- No
- Yes
- Controls
- touch
- both
- Voice assistant
- Google Assistant, Siri
- -
- Weight
- 9.4 g
- 8.4 g
- Case weight
- 38.7 g
- 36.6 g
- Water resistance
- IPX5
- none
- USB-C
- Yes
- Yes
- Pad material
- silicone
- -
- Microphones
- 6
- 3
- Call noise reduction
- Yes
- Yes
- Call NR technology
- -
- AI ENC
What reviewers said
Cambridge Audio Melomania A100
The Cambridge Audio Melomania A100 are true wireless earbuds that deliver a versatile feature set at a mid-range price. They combine adaptive active noise cancellation with high-resolution wireless audio support, including LDAC and aptX Lossless, along with a comfortable, water-resistant design. With a lengthy total battery life and convenient extras like wireless charging and multipoint, they aim to be a well-rounded daily companion.
- Pro:Excellent codec support including LDAC and aptX Lossless
- Pro:Adaptive ANC and transparency mode for flexible listening
- Pro:Long total battery life with wireless charging case
- Con:Battery life drops significantly with ANC enabled
- Con:Touch controls may take time to master
- Con:No mention of ear tips or fit accessories in specs
Xiaomi Buds 5
The Xiaomi Buds 5 are wireless earbuds with active noise cancellation, an 11mm dynamic driver, and a frequency response reaching up to 40 kHz. They offer a comfortable fit and solid call quality, though their ANC performance and touch controls leave room for improvement. With Bluetooth 5.4, multipoint, and support for multiple codecs including aptX Adaptive, they aim to be a versatile budget option.
- Pro:Immersive sound with wide frequency range
- Pro:Comfortable fit for extended listening
- Pro:Reliable call quality with three microphones
- Con:ANC performance is underwhelming
- Con:Touch controls feel sluggish
- Con:Battery life with ANC is short at 3.5 hours
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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