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Cambridge Audio Melomania A100 vs Xiaomi Mi Air 2 SE: 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.

Score breakdown

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

Cambridge Audio Melomania A100 leads on 6 of 7 measures.

  • Cambridge Audio Melomania A100
  • Xiaomi Mi Air 2 SE
HearWiki score
86
47
Sound
9.0
5.7
Noise cancelling
7.8
-
Battery
8.5
5.6
Calls
8.0
6.2
Value
9.6
4.9
Price (USD)
$99
$57

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 A100 (2025) against Xiaomi Mi Air 2 SE (2020). The Cambridge Audio Melomania A100 is the newer platform here: Bluetooth 5.4 against 5.0, Top codec aptX Lossless against AAC and ANC type Adaptive against None. It also adds Multipoint pairing, Wireless charging, Transparency mode and Custom EQ.

  • Melomania A10020255 yr newer
  • Mi Air 2 SE2020
What differsMelomania A100Mi Air 2 SE

Platform

Bluetooth
5.4
5.0
Top codec
aptX Lossless
AAC
ANC type
Adaptive
None

Everyday features

Multipoint pairing
Yes
No
Wireless charging
Yes
No
Transparency mode
Yes
No
Custom EQ
Yes
No
Companion app
Yes
No
Water resistance
IPX5
IPX4

Level on: USB-C.

Specifications

Melomania A100Mi Air 2 SE
Type
True Wireless
True Wireless
Price (USD)
$99
$57
HearWiki score
86
47
Released
2025
2020
Availability
Sold new
Discontinued
Driver
10 mm dynamic
14.2 mm dynamic
Driver type
dynamic
dynamic
Driver size
10 mm
14.2 mm
Drivers per side
1
1
Frequency response
20 Hz - 20 kHz
20 Hz - 20 kHz
Impedance
25 Ω
32 Ω
Bluetooth
5.4
5.0
Codecs
SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless, LDAC
SBC, AAC
Multipoint pairing
Yes
No
Wireless range
-
10 m
Battery life
11 h
5 h
Battery life (ANC on)
6.5 h
-
Battery incl. case
39 h
20 h
Full charge time
66 min
90 min
Quick charge
10 min → 3.2 h
-
Wireless charging
Yes
No
Active noise cancelling
Yes
No
ANC type
adaptive
none
Transparency mode
Yes
No
Companion app
Yes
No
Custom EQ
Yes
No
Wear detection
No
No
Controls
touch
touch
Voice assistant
Google Assistant, Siri
Yes
Weight
9.4 g
4.7 g
Case weight
38.7 g
-
Water resistance
IPX5
IPX4
USB-C
Yes
Yes
Pad material
silicone
-
Model code
-
XMAIR2SE
Microphones
6
2
Call noise reduction
Yes
Yes
Call NR technology
-
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 Mi Air 2 SE

The Xiaomi Mi Air 2 SE are budget-friendly true wireless earbuds with a half-in-ear design similar to AirPods, offering a comfortable fit and clear sound. They deliver respectable call quality and around five hours of playback per charge, with a total of 20 hours using the charging case. While they lack advanced features like noise cancellation or app support, they provide solid value for everyday listening at a low price.

  • Pro:Comfortable half-in-ear design
  • Pro:Clear sound and good call quality
  • Pro:Affordable price point
  • Con:No active noise cancellation
  • Con:No app support or EQ customization
  • Con:Basic codec support (SBC, AAC)

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

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New comparisonCambridge Audio Melomania A100Xiaomi Mi Air 2 SE