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Cambridge Audio Melomania P100 SE vs Sony WH-1000XM6: which should you buy?

On aggregated review scores the Sony WH-1000XM6 comes out ahead with a HearWiki score of 88. The full breakdown - sub-scores, specs and what reviewers actually said - is below.

Our pick: Sony WH-1000XM6 - Outstanding overall at around $398.

Score breakdown

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

Sony WH-1000XM6 leads on 4 of 7 measures.

  • Cambridge Audio Melomania P100 SE
  • Sony WH-1000XM6
HearWiki score
81
88
Sound
8.6
9.0
Noise cancelling
7.8
9.6
Battery
10.0
8.1
Calls
7.4
9.6
Value
8.8
8.2
Price (USD)
$250
$400

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

Both shipped in 2025. Neither is straightforwardly newer: the Cambridge Audio Melomania P100 SE brings Top codec aptX Lossless against LC3, while the Sony WH-1000XM6 answers with LE Audio (LC3) and ANC type Adaptive against Hybrid.

  • Melomania P100 SE2025
  • WH-1000XM62025
What differsMelomania P100 SEWH-1000XM6

Platform

Top codec
aptX Lossless
LC3
LE Audio (LC3)
No
Yes
ANC type
Hybrid
Adaptive

Level on: Bluetooth, Multipoint pairing, USB-C, Transparency mode, Custom EQ, Companion app.

Specifications

Melomania P100 SEWH-1000XM6
Type
Over-Ear
Over-Ear
Price (USD)
$250
$400
HearWiki score
81
88
Released
2025
2025
Availability
Sold new
Sold new
Driver
40 mm dynamic
30 mm dynamic
Driver type
dynamic
dynamic
Driver size
40 mm
30 mm
Drivers per side
1
1
Frequency response
20 Hz - 40 kHz
4 Hz - 40 kHz
Impedance
-
48 Ω
Sensitivity
-
103 dB/mW
Bluetooth
5.3
5.3
Codecs
SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless
SBC, AAC, LC3, LDAC
Multipoint pairing
Yes
Yes
Latency
80 ms
-
Wireless range
-
10 m
Battery life
100 h
40 h
Battery life (ANC on)
60 h
30 h
Full charge time
160 min
210 min
Quick charge
5 min → 4 h
3 min → 3 h
Wireless charging
No
No
Active noise cancelling
Yes
Yes
ANC type
hybrid
adaptive
Transparency mode
Yes
Yes
Companion app
Yes
Yes
Custom EQ
Yes
Yes
Wear detection
-
Yes
Controls
touch
buttons
Voice assistant
Yes
Yes
Weight
330 g
254 g
Water resistance
none
none
Detachable cable
-
Yes
USB-C
Yes
Yes
Connector
-
3.5 mm
Microphones
6
12
Microphone type
-
MEMS

What reviewers said

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

Sony WH-1000XM6

This premium over-ear headphone delivers class-leading adaptive noise cancellation and a well-balanced sound profile, with support for high-resolution LDAC streaming. Its 30-hour battery life, multipoint Bluetooth 5.3, and intuitive button controls make it a versatile choice for both travel and daily listening. The lightweight build and 12-microphone array also ensure clear calls and effective transparency mode.

  • Pro:Excellent adaptive noise cancellation
  • Pro:Supports LDAC for high-quality wireless audio
  • Pro:Comfortable and light at 254g
  • Con:No water resistance rating
  • Con:Battery drops to 24 hours with ANC on
  • Con:No touch controls—buttons only

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

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