Is the Apple AirPods 3 worth the upgrade from the Cambridge Audio Melomania A100?
Verdict
Downgrade
The Apple AirPods 3 actually scores 15.6 points below the Cambridge Audio Melomania A100, so on aggregate review consensus this is a step backwards. It loses ground on sound (9.0 to 7.0) and calls (8.0 to 6.3). On paper: weight 9.4 g to 4.3 g and wear detection. Worth checking: battery life goes 11 h to 6 h and active noise cancelling goes Yes to No. It is at least $15 cheaper, so the lower score comes with a saving. Only worth it if a specific feature above matters more to you than overall quality does.
What actually changes
Sub-scores both products have, on the same 0-10 scale. Bars extend right for a gain, left for a loss.
- Sound9.07.0
- Battery8.57.0
- Calls8.06.3
Spec differences
Only where the two genuinely differ - everything they share is omitted.
| Spec | Melomania A100 | AirPods 3 | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battery life | 11 h | 6 h | |
| Active noise cancelling | Yes | No | |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless, LDAC | SBC, AAC | |
| Weight | 9.4 g | 4.3 g | |
| Bluetooth | 5.4 | 5.0 | |
| Multipoint pairing | Yes | No | |
| Water resistance | IPX5 | IPX4 | |
| Battery incl. case | 39 h | 30 h | |
| Microphones | 6 | 3 | |
| Transparency mode | Yes | No | |
| Wear detection | No | Yes | |
| USB-C | Yes | No | |
| ANC type | adaptive | none | |
| Controls | touch | buttons | |
| Driver | 10 mm dynamic | dynamic |
About this verdict
Direction matters here: this page answers "Melomania A100 to AirPods 3". The other direction is a separate question with a different answer. Scores blend published review verdicts across true wireless and shift as new reviews land, so a marginal call today may not be one next quarter.