Is the Sony WH-1000XM6 worth the upgrade from the Cambridge Audio Melomania P100 SE?
Verdict
Meaningful upgrade
The Sony WH-1000XM6 scores 6.7 points above the Cambridge Audio Melomania P100 SE. That's a real improvement, though not the kind you'd notice on every track. The gains are concentrated in calls (7.4 to 9.6) and noise cancelling (7.8 to 9.6). You do give up ground on battery (10.0 to 8.1) and value (8.8 to 8.2). On paper: weight 330 g to 254 g and microphones 6 to 12. Worth checking: battery life goes 100 h to 40 h and battery life (anc on) goes 60 h to 30 h. That costs $149 more, or about $22 per point of score - reasonable value for the jump. Worth doing if you're replacing anyway; harder to justify as a pure upgrade if what you have still works.
What actually changes
Sub-scores both products have, on the same 0-10 scale. Bars extend right for a gain, left for a loss.
- Sound8.69.0
- Noise cancelling7.89.6
- Battery10.08.1
- Calls7.49.6
- Value8.88.2
Spec differences
Only where the two genuinely differ - everything they share is omitted.
| Spec | Melomania P100 SE | WH-1000XM6 | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battery life | 100 h | 40 h | |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless | SBC, AAC, LC3, LDAC | |
| Weight | 330 g | 254 g | |
| Battery life (ANC on) | 60 h | 30 h | |
| Full charge time | 160 min | 210 min | |
| Driver size | 40 mm | 30 mm | |
| Microphones | 6 | 12 | |
| ANC type | hybrid | adaptive | |
| Quick charge | 5 min → 4 h | 3 min → 3 h | |
| Controls | touch | buttons | |
| Driver | 40 mm dynamic | 30 mm dynamic | |
| Frequency response | 20 Hz - 40 kHz | 4 Hz - 40 kHz |
About this verdict
Direction matters here: this page answers "Melomania P100 SE to WH-1000XM6". The other direction is a separate question with a different answer. Scores blend published review verdicts across over-ear and shift as new reviews land, so a marginal call today may not be one next quarter.