Is the Cambridge Audio Melomania A100 worth the upgrade from the Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2?
Verdict
Meaningful upgrade
The Cambridge Audio Melomania A100 scores 6.7 points above the Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2. That's a real improvement, though not the kind you'd notice on every track. The gains are concentrated in value (7.2 to 9.6), sound (8.1 to 9.0) and battery (7.8 to 8.5). On paper: bluetooth 5.3 to 5.4, driver size 6 mm to 10 mm and case weight 47.5 g to 38.7 g. Worth checking: battery life goes 14 h to 11 h and battery life (anc on) goes 8 h to 6.5 h. It's also $130 cheaper, which makes this an easy call. 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.
- Sound8.19.0
- Noise cancelling8.27.8
- Battery7.88.5
- Calls8.08.0
- Value7.29.6
Spec differences
Only where the two genuinely differ - everything they share is omitted.
| Spec | Elite 8 Active Gen 2 | Melomania A100 | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battery life | 14 h | 11 h | |
| Codecs | AAC, aptX Voice, LDAC | SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless, LDAC | |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 5.4 | |
| Water resistance | IP68 | IPX5 | |
| Battery life (ANC on) | 8 h | 6.5 h | |
| Battery incl. case | 56 h | 39 h | |
| Driver size | 6 mm | 10 mm | |
| Case weight | 47.5 g | 38.7 g | |
| Wear detection | Yes | No | |
| Quick charge | 10 min → 1.5 h | 10 min → 3.2 h | |
| Controls | buttons | touch | |
| Driver | 6 mm dynamic | 10 mm dynamic |
About this verdict
Direction matters here: this page answers "Elite 8 Active Gen 2 to Melomania A100". 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.