Is the Cambridge Audio Melomania A100 worth the upgrade from the Nothing CMF Buds 2a?
Verdict
Clear upgrade
Going from the Nothing CMF Buds 2a to the Cambridge Audio Melomania A100 buys you 11.0 points of HearWiki score - a clear step up that reviewers agree on rather than a marketing refresh. The gains are concentrated in sound (7.0 to 9.0), calls (6.4 to 8.0) and noise cancelling (6.8 to 7.8). On paper: battery life 8 h to 11 h, codecs SBC, AAC to SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless, LDAC and battery life (anc on) 5 h to 6.5 h. Worth checking: weight goes 4.3 g to 9.4 g and driver size goes 12.4 mm to 10 mm. That costs $73 more, or about $7 per point of score - reasonable value for the jump. If your current pair is worn out or the gains line up with how you listen, this one is worth the money.
What actually changes
Sub-scores both products have, on the same 0-10 scale. Bars extend right for a gain, left for a loss.
- Sound7.09.0
- Noise cancelling6.87.8
- Battery7.58.5
- Calls6.48.0
- Value8.89.6
Spec differences
Only where the two genuinely differ - everything they share is omitted.
| Spec | CMF Buds 2a | Melomania A100 | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battery life | 8 h | 11 h | |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC | SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless, LDAC | |
| Weight | 4.3 g | 9.4 g | |
| Water resistance | IP54 | IPX5 | |
| Battery life (ANC on) | 5 h | 6.5 h | |
| Battery incl. case | 35.5 h | 39 h | |
| Full charge time | 89 min | 66 min | |
| Driver size | 12.4 mm | 10 mm | |
| Microphones | 4 | 6 | |
| Wireless charging | No | Yes | |
| ANC type | feedforward | adaptive | |
| Quick charge | 10 min → 5.5 h | 10 min → 3.2 h | |
| Driver | 12.4 mm driver | 10 mm dynamic |
About this verdict
Direction matters here: this page answers "CMF Buds 2a 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.