Cambridge Audio has announced its next pair of TWS earbuds, but they are not true successors to the Melomania 1 that we reviewed earlier this year. The company will continue to sell the Melomania 1, but the earbuds will become the entry-level option to the Melomania Touch. As the name suggests, the Melomania Touch has touch controls instead of the buttons that Cambridge Audio included in the Melomania 1, although the changes do not end there.
The Melomania Touch also has 7 mm drivers, which are larger than the 5.7 mm ones found in the Melomania 1. Additionally, battery life has been increased from 36 hours to 50 hours. The earbuds themselves still last up to 9 hours, but the charging case of the Melomania Touch packs a larger battery than the one that the Melomania 1 has. The Melomania Touch also supports USB Type-C charging, which is an upgrade in itself from the micro USB charging of the Melomania 1. According to Cambridge Audio, the Melomania Touch can go from 0% to 100% charge in two hours.
There is no IP rating with the Melomania Touch, which is a shame. However, Cambridge Audio has developed the Melomania app, that is compatible with Android and iOS devices. According to the company, the app has customisable EQ settings, a Transparency Mode and an option for finding your earphones. The app can deliver firmware updates to the Melomania Touch, also. Moreover, the app features High Performance Audio Mode, which Cambridge Audio claims uses ‘hi-fi grade amplification technology’. The earbuds also support Bluetooth 5.0, along with the Qualcomm aptX and AAC codecs.
The Melomania Touch will be available to purchase in Europe, the UK and the US from January 1 2021 for €139.95, £129.95 and US$149.95, respectively. Cambridge has produced black and white versions of the Melomania Touch too, giving people a bit of choice.