The case is instrumental to true wireless earphones, providing storage and charging capability. It may also be the first thing you take out of the packaging. Having recently handled the hefty case with the Shanling MTW300 TWS earphones, the case that ships with the Cambridge Audio Melomania 1+ feels extremely light at just over 35 g. No metal alloys here, it's all plastic to keep things light—almost to where it feels like a toy. Unfortunately, it does scratch easier than I'd like, though it will serve its purpose just fine. It is also easily pocketable with its quite narrow design, and I do like that the incorporated company logo on the front helps lift the lid open. There are also five indicator LEDs below the opening to indicate case charging and the battery level. On the side is a Type-C port to charge the case, and this is also where the provided cable comes in handy. A magnet keeps the lid closed, and opening it, we see two slim and deep charging channels for the ear buds themselves.  On the back, we see more branding as well as certification information and specifications in addition to the hinge that is inset into the case body. The design of the Melomania 1+ ear buds forces a different charging mechanism compared to the usual magnetic pins in the back of each ear bud. Instead, there is a charging ring that also provides the magnetic connection. The ear buds fit in very nicely thus, showing the L/R markings as well. The case has a relatively massive 700 mAh capacity for its size, which makes competitors come off even worse by comparison. Charging is at the typical USB 2.0 500 mA limit, so it will take a few hours to fully charge the case in the absence of any fast-charging support. This case outputs 300 mA to the ear buds, whose battery capacity we do not know; however, Cambridge Audio states that it takes ~2 hours to fully charge both ear buds from 0 to 100%. The Cambridge Audio Melomania 1+ ear buds are quite something else in design, looking more like small bullets that have pierced your ears. They come with a size M silicone ear tip pre-installed, which doesn't help stop the comparison. These are basically cylindrical tubes that taper at the insertion point, and come in black or white colors with a matching case. I have the black version here, and I suppose if ergonomics took a hit in terms of concha support, the relatively low profile and mass help keep them in place without much pressure on the pinna. The face plate, if you will, has an LED ring underneath and a button up top that helps with media playback and volume control, among other things. Clear, legible L and R markings respectively denote the left and right channels of this stereo setup, and vents on the sides are for the integrated microphones in addition to pressure relief. The charging ring provides contrast in color and finish since the shell itself is also made out of plastic, and we see a relatively narrow nozzle that has a mesh filter insert to prevent dust and earwax from getting inside. Installing different ear tips is quite simple owing to the nozzle geometry, and definitely try out the different options to get the best-possible fit. The foam tips require some push to fully align the base with the nozzle, but also note that the foam tips have a larger bore opening than the silicone ones. |
