AirPods 4 Review

I’ve been a fan of Apple’s AirPods for years. Next to my phone these are probably my post used gadget. I recently picked up the new AirPods 4 that include active noise cancellation.

You can check out my full review here.

The price point for these is $179 (compensated affiliate link), with active noise cancellation, or $129 for the non-noise-canceling version. The charging case for the noise-canceling version also includes a speaker that can help you locate the AirPods if misplaced. Both versions support Apple’s “Find My” feature, but only the pricier model can emit a sound to help you track down the case. Additionally, the noise-canceling model allows wireless charging and can even charge magnetically on an Apple Watch charger.

I do not like in-ear headphones, so the earbud design of the AirPods 4 is much more comfortable for me. In terms of comfort, I found that these AirPods fit well and stay in place when I walk around. They even worked well while watching TV on the Apple TV in bed. Compared to version 3, the design has been slightly tweaked, but I didn’t notice much of a difference in how they fit.

Sound quality is another area where I noticed a big improvement. The bass is deeper and richer compared to previous versions, but without losing clarity in the higher tones. I mostly listen to podcasts, but I tested these with music, and the range of sound (especially bass) is much improved over the prior version.

The active noise cancellation was more effective than I expected. I tested it by running a vacuum cleaner and found that most of the noise was filtered out, though there was still a slight hiss breaking through. It isn’t as effective as over-ear headphones, but it’s impressive for this style of earbud. I’m looking forward to testing it on a plane soon to see how it handles more sustained noise.

Battery life is decent, offering about five hours of playback without noise cancellation and around four hours with it on. The case extends that to about 20 hours with noise cancellation and 30 hours without, which is consistent with previous versions.

Switching between devices, such as my iPhone and Apple TV, is seamless, as expected from Apple’s ecosystem.

For customization, the AirPods offer several options, including turning on noise cancellation or transparency mode, depending on your preferences. I found transparency mode less useful for these earbuds, as they don’t fully isolate outside sounds. There’s also a feature that lets you use head gestures to interact with Siri, though I didn’t find much use for that myself.

For those using non-Apple devices, these work like any other Bluetooth headphones, but pairing is a bit different. Instead of a physical button on the case, you double-tap the front, which puts the AirPods into pairing mode.

In terms of audio quality, these AirPods support lossless audio with Apple’s H2 chipset. Right now the only host device Apple sells with the H2 chipset is the Vision Pro headset, so at the moment no lossless audio will be transmitted from iPhones.

Overall, I’m impressed with the AirPods 4. They offer noticeable improvements in sound quality and noise cancellation, and the added features like wireless charging and the “Find My” speaker in the case are nice perks. If you’re considering an upgrade or a first pair of AirPods, these are definitely worth checking out.

Check out my other headphone reviews here!

Cambridge Audio Melomania P100 Review

The Cambridge Melomania P100 headphones, priced at $279 (compensated affiliate link), sound spectacular – as long as you don’t move around too much. You can see more in my latest review.

Although I’m not an expert audiophile, I primarily listen to lossless audio, and the P100’s sound quality truly impressed me. The headphones feature 40mm drivers, providing a balanced range of sound with punchy bass when needed and clear precision across other frequencies. I left the equalizer on its default flat setting, as suggested by Cambridge, and was satisfied with the results.

The headphones are comfortable, featuring synthetic vegan leather ear cups that fit well over my ears and effectively block out ambient noise even without active noise cancellation. The fabric headband is comfortable, and I experienced no significant fatigue after wearing the headphones for several hours. However, the tight fit made it a bit challenging to wear glasses comfortably.

Control-wise, the P100s are straightforward. A physical switch turns the headphones on and off, and pairing via Bluetooth is seamless. They support Bluetooth 5.3 and can connect to two devices simultaneously. Media controls and noise cancellation settings are easily accessible, and the headphones include a Qualcomm QCC 3084 chip for audio processing, which I found satisfactory despite being an entry-level processor.

One drawback is the absence of a 3.5mm headphone jack, although the included USB-C cables (including one with a 3.5mm headphone connector) provide alternatives for connecting to devices. The headphones support lossless audio formats such as aptX Lossless over bluetooth, making them ideal for high-quality music listening when connected directly to a device that supports wireless lossless.

The battery life is impressive, with claims of up to 100 hours without active noise cancellation and 60 hours with it.

However, using the headphones while walking revealed an issue: an annoying clicking sound caused by the noise cancellation picking up my footsteps. This problem, reported by other users as well, makes the P100s less suitable for active use. Even when the noise cancellation is disabled I heard the footsteps resonating through the headphones.

The Cambridge Audio companion app runs on iPhone and Android devices. It offers basic but useful features, including firmware updates, graphic equalizer and customization of noise cancellation settings. The app also includes a gaming mode to reduce audio latency, which might be useful for some users.

Overall, the Cambridge Melomania P100 headphones provide excellent audio quality and comfort, making them a solid choice for stationary music listening or long flights. However, for those who like to move around with their headphones, the noise cancellation issues may be a significant drawback.

Disclosure: The headphones came in free of charge through the Amazon Vine program. However no other compensation was received and this content was not reviewed or approved by Amazon or the manufacturer before upload.