Cambridge Audio Melomania P100 EQ settings for Mac
Measured EQ correction for the Cambridge Audio Melomania P100, the specs that matter, and what changes when you use them with a Mac. Copy the settings and apply them in one click.
The short answer
- Lowers the bass below 80 Hz by about 3.5 to 9.5 dB.
- Dips about 2 dB near 1 kHz.
- Dips about 4 dB near 5.5 kHz.
- Leaves the treble above 7 kHz close to flat.
Melomania P100 at a glance
Wireless over-ear headphones with hybrid ANC and 100 hours of battery. Official specifications from Cambridge Audio:
- Driver
- 40 mm, PEEK and PU composite diaphragm
- Noise cancelling
- Hybrid
- Bluetooth
- 5.3
- Battery
- Up to 60 h (ANC on), 100 h (ANC off)
- Wired
- USB-C or 3.5 mm
- Weight
- 330 g
Using the Melomania P100 with a Mac
Codec: AAC, not aptX Adaptive or aptX Lossless. The Melomania P100 support SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive and aptX Lossless, but macOS doesn't support aptX Adaptive or aptX Lossless. On a Mac they play over AAC, which carries the full 20 Hz to 20 kHz range at standard sample rates (44.1 or 48 kHz).
Calls sound worse than music. As soon as an app uses the headphones' microphone (Zoom, FaceTime, a dictation shortcut), Bluetooth switches to hands-free mode, which has much lower audio quality. Pick your Mac's built-in microphone as the input to keep the Melomania P100 in stereo music mode.
Noise control. TuningMac can't switch Cambridge Audio's noise cancelling modes yet, so use the button on the headphones or Cambridge Audio's app on your phone. The EQ, volume and output features all work.
What the measurements show
This correction comes from AutoEQ, based on Kuulokenurkka's measurements of the Melomania P100. It shows how much to boost or cut at each frequency to bring the headphones closer to AutoEQ's neutral target:
- Lowers the bass below 80 Hz by about 3.5 to 9.5 dB.
- Dips about 2 dB near 1 kHz.
- Dips about 4 dB near 5.5 kHz.
- Leaves the treble above 7 kHz close to flat.
Measured with noise cancelling on. With it off the balance shifts a little, so adjust by ear.
Fit, ear pads and your own ears all change what you hear, and neutral isn't everyone's favourite sound. Use this as a starting point, then adjust by ear.
Apply it in TuningMac (parametric EQ)
TuningMac's Advanced EQ imports this format directly. Copy the settings, then:
- Open TuningMac ▸ Settings ▸ Advanced EQ with your Melomania P100 connected.
- Turn on Use Advanced EQ for Melomania P100 (or whatever you've named them on your Mac).
- Choose More ▸ Paste from Clipboard.
TuningMac saves it for your Melomania P100 and loads it whenever they connect.
Preamp: -2.2 dB Filter 1: ON LSC Fc 105 Hz Gain -9.9 dB Q 0.70 Filter 2: ON PK Fc 5617 Hz Gain -4.6 dB Q 5.35 Filter 3: ON PK Fc 1018 Hz Gain -2.6 dB Q 1.87 Filter 4: ON PK Fc 1564 Hz Gain 2.8 dB Q 2.05 Filter 5: ON PK Fc 65 Hz Gain 5.1 dB Q 1.53 Filter 6: ON HSC Fc 10000 Hz Gain -1.5 dB Q 0.70 Filter 7: ON PK Fc 8841 Hz Gain 2.2 dB Q 2.38 Filter 8: ON PK Fc 3292 Hz Gain -2.6 dB Q 5.15 Filter 9: ON PK Fc 4053 Hz Gain 2.5 dB Q 6.00 Filter 10: ON PK Fc 2459 Hz Gain 0.9 dB Q 4.25
| # | Type | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Low Shelf | 105 Hz | −9.9 dB | 0.70 |
| 2 | Bell | 5.62 kHz | −4.6 dB | 5.35 |
| 3 | Bell | 1.02 kHz | −2.6 dB | 1.87 |
| 4 | Bell | 1.56 kHz | +2.8 dB | 2.05 |
| 5 | Bell | 65 Hz | +5.1 dB | 1.53 |
| 6 | High Shelf | 10 kHz | −1.5 dB | 0.70 |
| 7 | Bell | 8.84 kHz | +2.2 dB | 2.38 |
| 8 | Bell | 3.29 kHz | −2.6 dB | 5.15 |
| 9 | Bell | 4.05 kHz | +2.5 dB | 6.00 |
| 10 | Bell | 2.46 kHz | +0.9 dB | 4.25 |
Preamp: −2.2 dB. It lowers the overall level so the boosts don't clip.
Prefer simple sliders? The 10-band version
No Advanced EQ needed: AutoEQ also gives values for a standard 10-band equalizer, the same bands as TuningMac's main EQ. In the menu bar popover choose Custom, set each slider, and set the preamp to about −2.0 dB.
Values in dB, at 31 Hz to 16 kHz. The parametric version above is more precise.
Questions
Which codec do the Cambridge Audio Melomania P100 use on a Mac?+
AAC. The Melomania P100 support SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive and aptX Lossless, but macOS doesn't support aptX Adaptive or aptX Lossless, so on a Mac they play over AAC. That carries 20 Hz to 20 kHz audio at standard sample rates.
What are the best EQ settings for the Cambridge Audio Melomania P100?+
AutoEQ's correction, based on Kuulokenurkka's measurements, lowers the bass below 80 Hz by up to 9.5 dB, dips about 2 dB near 1 kHz and about 4 dB near 5.5 kHz, with a preamp of -2.2 dB. The exact values are on this page, ready to copy. Treat it as a neutral starting point and adjust to taste.
Why do my Cambridge Audio Melomania P100 sound bad on calls on a Mac?+
When an app uses the headphones' microphone, Bluetooth switches from stereo music mode to a hands-free call mode with much lower audio quality. To keep music quality during calls, choose your Mac's built-in microphone as the input instead. TuningMac's Input list does this in one click, and its Device Info shows which mode you're in.
Can I control the Cambridge Audio Melomania P100's noise cancelling from a Mac?+
Not yet. TuningMac can't switch Cambridge Audio's noise cancelling modes yet, so use the button on the headphones or Cambridge Audio's app on your phone. The EQ, volume and output features all work.
Should I turn off the EQ in Cambridge Audio's app?+
For the most accurate result, yes. An equalizer set in Cambridge Audio's app is applied inside the headphones, so it also affects your Mac and would add to this correction. TuningMac's EQ only changes sound from your Mac, so it won't affect your phone.
Tune your Melomania P100 on your Mac
Parametric and 10-band EQ, noise control and battery in the menu bar.
EQ data from AutoEQ by Jaakko Pasanen (MIT licence), measurement by Kuulokenurkka. Specifications from Cambridge Audio's published specifications. Cambridge Audio Melomania P100 is a trademark of Cambridge Audio; TuningMac is not affiliated with Cambridge Audio.