For years, I’ve been singing the praises of the original Audeze Maxwell across my headset coverage here at IGN. So, when I caught wind of an updated version on the way with the Audeze Maxwell 2, I was as excited as I was curious – curious as to how the company could improve on the already stellar sound quality, and also for how it might address its few shortcomings. After using it as my primary headset for about two weeks, I’m a little disappointed that it didn’t make any drastic changes, but that means it’s at least still a fantastic headset. This means it’s more accurate to look at the Maxwell 2 as a simple refresh rather than a brand-new headset. If you’re still going strong with the original Maxwell or an equivalent high-end gaming headset, it won’t be a major jump, but anyone in the market for a new top-tier option in the range of $300 and up, this is your new king.
Audeze Maxwell 2 – Design and Comfort
Audeze did not stray far from the original design; the Maxwell 2 still rocks the heavy-set earcups that house its 90mm planar magnetic drivers, although they come with some minor changes. They no longer swivel inward the full 90 degrees to lay flat and instead stop at a 45-degree angle, and it’s good enough to rest the headset around your neck comfortably. The earcup covers can pop out if you twist them, which allows for custom designs. It also means both the mute toggle and power button are no longer on the outside of the earcups. Those are now along the border of the right earcup, but the mute toggle is just a tad harder to switch on and off since it’s wedged into a dip. The left earcup has the usual suspects: volume dial, chat/game mix, 3.5mm jack, USB-C port, microphone jack, and Bluetooth button.
I’m a bit surprised that the Maxwell 2 largely reused the original headband design, where the leatherette strap hooks into notches built into the frame. It’s still more difficult to adjust the fit than I’d like since the holes on the strap are very rigid – at least you know it’ll lock into place. The noticeable change, however, is the width of the strap itself, which now covers more surface area atop your head. It helps alleviate pressure, and it’s better for keeping the headset in place when you’re moving your head. That’s important for a headset as heavy as this (560g, up from the original’s 490g).
The earpads have a slimmer profile which makes the space within for your ears noticeably larger, and can help them fit easier (and theoretically, help with a more spacious audio experience). However, you can feel a little more jostling of the headset when turning or walking around with these (compounded by the fact it’s slightly heavier) – although I can say that the new strap design offsets this by making sure the headset doesn’t slide off so easily. Regardless, I wore the Maxwell 2 for sessions upwards of four hours at a time and didn’t experience much discomfort, if at all. That’s because the pads are still dense and plushy, and thanks to the lighter-than-usual clamp force, there wasn’t much pressure around my ears. They also limited the sweatiness I tend to get from leatherette material. And since the earpads are magnetically attached, I anticipate being able to swap them out for aftermarket ones if you wish.
Audeze Maxwell 2 – Features and Software
While there is no active noise cancelation (ANC) on this model, there is an ANC version planned in the future. Given this is a closed-back headset, it has decent noise isolation already. However, like the original, the microphone has active noise isolation to pick up your voice more accurately. While it’s not an improvement, per se, it’s leagues above what other gaming headsets do with either a higher noise gate or other forms of AI noise isolation, mainly because I didn’t experience much clipping or digitization in my voice.
The Maxwell 2 also has simultaneous Bluetooth connectivity – well, sort of. Pairing to Bluetooth devices is straightforward and swapping to the 2.4GHz USB-C dongle is as well, but you can’t have them active simultaneously, which is a nice-to-have on high-end headsets. However, you can get audio through a wired USB-C connection and Bluetooth at the same time. Of course, it’s not as convenient as true simultaneous audio, but it is a decent option.
What is a notable improvement is the software. One of the odd things about the Maxwell was its Windows XP-era looking software that felt very outdated. While there isn’t a whole lot to customize with the Maxwell 2, the updated app is easier to navigate visually, whether you’re changing and saving EQ profiles or tweaking your microphone settings. At a time when software suites are getting increasingly bloated, I can appreciate how Audeze focuses on the essentials.
One of the big features of the original Maxwell is its long battery life, and I’m happy to report the Maxwell 2 is no slouch. Rated to last upward of 90 hours from a full charge, I used it as my primary headset for two full weeks about 8 hours a day, and only hit below 20% (according to the app) toward the end of week two. With all that weight, I sure hope it’d have a hefty battery at least, and it certainly does.
Audeze Maxwell 2 – Sound Quality
It’s no surprise that the Maxwell 2 sounds absolutely fantastic, producing a similar sound profile to the original with its 90mm planar magnetic drivers. These remain some of the most sophisticated audio drivers for gaming headsets and set the foundation for its audiophile-type quality. The Maxwell 2 is tuned slightly differently, which was difficult to notice until multiple side-by-side listening tests – while the low-end bass isn’t quite as prominent as the original Maxwell with the default EQ, you can simply replicate the more booming bass by bumping up the lower frequencies. It does highlight the clarity of the mids and highs, though, and they come out just a tad cleaner at louder volumes.
As per usual, I tested the Maxwell 2 in a suite of games I normally play; namely Counter-Strike 2 and Final Fantasy XIV. For the former, positional audio is of utmost importance and the headset performed admirably for identifying actions like footsteps, opponents reloading, gunfire in certain directions with great detail. And catching up on the latest raid series in FFXIV, the busy nature of eight players casting spells, boss attacks going off, and the awesome soundtrack blasting all at the same time wasn’t grating at all. That’s expected of a high-end gaming headset, but I’m still impressed with how the Maxwell 2 handles all of that wonderfully.
I also gave the headset a spin on PlayStation 5, which is recognized natively if you flip the dongle to PS5 mode. There aren’t many console-unique features here, even with the Audeze brand being under Sony this time around, but Tempest 3D audio and easily tuning the headset on PS5 are good enough for me. Replaying through The Last of Us Part 2 really put the cinematic capabilities of the Maxwell 2 into perspective, with dialogue coming through sharply contrasted with the punch of gunfire – it’s a theater-like experience strapped to your head, and it surpasses even the Sony InZone H9 II that I reviewed recently.
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