Audeze Maxwell 2

A Audio46 Headphone Store Delaney Czernikowski · reviewer · Mar 2026

The clamping force is not too strong, which makes this headphone great for wearing with glasses. The earpads are comfortable and soft to the ear, and large enough to go over the ear completely for great passive isolation. They are able to be replaced so you can extend the life of your headphone easily.

A Audio Advice Audio Advice · 265K subscribers · Feb 2026

The new Maxwell 2 takes their legendary planar magnetic driver technology and delivers what gamers actually need. Hyper-precise directional imaging for really competitive play and audiophile grade immersion for some story-driven games and a monstrous battery life so the headset never dies mid-session. But what truly makes this headphone special is that it actually doubles as a seriously good pair

M Magnetic Magazine Article · Feb 2026

Quick answer: The Audeze Maxwell 2 remains worth buying in 2026 for PS5, Xbox, and PC users who put sound quality and battery life ahead of low weight or full dual-wireless mixing. Buy the correct console version, update the headset and dongle together, and choose another model if 560g feels too heavy.

E EBPMAN Tech Reviews EBPMAN Tech Reviews · 190K subscribers · Feb 2026

And I have to say, right out of the gate, I think that these happen to be the best sounding gaming headphones that I've experienced in a very long time. They feature planner magnetic drivers which really set them apart from other gaming headphones. But at the same time, the mic quality, just the overall feel of this uh set is premium.

A Android Central Article · Jan 2026

The result is a headset that absolutely shines. I like that Audeze focused on the gaming side of things with this release; while the Maxwell had great sound, it didn't quite hold up quite as well as its rivals when it came to the extras — that isn't an issue on the Maxwell 2.

E EBPMAN Tech Reviews EBPMAN Tech Reviews · 190K subscribers · Aug 2026

Great gaming headphones are really hard to find, except when they come from Audeze. Planar magnetic headphones that really highlight the details. We're talking about headphones that you would use as an audiophile to have an immersive experience when it comes to sound reproduction.

B Basic Tutorials Article · Jan 2026

The new Audeze Maxwell 2 takes gaming audio to a new level. The successor to the highly acclaimed Ma xwell (our review) has been redesigned from the ground up and offers improvements in almost every area – from sound and comfort to connectivity and battery life.

G GadgetryTech GadgetryTech · 128K subscribers · Jan 2026

There is noticeably better bass now. It doesn't have the same suck out at the 65 Hz area. It's much more filled in, and I think it's much more comparable to the older Maxwell 1. Another change is actually the improvements in the microphone. So, I did mention in the review and in some of the comments that I felt the gain was a little bit too hot.

Y Yahoo Tech Mack Ashworth · reviewer · Aug 2026

Those small cues can expose an enemy's position, and the Maxwell 2 ANC made them easy to locate while also silencing my nearby fan. This is where the upgrade made the most sense to me, as I still remained competitive in those noisier environments.

D Dave Taylor Dave Taylor · 59.9K subscribers · Aug 2026

The Audeze Maxwell 2 ANC Gaming Headphones Sound Incredible.

T Tom's Guide Article · Feb 2026

The Audeze Maxwell 2 is the latest gaming headset from Californian audio manufacturer Audeze (pronounced Awd-Ee-Zee: a rough portmanteau of “audio” and “odyssey”), a brand famed for its high-end open-back audiophile headphones.

G GRAMOPHONE GRAMOPHONE · 33.6K subscribers · Mar 2026

This is fantastic because we all know the part of a headphone that's most likely to wear out is this. So, you got easy replacement, >> right? You got that. And this the strap is also very easily replaceable. >> I love it. Love it. Yeah. I can I don't know if our viewers can see this, but you can just easily pop an old strap off and put the fresh one on. >> Yep. Yep.

C Crutchfield Article

Even before I got my hands on the Audeze Maxwell 2 gaming headphones, I knew they were building on a strong foundation. For the past few years, the original Maxwell topped my list of the best gaming headsets.

G GearUP with Aaron GearUP with Aaron · 33.4K subscribers · Feb 2026

This is so quick. It's still tapered like before. Aperture is fantastic. And the padding is so supple and plush. And yeah, your ears won't only ears would have problems, but I would say that like 90% of y'all won't have issues with this uh ear pad itself. Fantastic stuff. Uh, also still available is wireless listening, USBC, and 3.5 as well as simultaneous audio support.

T Tom's Guide Article · Feb 2026

The Audeze Maxwell 2, by contrast, has them all well and truly beat, offering 80 hours — it was actually a challenge to drain the headset in my battery testing.

R RTINGS Audio RTINGS Audio · 23.7K subscribers · Apr 2026

The Audeze Maxwell was already one of the best gaming headsets we've tested, but the Maxwell 2 is better largely due to the improved microphone. But at RTINGS, we know the devil is in the details. So, let's break down our lab results.

Y Yahoo Tech Jeff Dunn · reviewer

But at $380 it's still pricier than the Audeze Maxwell 2, which offers longer battery life, a superior mic and a more balanced sound profile out of the box.

W Wicked Cushions Wicked Cushions · 14.9K subscribers · Mar 2026

Obviously, we've made them thicker, as you can see, not too thick, but just the right amount of thickness so you can have a softer clamping force and more stabilization of the headset, which is already heavy on your head. The ear opening is the same and it's just going to feel so much more softer than the V1 and so much more colder than the V1. And this is it.

I IGN Michael Higham · reviewer

The Audeze Maxwell 2 offers unmatched sound quality, with 90mm planar magnetic drivers and top notch build quality.

A AV Atmos AV Atmos · 11.1K subscribers · Jan 2026

It's actually an upgrade to their original Maxwell. These are gaming headphones for audio files. People that want to game with fidelity uh and detail in their audio, this is the headphone for you basically. So, the Maxwell 2 wireless gaming headphone is speced out and it has better low frequency than the original one. So they're actually promoting this as more or less a low frequency beast.

L LATE KNIGHT TALKS LATE KNIGHT TALKS · 6K subscribers · Mar 2026

And I've been comparing a lot of headphones and I keep saying the bass in these are intoxicating. And people are kind of saying like, well, they're getting them, they don't understand why you know, these are so great because they don't feel like the bass is that good. Now, I should have preference it by saying primarily.

L LATE KNIGHT TALKS LATE KNIGHT TALKS · 6K subscribers · Feb 2026

And I took back the desi Maxwell ones because I feel like just the overall sound stage in a video game is a lot better with the Maxwell 2. So I found myself not using the Maxwell ones as much and they were still within the 30-day return policy. I got them for Christmas or whatever and so I ended up returning them because it's like the Maxwell ones was way better with bass.

L LATE KNIGHT TALKS LATE KNIGHT TALKS · 6K subscribers · Mar 2026

The Audeze Maxwell 2s are amazing, right? Now, I'm trying to send back a pair of Audeze Maxwell 2s. Like it's no sense of me having two Audeze Maxwell 2s, LCD-X. You know, unless I'm just going to keep a a pair of Audeze Maxwell 2s in the car. You know what I mean? Like if I'm like taking my laptop out or something like that and then keep one in the house.

T TECH VERR TECH VERR · 5.7K subscribers · Feb 2026

If you love movie, music and immersive audio experience, Maxwell 2 is better choice. So, which one will you pick? Let me know in the comments.

H Headphones Pro Review Headphones Pro Review · 5K subscribers · Jan 2026

The Maxwell 2 does not attempt to solve these problems with more aggressive processing. Instead, it refineses the same core philosophy. Planer magnetic drivers, controlled signal paths, and deliberate tuning choices. Planer magnetic technology remains central here.

C CHIGABYTE CHIGABYTE · 4.5K subscribers · Apr 2026

Overall, this is one of those headsets where once you try it, it kind of ruins the cheaper ones for you. It's powerful, sounds amazing, and just feels like a proper upgrade. If you want top-tier audio and don't mind spending a bit more, this one offers serious sound quality.

G GGChrono GGChrono · 2.8K subscribers · Apr 2026

And overall, yes, >> I think they did. That said, I do have one caveat for that statement on the Maxwell 2. So, let's talk about it.

F FragWatch FragWatch · 1.1K subscribers · Feb 2026

Very excited. Longtime Maxwell user. We're also going to be putting some wicked cushions on there and uh an aviator headset band. Make it a little bit more comfortable. A lot more comfortable. Yeah. Well, maybe I'll I'll try at first maybe without those. Shall we see how this the headband? See if they improved it. So, we got here. There we go.

S Sweetwater Home Audio Sweetwater Home Audio · 837 subscribers · Aug 2026

The entire Maxwell line has been well regarded as a great option for both gaming and listening to music because of its exceptional audio quality. We'll be using the XM6 as a comparison because it's also a good-sounding pair of headphones that has kind of been the go-to for travel. It's small, light, easy-to-use, stylish.

I I-Got-DIBS I-Got-DIBS · 262 subscribers · Mar 2026

I really like these cool advertisements. These are pretty big drivers. They're 90 mm, so bigger than anything you see on the market. I would say for closed back headphones. So, I guess this is how you open it. And then some foam. And then you're greeted with the headset and instructions. We'll just put that on the side. This is a very nice packaging. I really like it. It looks great.

B Byte Sized Reviews Byte Sized Reviews · 31 subscribers · Jul 2026

If you think all gaming headsets sound the same, the Audeze Maxwell 2 is about to prove you wrong with its planar magnetic drivers. Here's what you get.

I think it depends on the type of gaming that you enjoy. If I was mostly a FPS gamer, then I'd probably prefer the Maxwells for their clarity. However, I'm mostly into single player adventure games, and for those games l like a good thumping bass. When an explosion happens in-game, I really want to feel it! I prefer dynamic drivers for that.

S SoundGuys SoundGuys · 323K subscribers · Apr 2026

The headband is an absolute pain to adjust if you have to. The plus side is that you're never going to slip out of position, so it's a once and never again scenario. To adjust it, you have to pull the strap completely Oh my god. Completely Complete I said completely off. The completely off the pins that hold the headband to the headset. Just like that.

The Maxwell 2 is better than the first version because the strap is wider, but I can still feel pressure on the top of my head. Basically, the only downside of the Kitharas is that sound from the drivers might leak into the microphone, meaning your friends on Discord could hear an echo of themselves, which is annoying.

J JuanBagnell JuanBagnell · 184K subscribers · Jan 2026

Odyssey is back with a banger of a refresh for their gaming headset. And even if you're not a gaming headset headphone kind of person, this might be your jam. Hey there. This episode of SomeGadic Guy is brought to you by viewers like you. All of the incredible people sharing content across social media and the generosity of my patrons at patreon.com/somegadgetguy.

P Poc Network // Tech Article

This is where we found one of the only faults of this headset. We found the boom microphone to be a little, well, boomy. Not only that, but it was slightly distorted, which was a bit odd. In order to capture this, we connected it via USB to a computer.

G Gamer Heaven Gamer Heaven · 179K subscribers · Apr 2026

Audeze Maxwell 2 Review-Better But I Prefer The Original

G GamesRadar+ Article · Oct 2022

Despite its impressive sound, it can falter where the lower frequencies are concerned, as it doesn't quite have that bass grunt like other premium pairs out there - from the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless to the Razer BlackShark V3 Pro.

H HiFi AV Tech HiFi AV Tech · 32.9K subscribers · Mar 2026

While the redesigned wider suspension strap does an excellent job of distributing that mass, you will absolutely feel the weight during extended listening sessions or long movie marathons. Fortunately, the clamping force is perfectly balanced and the closedback design paired with the new plush pads provides phenomenal passive noise isolation that easily blocks out ambient room noise.

A AOL.com AOL · reviewer · Aug 2026

If you regularly game with distracting background noise, it could be worth the investment. Otherwise, I’d save the money and take the longer battery life. Either way, both versions deliver some of the finest wireless gaming audio available.

A avrona avrona · 25.1K subscribers · Jul 2026

They are still pretty big and bulky like you expect from Odyssey, but that just one of the things you kind of have to live with if you want to enjoy the signature audio quality. Though, I want to see comfort wise, how exactly do they compare with my daily drivers, the LCDS20s. And I got to say, I mean, they aren't that much different in that regard. Though that's probably not the biggest complimen

M Major HiFi Alex Schiffer · reviewer · Mar 2026

If you value precision, clarity, and competitive performance, the Maxwell 2 delivers meaningful enhancements. If you prefer a warmer, more relaxed sound and are already satisfied with the original, there may be less urgency to upgrade.

S Stream Tech Reviews Stream Tech Reviews · 23.4K subscribers · Jan 2026

However, it also takes some steps backwards, making this overall just a side grade. So, let's start with that. What's different between the Maxwell and Maxwell 2? Here's a quick summary. The Maxwell 2 has a few build changes which I find to be the best improvements. The pleather pads are larger, softer, and can now be magnetically attached and detached.

P PC Gamer Article · May 2023

Don't buy if. ❌ You don't like heavy headsets: At 560 g, the Maxwell 2 is a fair chunk of mass to strap onto your head, and certain design aspects conspire to make it uncomfortable to wear after many hours of use.

D Dan’s Tech House Dan’s Tech House · 11K subscribers · Jan 2026

This is a very heavy gaming headset. It will take some time to get adjusted to it in terms of like your neck, etc. much heavier than the first one, but these are cosmetic. They don't really add anything else. So, if you did want to remove those, you can. It's just to save a little bit on the weight.

T Tom's Hardware Article · Jan 2026

The Maxwell 2 has Audeze's 90mm planar magnetic drivers, which have a frequency response of 10 - 50,000 Hz (wider than most gaming headsets, which typically stick around the 20 - 20,000 Hz range).

T TECHATOP TECHATOP · 9.2K subscribers · Mar 2026

While the newly designed, wider, and ventilated head strap definitely helps distribute the load, mass is still mass, and during our longer testing sessions, we found that the weight becomes noticeably fatiguing right around the 2-hour mark.

S Stream Tech Reviews by BadIntent BadIntent · reviewer · Jan 2026

In short, these are an excellent choice for competitive shooters, but that’s all I’d really use these for.

L LATE KNIGHT TALKS LATE KNIGHT TALKS · 6K subscribers · Apr 2026

I sent one pair back got another pair you know cuz I'm like oh maybe you know I'm hearing they're fixing things or whatever got another pair and I do want to say I think they did a really good job now that these things have been updated. You know multiple times. I think they did a good job.

R Rapid Reviews UK Article · Jun 2026

The weight might not be for everyone.

W Which is Better Which is Better · 4.3K subscribers · Jan 2026

The Maxwell 2 is heavier at 490 g and applies more clamping force, which can start to feel fatiguing over longer sessions, even with the improved headband. The Nova Elite may not look as dramatic, but it's the headset you forget you're wearing after a few hours. So, if you value ergonomic design and long session comfort over dense materials and bold styling, the Nova Elite is the better fit.

E Emma Explains AI Emma Explains AI · 2.9K subscribers · Apr 2026

The Maxwell 2 provides next-level separation, definition, and a wider sound stage, but its default treble can sometimes be fatiguing. In communications and noise rejection, the Maxwell 1 has a solid boom mic but picks up some background noise.

M Mic And Cam Mic And Cam · 1.9K subscribers · Mar 2026

And yet, in daily use, I still tend to grab the predecessor. Why? Well, >> because measuring better doesn't always mean more fun. And that's just how it is. Before this gets misunderstood, both of these headphones are operating on an extremely high level. It's not good versus bad. It's more like character versus technical refinement. Visually, they're almost twins.

P Poc Network // Tech Poc Network // Tech · 7.5K subscribers · Jan 2026

>> This is the Maxwell 2, a second generation. But first, before anything, how you doing? >> I'm doing really good, James. Nice to see you as always. Yeah. I don't know how how many years we've been doing CES like this. To think about it. Yeah. It's always really good to see you. >> Yeah. So, yeah, we're here with Odyssey Maxwell 2.