Audeze Maxwell 2 Review: Planar Sound and 80-Hour Battery

Picture a three-hour ranked session where you need to tell whether footsteps are on the stairs above you or the floor below, and then a playlist on the bus home over Bluetooth. Most gaming headsets do one of those well. This Audeze Maxwell 2 review is about a headset that tries to do both properly, and mostly pulls it off.

The original Maxwell built a following among people who care about how their music sounds, not just how loud explosions get. The Maxwell 2, announced at CES 2026, keeps the formula and adds a bass system, a wider headband and newer Bluetooth codecs. The question is whether those upgrades justify a higher price and a heavier headset. This review pulls together manufacturer specs, independent lab measurements and aggregated user reports as of late 2026. It is based on research, not hands-on testing.

What is Audeze Maxwell 2?

The Maxwell 2 is a closed-back wireless gaming headset from Audeze, a California company best known for high-end planar magnetic headphones that cost well into four figures. Most gaming headsets use dynamic drivers, the same cone-style speaker found in most earbuds. Planar magnetic drivers use a thin, flat diaphragm moved by magnets across its whole surface. In practice that tends to mean lower distortion and cleaner detail, at the cost of weight.

It connects in three ways: a low-latency 2.4GHz USB-C dongle for consoles and PC, Bluetooth 5.3 for phones, and wired USB-C or 3.5mm. There are two versions. The PlayStation version works with PS5, PC, Mac, Switch and handhelds like the Steam Deck. The Xbox version works with all of those plus Xbox, and it includes a Dolby Atmos license.

Key features

• 90mm planar magnetic drivers: Audeze’s latest drivers with Uniforce diaphragms and Fluxor magnet arrays, designed to keep distortion low even at high volume.
• SLAM bass technology: A physical acoustic system that, according to Audeze, adds up to about 6 dB of low-end and improves spatial cues without relying on DSP.
• Up to 80 hours of battery: The manufacturer rating from an 1,800mAh cell, with a charge time of roughly two hours according to spec listings.
• Hypercardioid detachable boom mic: A 16-bit/48kHz mic with AI-based noise removal that independent reviews consistently rank near the top of the category.
• Bluetooth 5.3 with LDAC and LE Audio: Supports LDAC, AAC, SBC, LC3 and LC3plus, plus Auracast, which is unusually broad for a gaming headset.
• Wider suspension headband: Audeze widened the strap from roughly 45mm to 70mm and added ventilation holes to offset the extra weight.
• Audeze app with detailed EQ: Presets, a parametric-style EQ and mic tuning, all saved to the headset.
• Multi-platform dongle switch: A physical toggle for PC, PlayStation, Switch and handhelds, so you are not digging through menus when you move between devices.

How it actually performs

Sound quality

This is the reason to buy it. Reviewers from Tom’s Guide, TechRadar and SoundGuys agree the Maxwell 2 sounds better than nearly every other wireless gaming headset. Tom’s Guide described it as one of the best gaming headsets available, especially for gamers who also take music seriously. Planar drivers give it clean separation, so in a busy firefight you can still pick out a reload or a footstep instead of a single wall of noise.

SLAM is the main audible change from the original Maxwell. Audeze says it adds up to 6 dB of bass without processing, and reviews describe the low end as fuller and more physical than the first model. RTINGS notes that, as with most headphones, bass and overall sound shift with fit and seal. Glasses wearers and people with smaller heads will hear a slightly different headset than the spec sheet suggests.

Battery life

The 80-hour rating holds up well against competitors. SoundGuys gave the battery a 9.5 out of 10 in its scoring. As a rough estimate, if you play four hours a night you would charge about once every two to three weeks. Compare that with the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless, which relies on swapping two smaller batteries rated for roughly a day each. Real-world runtime will drop with high volume or heavy Bluetooth use with LDAC, as it does on any wireless headset.

Microphone

The mic is a real strength. RTINGS judged the Maxwell 2’s mic as clearly better than the Arctis Nova Pro Wireless’s, and Tom’s Guide called it excellent. The hypercardioid pickup and AI noise removal mean a mechanical keyboard or a fan in the room should be noticeably quieter to your teammates than with most boom mics. For streamers on a budget, it may be good enough to delay buying a separate USB mic.

Comfort and fit

This is where the tradeoffs start. Most retail and distributor listings put the Maxwell 2 at about 560g, roughly 70g heavier than the original Maxwell, and the extra weight comes mostly from the SLAM hardware. For context, many mainstream gaming headsets weigh 300 to 350g. The wider 70mm strap helps spread the load, and some reviewers say the weight distribution is better than before. Others, including RTINGS on the ANC variant, flag high clamping force.

The headband adjustment is the most common complaint. Tom’s Guide called it annoying, and the suspension design gives a limited fit range. If your head is on either end of the size spectrum, buy from a retailer with an easy return policy.

Connectivity quirks

Independent reviewers including SoundGuys and Tom’s Guide report that the base Maxwell 2 does not offer dual wireless audio. You cannot mix your game over the dongle with a Discord call on your phone over Bluetooth at the same time, something the Arctis Nova Pro Wireless and many cheaper headsets handle. The Maxwell 2 ANC lists more multipoint options, so check the exact model before you buy if this matters.

Passive noise isolation on the standard model is also weak according to RTINGS. If you game next to a loud roommate or take the headset on flights, the ANC model or a competitor with ANC is a better fit.

Pricing breakdown

The Maxwell 2 costs more than the original, which launched at $299. As of late 2026, here is how the lineup prices out at list:

Model	List price (US)	Works with	Best for
Maxwell 2 (PlayStation)	$329	PS5, PC, Mac, Switch, handhelds	PlayStation and PC players who will never touch an Xbox
Maxwell 2 (Xbox)	$349	Xbox plus everything above	Multi-console households, Dolby Atmos fans
Maxwell 2 ANC (PlayStation)	$429	PS5, PC, Mac, Switch, handhelds	Travelers and anyone in a loud room
Maxwell 2 ANC (Xbox)	$449	Xbox plus everything above	People who want every feature and can afford it

The Xbox version is the safer buy for most people. For an extra $20 you get Xbox support and a Dolby Atmos license, and it still works on PlayStation. The PlayStation version only makes sense if you are certain you will stay off Xbox.

The ANC models add $100. Tom’s Guide notes battery life drops significantly with ANC on, so you are paying more for a feature that costs you runtime. If your gaming happens at a desk in a quiet room, the standard model is the better value. Retailer pricing varies, and some sellers list the base model at $349 regardless of version, so it pays to compare. You can check current Maxwell 2 pricing here before you commit.

Who should use Audeze Maxwell 2?

The Maxwell 2 is a strong fit for:

• Players who also listen to a lot of music. Planar drivers plus LDAC make this one of the few gaming headsets that doubles as serious headphones.
• Competitive shooter fans. Clean separation helps with footstep and direction cues, and the low-latency dongle handles the game audio.
• People who hate charging. An 80-hour rating means charging a couple of times a month for most players.
• Anyone who talks to their squad a lot. The mic is among the best you can get on a headset.
• Multi-device households. The Xbox version covers nearly every current console, PC and handheld.

Who shouldn’t buy it

Skip the Maxwell 2 if comfort is your top priority and you are sensitive to weight. At about 560g it is noticeably heavier than most rivals. Skip it if you need game audio and phone audio mixed at once, since the base model can’t do that. If you play in loud spaces, the base model’s weak isolation and lack of ANC will bother you.

Original Maxwell owners can also hold off. TechRadar’s verdict was that it is an excellent headset but not a big upgrade over its predecessor. Unless SLAM bass or the wider headband solves a specific problem for you, spend the money on something else.

Alternatives worth considering

Audeze Maxwell 2 vs SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless

This is the matchup most buyers weigh. The Arctis Nova Pro Wireless has ANC, a base station with a display, two hot-swappable batteries and simultaneous 2.4GHz and Bluetooth audio. It also carries a $349.99 list price but has frequently sold for about $235 to $260 in 2026 deals. RTINGS rates the Maxwell 2 as the better gaming headset overall, with a clearly better mic, and its planar drivers win on sound detail. Choose the SteelSeries for features and price, the Audeze for sound and battery.

Other options

• SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Omni ($399.99): The May 2026 refresh of the Nova Pro line. It is a better pick if you want ANC and audio mixing in one box and do not care about planar sound.
• Astro A50 X: A dock-based headset that switches between consoles via HDMI. It is more convenient for living-room setups, but reviewers consistently rate its sound and battery below the Maxwell 2.
• Audeze Maxwell (original): Often discounted now. You get most of the Maxwell 2’s sound and mic quality, a lighter build and a lower price, without SLAM and the wider strap.

Final verdict

The Audeze Maxwell 2 is, by broad agreement among independent reviewers, one of the best-sounding wireless gaming headsets you can buy in 2026, and it backs that up with an 80-hour battery and an excellent mic. It is also heavy, fussy to adjust and missing simultaneous audio mixing, which some cheaper rivals offer.

If sound quality is your priority and you want one headset for gaming and music, it is easy to recommend. The Xbox version at $349 is the one to get for most people. If you need ANC, audio mixing or a sub-$300 price, the Arctis Nova Pro Wireless is the more practical choice. On balance, we rate the Maxwell 2 a 4.4 out of 5. If that tradeoff works for you, you can grab the Maxwell 2 here.