Audeze Maxwell
Audeze Maxwell
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MUSIC: Very Good—8.4/10
CALLS: Very Good—8.7/10
GAMING: Excellent—9.0/10
TV: Very Good—8.9/10
PODCASTS & AUDIOBOOKS: Excellent—9.4/10
EXERCISE: Fair—6.3/10
AIR TRAVEL: Very Good—8.2/10
NOISE REDUCTION: Fair—6.0/10
BUILD QUALITY: Excellent—9.0/10
BATTERY: Best in Class—10.0/10
The Audeze Maxwell are premium closed-back over-ear headphones with both wireless and wired capabilities. They offer very good overall sound quality, with an impressive soundstage and imaging capability, making them excellent for immersive music, gaming, and TV/video experiences. Comfort and build quality are also rated very high, along with mic quality, which benefits calls and meetings. The headphones support LDAC for high-quality audio over Bluetooth and feature a detachable cable, a boom mic for clear communication, and an app equalizer for sound customization. They are substantial in weight and size, so they aren't ideal for exercising or use on-the-go. While they aren't specifically optimized for Android or Apple, they do work well with either, and the battery life is lengthy, allowing for prolonged use. However, they may not be the best choice for those seeking optimal noise isolation or portability, and there's no mention of sweat or dust resistance, which could be a consideration for some users. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Evaluation
Pros
- Exceptional sound quality
- Comfortable over long periods
- Superior build and microphone
- Long battery life
- Useful app features
Cons
- Not optimized for exercise
- Poor portability score
- Heavyweight design
- Limited noise isolation
Ratings by Category
Battery Life:5.0
The Battery Life rating is based on hours of typical, actual usage.
Podcasts & Audiobooks:4.9
This score evaluates the product when used solely to listen to podcasts or audiobooks. It takes into account sound quality and sound signature, to be able to keep voices clear and intelligible. It also considers battery life, when available, and comfort.
Gaming:4.7
This score evaluates the product when used to play videogames. It takes into account wireless latency - the perceived delay between the action on screen and the sounds playing in your ears. The score also considers soundstage quality, whether they have a virtual surround feature, and overall comfort. Finally, the gaming score takes into account microphone quality for in-game voice chat.
It’s important to note that the device paired with the earbuds heavily influences their performance in regards to latency or delay.
TV & Video:4.7
The Audeze Maxwell headphones are excellent for watching TV and videos because they combine very good overall sound quality with low latency wireless connectivity, ensuring clear audio without delay. Additionally, their comfortable fit and good soundstage/imaging make long viewing sessions enjoyable without causing listener fatigue.
Calls:4.6
This evaluates the product when used solely to make and receive calls. It takes into account how well the products are able to clearly reproduce the human voice, the quality of the integrated microphones and the battery life, when available, to be able to use them for longer sessions or conferences.
Music:4.5
The Audeze Maxwell excels in listening to music due to its closed enclosure design, which helps isolate sound and reduce external noise, allowing for a focused listening experience. This, combined with the headphones' high overall sound quality, good soundstage and imaging that provide a sense of space and direction of sounds, and support for the lossless LDAC codec that ensures high-resolution audio over Bluetooth, makes them particularly suited for audiophiles and music enthusiasts.
Air Travel:4.5
This score evaluates the product for use on airplanes and other similar kinds of travel. It takes into account noise reduction and portability, including case shape, case size, and weight. It also incorporates the battery life of the product, long-haul comfort, noise reduction (both active and passive), and sound quality. We generally consider wireless products to be more suitable for air travel.
Exercise:3.3
This score evaluates the product when used for exercise and physical activity. It mainly takes into account comfort, whether or not the products are sweatproof and how secure are the earbuds or headphones while wearing them. We also consider products with wireless capabilities to be more suitable for this particular scenario
Full Specs
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
| Price | $299 | ||
Brand | Audeze | ||
Release Date | January 1, 2023 | ||
Form Factor | Headphones | ||
Connectivity | Wired + Wireless | ||
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score  | 8.4/10 | ||
Phone Calls Score | 8.7/10 | ||
Gaming Score | 9.1/10 | ||
TV and Video Score | 8.9/10 | ||
Exercise Score | 6.3/10 | ||
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | 78 Hours | ||
Wireless charging | No | ||
Charging time | 2 Hours | ||
Bluetooth version | 5.3 | ||
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | No | ||
Noise Reduction Score | 6/10 | ||
Android App | Yes | ||
iOS App | Yes | ||
Mic Quality | 8/10 | ||
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | 9/10 | ||
Comfort score | 8/10 | ||
Weight | 498.9 Grams | ||
Microphone style | Boom | ||
Waterproof Rating | 0 | ||
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Sound Guys
Christian Thomas | August 2023
"Despite a few caveats, the Audeze Maxwell is one of the best-performing gaming headsets on the market and should top the ranks for a few buyers — provided the budget (and neck strength) is there. Gaming headsets have their work cut out for them, and their audience is historically unkind to performance flaws. If you’re an older gamer with some cash to blow, you should be pleased with the Audeze Maxwell."
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This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec earbuds & headphones team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest earbuds or headphones information and makes it digestible for you.
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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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