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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The Audeze Maxwell offers superior sound quality, gaming performance, and build quality, and is well-suited for critical listening with its planar drivers. However, it's heavier and may not be as comfortable for long periods. It also lacks active noise cancelling, unlike the Bose QuietComfort 45, which excels in noise isolation and is lighter and more comfortable—important for travel and extended use. The Bose also has a longer battery life but doesn't match the Audeze Maxwell in sound quality for music and gaming. Consider the Audeze if sound and build quality are your priorities, or the Bose if comfort and noise cancelling are more important to you. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Audeze Maxwell
- Very good for music
- Excellent for gaming
- Very good for TV and video
Advantages of the Bose Quiet Comfort 45
- Best in class for air travel
Key differences
Music
8.4
6.4
The Audeze Maxwell is very good for music, while the Bose Quiet Comfort 45 is only fair.
Gaming
9.0
5.5
The Audeze Maxwell is excellent for gaming, while the Bose Quiet Comfort 45 is poor.
Phone Calls
8.7
8.0
The Audeze Maxwell and Bose Quiet Comfort 45 are both very good for phone calls, though the Audeze Maxwell is somewhat better.
TV and Video
8.9
5.8
The Audeze Maxwell is very good for TV and video, while the Bose Quiet Comfort 45 is poor.
Noise Reduction
6.0
10.0
The Bose Quiet Comfort 45 is best in class for noise reduction, while the Audeze Maxwell is only fair.
Battery
78.0 Hours
22.5 Hours
The Audeze Maxwell has 78 hours of battery life. The Bose Quiet Comfort 45 has 22.5 hours of battery life.
Cost
$299
$260
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
The Audeze Maxwell has a price of $299 and the Bose Quiet Comfort 45 costs $260.
Build Quality
9.0
8.5
The Audeze Maxwell has excellent build quality, while the Bose Quiet Comfort 45 has very good build quality.
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Key similarities
Podcasts and Audiobooks
9.4
9.3
The Audeze Maxwell and Bose Quiet Comfort 45 are both excellent for podcasts and audiobooks.
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How the Audeze Maxwell and the Bose Quiet Comfort 45 compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Audeze Maxwell | Bose Quiet Comfort 45 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$299 | $260 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Audeze | Bose | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | January 1, 2023 | September 1, 2021 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired + Wireless | Wired + Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 8.4/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 8.7/10 | 8/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 9.1/10 | 5.6/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 8.9/10 | 5.8/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 6.3/10 | 6.4/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 78 Hours | 22.5 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | No | No | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 2 Hours | 3 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5.3 | 5.1 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | No | Yes | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 6/10 | 10/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | N/A | No | |
Android App | |||
Android App | Yes | Yes | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 8/10 | 7/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 9/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 8/10 | 10/10 | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 498.9 Grams | 235.8 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Boom | Integrated | |
Waterproof Rating | |||
Waterproof Rating | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
Audeze Maxwell
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Dig into reviews and images
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."
Bose Quiet Comfort 45
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What HiFi?
What HiFi? | November 2022
"If you want a set of wireless over-ear headphones you can put on, deploy noise-cancelling on your commute or at your desk and largely extinguish the outside world for up to 24 hours, the Bose QC 45 has the edge over most of the competition at the price."
Get a great deal on the Audeze Maxwell or the Bose Quiet Comfort 45
About Audeze
Audeze is an, award-winning, American premium headphone manufacturer based in California. Founded in 2008, their products are developed around aerospace materials technology first used by NASA and are widely used by enthusiasts and professionals alike, not only in the fields of music and sound engineering but also in e-sports and the health industry.
About Bose
Bose is an American audio equipment manufacturer based out of Framingham, Massachusetts. Founded in 1964 by Amar Bose with the goal of creating a speaker system that could accurately recreate the sound of a concert hall, Bose has become one of the most prominent players in the modern consumer audio market due to the premium feel of their products and their wide brand recognition.
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Why trust us
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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About the Earbuds or Headphones team
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CEO and Earbuds and Headphones Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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