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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
For immersive sound and gaming, Audeze Maxwell headphones are superior with better overall sound quality and gaming scores, but may be less portable and heavier compared to the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II, which are more suited for exercise and air travel due to higher scores in those areas and the convenience of their smaller size. Bose earbuds provide excellent noise cancellation for their form factor, and both have comparable soundstage quality. If budget is a constraint, Bose may also be more appealing. Keep in mind that Audeze Maxwell offers wired connectivity, which may be a plus for some users. 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
- Very good for phone calls
- Excellent for gaming
- Very good for TV and video
- Excellent for podcasts and audiobooks
Advantages of the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II
- Very good for exercise
Key differences
Music
8.4
7.4
The Audeze Maxwell is very good for music, while the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II is good.
Gaming
9.0
5.5
The Audeze Maxwell is excellent for gaming, while the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II is poor.
Phone Calls
8.7
5.1
The Audeze Maxwell is very good for phone calls, while the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
9.4
6.0
The Audeze Maxwell is excellent for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II is only fair.
TV and Video
8.9
6.2
The Audeze Maxwell is very good for TV and video, while the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II is only fair.
Noise Reduction
6.0
9.1
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II is excellent for noise reduction, while the Audeze Maxwell is only fair.
Battery
78.0 Hours
7.0 Hours
The Audeze Maxwell has 78 hours of battery life. The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II has 7 hours of battery life.
Cost
$299
$199
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
The Audeze Maxwell has a price of $299 and the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II costs $199.
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Key similarities
Build Quality
9.0
9.2
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II and Audeze Maxwell both have excellent build quality.
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How the Audeze Maxwell and the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Audeze Maxwell | Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$299 | $199 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Audeze | Bose | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | January 1, 2023 | September 1, 2022 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired + Wireless | Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 8.4/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 8.7/10 | 5.2/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 9.1/10 | 5.6/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 8.9/10 | 6.3/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 6.3/10 | 8.5/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 78 Hours | 7 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | No | No | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 2 Hours | 2 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5.3 | 5.3 | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | N/A | 20 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | No | Yes | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 6/10 | 9.1/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | N/A | Yes | |
Android App | |||
Android App | Yes | Yes | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 8/10 | 6.5/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 9/10 | 9.2/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 8/10 | 8.6/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | N/A | Medium | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 498.9 Grams | 7.7 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Boom | Integrated | |
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 QuietComfort Earbuds II
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Dig into reviews and images
What HiFi?
What HiFi? | September 2023
"Bose’s flagship wireless earbuds were never going to be cheap, but the question was whether they’d be competitive in an area of the market where rivals have never been more capable. The fact that the company has not only managed to implement a successful redesign, but also push the envelope for noise-cancelling and sound quality in such a highly competitive category simultaneously is truly impressive."
Get a great deal on the Audeze Maxwell or the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II
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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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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