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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If immersive gaming and a premium sound experience are a top priority, and you can manage a higher cost, the Audeze Maxwell, with its superior gaming score and wireless capabilities, might serve you well. It also has active noise cancelling and a long battery life, benefitting travelers or mobile users. However, if you're looking for an open, natural soundstage and prioritize communication clarity for calls and meetings, along with better value for money, the EPOS PC38X could be a better option, though it lacks wireless functionality and active noise cancellation. Keep in mind that the Audeze Maxwell is heavier and may not be as comfortable for extended use compared to the lighter EPOS PC38X, which scores higher on comfort. 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 air travel
- Excellent for podcasts and audiobooks
Advantages of the EPOS PC38X
- Best in class for music
- Best in class for phone calls
- Best in class for gaming
- Excellent for TV and video
Key differences
Music
8.4
9.5
The EPOS PC38X is best in class for music, while the Audeze Maxwell is very good.
Gaming
9.0
10.0
The EPOS PC38X is best in class for gaming, while the Audeze Maxwell is excellent.
Phone Calls
8.7
10.0
The EPOS PC38X is best in class for phone calls, while the Audeze Maxwell is very good.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
9.4
7.9
The Audeze Maxwell is excellent for podcasts and audiobooks, while the EPOS PC38X is good.
Noise Reduction
6.0
2.5
The Audeze Maxwell is only fair for noise reduction, while the EPOS PC38X is poor.
Battery
78.0 Hours
N/A
The Audeze Maxwell has 78 hours of battery life. The EPOS PC38X does not have a battery.
Cost
$299
$139
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
The Audeze Maxwell has a price of $299 and the EPOS PC38X costs $139.
Build Quality
9.0
8.5
The Audeze Maxwell has excellent build quality, while the EPOS PC38X has very good build quality.
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Key similarities
TV and Video
8.9
9.0
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers EPOS PC38X to be excellent for TV and video, while the Audeze Maxwell is very good.
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How the Audeze Maxwell and the EPOS PC38X compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Audeze Maxwell | EPOS PC38X |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$299 | $139 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Audeze | EPOS | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | January 1, 2023 | September 1, 2020 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired + Wireless | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 8.4/10 | 9.6/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 8.7/10 | 10/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 9.1/10 | 10/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 8.9/10 | 9.1/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 6.3/10 | 4.5/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 78 Hours | N/A | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | No | N/A | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 2 Hours | N/A | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5.3 | N/A | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | No | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 6/10 | 2.5/10 | |
Android App | |||
Android App | Yes | N/A | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | Yes | N/A | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 8/10 | 10/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 9/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 8/10 | 8.4/10 | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 498.9 Grams | 249.4 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Boom | Boom | |
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."
EPOS PC38X
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Everyday Listening
Ryan Soo | November 2021
"Lightweight and comfortable design, Mic arm with mute, Excellent tuning, Highly natural midrange voicing, Clean and separated bass, Solid soundstage dimensions. Combining all day comfort and integrated coms with a balanced and spacious sound from essentially any source, it is hard to deny the versatility and value provided by the PC38X."
Get a great deal on the Audeze Maxwell or the EPOS PC38X
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 EPOS
EPOS is a relatively new company with a very long heritage. Previously known as Sennheiser Communications, EPOS is the result of the joint venture between the German headphone manufacturer Sennheiser and the Danish Demant that sought to develop premium audio communication solutions. They specialize in two main product groups, enterprise communications and gaming communication headsets and processing devices.
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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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About the Earbuds or Headphones team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
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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Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Luis Torres
Earbuds and Headphones Expert
Luis is a Mexico-based headphones expert. He’s been making headphone recommendations for five years and has close to 100 pairs in his personal collection.
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