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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you prioritize top-notch sound for music and passive noise isolation, the Etymotic ER2SE may be your choice, with their higher sound quality, and they're considerably less expensive. However, they're not as comfortable for long periods and lack features like a microphone or wireless connectivity. On the other hand, the Audeze Maxwell offer more comfort, a microphone for calls, and wireless capabilities, ideal for a variety of uses like gaming or TV where their superior battery life and low latency are beneficial, but they come at a premium price. Remember, the Maxwell are over-ears and may not be as portable or as effective at noise isolation without active noise canceling. 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 phone calls
- Excellent for gaming
- Very good for TV and video
- Very good for air travel
- Excellent for podcasts and audiobooks
Advantages of the Etymotic ER2SE
- The Etymotic ER2SE has no clear advantages over the Audeze Maxwell.
Key differences
Gaming
9.0
6.2
The Audeze Maxwell is excellent for gaming, while the Etymotic ER2SE is only fair.
Phone Calls
8.7
4.9
The Audeze Maxwell is very good for phone calls, while the Etymotic ER2SE is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
9.4
7.6
The Audeze Maxwell is excellent for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Etymotic ER2SE is good.
TV and Video
8.9
7.8
The Audeze Maxwell is very good for TV and video, while the Etymotic ER2SE is good.
Noise Reduction
6.0
9.1
The Etymotic ER2SE is excellent for noise reduction, while the Audeze Maxwell is only fair.
Battery
78.0 Hours
N/A
The Audeze Maxwell has 78 hours of battery life. The Etymotic ER2SE does not have a battery.
Cost
$299
$100
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
The Audeze Maxwell has a price of $299 and the Etymotic ER2SE costs $100.
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Key similarities
Music
8.4
8.8
The Etymotic ER2SE and Audeze Maxwell are both very good for music.
Build Quality
9.0
9.0
The Audeze Maxwell and Etymotic ER2SE both have excellent build quality.
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How the Audeze Maxwell and the Etymotic ER2SE compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Audeze Maxwell | Etymotic ER2SE |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$299 | $100 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Audeze | Etymotic | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | January 1, 2023 | February 1, 2019 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired + Wireless | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 8.4/10 | 8.9/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 8.7/10 | 5/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 9.1/10 | 6.3/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 8.9/10 | 7.9/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 6.3/10 | 4.2/10 | |
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 | 9.1/10 | |
Android App | |||
Android App | Yes | N/A | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | Yes | N/A | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 8/10 | N/A | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 9/10 | 9/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 8/10 | 6/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | N/A | Small | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 498.9 Grams | 4 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Boom | N/A | |
Shopping
Audeze Maxwell
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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."
Etymotic ER2SE
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Sound Guys
Lily Katz | April 2022
"Etymotic isn’t playing around: it takes audio seriously and has mastered the art of the noise-isolation earphone. Sure, the fit of the earbuds looks silly but it’s a signature Etymotic thing and could be considered charming by some. If you’re looking for best-in-class audio for a realistic price, the ER2SE is it."
Get a great deal on the Audeze Maxwell or the Etymotic ER2SE
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 Etymotic
Etymotic Research is an American based research, development and manufacturing company founded in 1983. They invented the first insert earphones that were used for the diagnosis and research of hearing loss and other auditory disorders. They went on to pioneer the market of high fidelity, isolating, in-ear earphones.
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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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Earbuds and Headphones Expert
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