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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The Audeze Maxwell and the Etymotic ER4XR serve different preferences. The Maxwell headphones offer a more immersive experience for music, calls, gaming, and TV, with higher comfort and better controls than the ER4XR earbuds. They feature wireless connectivity with a long battery life, a boom mic for clearer calls, and the convenience of app-based controls. However, they're heavier and less portable. The ER4XR earbuds provide superior noise isolation, are much lighter, and are better suited for air travel due to their small size, though they lack a microphone and wireless capabilities. If portability and noise isolation are priorities, you may prefer the ER4XR, while for home and office use with diverse needs, the Maxwell could serve you better, despite the slightly higher price. 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 ER4XR
- The Etymotic ER4XR 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 ER4XR is only fair.
Phone Calls
8.7
4.7
The Audeze Maxwell is very good for phone calls, while the Etymotic ER4XR is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
9.4
7.3
The Audeze Maxwell is excellent for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Etymotic ER4XR is good.
TV and Video
8.9
7.4
The Audeze Maxwell is very good for TV and video, while the Etymotic ER4XR is good.
Noise Reduction
6.0
9.1
The Etymotic ER4XR 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 ER4XR does not have a battery.
Cost
$299
$234
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
The Audeze Maxwell has a price of $299 and the Etymotic ER4XR costs $234.
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Key similarities
Music
8.4
8.0
The Audeze Maxwell and Etymotic ER4XR are both very good for music.
Build Quality
9.0
9.0
The Audeze Maxwell and Etymotic ER4XR both have excellent build quality.
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How the Audeze Maxwell and the Etymotic ER4XR compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Audeze Maxwell | Etymotic ER4XR |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$299 | $234 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Audeze | Etymotic | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | January 1, 2023 | June 1, 2016 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired + Wireless | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 8.4/10 | 8/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 8.7/10 | 4.8/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 9.1/10 | 6.3/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 8.9/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 6.3/10 | 4.1/10 | |
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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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."
Etymotic ER4XR
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What HiFi?
What HiFi? | May 2015
"The Etymotic ER4XRs' top qualities are the detail and definition of the midrange, rewarding the closest listening. While the soundstage is large rather than gigantic, the excellent separation and spatial precision mean you can dive deep into music just as much as when wearing a pair of full-size open-backed headphones."
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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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