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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated April 11, 2024·
If immersive audio for gaming and critical music listening is your priority, then the Audeze Maxwell is a great choice with excellent gaming and music scores, plus they feature a boom mic that's ideal for clear communication. However, they are less portable and not suited for exercise, unlike the JBL Live Buds 3, which offer great portability and are sweatproof, making them more versatile for active users. For those often on calls or in meetings, the Audeze Maxwell again takes the edge with a higher calls and meetings score. The JBL Live Buds 3, while not excelling in audio for calls or media, do come with a smart charging case for convenient touch control, wireless charging, and are optimized for both Android and Apple devices. Consider your main usage – stationary, critical listening and gaming suggest Audeze, while on-the-go lifestyle with lots of activity leans towards JBL. 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 JBL Live Buds 3
- Very good for exercise
Key differences
Music
8.4
7.8
The Audeze Maxwell is very good for music, while the JBL Live Buds 3 is good.
Gaming
9.0
5.4
The Audeze Maxwell is excellent for gaming, while the JBL Live Buds 3 is poor.
Phone Calls
8.7
5.2
The Audeze Maxwell is very good for phone calls, while the JBL Live Buds 3 is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
9.4
5.9
The Audeze Maxwell is excellent for podcasts and audiobooks, while the JBL Live Buds 3 is poor.
TV and Video
8.9
5.6
The Audeze Maxwell is very good for TV and video, while the JBL Live Buds 3 is poor.
Noise Reduction
6.0
8.3
The JBL Live Buds 3 is very good for noise reduction, while the Audeze Maxwell is only fair.
Battery
78.0 Hours
10.0 Hours
The Audeze Maxwell has 78 hours of battery life. The JBL Live Buds 3 has 10 hours of battery life.
Cost
$299
$216
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
The Audeze Maxwell has a price of $299 and the JBL Live Buds 3 costs $216.
Build Quality
9.0
8.5
The Audeze Maxwell has excellent build quality, while the JBL Live Buds 3 has very good build quality.
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How the Audeze Maxwell and the JBL Live Buds 3 compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Audeze Maxwell | JBL Live Buds 3 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$299 | $216 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Audeze | JBL | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | January 1, 2023 | June 1, 2024 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired + Wireless | Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 8.4/10 | 7.9/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 8.7/10 | 5.3/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 9.1/10 | 5.4/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 8.9/10 | 5.7/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 6.3/10 | 8.4/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 78 Hours | 10 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | No | Yes | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 2 Hours | 2 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5.3 | 5.3 | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | N/A | 30 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | No | Yes | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 6/10 | 8.4/10 | |
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 | 7/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 9/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 8/10 | 7/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | N/A | Large | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 498.9 Grams | 8.8 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."
Get a great deal on the Audeze Maxwell or the JBL Live Buds 3
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 JBL
JBL is an American audio equipment manufacturer. Owned by Harman International which is, itself, owned by Samsung Electronics. JBL markets a wide array of monitoring speakers, professional headphones and consumer market headphones and earbuds. It was founded in 1946 by James Bullough Lansing (whose initials give the company its name) and has become one of the most prolific audio companies ever. Their products were responsible for audio during the 1969 Woodstock Festival.
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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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