A comparison of specs, key information, reviews, and best pricing from top retailers
Last updated -- hours ago | Report incorrect information
Company ProductName Specs
Company ProductName Specs
What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If excellent sound quality and a highly immersive experience for music, TV, and gaming are your top priorities, the Audeze Maxwell is a superb choice, despite its higher price tag and less suitability for exercise. However, if portability and use during exercise are more important to you, and you're looking for something more affordable that also offers good performance for calls and casual listening, the JBL Live Pro 2 could suit your needs better. The JBL Live Pro 2 also supports wireless charging and is significantly lighter, which makes it quite convenient for on-the-go use. Keep in mind that the Audeze Maxwell offers active noise canceling, which the JBL Live Pro 2 lacks, enhancing the Maxwell's ability to provide a quieter listening environment. 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 Pro 2
- Very good for exercise
Key differences
Music
8.4
5.9
The Audeze Maxwell is very good for music, while the JBL Live Pro 2 is poor.
Gaming
9.0
5.3
The Audeze Maxwell is excellent for gaming, while the JBL Live Pro 2 is poor.
Phone Calls
8.7
5.2
The Audeze Maxwell is very good for phone calls, while the JBL Live Pro 2 is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
9.4
5.8
The Audeze Maxwell is excellent for podcasts and audiobooks, while the JBL Live Pro 2 is poor.
TV and Video
8.9
5.5
The Audeze Maxwell is very good for TV and video, while the JBL Live Pro 2 is poor.
Noise Reduction
6.0
9.1
The JBL Live Pro 2 is excellent for noise reduction, while the Audeze Maxwell is only fair.
Battery
78.0 Hours
8.3 Hours
The Audeze Maxwell has 78 hours of battery life. The JBL Live Pro 2 has 8.3 hours of battery life.
Cost
$299
$90
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
The Audeze Maxwell has a price of $299 and the JBL Live Pro 2 costs $90.
Build Quality
9.0
7.0
The Audeze Maxwell has excellent build quality, while the JBL Live Pro 2 has good build quality.
Let Us Help Find Your Perfect Headphones
Find your new headphones
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Audeze Maxwell and the JBL Live Pro 2 compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Audeze Maxwell | JBL Live Pro 2 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$299 | $90 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Audeze | JBL | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | January 1, 2023 | June 1, 2022 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired + Wireless | Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 8.4/10 | 5.9/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 8.7/10 | 5.2/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 9.1/10 | 5.4/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 8.9/10 | 5.6/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 6.3/10 | 8/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 78 Hours | 8.3 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | No | Yes | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 2 Hours | 0.8 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5.3 | 5.2 | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | N/A | 24 | |
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 | No | |
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 | 7/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 8/10 | 7/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | N/A | Small | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 498.9 Grams | 4.8 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Boom | Integrated | |
Shopping
Audeze Maxwell
See more
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."
JBL Live Pro 2
See more
Dig into reviews and images
What HiFi?
What HiFi? | February 2023
"The JBL Live Pro 2 TWS occupy an interesting space in the wireless earbuds market. They’re a step up from cheap wireless earbuds and allow you to access better sound quality without having to make the jump to more premium options from the likes of Bose, Sony and Sennheiser. They’re an entertaining listen, easy to use and manage to pack in a lot of useful features. We think they’re well worth a listen."
Get a great deal on the Audeze Maxwell or the JBL Live Pro 2
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.
Give feedback
We're constantly perfecting our model
Earbuds or Headphones guides you might be interested in
More comparisons for you
Compare Audeze Maxwell vs. Bose 700
VS
Compare Audeze Maxwell vs. Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4
VS
Compare Audeze Maxwell vs. Mojawa HaptiFit Terra
VS
Compare JBL Live Pro 2 vs. Sennheiser 450BT
VS
Compare JBL Live Pro 2 vs. Audio Technica ATH M30X
VS
Compare JBL Live Pro 2 vs. "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick
VS
FAQs
FAQs about earbuds and headphones
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.
By the numbers
108
Earbuds and headphones evaluated
11,340
Earbuds and headphones stats compiled
15
Proprietary Earbuds and headphones ratings developed
127,100
Recommendations made
19,065
Consumer hours saved
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.
Jason Lew
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.
Featured in
