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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If sound quality for music is your top priority, the Sennheiser 560S has an edge and is more affordable, but it lacks a microphone and isn't suited for calls, meetings, or use during exercise as it's an open-back design and not wireless. The Audeze Maxwell offers top-notch performance for gaming and TV, with features like wireless connectivity, a boom mic, and a robust build, but it's significantly more expensive. If you need versatility and are willing to invest, Maxwell's may be the way to go, but for pure music listening at a more moderate price, the Sennheiser 560S is a strong contender. 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 air travel
- Excellent for podcasts and audiobooks
Advantages of the Sennheiser 560S
- Best in class for music
- Excellent for TV and video
Key differences
Music
8.4
9.5
The Sennheiser 560S is best in class for music, while the Audeze Maxwell is very good.
Gaming
9.0
6.9
The Audeze Maxwell is excellent for gaming, while the Sennheiser 560S is only fair.
Phone Calls
8.7
5.1
The Audeze Maxwell is very good for phone calls, while the Sennheiser 560S is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
9.4
8.1
The Audeze Maxwell is excellent for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Sennheiser 560S is very good.
Noise Reduction
6.0
2.5
The Audeze Maxwell is only fair for noise reduction, while the Sennheiser 560S is poor.
Battery
78.0 Hours
N/A
The Audeze Maxwell has 78 hours of battery life. The Sennheiser 560S does not have a battery.
Cost
$299
$180
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
The Audeze Maxwell has a price of $299 and the Sennheiser 560S costs $180.
Build Quality
9.0
8.0
The Audeze Maxwell has excellent build quality, while the Sennheiser 560S has very good build quality.
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Key similarities
TV and Video
8.9
9.1
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Sennheiser 560S to be excellent for TV and video, while the Audeze Maxwell is very good.
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How the Audeze Maxwell and the Sennheiser 560S compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Audeze Maxwell | Sennheiser 560S |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$299 | $180 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Audeze | Sennheiser | |
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 | 9.5/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 8.7/10 | 5.1/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 9.1/10 | 6.9/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 8.9/10 | 9.2/10 | |
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 | N/A | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 9/10 | 8/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 8/10 | 8.4/10 | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 498.9 Grams | 244.9 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Boom | N/A | |
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."
Sennheiser 560S
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Headphonesty
Kazi Mahbub Mutakabbir | March 2022
"Sennheiser made a near perfect pair of studio monitors with the HD 560S. Flat bass response? Check. Neutral and uncolored midrange? Check. Extended treble with a bit of lower-treble emphasis to highlight mastering flaws? Check. Fairly easy to drive? Check. Good soundstage and imaging? Check, and check."
Get a great deal on the Audeze Maxwell or the Sennheiser 560S
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 Sennheiser
A family-owned company, Sennheiser is a German, high fidelity, audio equipment manufacturer founded in 1945. Their consumer audio division is now owned by the Swiss hearing aid and cochlear implant manufacturer Sonova. Sennheiser offers a wide variety of, very high quality, audio equipment solutions, from headphones to earbuds, full sets of monitoring speakers, amplifiers and microphones. They also make what is widely regarded as the best, and most expensive, headphones in existence, the HE-1 Orpheus, costing a whopping $59,000 dollars.
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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.
By the numbers
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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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