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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you prefer the best sound quality and are willing to pay extra, the Audeze Maxwell stands out, especially for gaming and watching TV, and its build includes planar drivers renowned for audio fidelity. However, they are bulkier and not as portable as the Sony WF1000XM5, which are better for air travel and general portability, and also offer active noise cancelling. While the Audeze Maxwell has a longer battery life, the Sony WF1000XM5 supports wireless charging and has a more discreet stemless earbud design that's more suitable for exercise. Choose Audeze Maxwell for at-home use and superior sound, and Sony WF1000XM5 for an all-rounder with great portability and convenience features. 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
- Excellent for podcasts and audiobooks
Advantages of the Sony WF1000XM5
- The Sony WF1000XM5 has no clear advantages over the Audeze Maxwell.
Key differences
Gaming
9.0
5.1
The Audeze Maxwell is excellent for gaming, while the Sony WF1000XM5 is poor.
Phone Calls
8.7
5.0
The Audeze Maxwell is very good for phone calls, while the Sony WF1000XM5 is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
9.4
4.9
The Audeze Maxwell is excellent for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Sony WF1000XM5 is poor.
TV and Video
8.9
5.4
The Audeze Maxwell is very good for TV and video, while the Sony WF1000XM5 is poor.
Noise Reduction
6.0
8.7
The Sony WF1000XM5 is very good for noise reduction, while the Audeze Maxwell is only fair.
Battery
78.0 Hours
9.0 Hours
The Audeze Maxwell has 78 hours of battery life. The Sony WF1000XM5 has 9 hours of battery life.
Build Quality
9.0
8.5
The Audeze Maxwell has excellent build quality, while the Sony WF1000XM5 has very good build quality.
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Key similarities
Music
8.4
8.0
The Audeze Maxwell and Sony WF1000XM5 are both very good for music.
Cost
$299
$298
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
The Audeze Maxwell has a price of $299 and the Sony WF1000XM5 costs $298.
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How the Audeze Maxwell and the Sony WF1000XM5 compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Audeze Maxwell | Sony WF1000XM5 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$299 | $298 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Audeze | Sony | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | January 1, 2023 | July 1, 2023 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired + Wireless | Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 8.4/10 | 8.1/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 8.7/10 | 5/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 9.1/10 | 5.2/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 8.9/10 | 5.5/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 6.3/10 | 6.2/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 78 Hours | 9 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | No | Yes | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 2 Hours | 1.5 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5.3 | 5.3 | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | N/A | 18 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | No | Yes | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 6/10 | 8.8/10 | |
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 | 6.5/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 9/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 8/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | N/A | Medium | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 498.9 Grams | 6 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."
Sony WF1000XM5
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Sound Guys
Harley Maranan | July 2023
"The Sony WF-1000XM5 is among the best noise canceling earbuds currently on the market, and they aren’t cheap. These earbuds aren’t the best choice for budget-conscious listeners. But if you prioritize active noise cancelation, sound quality, and extensive software support, the WF-1000XM5 is worth its premium price tag."
Get a great deal on the Audeze Maxwell or the Sony WF1000XM5
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 Sony
Sony is a multinational corporation, based out of Japan, with over 75 years of experience in the consumer electronics industry. In the audio market, Sony has been a trendsetter several times throughout its history. In 1979 they released the first-ever portable music player, the Sony Walkman, followed by the Discman 20 years later. Today, Sony is one of the leaders in the wireless headphone and earbud market, especially in terms of Active Noise Cancellation technology.
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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.
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About the Earbuds or Headphones team
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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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