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Company ProductName Specs
What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The Audeze Maxwell offers high-quality sound, an excellent microphone, superior gaming and video performance, and effective noise isolation, making it ideal for immersive listening experiences and calls. Its planar magnetic drivers, LDAC codec support, and lower latency are suitable for detailed audio and gaming. On the other hand, the Sony WH-CH520 provides good comfort, is lighter, and has a long battery life. It's more portable and also supports app control customization. However, it may lack the audio quality of the Audeze. If budget allows and you're seeking top-notch sound and gaming performance, go with Audeze; choose Sony for comfort and value. 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
- Excellent for podcasts and audiobooks
Advantages of the Sony WH-CH520
- The Sony WH-CH520 has no clear advantages over the Audeze Maxwell.
Key differences
Music
8.4
7.6
The Audeze Maxwell is very good for music, while the Sony WH-CH520 is good.
Phone Calls
8.7
6.7
The Audeze Maxwell is very good for phone calls, while the Sony WH-CH520 is only fair.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
9.4
8.0
The Audeze Maxwell is excellent for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Sony WH-CH520 is very good.
TV and Video
8.9
8.2
The Audeze Maxwell and Sony WH-CH520 are both very good for TV and video, though the Audeze Maxwell is somewhat better.
Noise Reduction
6.0
4.6
The Audeze Maxwell is only fair for noise reduction, while the Sony WH-CH520 is poor.
Battery
78.0 Hours
52.0 Hours
The Audeze Maxwell has 78 hours of battery life. The Sony WH-CH520 has 52 hours of battery life.
Cost
$299
$50
$0
$100
$200
$300
$400
The Audeze Maxwell has a price of $299 and the Sony WH-CH520 costs $50.
Build Quality
9.0
7.0
The Audeze Maxwell has excellent build quality, while the Sony WH-CH520 has good build quality.
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Key similarities
Gaming
9.0
8.8
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Audeze Maxwell to be excellent for gaming, while the Sony WH-CH520 is very good.
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How the Audeze Maxwell and the Sony WH-CH520 compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Audeze Maxwell | Sony WH-CH520 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$299 | $50 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Audeze | Sony | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | January 1, 2023 | April 1, 2023 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired + Wireless | Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 8.4/10 | 7.7/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 8.7/10 | 6.8/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 9.1/10 | 8.8/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 8.9/10 | 8.2/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 6.3/10 | 6.4/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 78 Hours | 52 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | No | No | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 2 Hours | 1.9 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5.3 | 5.2 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | No | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 6/10 | 4.6/10 | |
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 | 8/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 9/10 | 7/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 8/10 | 10/10 | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 498.9 Grams | 147.41 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Boom | Integrated | |
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."
Sony WH-CH520
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Sound Guys
Christian Thomas | September 2023
"If you’re looking for headphones that simply do what you ask them to: the Sony WH-CH520 is a decent option, even if it isn’t very exciting. Sony’s WH-CHXXX line fits this role quite well, and the WH-CH520 offers a decent raft of quality-of-life updates over its predecessor that should keep listeners happy. If the Sony WH-CH520 were a car, it’d be the boring-but-safe commuter compact."
Get a great deal on the Audeze Maxwell or the Sony WH-CH520
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.
By the numbers
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Earbuds and headphones stats compiled
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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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