When you’re gaming, there are headsets, and there are headsets. The latter are the ones that really make the difference, whether you’re playing an engrossing campaign, or are aiming to listen to every single footstep in competitive shooters.
Audeze has been crafting audio-centric gear for some time now, and I’ve been given the chance to review its latest creation, the Maxwell 2 ANC.
Going straight into the sound quality, for me, it’s up there with the best. I tested the headset in both work and gaming environments, in a plethora of different titles to boot, leaving me extremely impressed as to how versatile it is.
You can hear specific footsteps in the twitchy shooters while also getting the big bass experience when listening to music. Every element of sound is elevated by the Maxwells, and it’s the headset I’ll be using daily moving forward.
You’re able to fine-tune what sound you want with the Audeze app if you really want to deep dive, but it’s not necessary as it’s so great right out of the box.
The ANC aspect is the cherry on the top. I default to this setting now, as it blocks out enough noise from my overly clicky keyboard, as well as successfully drowning out my kids’ shouting so I can concentrate on writing this review.
Audeze suggests the included ANC is “aviation-grade,” which I think might be a bit much, as you can still hear things when enabled, but as just stated, it does the job.
If you’re a keen communicator in your games or just want a chat with your friends when online, the headset excels here also.
You can use two options – the built-in microphone or plugging in the detachable boom microphone.
The former works really nicely for general gaming, but it does make you sound like you’re in a large room. The latter, however, is absolutely brilliant, and I’ve had questions about what I’m using due to how clear my voice is.
The clarity is supposedly enhanced by high-bandwidth FILTER™ AI noise removal, which is AI usage I can fully get behind. You don’t hear any real interference from keyboard presses or your partner trying to ask you a quiet question when you’re locked in, which I guess means it works? But with no real documentation on how the feature works, it’s hard to know for sure how much of an impact it truly has.
Predominantly, you’ll be using the Maxwell 2 ANC wirelessly, whether that be on PC or PS5. Either or works flawlessly with the accompanying USB-C dongle, and I’ve experienced absolutely no drops in connection. There’s no lag, either, so don’t worry about potentially getting those awkward moments where you see mouths moving with what they’re saying entering your ears a second after.
You can actually use it wired by slotting in the 3.5mm cable, which is a solid addition, as well as unlocking the ability for it to work on Xbox.
If you’re worried about the battery life of the Maxwell 2 ANC, whatever mode you have it on, don’t be. This thing lasts a crazy amount of time.
Audeze suggests you’ll get 40 hours of standard usage and 35 hours with ANC turned on. I definitely concur with this and have no complaints at all with its 1800mAh battery.
It charges fast, too, meaning even if you do forget to plug it in at the end of the week, you’ll be back up and running in next to no time.
Moving to the look and feel of the headset, it is pretty sleek and very much not your gamer-focused RGB-lit aesthetic. I personally much prefer this, meaning if you want to take it to an office environment, you won’t be sticking out like a sore thumb.
The materials used are definitely of good quality also. Everything has a certain robustness to it, so if you do accidentally drop it, you’re almost certain it isn’t going to be breaking.
The earcups are very squishy and create a nice seal to block out external noise, definitely helping out that aforementioned ANC. Because the cups are so dense, they’re built to last, instead of some that almost turn to mush after a month of use.
My biggest gripe with the Maxwell 2 is, unfortunately, the same thing that I believe plagued its predecessor to an extent – the weight.
The headset is heavy on the ol’ dome, making it somewhat grating for long gaming sessions, especially when it’s paired with the lack of headband adjustability. I’ve been using them for both daily working as well as gaming, and after an 8-hour day, you feel a sense of relief taking them off.
I have experienced much more uncomfortable headsets, that’s for sure, but at the high price point, and the fact that this is the second iteration of the Maxwells, I expected a bit more refinement.
All in all, is the Audeze Maxwell 2 ANC headset an unbelievable breakthrough in the space? No. Does it do its job, and do it extremely well? Yes, very much so. Would I recommend you go out and buy it? Only if you’ve got bundles of cash laying around.
What I’m trying to say here is that the Maxwell 2 headset is a really solid addition to Audeze’s lineup and excels in the ways you want it to. That headband lets it down a bit, but it’s going to be the cost that’s the real dealbreaker.
Spending over $400 on a peripheral is crazy money in today’s market, where you’ll be lucky enough to get a stick of RAM at that number. People want more affordable tech, and you’ll probably be just fine sacrificing a little overall quality for a headset that’s more than half the price.
Jacob has been gaming since the original Game Boy was placed in his hands. Due to his passion for the field, writing talent, and a keen eye for SEO, he made his games journalism debut in 2019. When he isn’t playing the latest titles, he is tinkering with retro tech to bring it into the modern era.
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