I'm seriously eyeing these. I tried the Arctis Nova Pro Wireless but the sound quality was so atrocious (and believe me, I tried for hours to EQ it to sound decent) it made me switch back to my Arctis 7 Wireless, which, while not perfect, still sounds very good after a basic, quick EQ. I also have a set of Bluetooth headphones (the Soundcore Life Q20+) which after EQing it sounds astonishingly clear and crisp. I'm really hoping that these Audeze Maxwell headphones sound as good as my Q20+ headphones.
@@Soandnb Q20 is a dynamic headphones, while Maxwell is planar. There is a huge gap in sound quality between them, as the large diaphragm of planar headphones will definitely give you more sound detail. These headphones are also from different price categories, as Maxwell is a premium product, albeit the most basic one. In general, I am definitely sure that if you try Maxwell, the quality, positioning, and detail they will provide you with will amaze you immensely. If you buy them - let me know, I want to make sure of my correctness :)
@@Bustedfuture I certainly hope so. I don't even consider myself an audiophile (my headphone sound quality "standard" comes from a set of $70 BT headphones listening to RUclips music and MP3s) but the sound on the Nova Pro Wireless that I got was noticeably bad, which had terrible clarity in the midrange and treble areas, where sounds felt hollow and like they were being played out of a portable device's small speaker. Admittedly, it was a pre-owned set of headphones, so maybe I ended up getting someone else's lemon. Or maybe those headphones are specifically tuned not for music, but for footsteps, and being that I simply don't play the type of games where I need that competitive edge I don't find value in that sound signature over a more accurate reproduction. Either way, I fully intend on trying these out at a store before I make any purchases, or if I do purchase these, it will come with a very generous return period. And I might also try a set of Nova Pro Wireless headphones that doesn't come from eBay, just to make sure.
@@SoandnbI have to disagree. The Nova Pro Wireless respond very well to EQ, they’re just average compared to certain products but miles ahead over the old Arctis in terms of build and sound quality.
@@or1on89 hey man, I know what I heard, and what I heard I didn't like. I'm entirely willing to believe that I got a lemon, and I've considered a trip to the store to do some more testing on a floor model to see if my lemon theory is the case. But until that happens, I have to conclude that these are far too bass-heavy without the headroom to EQ to the bright sound I like.
I have watched so many reviews on this headset, and this was the most informative and well put together review I have seen yet! Love this headset, bought it a week ago. A large part was your review.
This is the most comprehensive review about a headphone from you guys, great work Andrew. And Audeze smashed it too, especially for the price point it’s coming at.
I love your review and bought the Maxwell's, they are amazing. I am not really an audiophile but am a musician and gamer and this is the best headset I've heard for both. When listening to music I am hearing parts in the songs I had not heard before due to the excellent separation and clarity. These are also amazing for gaming due to the drivers and tuning. Much better than any other gaming headset and I've owned them all. The only negative I keep hearing is the weight but honestly I don't even find it an issue at all. These are not that heavy on the head - they may weigh more than other cheap plastic headsets, but not even an issue for me and I think too much is made of this in general. Great review!
Bought this coming from the Razer Blackshark V2 pro 2023. This is a HUGE step up audio wise. Only thing the razer does better is mic recording. The mic on that blackshark is GREAT. However as far as just chatting with teammates go it is just fine. The audio is soo good for both music and gaming though. Also the only real drawback of the maxwell in my personal opinion is that it can get fatiguing on my head in the long run. I do need to take listening breaks after about 2-3 hours. I highly recommend this headset for the more hardcore gamers out there though. (Also lil tip, you are gonna want to play this at a moderate to high volume to really get the most out of these drivers, and to really feel how much better they are than most competitors)
I have listened and bought it today , and my conclusion was that I have ordered one more for a good friend of mine. I have Susvara and I have listened and owned LCd4, and LCD x... I am shocked too. You are doing a very pin point job Andrew, I was against your opinions in the past , but for so many times I had to say you were right . keep up ! and thank you
A bit of a late comment, but I have to echo the majority opinion - these things exceed the hype - it's real. Musical sound quality, Gaming sound quality, voice sound quality, General sound quiality, convenience. All of it. The microphone tends to compliment my voice timbre and others have noted how good my mic audio was - it tends to be a *tiny* bit on the warmer side, but certainly not muddy or muffled. Sure, it isn't 'the best' mic quality, but aside from a dedicated 'podcast' or 'broadcast' mic setup - it's perfectly solid. Plosives and sibilance are alleviated with mic placement - just position the mic boom a little off tot he side and you're golden. I don't really use the noise suppression since I'm usually in a mostly quiet environment. The sentiment in the video of these being "one of the very best tuned closed back headphones on the market available today" is spot on. My 'other headphones' are the Hifiman Ananda Stealth and a Burson Playmate 2 DAC/Amp - and these Maxwells are close enough in sound quality that most of the time, I just don't care and it just doesn't matter which 'phone I'm listening to. Yes, the Hifiman/Burson combo is 'better' and you can tell a difference (which become un-noticable after 10 minutes because of accommodation), but man - if you want something with a built in mic, these Maxwells are the ticket. I just wish they would get their PC app fully functional and sorted. "Way too good for the price" perfectly sums up these 'phones - actually even 'way too good for double the price' is probably more accurate.
I have ordered them as soon as I saw the review. They just tick so many ticks for me it's hard to pass really. Big audiophile name company is doing wireless closed back planar magnetic headphones which has decent sound, spectacular microphone and support for gaming consoles with 80+ hours of battery life and all of that for just $300 - this is as good as it could be. I had to sell my Meze 99 Noir and Phillips X2HR to cover the purchase, but considering that I used Meze for commute and X2HR for gaming, I don't expect I'll be missing any of them honestly. Good game, Audeze!
Thanks for your excellent, in-depth review. Even though I'm not a gamer, I think your perspective on the Audeze Maxwell has convinced me that it's the headphone model I'd like to buy. I'd been giving serious consideration to another closed-back planar headphone offering good compliance with the Harman curve, the Drop + Dan Clark Audio Aeon X, and I was impressed by your conclusion that the Maxwell is on par with that model (while being significantly less expensive).
To your point, I use this headset almost exclusively for work. I love the fidelity while listening to music while working, and the mic and noise cancelling are more than good enough for virtual meetings.
I like the Mobius for the 3D head tracking. For music that's especially fun because you can turn and look in the direction of specific instruments and they stay locked in virtual space. For gaming, particularly with RPGs, the 3D 5.1 audio is especially interesting because it virtualizes the acoustic properties of the 3D world with jaw dropping realism. It adds an extra element of immersion to the experience. For instance, a bird flew over my head when playing a game and it scared the crap out of me! Sounds in the distance really seem like miles away.
I've got the Cloud Orbit S which is a rebranded Mobius and I loved it so much for the reasons you mentioned until the earcup snapped at the hinge as I was taking it off :( People were saying that the build quality was bad because it was made of plastic but damn I wasn't expecting it to snap like that.
@@zedetachX3 xD, my right ear cup snapped hanging from only the internal cord. A trashy plastic stick was holding it together all the time. Was still under warranty tho, and hyper x did replace them. I've been handling the replacement pair with great care, not even grabbing it below the rotation point, they are about to survive their second year. I personally use mine with eq (apo), tho there is nothing that can be done about the pink noise
I’ve owned 3 of them and they where all amazing. Sadly, they’ve been discontinued. All 3 headset bands snapped. Cheap build quality with excellent sound, so painful. I looked for a long time for someone to replace the headband with metal and couldn’t find anyone. I’ll miss them dearly. They are ticking time bombs though sadly, the build assures they will be broken within a year or two of regular use.
been doubting to get something like a gaming headset, just for the sidetalk that most have, which helps a lot in meetngs. But never bit the bullet. Been watching an upgrade to my momentum-wireless-2 since I've seen that updates to it have bigger earcups (the one issue I had with the 2's)... That made me looking for 'any' closed-back headphones (Since most I have are open), which something like a suspension-headband because I often like those for comfort... Saw these while going 'sort on price lowest to highest' and thoughtt 'that cannot be right'. Hard to find reviews for it from people with audiophile background... I clicked 'notify me on stock' before watching this. During your video it went to 'nope, order it! I will wait for stock :)'. So there. Kinda excited about it. The whole thing about great music quality, low-latency wireless on PC / bluetooth for outside. Mic removable-but-still-has-a-mic-builtin for when at the office... outside of the weight they seem perfect!
Great review. Not looking for a wireless headphone so this ain’t for me but exciting to see new products from Audeze. Looking forward to the MM100 review.
@@xeddieu MM100 is Audeze’s next announcement. It’s a $399 open back studio monitor in the MM500 lineup and color scheme. The headband and yoke look almost identical to the Maxwell.
I have those and after 6 months of testing i found the best audio for gaming and music to be Audeze HQ on immersive + Dolby Atmos on Game preset Detailed.
I'm obsessed with this headset, games, movies and music... sublime. I game on PC and PS5 so I got the PS5 version and bought the Dolby Atmos license on PC and it absolutely works just like it should, sounds unbelievable!
@@austin4700 I’ve used the previous version Penrose for a couple years and compared with all the high end gaming headphones at the time. For movies the Penrose was the best, everything was clear and bass felt perfect, little details in the movies came alive. Used them to watch movies on my Xbox with Dolby Atmos. I would say the newer Maxwell versions should do the same as the older Penrose.
This might be a dumb question but I just want to be sure. I have a moderate headphone system, Geshelli Dac, Liquid Platinum amp, Ananda headphones. I live in an noisy apartment building. I was looking for something closed back for when things get noisy. I was going to get the Drop DC Aeon X closed. How would I connect this in that system? This headphone seems like it could fulfill a lot of needs. Thank you for your amazing content.
Great in depth review! Enjoying my Maxwell, big step up in clarity from my last headset. I only have 2 issues with it after owning it for a month: My friends ALL say that my mic is to quiet using either BT or arm mic. The ear cups could be deeper as on the hard plastic grill, the center of the driver has a random raised square C shaped plastic piece. I do not know the purpose of this plastic peace that rubs on my ear but I say its random because even the glue lines applied to the mesh are in areas that do not contact anything.(they would contact if the square C was not raised beyond the rest of the grill) One last thing I experienced that maybe someone could test on their headset to see if they have the same experience: My right ear volume is a few Db lower vs my Left ear but I don't have a scientific way to check for this subtle difference. Someone else mentioned the same volume issue in their review otherwise I'd have written it off as just my ears honestly.(Updates may have already fixed this if it ever was an issue)
Truly a jack of all trades! Every connection option, tuned right, planar technicalities, passable mic. I only wish they did an open back version or tune the side tone so I can hear someone knocking at the door 😅. I plan on selling my dedicated closed backs and anything else I hardly use to get these
The plosive issues are mostly because the mic is just in the wrong position. If you move it a bit up and to the side, so that the capsule is right outside the corner of your mouth there should be way less problems, because there is neither air blowing directly out of your mouth or the nose while still being close enough to get a decent sound. ♥️
I remember coming across this video during my extensive research on audiophile quality headphones when I was looking to upgrade from my Audio Technica ATH-M50x headphones. I ended up going with the Hifiman Sundara but these have been in the back of my mind for months as well as in my cart. Finally bit the bullet and bought these for gaming and man they don't disappoint i love these things and your video helped me make that purchasing decision I've literally watched it maybe 15 times
Great review as usual, Andrew! On the mic, it was annoying to listen to at first, but when you did the digital filtering, it not only cleaned up the background noise, but your voice clarity improved, and on the high setting it was even better. Going back to your studio mic, there is definitely more low frequency enhancement.
@@MilanB023 Sorry I missed this. The weight is noticeable (how could it not be) but its not annoying nor does it affect comfort IMHO. No issues with heat. This headset is without a peer, its the best pair I have ever owned, hands down.
Yea doing filter and audio tweaking enhancements are huge for smaller microphones like this. It's what allows them to compete with big mice (at least from a non-critical standpoint).
My favourite track on my Audeze maxwell is Saturday Luv by Zone+. LDAC enabled and played on Tidal. I can't believe a 300 dollar headset sounds this crazy
I just bought these! I have a hifiman sundara paired with a schiit stack for music and vids etc, these will be great for gaming. I'm excited and great review!!
I'm extremely happy everyone is loving these. Maxwell is seriously something speical. Not only is it the first in this next generation of wireless headset, but also in this next generation of Bluetooth and closed backs in general. DSP active closed backs are the future. And it's here with Maxwell. Best closed back under $500.
I’m so excited for mine to arrive. I really love the direction they took with the design of this headphone. They look very nice, but they’re also quite understated and fairly nondescript. I can’t stand “gamery” looking products and I also just don’t really like buying things with very blingy, eye-catching designs. These are just beautifully simplistic. No unnecessary flare, no audacious branding, no wild accents. It’s just a very clean, well thought out design that would look perfectly at home in literally any situation.
Very rare do I watch a review from start to finish. I just did with this. I'm upgrading from the Penrose and this is the best review I've seen on the Maxwell.
Very informative review. I am waiting for a warranty replacement on my second pair of Mobius'. Though I really love the planar magnetic sound, the build quality has been sub par with my last 2 pairs as they broke at the ear join in the same way both sides. In your handling this new pair, how sturdy did they feel? Notice any hairline fractures around the ear joints? I'm curious to see if the build quality has improved.
11:40 "people do this right?" .. Paper shuffling .. Yeah it's a thing called lunch and shuffling around their work papers at their desks. I think the biggest everyday test that you overlooked was typing on a mechanical keyboard, to see how the noise canceling blocks those obnoxious sounds out of the background.
Audeze makes phenomenal headphones I use a lcd2 and hd650 and Ifi stack for pc gaming my two favorite cans by far I may have to get these for a viable wireless option
I also use the 650 with an ifi DAC/Amp. Been my fav set up thus far. Since I am at a desktop I just use a mic on an arm instead of a headset. If these would work with Xbox I’d consider them for the living room.
you can help with plosives by just moving the mic up a bit above your lips instead of below so you can't feel your breath on your hand in the path to the mic
The noise suppression sounds impressive. Can someone comment on how phone calls and meetings sound with these headphones with noise suppression on. Not even for gaming, but basically listening to some music or podcast with phone call interruptions/ meetings. Is there a physical button to answer calls and also a what is the distance range on the Bluetooth.
bluetooth is great for range, usb dongle range is poor (to be expected though). the controls on the headset are limited, not as feature-rich as an actual bluetooth headset. awesome for meetings WFH/Remote/hybrid setup. it allows two bluetooth sources and usb dongle, however switching around isn't as seamless as like AirPods Pro... i often need to manually disconnect bluetooth from the other device or pull out the usb dongle. the sound quality is 💯 so this minor QoL device selection is minor. get the wicked cushions upgrade!!!
After using the Maxwell for a while I can confidently say the hype is real. As good as the Penrose was this is a big step up in terms of sound, comfort, build quality, and battery. Nothing at this price even comes close.
@@JeebusJr no budget common answer is the Sennheiser HD 800. Considerably less expensive and still great are the Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro, DT 900 Pro X, Sennheiser HD 560S, AKG 702, and ATH R70X
@@JCerris Equivalent to HD560S technically and in FPS games, but more warm and fun sounding. Better imaging for CoD games cuz footsteps are bass, but games were footsteps are treble the HD560S is better cuz bright. TYGR 300R Cheaper and low impedance (32 ohm vs 120). I preferred it to the Sennheiser and it's so cheap around 150 to 180 USD depending on deals vs 200 for HD560s.
Thanks for the quick comparison to the Drop Panda. I’m currently using that as my wireless PC headset, and kinda liked the sound signature. Maybe this is worth a try….
I got the Maxwell for office use. For my main, gaming PC I already had AKG K712PRO, Rokit5 monitors and a Rode Procaster mic with a Clarett interface, but when I had to work with my company laptop I wanted something that I was able to move from home to the office with ease. Up until now I was using a Rode lavaliere mic and Shure 535 iem. I also have some Sony XM4s that I use for traveling. And I have tried purpose built headsets for office use even more expensive than the Maxwell with disappointing results both in audio quality and mic quality. When I received and tried the Maxwell for the first time, after months of waiting, I was blown away. The sound quality was just incredible. And the mic is amazing too. Sure they are heavy but what? I completely agree that the price is just too good to be real. But in this case it is. And just to top it up, the battery last forever. My only problem with the Maxwell is that I only have one pair and I want another one dedicated to my main PC :D
Do you work in a busy noisy office with noisy co workers stood near you when you're on calls? If that's you, do the Maxwells cut out people's voices when you're on calls?
@@mikeneilson3722 yes it does, there are 3 levels of mic noise cancelling (off, low, high). I have mines in low and is more than enough. I do use the mic boom, not the internal mics.
Bought these after watching a few reviews and these are GREAT! I a have been an audiophile for the past 3 years and used to compete at a high level competitively in gaming, so I am really critical when it comes to headphones. Nowadays, I still play competitively, but mostly for fun. These headphones tick both boxes for music and gaming perfectly while also having useful eq presets, being wireless, and having multiple great features. I find the competition preset to be perfect for competitive gaming purposes and switch between the Audeze, treble boost, and immersive presets for music and movies. I have used this thing for 7 hours so far and only drained 10% of the battery which is nuts. My only gripe is that it is a bit heavy, but it does distribute the weight well and that hasn't kept me from enjoying my games at all, so I don't have much of a problem with that. I completely agree that these are the best wireless headset there is by far especially when it comes to sound quality. Awesome stuff!
Great review! I am a newbie to headphones & looking for best value can find on a starter headphone. Have found these headphones used for right at 200, so seems to be a no-brainer, unless missing something. Will not be using for gaming though. Tks
Good review. I like the passion and detail you provided. If you had the money, would you go with the Maxwell or Focal Bathys and an independent microphone (Like the Shure SM7B)?
It's crazy that they've managed that good of a job of mic noise cancelling - but not bother enough to put it in their headphone. I have Stax S3 which I believe, is using exactly the same driver as this headset (just with integrated mic) and it sound incredibly impressive and at such an affordable price - just with the same problem with the lack of ANC
The Maxwell actually has integrated microphones as well, they're used for the noise suppression and to give you a mic even without the boom. I think there are enough to allow for some basic ANC, and they might add it in the future (we've seen that from other companies in the past), but there might be a limitation with what the onboard processor can do.
@Silver Fox LOL Ok mate! It's a miniscule blip rather than a dent, as they are selling at **no where near** the volume of the Sony or Bose competitors. It's not even comparable mate
@Silver Fox Dunno, like I've said, I've actually have the Stax while my friend got the Maxwell, I think both of them have some pretty good passive noise isolation (still not as good as Bose or Sony though, even without them turning on ANC), and it could work for just a gaming or indoor headphone But I use the S3 while walking on the street and their noise isolation was so not enough to suppress the street car noise, even with music turning to the max (while it was enough with Bose, even with cheap none-stock earpads and at 60-70 percent volume) But to be fair, Maxwell is a bit too big to be used as a travel headphone anyway.
@@StellarAudyssey Well, you can't even get the Maxwell right now. They're sold out everywhere, and have a several month long wait on the Audeze site. Sony and Bose are huge companies, if Audeze had access to same manufacturing pipeline I'm sure they'd be making a much larger dent in the market.
I know this is an older video but this is also the only one I've come across that compared the Maxwell to the THX Panda and the Aeon Closed X. I've been waiting years for a quality wireless planar magnetic headset to replace the Panda since Drop had the buyback program due to the connectivity issues. I also find myself preferring these to the ACX, although they have been excellent as well. Just wanted to say thank you for the great review after I've had time to spend with the Maxwell.
I heard the Maxwell at CanJam NYC & can agree here with their "price to perfomance" ratio exceeding many offerings in the wireless domain. They sound fantastic. Their price for that sound is also fantastic. However, for me what has kept me away from planar headphones are their weight & bulk! At 500g these are heavy! Too heavy even at $300 for me. But, the Maxwell's bulk is surprisingly manageable for a planar? (Simular in size to a pair of beyerdynamic 1990) It still gets a win win.👍 My favorite wireless still goes to Bathys at twice the price even with a 20% off for $630? 3rd place: M4U8 mkll at $399 @ 340g
is there any gaming headset compatible with thie xbox series x you would say is better than the Maxwell? Bathys look great, but not compatible with xbox series x (uses custom wireless tech, thus why maxwell comes with a special dongle)
I know you sort of said this in the video, but just to confirm: Maxwell's sound quality for music listening is WAY better than Apple's airpods Max and Sony's XM5? And thanks for the great review!
to me the game changer that Maxwell presents will come in future next generation products. This type of HP matched with an extremely revealing driver like the LCD5 or LCD4 strapped to a built in DSP, DAC and amp in the headphone could revolutionize things. Think of a Generic monitor in a headphone. I know audiophiles like the special sauce and magical thinking that cables and external DACs and amps can bring. I am however thinking of a time when we can stream high res to the headphone with no cable and have infinite adjustments in the DSP to model just about everything. Andrew great meeting you at CanJam NYC and thank you for all the great content you and the team provide.
As an audiophile I do like to play with DACs, AMPs and Headphones combination, but at the end of the day for commute and daily meetings I only need something which does the job without compromising on the quality, and Maxwell seems like the most versatile audiophile grade product which does everything exactly right.
Do it. Awaken the gaming headphone plebs to real quality sound. These are gateway products to funnel new people into audio. A very smart move for audiophile companies and they can’t do it without channels like this.
@@markozafirkovski1234 I can only recommend what I have because I'm happy with it -AKG 702 with an IFI ZEN DAC V2. The headphones are raw and IMO best for soundhoring. I am constantly taking them off at night because I though I heard someone in my house lol. The ZEN DAC V2 has BASS BOOST button for more pleasurable listening music ect
Thanks Resolve! The name Maxwell reflects both a sense of confidence and competence as in: No worries, I’ll put Maxwell on it right away! Would you say it sounds better than the LCD-XC in addition to just the Möbius?
Would love to buy this, but comfort is king for me and there are multiple options in this price range that are considerably lighter and sound great. Might not sound as good as the Maxwell, but I can't comfortably go with the heaviest option in the market
Really would have loved an explanation, and exposition on the differences between Sony Tempest 3D Spacial Audio vs Dolby Atmos between the PS5 and XBOX versions.
Hey there! Great video, thanks a lot! Could you tell me please what headphones would be the best for audiobooks and podcasts, I mean the most natural and pleasant reproduction of voices? Thanks in advance!
I really like the Audeze Maxwell headphones, but it's surprising that not a single reviewer has mentioned the issue with the side tone functionality. There's this annoying crackling sound when there's no audio playing, and honestly, it's unbearable. I reached out to Audeze, and they mentioned it's due to the design of the headphones and considered normal. However, I've never experienced this with even the cheapest headsets I've tried before. I ended up returning my unit, but I'd be open to trying it again if this issue isn't present for you.
I will wait for the next version. Hopefully they will make the dongle smaller and metal. Plus reduce the overall weight of the headphones. 400+ is too heavy for longer listening sessions.
For gaming I have been using Sennheiser Game One for past 6-7 years (also have HD600 & HD58X), for music today it is Sennheiser Momentum Wireless 4 along with MTW4, but i really want to go wireless for gaming and am getting Razer Blackshark V2 Pro 2023 rdittion for $100 only. Lets see how it goes, as i have been waiting for PC38X wireless edition but ......
Good to know it's so accurate to the Harmon curve. I have this headset as well as the DT177X, and prefer the tuning on the 177X, with my custom EQ via Qudelix 5K. Apparently I prefer significantly recessed mids... I'll have to do more back to back with the audeze preset.
I find that I have to listen pretty loud for Harmon tuning to sound good, 'v shaped' headphones like beyerdynamics sound better at the lower levels I usually listen at
Can you compare the sound quality (detail, tuning, etc.) to the Focal Bathys and Hifiman Sundara? I have Bathys, would the Bathys be MUCH better in sound isolation (with ANC versus no ANC of the Maxwell) and wireless sound quality? The reason I got Bathys is to isolate ambient sound, get as better sound quality and tuning as possible. Can I save a few bucks and "upgrade" to the Maxwell?
I own both the Bathys and Maxwells and I have to say the Maxwells are giving the Bathys a run for it’s money. Maxwells have such a unique sound signature that I love. They have great separation and clarity while still having punchy bass. Bathy’s lack in the low end compared to the maxwells but make up for it in the imaging/clarity. It comes down to what you prefer. I’m personally going to sell my Bathys because ANC isn’t that important to me and I prefer an immersive experience rather than the little bit of more detail/imaging the Bathys have. Also $300 vs $800 is crazy. Hope this helps
I just hope these have better build quality than the Mobius headphones in the long term. I probably won't consider them since I feel so burned still by the Mobius, but thanks for giving them a look!
Hey guys I have a question about the Maxwell gaming headset. It looks like they have personalized spatial audio? Is that correct? Like how Creative does with their SXFI app and taking pics of your face and ears? I think Apple is doing that now too with their new headphones.
Is there a similar headset from Audeze with ANC and lighter weight for walking or working out, traveling? That also sounds good and have good mic for calls. Thanks
Hey, loved this review! Thx for making it. I just now read a review for the Turtle Beach Stealth PRO (I guess they just cMe out?) , and they seem like they might be a competitor to the maxwell... Would be awesome to see a review of these from you! ;-)
It's This is an excellent headphone, close to perfection. I only see two drawbacks: 1) if the strap is adjusted to the lower position (for larger heads), it is in direct contact with the reinforcement of the headband which is very uncomfortable (hard point). 2) the sound signature is balanced but lacks a bit of "sparkle" in the treble. Violins, triangles and other high notes don't sound very natural. The treble boost mode boosts the overall treble, which is not always desirable, without actually improving the point raised earlier. Apart from these pitfalls, it is a daily treat. Thanks for the review 😉
I have been watching so many You Tubers talking about headsets, but NOT a single ONE of them cares about telling if the headset itself, or the device driver , support VOLUME BALANCE Left-Right speaker! It is frustrating, since I have hearing problems and need balance the sound. Usually 100% to the right ear and 52% on the left..so PLEASE, include this in headset reviews..
I am looking possible new headsets and stumbled upon this one. Sounds like great sound which is an important trait, but the microphone quality leaves a lot to be desired.
![BLACK BAG - Official Trailer [HD] - Only in Theaters March 14](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Du0Xp8WX_7I/mqdefault.jpg)
This thing made me love music again.
I was shocked by how good they sound.
Best headset I ever had.
I'm seriously eyeing these. I tried the Arctis Nova Pro Wireless but the sound quality was so atrocious (and believe me, I tried for hours to EQ it to sound decent) it made me switch back to my Arctis 7 Wireless, which, while not perfect, still sounds very good after a basic, quick EQ. I also have a set of Bluetooth headphones (the Soundcore Life Q20+) which after EQing it sounds astonishingly clear and crisp. I'm really hoping that these Audeze Maxwell headphones sound as good as my Q20+ headphones.
@@Soandnb Q20 is a dynamic headphones, while Maxwell is planar. There is a huge gap in sound quality between them, as the large diaphragm of planar headphones will definitely give you more sound detail. These headphones are also from different price categories, as Maxwell is a premium product, albeit the most basic one. In general, I am definitely sure that if you try Maxwell, the quality, positioning, and detail they will provide you with will amaze you immensely. If you buy them - let me know, I want to make sure of my correctness :)
@@Bustedfuture I certainly hope so. I don't even consider myself an audiophile (my headphone sound quality "standard" comes from a set of $70 BT headphones listening to RUclips music and MP3s) but the sound on the Nova Pro Wireless that I got was noticeably bad, which had terrible clarity in the midrange and treble areas, where sounds felt hollow and like they were being played out of a portable device's small speaker. Admittedly, it was a pre-owned set of headphones, so maybe I ended up getting someone else's lemon. Or maybe those headphones are specifically tuned not for music, but for footsteps, and being that I simply don't play the type of games where I need that competitive edge I don't find value in that sound signature over a more accurate reproduction.
Either way, I fully intend on trying these out at a store before I make any purchases, or if I do purchase these, it will come with a very generous return period. And I might also try a set of Nova Pro Wireless headphones that doesn't come from eBay, just to make sure.
@@SoandnbI have to disagree. The Nova Pro Wireless respond very well to EQ, they’re just average compared to certain products but miles ahead over the old Arctis in terms of build and sound quality.
@@or1on89 hey man, I know what I heard, and what I heard I didn't like. I'm entirely willing to believe that I got a lemon, and I've considered a trip to the store to do some more testing on a floor model to see if my lemon theory is the case. But until that happens, I have to conclude that these are far too bass-heavy without the headroom to EQ to the bright sound I like.
I have watched so many reviews on this headset, and this was the most informative and well put together review I have seen yet! Love this headset, bought it a week ago. A large part was your review.
This is the most comprehensive review about a headphone from you guys, great work Andrew.
And Audeze smashed it too, especially for the price point it’s coming at.
I love your review and bought the Maxwell's, they are amazing. I am not really an audiophile but am a musician and gamer and this is the best headset I've heard for both. When listening to music I am hearing parts in the songs I had not heard before due to the excellent separation and clarity. These are also amazing for gaming due to the drivers and tuning. Much better than any other gaming headset and I've owned them all. The only negative I keep hearing is the weight but honestly I don't even find it an issue at all. These are not that heavy on the head - they may weigh more than other cheap plastic headsets, but not even an issue for me and I think too much is made of this in general. Great review!
Bought this coming from the Razer Blackshark V2 pro 2023. This is a HUGE step up audio wise. Only thing the razer does better is mic recording. The mic on that blackshark is GREAT.
However as far as just chatting with teammates go it is just fine.
The audio is soo good for both music and gaming though.
Also the only real drawback of the maxwell in my personal opinion is that it can get fatiguing on my head in the long run. I do need to take listening breaks after about 2-3 hours.
I highly recommend this headset for the more hardcore gamers out there though.
(Also lil tip, you are gonna want to play this at a moderate to high volume to really get the most out of these drivers, and to really feel how much better they are than most competitors)
I have listened and bought it today , and my conclusion was that I have ordered one more for a good friend of mine. I have Susvara and I have listened and owned LCd4, and LCD x... I am shocked too. You are doing a very pin point job Andrew, I was against your opinions in the past , but for so many times I had to say you were right . keep up ! and thank you
Do you have problem with heat and weight of maxwell?
A bit of a late comment, but I have to echo the majority opinion - these things exceed the hype - it's real. Musical sound quality, Gaming sound quality, voice sound quality, General sound quiality, convenience. All of it.
The microphone tends to compliment my voice timbre and others have noted how good my mic audio was - it tends to be a *tiny* bit on the warmer side, but certainly not muddy or muffled. Sure, it isn't 'the best' mic quality, but aside from a dedicated 'podcast' or 'broadcast' mic setup - it's perfectly solid. Plosives and sibilance are alleviated with mic placement - just position the mic boom a little off tot he side and you're golden. I don't really use the noise suppression since I'm usually in a mostly quiet environment.
The sentiment in the video of these being "one of the very best tuned closed back headphones on the market available today" is spot on. My 'other headphones' are the Hifiman Ananda Stealth and a Burson Playmate 2 DAC/Amp - and these Maxwells are close enough in sound quality that most of the time, I just don't care and it just doesn't matter which 'phone I'm listening to. Yes, the Hifiman/Burson combo is 'better' and you can tell a difference (which become un-noticable after 10 minutes because of accommodation), but man - if you want something with a built in mic, these Maxwells are the ticket. I just wish they would get their PC app fully functional and sorted.
"Way too good for the price" perfectly sums up these 'phones - actually even 'way too good for double the price' is probably more accurate.
I have ordered them as soon as I saw the review. They just tick so many ticks for me it's hard to pass really. Big audiophile name company is doing wireless closed back planar magnetic headphones which has decent sound, spectacular microphone and support for gaming consoles with 80+ hours of battery life and all of that for just $300 - this is as good as it could be. I had to sell my Meze 99 Noir and Phillips X2HR to cover the purchase, but considering that I used Meze for commute and X2HR for gaming, I don't expect I'll be missing any of them honestly. Good game, Audeze!
Do you have problem with heat and weight of maxwell?
Thanks for your excellent, in-depth review. Even though I'm not a gamer, I think your perspective on the Audeze Maxwell has convinced me that it's the headphone model I'd like to buy. I'd been giving serious consideration to another closed-back planar headphone offering good compliance with the Harman curve, the Drop + Dan Clark Audio Aeon X, and I was impressed by your conclusion that the Maxwell is on par with that model (while being significantly less expensive).
To your point, I use this headset almost exclusively for work. I love the fidelity while listening to music while working, and the mic and noise cancelling are more than good enough for virtual meetings.
I like the Mobius for the 3D head tracking. For music that's especially fun because you can turn and look in the direction of specific instruments and they stay locked in virtual space. For gaming, particularly with RPGs, the 3D 5.1 audio is especially interesting because it virtualizes the acoustic properties of the 3D world with jaw dropping realism. It adds an extra element of immersion to the experience. For instance, a bird flew over my head when playing a game and it scared the crap out of me! Sounds in the distance really seem like miles away.
I've got the Cloud Orbit S which is a rebranded Mobius and I loved it so much for the reasons you mentioned until the earcup snapped at the hinge as I was taking it off :( People were saying that the build quality was bad because it was made of plastic but damn I wasn't expecting it to snap like that.
@@zedetach Dude, my Mobius snapped as well! It's so upsetting because it's the best gaming headset I have ever used.
@@zedetachX3 xD, my right ear cup snapped hanging from only the internal cord. A trashy plastic stick was holding it together all the time. Was still under warranty tho, and hyper x did replace them. I've been handling the replacement pair with great care, not even grabbing it below the rotation point, they are about to survive their second year.
I personally use mine with eq (apo), tho there is nothing that can be done about the pink noise
I’ve owned 3 of them and they where all amazing. Sadly, they’ve been discontinued. All 3 headset bands snapped. Cheap build quality with excellent sound, so painful. I looked for a long time for someone to replace the headband with metal and couldn’t find anyone. I’ll miss them dearly. They are ticking time bombs though sadly, the build assures they will be broken within a year or two of regular use.
Morbius???
been doubting to get something like a gaming headset, just for the sidetalk that most have, which helps a lot in meetngs. But never bit the bullet.
Been watching an upgrade to my momentum-wireless-2 since I've seen that updates to it have bigger earcups (the one issue I had with the 2's)...
That made me looking for 'any' closed-back headphones (Since most I have are open), which something like a suspension-headband because I often like those for comfort... Saw these while going 'sort on price lowest to highest' and thoughtt 'that cannot be right'. Hard to find reviews for it from people with audiophile background... I clicked 'notify me on stock' before watching this. During your video it went to 'nope, order it! I will wait for stock :)'. So there.
Kinda excited about it. The whole thing about great music quality, low-latency wireless on PC / bluetooth for outside. Mic removable-but-still-has-a-mic-builtin for when at the office... outside of the weight they seem perfect!
Great review. Not looking for a wireless headphone so this ain’t for me but exciting to see new products from Audeze. Looking forward to the MM100 review.
the mm100 is going to be game changing
what is the MM100?
@@lain2236ad what is the mm100?
Mmx100 ?
@@xeddieu MM100 is Audeze’s next announcement. It’s a $399 open back studio monitor in the MM500 lineup and color scheme. The headband and yoke look almost identical to the Maxwell.
I have those and after 6 months of testing i found the best audio for gaming and music to be Audeze HQ on immersive + Dolby Atmos on Game preset Detailed.
I'm obsessed with this headset, games, movies and music... sublime. I game on PC and PS5 so I got the PS5 version and bought the Dolby Atmos license on PC and it absolutely works just like it should, sounds unbelievable!
Do you have problem with heat and weight of maxwell?
Do you think it's worth buying the Dolby Atmos license on PC? Does it have any added value to the headset?
How are movies with it I'm on the fence between these and the a50x I have both consoles tho
@@austin4700 I’ve used the previous version Penrose for a couple years and compared with all the high end gaming headphones at the time. For movies the Penrose was the best, everything was clear and bass felt perfect, little details in the movies came alive. Used them to watch movies on my Xbox with Dolby Atmos. I would say the newer Maxwell versions should do the same as the older Penrose.
This might be a dumb question but I just want to be sure. I have a moderate headphone system, Geshelli Dac, Liquid Platinum amp, Ananda headphones. I live in an noisy apartment building. I was looking for something closed back for when things get noisy. I was going to get the Drop DC Aeon X closed. How would I connect this in that system? This headphone seems like it could fulfill a lot of needs. Thank you for your amazing content.
This is all the review I'll need for these. Good'un. Mine arrive tomorrow. Thanks for the good, lightfooted and informative video...
i've just ordered mine not long ago! how are you finding it?
@@0nemanartis430 I'm very happy with them. I normally go for something new (too?) quickly, but these have stayed with me
Great in depth review! Enjoying my Maxwell, big step up in clarity from my last headset. I only have 2 issues with it after owning it for a month: My friends ALL say that my mic is to quiet using either BT or arm mic. The ear cups could be deeper as on the hard plastic grill, the center of the driver has a random raised square C shaped plastic piece. I do not know the purpose of this plastic peace that rubs on my ear but I say its random because even the glue lines applied to the mesh are in areas that do not contact anything.(they would contact if the square C was not raised beyond the rest of the grill) One last thing I experienced that maybe someone could test on their headset to see if they have the same experience: My right ear volume is a few Db lower vs my Left ear but I don't have a scientific way to check for this subtle difference. Someone else mentioned the same volume issue in their review otherwise I'd have written it off as just my ears honestly.(Updates may have already fixed this if it ever was an issue)
Do you have problem with heat and weight of maxwell?
get some wicked cushions, installed mine this week, comfort is WAAY improved!!!
Great. Now PLEASE make an open back version. I'm dying for a good wireless open back headphone.
mmx330 pro
@@bl0xyIt’s not wireless 🫠
Truly a jack of all trades! Every connection option, tuned right, planar technicalities, passable mic. I only wish they did an open back version or tune the side tone so I can hear someone knocking at the door 😅. I plan on selling my dedicated closed backs and anything else I hardly use to get these
I got some yesterday and plan on taking them back. Channel imbalance. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Do you have problem with heat and weight of maxwell?
@@P-U-S-S couldn't you just adjust channel balance to reduce that problem?
@@MilanB023, there are cooling pads, the WC FreeZe for Maxwell! 30 Bucks.
Passable mic my ass...
Really liked this review everything was on point! One of your best so far
The plosive issues are mostly because the mic is just in the wrong position. If you move it a bit up and to the side, so that the capsule is right outside the corner of your mouth there should be way less problems, because there is neither air blowing directly out of your mouth or the nose while still being close enough to get a decent sound. ♥️
I remember coming across this video during my extensive research on audiophile quality headphones when I was looking to upgrade from my Audio Technica ATH-M50x headphones. I ended up going with the Hifiman Sundara but these have been in the back of my mind for months as well as in my cart. Finally bit the bullet and bought these for gaming and man they don't disappoint i love these things and your video helped me make that purchasing decision I've literally watched it maybe 15 times
its still chart better than most though, even dam ie900 elysium livepro which are easily recommended as well
You are a great communicator and I want these cans so bad!!
Great review as usual, Andrew!
On the mic, it was annoying to listen to at first, but when you did the digital filtering, it not only cleaned up the background noise, but your voice clarity improved, and on the high setting it was even better.
Going back to your studio mic, there is definitely more low frequency enhancement.
Do you have problem with heat and weight of maxwell?
I tought the exact same thing, his voice quality improved noticably when he turned it on.
@@magnumpci Do you have problem with heat and weight of maxwell?
@@MilanB023 Sorry I missed this. The weight is noticeable (how could it not be) but its not annoying nor does it affect comfort IMHO. No issues with heat.
This headset is without a peer, its the best pair I have ever owned, hands down.
Yea doing filter and audio tweaking enhancements are huge for smaller microphones like this. It's what allows them to compete with big mice (at least from a non-critical standpoint).
My favourite track on my Audeze maxwell is Saturday Luv by Zone+. LDAC enabled and played on Tidal. I can't believe a 300 dollar headset sounds this crazy
congrats on your speedy recovery from the lightning storm Andrew! ❤
I just bought these! I have a hifiman sundara paired with a schiit stack for music and vids etc, these will be great for gaming. I'm excited and great review!!
How do you compare them to the Sundaras?
You and DMs are my 2 go to when I want a professional review and opinion
Great detailed review 👏🏽 💯. Just got the wasabi edition 🎧
no way, andrew escaped the digital world
Noo. We were so close!
@@sidesaladaudio he has the high ground
@@sidesaladaudio your niche is safe
Best description/review iv seen on this headphone 😂🔥👌
Audeze is killing it -- and by it, I mean all the noise. Very, very impressive.
Got my Maxwell on the way. This video got me hyped!
I'm extremely happy everyone is loving these.
Maxwell is seriously something speical. Not only is it the first in this next generation of wireless headset, but also in this next generation of Bluetooth and closed backs in general.
DSP active closed backs are the future. And it's here with Maxwell.
Best closed back under $500.
i just orderd them and im soooo happyppypypypypypy! HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY CAT VIBE! heheheheheh
@@McRemmyBabysame here! How are they working out for ya?
@@BennyJackson101 dont have yet, they said june (this month)
@@McRemmyBabyupdate?
@@ziokalco sent back, overhyped poop
I’m so excited for mine to arrive. I really love the direction they took with the design of this headphone. They look very nice, but they’re also quite understated and fairly nondescript. I can’t stand “gamery” looking products and I also just don’t really like buying things with very blingy, eye-catching designs. These are just beautifully simplistic. No unnecessary flare, no audacious branding, no wild accents. It’s just a very clean, well thought out design that would look perfectly at home in literally any situation.
Did they arrive?
Very rare do I watch a review from start to finish. I just did with this. I'm upgrading from the Penrose and this is the best review I've seen on the Maxwell.
Great review! I’ll be sure to keep an eye out for the weight.
Great review. Just decided to purchase.
Very informative review. I am waiting for a warranty replacement on my second pair of Mobius'. Though I really love the planar magnetic sound, the build quality has been sub par with my last 2 pairs as they broke at the ear join in the same way both sides. In your handling this new pair, how sturdy did they feel? Notice any hairline fractures around the ear joints? I'm curious to see if the build quality has improved.
@Resolve - I just bought these and spent way too much time listening last night. So good. What eq settings are you using in the Audeze app?
11:40 "people do this right?" .. Paper shuffling .. Yeah it's a thing called lunch and shuffling around their work papers at their desks. I think the biggest everyday test that you overlooked was typing on a mechanical keyboard, to see how the noise canceling blocks those obnoxious sounds out of the background.
dude i love that show you measurements of the inside earcup, it is so important!
You measure the size, but not the depth, very important to not forget that
Great review, i have mine in shipping and should have them tomorrow :D
My setup is actually in my motorcycle repair shop...I'll have to check these out
Fantastic review!
Audeze makes phenomenal headphones I use a lcd2 and hd650 and Ifi stack for pc gaming my two favorite cans by far I may have to get these for a viable wireless option
I also use the 650 with an ifi DAC/Amp. Been my fav set up thus far. Since I am at a desktop I just use a mic on an arm instead of a headset.
If these would work with Xbox I’d consider them for the living room.
The LCD2 ain't it
you can help with plosives by just moving the mic up a bit above your lips instead of below so you can't feel your breath on your hand in the path to the mic
It is a fantastic headset. The Bluetooth range is great!
The noise suppression sounds impressive. Can someone comment on how phone calls and meetings sound with these headphones with noise suppression on. Not even for gaming, but basically listening to some music or podcast with phone call interruptions/ meetings. Is there a physical button to answer calls and also a what is the distance range on the Bluetooth.
bluetooth is great for range, usb dongle range is poor (to be expected though).
the controls on the headset are limited, not as feature-rich as an actual bluetooth headset.
awesome for meetings WFH/Remote/hybrid setup.
it allows two bluetooth sources and usb dongle, however switching around isn't as seamless as like AirPods Pro... i often need to manually disconnect bluetooth from the other device or pull out the usb dongle.
the sound quality is 💯 so this minor QoL device selection is minor.
get the wicked cushions upgrade!!!
Happy to see the scars have healed from the biking accident resolve! 🙏
After using the Maxwell for a while I can confidently say the hype is real. As good as the Penrose was this is a big step up in terms of sound, comfort, build quality, and battery. Nothing at this price even comes close.
If price was not a concern what headphones would you say beat these in terms of the gaming experience?
@@JeebusJr no budget common answer is the Sennheiser HD 800. Considerably less expensive and still great are the Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro, DT 900 Pro X, Sennheiser HD 560S, AKG 702, and ATH R70X
@@JCerrisBeyerdynamic TYGR 300R deserves a spot there.
@@Frencho9 sure, I haven't tried that one tho
@@JCerris Equivalent to HD560S technically and in FPS games, but more warm and fun sounding. Better imaging for CoD games cuz footsteps are bass, but games were footsteps are treble the HD560S is better cuz bright. TYGR 300R Cheaper and low impedance (32 ohm vs 120). I preferred it to the Sennheiser and it's so cheap around 150 to 180 USD depending on deals vs 200 for HD560s.
Are these or Focal Bathys better in terms of sound quality/ enjoyment to music & movies?
Thanks for the quick comparison to the Drop Panda. I’m currently using that as my wireless PC headset, and kinda liked the sound signature. Maybe this is worth a try….
I got the Maxwell for office use. For my main, gaming PC I already had AKG K712PRO, Rokit5 monitors and a Rode Procaster mic with a Clarett interface, but when I had to work with my company laptop I wanted something that I was able to move from home to the office with ease. Up until now I was using a Rode lavaliere mic and Shure 535 iem. I also have some Sony XM4s that I use for traveling. And I have tried purpose built headsets for office use even more expensive than the Maxwell with disappointing results both in audio quality and mic quality.
When I received and tried the Maxwell for the first time, after months of waiting, I was blown away. The sound quality was just incredible. And the mic is amazing too. Sure they are heavy but what? I completely agree that the price is just too good to be real. But in this case it is. And just to top it up, the battery last forever.
My only problem with the Maxwell is that I only have one pair and I want another one dedicated to my main PC :D
Do you work in a busy noisy office with noisy co workers stood near you when you're on calls? If that's you, do the Maxwells cut out people's voices when you're on calls?
@@mikeneilson3722 yes it does, there are 3 levels of mic noise cancelling (off, low, high). I have mines in low and is more than enough. I do use the mic boom, not the internal mics.
Bought these after watching a few reviews and these are GREAT! I a have been an audiophile for the past 3 years and used to compete at a high level competitively in gaming, so I am really critical when it comes to headphones. Nowadays, I still play competitively, but mostly for fun. These headphones tick both boxes for music and gaming perfectly while also having useful eq presets, being wireless, and having multiple great features. I find the competition preset to be perfect for competitive gaming purposes and switch between the Audeze, treble boost, and immersive presets for music and movies. I have used this thing for 7 hours so far and only drained 10% of the battery which is nuts. My only gripe is that it is a bit heavy, but it does distribute the weight well and that hasn't kept me from enjoying my games at all, so I don't have much of a problem with that. I completely agree that these are the best wireless headset there is by far especially when it comes to sound quality. Awesome stuff!
Do you have problem with heat and weight of maxwell?
Great review! I am a newbie to headphones & looking for best value can find on a starter headphone. Have found these headphones used for right at 200, so seems to be a no-brainer, unless missing something. Will not be using for gaming though. Tks
Good review. I like the passion and detail you provided. If you had the money, would you go with the Maxwell or Focal Bathys and an independent microphone (Like the Shure SM7B)?
It's crazy that they've managed that good of a job of mic noise cancelling - but not bother enough to put it in their headphone. I have Stax S3 which I believe, is using exactly the same driver as this headset (just with integrated mic) and it sound incredibly impressive and at such an affordable price - just with the same problem with the lack of ANC
Agree, needs ANC to really make a dent in the market. It would be an immediate replacement for Sony, Bose etc for a lot of people (like me).
The Maxwell actually has integrated microphones as well, they're used for the noise suppression and to give you a mic even without the boom. I think there are enough to allow for some basic ANC, and they might add it in the future (we've seen that from other companies in the past), but there might be a limitation with what the onboard processor can do.
@Silver Fox LOL Ok mate! It's a miniscule blip rather than a dent, as they are selling at **no where near** the volume of the Sony or Bose competitors. It's not even comparable mate
@Silver Fox Dunno, like I've said, I've actually have the Stax while my friend got the Maxwell, I think both of them have some pretty good passive noise isolation (still not as good as Bose or Sony though, even without them turning on ANC), and it could work for just a gaming or indoor headphone
But I use the S3 while walking on the street and their noise isolation was so not enough to suppress the street car noise, even with music turning to the max (while it was enough with Bose, even with cheap none-stock earpads and at 60-70 percent volume)
But to be fair, Maxwell is a bit too big to be used as a travel headphone anyway.
@@StellarAudyssey Well, you can't even get the Maxwell right now. They're sold out everywhere, and have a several month long wait on the Audeze site. Sony and Bose are huge companies, if Audeze had access to same manufacturing pipeline I'm sure they'd be making a much larger dent in the market.
This mic
For an Integrated wireless mic
Is actually great
I just used a nova pro wireless head strap and it eliminates the weight. Now it's the most comfortable!
that is compatible with no issues?
@@gettinggreatnow6465 yeah it works for me just fine.
I know this is an older video but this is also the only one I've come across that compared the Maxwell to the THX Panda and the Aeon Closed X. I've been waiting years for a quality wireless planar magnetic headset to replace the Panda since Drop had the buyback program due to the connectivity issues. I also find myself preferring these to the ACX, although they have been excellent as well. Just wanted to say thank you for the great review after I've had time to spend with the Maxwell.
Thanks for the detailed review Andrew. How does the sound quality compare to a Focal Bathys on the Maxwell?
I heard the Maxwell at CanJam NYC & can agree here with their "price to perfomance" ratio exceeding many offerings in the wireless domain.
They sound fantastic.
Their price for that sound is also fantastic.
However, for me what has kept me away from planar headphones are their weight & bulk! At 500g these are heavy! Too heavy even at $300 for me. But, the Maxwell's bulk is surprisingly manageable for a planar? (Simular in size to a pair of beyerdynamic 1990)
It still gets a win win.👍
My favorite wireless still goes to Bathys at twice the price even with a 20% off for $630?
3rd place: M4U8 mkll at $399 @ 340g
is there any gaming headset compatible with thie xbox series x you would say is better than the Maxwell? Bathys look great, but not compatible with xbox series x (uses custom wireless tech, thus why maxwell comes with a special dongle)
The weight is nothing man, stop being a girlie man!
That noise suppression was fantastic!
Exceptional review. Thank you
Really nice review !
I know you sort of said this in the video, but just to confirm: Maxwell's sound quality for music listening is WAY better than Apple's airpods Max and Sony's XM5? And thanks for the great review!
I got the same question
I can confirm this!!! It’s much better!
Since Pink Noise is a steady repeating noise its easy for the unit to build a noise profile. You should try with other noises
He did.
to me the game changer that Maxwell presents will come in future next generation products. This type of HP matched with an extremely revealing driver like the LCD5 or LCD4 strapped to a built in DSP, DAC and amp in the headphone could revolutionize things. Think of a Generic monitor in a headphone. I know audiophiles like the special sauce and magical thinking that cables and external DACs and amps can bring. I am however thinking of a time when we can stream high res to the headphone with no cable and have infinite adjustments in the DSP to model just about everything. Andrew great meeting you at CanJam NYC and thank you for all the great content you and the team provide.
As an audiophile I do like to play with DACs, AMPs and Headphones combination, but at the end of the day for commute and daily meetings I only need something which does the job without compromising on the quality, and Maxwell seems like the most versatile audiophile grade product which does everything exactly right.
@@snowmean1 Except ANC. Which is a deal breaker for many.
Audeze maxwell v epos pc38x for strictly gaming which would you choose and why? Many thanks in advance
Do it. Awaken the gaming headphone plebs to real quality sound. These are gateway products to funnel new people into audio. A very smart move for audiophile companies and they can’t do it without channels like this.
I have a pc and ps5, do you have any suggestions for best audio quality? Would get these but they are sold out. Was looking at the m50x or 770 pro
@@markozafirkovski1234 I can only recommend what I have because I'm happy with it -AKG 702 with an IFI ZEN DAC V2. The headphones are raw and IMO best for soundhoring. I am constantly taking them off at night because I though I heard someone in my house lol. The ZEN DAC V2 has BASS BOOST button for more pleasurable listening music ect
Thanks Resolve! The name Maxwell reflects both a sense of confidence and competence as in: No worries, I’ll put Maxwell on it right away! Would you say it sounds better than the LCD-XC in addition to just the Möbius?
Without EQ? I think... yes!
@@ResolveReviews interesting. I shall check it out. Thanks!
I have a HD600 and 560s that I switch back and forth for gaming. What is a good headphone for imaging and footsteps? Want to add to my collection
Nice, is Chrono and DMS going to review this too?
Would love to buy this, but comfort is king for me and there are multiple options in this price range that are considerably lighter and sound great. Might not sound as good as the Maxwell, but I can't comfortably go with the heaviest option in the market
What options are those? I'm looking for something light in this price-range, but with closed back and boom mic.
Really would have loved an explanation, and exposition on the differences between Sony Tempest 3D Spacial Audio vs Dolby Atmos between the PS5 and XBOX versions.
Hey there! Great video, thanks a lot!
Could you tell me please what headphones would be the best for audiobooks and podcasts, I mean the most natural and pleasant reproduction of voices?
Thanks in advance!
I really like the Audeze Maxwell headphones, but it's surprising that not a single reviewer has mentioned the issue with the side tone functionality. There's this annoying crackling sound when there's no audio playing, and honestly, it's unbearable. I reached out to Audeze, and they mentioned it's due to the design of the headphones and considered normal. However, I've never experienced this with even the cheapest headsets I've tried before. I ended up returning my unit, but I'd be open to trying it again if this issue isn't present for you.
Reviewers don't want to ruin their relationship with the company
Mine doesn’t do that
He did address it and said it was bc of the pcie bandwidth. Wasn’t the headset, but glad you got something you enjoy now
^No, he didn't say it was because of PCIE bandwidth, but yes, he DID seem to mention it at 9:18
Mine dont do that
I will wait for the next version. Hopefully they will make the dongle smaller and metal. Plus reduce the overall weight of the headphones. 400+ is too heavy for longer listening sessions.
Mine is shipping mid April cant wait!
Great Review!
For gaming I have been using Sennheiser Game One for past 6-7 years (also have HD600 & HD58X), for music today it is Sennheiser Momentum Wireless 4 along with MTW4, but i really want to go wireless for gaming and am getting Razer Blackshark V2 Pro 2023 rdittion for $100 only. Lets see how it goes, as i have been waiting for PC38X wireless edition but ......
I bought Hifiman Sundara after watching your review several years a go,, this time i think i will do that again.
Thank you for the informative review! Can you tell me whether the Audeze Maxwell uses its battery when you use a wire?
Good to know it's so accurate to the Harmon curve. I have this headset as well as the DT177X, and prefer the tuning on the 177X, with my custom EQ via Qudelix 5K. Apparently I prefer significantly recessed mids...
I'll have to do more back to back with the audeze preset.
I find that I have to listen pretty loud for Harmon tuning to sound good, 'v shaped' headphones like beyerdynamics sound better at the lower levels I usually listen at
@@Grrrr3FKAGrrrrGrrrrGrrrr Correct, but you hear a lot more with that too.
Can you compare the sound quality (detail, tuning, etc.) to the Focal Bathys and Hifiman Sundara? I have Bathys, would the Bathys be MUCH better in sound isolation (with ANC versus no ANC of the Maxwell) and wireless sound quality? The reason I got Bathys is to isolate ambient sound, get as better sound quality and tuning as possible. Can I save a few bucks and "upgrade" to the Maxwell?
I own both the Bathys and Maxwells and I have to say the Maxwells are giving the Bathys a run for it’s money. Maxwells have such a unique sound signature that I love. They have great separation and clarity while still having punchy bass. Bathy’s lack in the low end compared to the maxwells but make up for it in the imaging/clarity. It comes down to what you prefer. I’m personally going to sell my Bathys because ANC isn’t that important to me and I prefer an immersive experience rather than the little bit of more detail/imaging the Bathys have. Also $300 vs $800 is crazy. Hope this helps
What about slam ?
@@mike.soto_ I think you saved $500 for many people...Thanks!
Thanks alot!!
Glad that see Audeze go nearer to realistic prices.
It's been like that since 2019 with the cloud orbit
Buddy headphones get crazy expensive, especially high end planars
I just hope these have better build quality than the Mobius headphones in the long term. I probably won't consider them since I feel so burned still by the Mobius, but thanks for giving them a look!
You remind me a lot of Markiplier from the tone of your voice to how articulate you are. Great review video and keep doing you brother! 😎👊🙏
He looks like him too
😂
Hey guys I have a question about the Maxwell gaming headset. It looks like they have personalized spatial audio? Is that correct? Like how Creative does with their SXFI app and taking pics of your face and ears? I think Apple is doing that now too with their new headphones.
Is there a similar headset from Audeze with ANC and lighter weight for walking or working out, traveling? That also sounds good and have good mic for calls. Thanks
Hey, loved this review! Thx for making it.
I just now read a review for the Turtle Beach Stealth PRO (I guess they just cMe out?) , and they seem like they might be a competitor to the maxwell... Would be awesome to see a review of these from you! ;-)
It's true about those heavy headphones. The H6SE V2 sounded fantastic, but it was causing me tension headaches
How does these compare to h6sev2? Sound is what only matters to me!
Noise suppression got rid of the bad plosives as well. Honestly might turn it on for that
It's This is an excellent headphone, close to perfection.
I only see two drawbacks:
1) if the strap is adjusted to the lower position (for larger heads), it is in direct contact with the reinforcement of the headband which is very uncomfortable (hard point).
2) the sound signature is balanced but lacks a bit of "sparkle" in the treble. Violins, triangles and other high notes don't sound very natural. The treble boost mode boosts the overall treble, which is not always desirable, without actually improving the point raised earlier. Apart from these pitfalls, it is a daily treat.
Thanks for the review 😉
EQ🎉 that's what audeze headphones do so well
If this had existed 3 years ago I probably wouldn't have gone down the head-fi rabbit hole to begin with. I'm not sure if I'm angry or grateful. lol
I have been watching so many You Tubers talking about headsets,
but NOT a single ONE of them cares about telling if the headset itself,
or the device driver , support VOLUME BALANCE Left-Right speaker!
It is frustrating, since I have hearing problems and need balance the sound.
Usually 100% to the right ear and 52% on the left..so PLEASE, include this in headset reviews..
Volume balance is done in software, not on the headset. That's why nobody talks about it.
@@dandjsh7978Yea that's something you change on Windows, as it's pretty pointless to do adjustments via hardware.
I am looking possible new headsets and stumbled upon this one.
Sounds like great sound which is an important trait, but the microphone quality leaves a lot to be desired.