Audeze Maxwell 2 ANC Review: Planar Sound Meets Noise Cancellation

Audeze Maxwell 2 ANC Review: Wireless gaming headset with planar drivers and active noise cancellation. Audeze steps it up a notch. While the original Maxwell (our review) was already considered one of the very best gaming headsets out there, the manufacturer is now taking things up a notch—or several. Following the Maxwell 2’s release in early 2026, the company is now launching a revised version with the “ANC” suffix—a name that already hints at what’s under the hood: active noise cancellation, which, combined with the planar drivers, represents a true revolution. Our review will determine whether it’s worth buying.

Technical Specifications of the Audeze Maxwell 2 ANC

Audeze Maxwell 2 ANC Review: Design and Build Quality

Anyone familiar with the Maxwell 2 will recognize the ANC model at first glance. Audeze stays true to its understated, technical aesthetic: matte-black housing, brushed metal accents, and no RGB gimmicks. The headset feels less like a classic gaming accessory and more like a tool for people who take sound seriously. The look can be customized as needed using the magnetically attached ReSkin side panels, some of which are available in limited editions. A nice extra, but one that nobody really needs.

The most noticeable change compared to the first Maxwell is in the headband: It’s significantly wider and generously perforated, which is designed to distribute the weight more evenly and provide ventilation. This is necessary, too, because at around 560 grams (without the microphone arm), the Maxwell 2 ANC is clearly one of the heavyweights in its class. The closed-back ear cups generously enclose the ears; the memory foam ear pads are deep and comfortable and can be swapped out in seconds thanks to magnetic attachments. The comfort is good, though you do start to notice the weight on your head quite distinctly during longer sessions.

There’s little to complain about in terms of build quality: the materials and fit are top-notch, and the headset feels premium and durable. However, the ANC model inherits one criticism from its predecessor: The size adjustment uses a sliding system with only three settings per side, and adjusting it requires noticeable effort. Once set, it sits rock-solid—but adjusting it mid-session isn’t much fun.

On top of that, the clamping force of the Audeze Maxwell 2 ANC is enormous, partly due to its heavy weight. It’s perfectly fine for 1–2 hours, but after that—at least for me—the headset starts to press down quite a bit, which is also evident on my head. This means it’s certainly not suitable for everyone.

Package Contents and Features

Audeze doesn’t skimp on accessories. In addition to the headset, the box contains:

• a detachable boom microphone with a pop filter (gooseneck, connected via a mini-jack to the left ear cup)
• USB-C wireless dongle
• USB-C-to-USB-C cable (1.5 m)
• USB-C-to-USB-A adapter cable (0.3 m)
• 3.5-mm TRRS analog cable (1.2 m)

That’s enough to connect the headset to virtually any source—from modern USB-C computers to older USB-A PCs, consoles, and even the jack on a controller. There is one minor drawback, however: you won’t find a carrying pouch or case included. For a headset in this price range—one you’d want to take with you precisely because of the ANC—that’s frustrating.

Important before buying: The Maxwell 2 ANC is available in PlayStation and Xbox versions. If you primarily play on Xbox, you’ll definitely need the Xbox model, which is slightly more expensive due to licensing fees (499 instead of 479 euros) and also includes a Dolby Atmos license for Windows and Xbox. The PS5 version, on the other hand, uses Sony’s Tempest 3D Audio.

Controls and Connectivity

Audeze has rearranged the controls compared to the first Maxwell and distributed them across both ear cups. On the right are the power button (which also initiates Bluetooth pairing with a double-tap) and the slide switch for microphone mute. On the left are two continuously adjustable knobs for volume, playback, and EQ, as well as a button that cycles through the levels of AI microphone noise cancellation.

The system is powerful but takes some getting used to. A single rotary control handles three functions (volume, playback, EQ), which you switch between with a press—there’s no dedicated playback control. In practice, this works well after a short adjustment period, but it isn’t intuitive. The control labels in glossy black on a matte black background look sleek, but they’re hard to read in the heat of the moment. The loose-fitting mute switch, which tended to rattle slightly on the previous model, also remains a potential annoyance.

When it comes to connectivity, however, the Maxwell 2 ANC really shines. The USB-C dongle delivers low-latency high-resolution audio at up to 24-bit/96 kHz, plus wired USB-C, a 3.5-mm analog jack, and Bluetooth 5.3 with an impressive list of codecs: LDAC, LE Audio, LC3, LC3plus, AAC, and SBC, plus Auracast and Multipoint. Handy: Wired and Bluetooth audio can be played back simultaneously, allowing you to hear game audio and a second source signal at the same time, for example.

However, Audeze still carries a long-standing limitation: the dongle and Bluetooth cannot be used at the same time. If you’re using the USB-C dongle with a console or PC, you can’t maintain a Bluetooth connection to your smartphone at the same time—according to the manufacturer, this is due to the built-in chipset. In a price range where simultaneous Bluetooth has long been standard, this remains a real point of criticism, especially for PC gamers.

Focus on Active Noise Cancellation

The big difference from the standard Maxwell 2 is right there in the name: Active Noise Canceling. And it’s not just a marketing gimmick—it’s the first ANC system Audeze has ever built into a pair of headphones. It uses an adaptive hybrid system of feedforward and feedback microphones that, according to the manufacturer, cancels out up to 35 dB of ambient noise. A low-latency transparency mode lets the outside world be heard again when needed.

What’s exciting is the concept behind it: Audeze explicitly positions the ANC for gaming and focuses on low-frequency background noise—the hum of an air conditioner, the PC fan under the desk, street noise coming through the window. This is exactly where the combination of a closed-back design, robust passive insulation, and active noise cancellation shines: The monotonous background noise of a home office or gaming room noticeably fades into the background without having to turn up the volume.

As expected, the system doesn’t quite measure up to specialized lifestyle ANC headphones like the Sony WH-1000XM6 (our review) or the Bose QuietComfort Ultra (review) —but that’s not what you’d expect from a gaming headset with a planar driver and an open-backed sound design. However, the Audeze outperforms other ANC headsets like the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Omni (review) —and by a significant margin.

One negative aspect, however, is a clearly audible white noise when active noise cancellation is enabled. How much this bothers you certainly depends on your personal circumstances. It hardly bothers me, and honestly, it’s only really noticeable when it’s loud around you and the game is very quiet.

Another positive: The Audeze Maxwell 2 ANC maintains its sound virtually unchanged with ANC activated. This is precisely the Achilles’ heel of many ANC headphones, which sound thin or artificial when noise cancellation is turned on. Here, the sound signature remains consistent—an important factor if you’re choosing Audeze in the first place for its audiophile-grade sound.

Battery Life of the Audeze Maxwell 2 ANC

When it comes to the battery, you have to take a closer look at the ANC model. The built-in 1,800-mAh battery is the same as in the standard Maxwell 2, but the additional ANC electronics draw power. Audeze officially specifies up to 40 hours for the Maxwell 2 ANC with ANC disabled and around 35 hours with ANC enabled (measured via Bluetooth with pink noise at 80 dBA). The impressive 80-hour figures you sometimes see refer to the Maxwell 2 without ANC—that’s something to keep in mind when comparing models.

Even at 35 hours, though, we’re still talking about more than enough battery life for several long gaming nights or a full workweek without access to a power outlet. And if you do run low on power, USB-C fast charging comes to the rescue: 20 minutes of charging restores about 25 percent, and a full charge takes about two hours. You can continue using the headset while it’s charging.

App Integration via Audeze HQ

The Maxwell 2 ANC comes with the updated Audeze app, which is available for Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android and supports both Maxwell 2 models. It has a clean, modern interface—no ads, no mandatory login, and no annoying newsletter prompts on first launch. This is a relief when you consider the cluttered software suites offered by some competitors.

At its heart is a 10-band equalizer with a ±12 dB adjustment range. It also features five presets (Treble Boost, Bass Boost, Immersive, Competition, and Footsteps) as well as space for four custom profiles that can be switched directly on the headset. If you use the footstep-heavy “Competition” curve for competitive shooters, you’ll get audibly more information about footsteps and reloading sounds. While it lacks a true parametric EQ with freely selectable frequencies and Q-factor, the range of features is above average for a gaming headset. In addition, the app controls ANC and transparency mode, sidetone, the game/chat mix ratio, the auto-shutdown time, and the volume of audio announcements.

Audio Quality, Head Tracking, and Microphone

The real reason to choose Audeze remains the sound, and that’s also the highlight of the Maxwell 2 ANC. The 90-mm planar drivers with Fluxor magnets and Fazor waveguides are in a league of their own—one that ordinary gaming headsets simply can’t compete with.

And here I have to say: After a bit of getting used to them, the Audeze Maxwell 2 ANC sounds truly outstanding. Although it sounds different from what you’re used to with gaming headsets or even studio headphones. Add to that Audeze’s SLAM technology, which controls the air pressure inside the closed ear cups, ensuring powerful yet distortion-free bass.

In practice, this means that deep bass comes through cleanly and without booming, even at high volumes; explosions and deep rumbles pack a punch without drowning out the rest of the sound. The mids are clearly in the foreground, which benefits speech intelligibility and gives gaming a very direct, present character. The highs are detailed and spacious; the super-high frequencies sound surprisingly open for a closed-back headphone. It is precisely this resolution that makes pinpointing enemies and sound sources a real advantage—the soundstage is wide and cleanly layered.

A note based on measurements of the identically designed Maxwell 2: There’s a boost around 7 kHz that can occasionally make voices sound slightly sharp or sibilant. If this bothers you, you can easily adjust it in a few seconds using the app’s EQ. The integrated, self-calibrating head tracking provides additional immersion; in supported applications (such as Embody Immerse Gaming Hive or the Dolby Atmos Renderer), it links the sound to head movements, thereby creating a more believable 3D soundstage.

In terms of sound quality, I’d currently rank this headset at the top of the pack for single-player or story-driven games. No competitor currently delivers such an immersive, well-crafted soundscape. But even in competitive titles like Apex Legends, Battlefield 6, or The Finals, the Maxwell 2 ANC has made significant improvements compared to the first generation—especially with the “Footsteps” preset or custom equalizer settings.

Very good microphone

The detachable boom microphone with a pop filter features a hypercardioid pickup pattern, meaning it barely picks up sound from the sides, but it must be positioned precisely in front of your mouth. The sound is focused and easy to understand, though slightly mid-range heavy; this is easily sufficient for in-game chat and Discord, but for serious streaming or recording purposes, a dedicated USB or XLR microphone is, of course, the better choice. This shouldn’t come as a surprise, yet Audeze still delivers a really good microphone here that holds its own.

Microphone test recording, Audeze Maxwell 2 ANC:

SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Omni microphone test recording:

SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite Microphone Test Recording:

A new feature is the latest-generation FILTER AI noise cancellation with double the bandwidth, which can be activated in several levels at the push of a button. It reliably filters background noise, such as keyboard keystrokes or fan noise, out of the voice transmission. At the highest levels and in challenging environments (wind, echoey rooms), however, the voice can sound slightly artificial or compressed—a behavior typical of AI filters. For everyday use at a desk, the microphone performs well.

Audeze Maxwell 2 ANC Review: Conclusion

The Audeze Maxwell 2 ANC surprised me during testing—in a positive way. I didn’t jump on the hype train for the first Maxwell and found the sound—especially for competitive gaming—to be good, but nothing more. With the Maxwell 2 ANC, my opinion has changed. The sound remains the standout feature—powerful, precise, spatial, and, thanks to SLAM technology, distortion-free even in the bass. And the ANC does a noticeably good job, especially with low-frequency ambient noise, without distorting the sound signature.

Still, the headset isn’t perfect. Its heavy weight of around 560 grams takes its toll during long sessions; the lack of simultaneous Bluetooth feels outdated in this price range; and for just under 500 euros, you’d expect a carrying case. You should also factor in the shorter battery life compared to the Maxwell 2 without ANC.

The bottom line is that the Maxwell 2 ANC is aimed at a clearly defined target audience: gamers who don’t want to compromise on sound quality and are also looking for peace and quiet in a noisy environment. If you’re looking for this combination, you won’t find it anywhere else at this level of quality right now. On the other hand, if ANC isn’t important to you, you’ll save money with the standard Maxwell 2 and even get longer battery life.

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