Audeze Maxwell 2 ANC Delivers Silence at a Heavy Cost

Audeze’s Maxwell 2 ANC lands as the first planar magnetic gaming headset with active noise cancellation, pairing 90 mm drivers and up to 35 dB of isolation at $429 for the PlayStation version. After two weeks of testing, SlashGear’s Adam Doud called the set one of the most feature-complete gaming headphones he has tried, while other reviews confirm the sound holds up with ANC engaged.

The upgrade closes the last big gap in Audeze’s Maxwell line. It also exacts clear costs in weight, battery and price that change who should buy it.

Everything About These Headphones Runs Large

The earcups are oversized, the buttons oversized, the headstrap wide. At 560 grams (1.23 lbs) the Maxwell 2 ANC sits among the heaviest wireless gaming headsets on the market. The original Maxwell weighed about 490 g; the Maxwell 2 and this ANC version both hit 560 g after Audeze added metal and revised plates.

Build is metal with leather and faux-leather. A wide ventilated head strap and deep memory-foam earcups keep the band off the scalp. Passive isolation is already strong. Doud, a bigger guy, wore them for long sessions without neck strain. GameRevolution’s Mack Ashworth found the strap distributed the mass well enough for two-hour sits, though clamping force feels a touch higher.

• Detachable hypercardioid boom mic with pop filter
• New memory foam pads tuned for seal and comfort
• Magnetic side plates that accept ReSkin custom covers
• Professional-grade dual 1.4 W balanced amplifiers

Comfort holds for dedicated sessions. The mass still announces itself the moment you pick the headset up.

Planar Sound Meets Aviation-Grade Silence

The core remains Audeze’s 90mm planar magnetic drivers with Fluxor magnets, Uniforce diaphragms, Fazor phase management and SLAM acoustic tech. Frequency response runs 10 Hz to 50 kHz. Maximum SPL exceeds 115 dB. THD stays under 0.1 % at 100 dB.

Doud placed the audio in the same ballpark as high-end Sony and Bose headphones he regularly tests. Range is wide, distortion low, balance even. Competitive titles reward the imaging: footsteps and reloads stay precise. Ashworth noted no obvious loss in bass, clarity or directionality when ANC switched on. The stock profile already sounds finished; a 10-band EQ in the app lets users tweak further.

Game without distractions, the world’s first ANC planar headset removes up to 35dB of background noise.

Audeze product page, based on lab testing against key competitors June 2026

ANC targets continuous drone. Washing machines, HVAC and fan hum drop to a whisper. Sudden noises still cut through. Transparency mode lets conversations happen without removing the cans; voices sound slightly processed but usable. Sidetone is optional and adjustable.

The boom mic uses FILTER AI noise removal plus physical beamforming. It favors midrange enough for clear chat without the harsh peak common on gaming sets. Best placement sits a finger’s width from the chin, aligned with the jawline. It will not replace a studio mic for streaming, yet teammates hear you cleanly.

Controls Take Practice and the App Helps

Layout is dense. Right cup holds power and mic mute. Left cup carries two scroll wheels plus ports. One wheel handles volume, track skip and EQ presets via press-and-scroll combinations. The second manages game/chat mix and sidetone. An ANC button sits on the front edge near the boom jack, USB-C and 3.5 mm aux.

Doud found the arrangement confusing at first, especially remembering mute lives opposite the mic jack. The company supplies a Maxwell function guide that maps every gesture.

Audeze’s app runs on Windows, Mac, iOS and Android. It duplicates the physical controls, builds custom EQ profiles, adjusts voice-prompt volume and sets auto-shutdown. Most testers prefer the app for fine game/chat balance and sidetone over the wheels.

Connectivity covers the bases. A USB-C dongle delivers ultra-low-latency 24-bit/96 kHz wireless for PC, PlayStation or Xbox (platform-specific versions). Bluetooth 5.3 adds Auracast, LE Audio, LDAC, AAC and multipoint. Wired USB-C digital and 3.5 mm analog round it out. Spatial options include Dolby Atmos and Tempest 3D plus head-tracking support in partner apps such as Embody Immerse.

Battery Life Takes the Biggest Hit

Non-ANC Maxwell 2 models claim 80-plus hours. The ANC version rates 40 hours with noise cancellation off and 35 hours with it on, measured on continuous pink-noise playback at 80 dBA. Fast charge restores 25 % in 20 minutes; full charge takes about two hours from the 1800 mAh cell.

That drop is the clearest compromise. Ashworth’s charging habit absorbed it, yet he noted ANC must matter before the shorter runtime makes sense. Competitive players who game a few hours a night in noisy rooms still finish the week without plugging in. Marathon listeners lose the multi-day freedom the plain Maxwell 2 offers.

Package contents stay generous: headset, detachable boom with pop filter, USB-C dongle, USB-C to USB-C cable, USB-C to USB-A adapter and 3.5 mm TRRS cable.

The $100 Premium Buys Focus, Not Universality

PlayStation/PC versions list at $429; Xbox versions at $449. That puts the set near premium consumer ANC headphones from Sony and Bose while adding low-latency dongle gaming features most lifestyle cans lack. Doud noted the dual-use appeal: one headset for games and music. He still preferred cheaper non-gaming options like the Nothing Headphone (a) for pure listening value.

Roundups and early coverage flag the same split. Sound and isolation win praise across SlashGear, GameRevolution, T3 and others. Weight and the battery cut appear in nearly every “cons” list. An EISA award for audio excellence in the 2026-2027 cycle landed shortly after launch, underscoring the engineering recognition.

On X, reviewer Dave Taylor summed the balance many reached: gorgeous sound, crisp boom mic, effective ANC, and the ability to mix wired and Bluetooth audio. The catch, he wrote, is that it is a heavyweight.

• Buy if you game in noisy spaces, want planar detail and positional accuracy, and already accept premium headset pricing
• Skip or choose non-ANC Maxwell 2 if battery longevity or lighter weight ranks higher than silence
• Consider alternatives if $400-plus feels steep and you mainly need solid mic and wireless without studio-grade drivers

The low-latency dongle alone improves titles such as Fortnite relative to pure Bluetooth. Non-gamers gain less from that hardware.

Who Gains From the First Planar ANC Set

Serious competitive players who already sit near fans, open windows or family noise gain the clearest edge. Positional cues stay sharp while background drone vanishes. Streamers who keep a boom mic may still add a dedicated condenser, yet chat quality is serviceable. Music listeners get balanced, high-resolution playback that rivals dedicated audiophile wireless cans, provided they accept the mass.

Lighter daily-driver seekers and pure marathon battery users will notice the ironies first. The same metal and large drivers that deliver the sound and the seal also create the 560 g figure. The same ANC circuitry that removes up to 35dB of background noise trims the multi-day battery that made earlier Maxwells famous.

Availability is current through Audeze’s site, Best Buy and other retailers. Firmware updates continue to refine the experience.

The Maxwell 2 ANC does not erase every compromise. It simply moves them. For buyers whose rooms are loud and whose sessions are intense, the new balance lands as a genuine step forward. For everyone else the non-ANC Maxwell 2 or a lighter lifestyle set still makes more sense.

Frequently Asked Questions

What drivers does the Audeze Maxwell 2 ANC use?

It uses 90 mm planar magnetic drivers with Audeze’s Fluxor magnet array, Uniforce diaphragm, Fazor phase management and SLAM acoustic technology. Frequency response is rated 10 Hz-50 kHz with THD under 0.1 % at 100 dB and maximum SPL over 115 dB.

How much noise does the Maxwell 2 ANC cancel?

Audeze rates active noise cancellation at up to 35 dB based on its June 2026 lab tests against competing gaming headsets. It excels at continuous low-frequency drone such as HVAC or fans; sudden sharp sounds still pass through. Transparency mode is included.

What is the battery life of the Audeze Maxwell 2 ANC?

Official figures are 40 hours with ANC off and 35 hours with ANC on under continuous pink-noise playback at 80 dBA. Fast charging delivers 25 % capacity in 20 minutes; a full charge takes roughly two hours from the 1800 mAh cell.

How much does the Maxwell 2 ANC weigh and cost?

Weight is 560 g. PlayStation-compatible versions start at $429 and Xbox versions at $449. The non-ANC Maxwell 2 remains available at $329/$349 for buyers who prefer longer battery life.

Does the Maxwell 2 ANC work with PlayStation, Xbox and PC?

Yes. Platform-specific dongles provide ultra-low-latency wireless. Both versions also support Bluetooth 5.3, USB-C digital, 3.5 mm analog, and work with Switch, iOS and Android. Spatial audio options include Dolby Atmos and Tempest 3D depending on platform.