Did you hear that? Millions of audiophile gamers all uttered a guttural moan right around the time Audeze unveiled its Maxwell 2 wireless headset. Riding on the success of the original Maxwell, Audeze’s latest bit of audiophile-grade kit hopes to attract buyers with an “inside-and-out upgrade”, including magnetic earpads.
Audeze nuts
The appeal of interchangeable earpads is obvious. Rather than dropping another small fortune when the Maxwell 2 can’t withstand any more gamer sweat, Audeze will sell separate earpads that clip on with a snap and can be swapped at will. Otherwise, the headset looks the same as its older sibling, now with roomier cups and a wider strap across the head with small holes to offer better breathability and supposedly increased comfort.
Under the hood sit 90mm planar magnetic drivers, which offer a frequency range of 10Hz to 50kHz. Audeze says that, alongside its patent-pending SLAM technology — which claims punchier bass and improved spatial cues– the upgrades significantly increase detail for in-game cues like footsteps or explosions.
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To complete this perfect gaming vision, the Maxwell 2 ships with an AI-powered noise-cancelling hypercardioid boom mic that can be removed and reattached whenever it suits you. You’ll need the USB-C dongle to hook up to consoles, and Bluetooth 5.3 (supporting Auracast, LDAC, and AAC) elsewhere. It still packs an 80-hour battery like its predecessor, with a USB-C port for fast charging.
You’ll have to cough up $330 (∼R5,400) for the PlayStation model, while the Xbox edition demands $350 (∼R5,700) for the pleasure of owning one. While each is designed for its respective consoles, both work just fine on Windows, Mac, and Nintendo Switch. If that’s you, the cheaper option will suffice.
