The Audeze Maxwell 2 ANC is the ANC version of the popular Audeze Maxwell 2. While most of the headset's features remain unchanged, the ANC version introduces active noise cancelling alongside head tracking motion sensors that you can use with supported third-party software like Dolby Access and Embody Immerse Gaming Hive. The headset's overall noise isolation performance relative to other ANC-enabled gaming headsets like the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite will ultimately determine whether it's worth paying extra for the three-letter acronym in the Audeze Maxwell 2 ANC.
Our Verdict
The Audeze Maxwell 2 ANC isn't designed for sports and fitness use. The headset is quite bulky and unstable, so you won't be able to make any vigorous movements without it slipping off your head. It also weighs quite a bit, and while the headband and earpads distribute weight well enough, it could get uncomfortable over time. While you could wear the Audeze on a stroll in fair weather, it doesn't carry an IP rating against water and dust exposure, so we don't recommend using the headset in a light drizzle.
Bulky and unstable during movement.
The Audeze Maxwell 2 ANC is good for travel. The headset has an active noise cancelling system that improves its low-frequency noise attenuation compared to the non-ANC model. As a result, bus and plane engine rumble sounds quiet. That said, it doesn't come with a carrying case, and its bulky design takes up a lot of space in your bag. If you're sensitive to heavy headsets or clamping force, you may also find wearing the Audeze over a long period of time fatiguing. Still, the headset has over 35 hours of battery life with ANC on, so it'll last for most transcontinental journeys without a charge.
Great noise isolation performance.
Over 35-hour battery life with ANC.
No included carrying case.
The Audeze Maxwell 2 ANC is great for office work. It supports connections with multiple devices and even simultaneous audio with a Bluetooth and wired connection. If you take lots of client calls or your schedule fills up with meetings, the boom mic performs amazingly well, capturing your voice as true-to-life while cutting through almost all background noise without turning your speech into an artifact-ridden mess. That said, you'll want to use the dongle connection and the AI noise reduction feature for the best results. The headset also minimizes distractions from background noise in your office or coworking space, thanks to its impressive ANC performance. However, if you're sensitive to heavy headsets or can't tolerate high clamping forces, the Audeze might become fatiguing to wear, especially toward the end of a long workday.
Great noise isolation performance.
Over 35-hour battery life with ANC.
Microphone captures speech naturally and subdues noise.
Heavy and high clamping force.
The Audeze Maxwell 2 ANC is very good for wireless gaming. The dongle connection has low audio latency, so your audio should match your game visuals even with a fast display. There's also an amazing mic system, so you can give callouts to your squad even if you get taken out early in the round. If you like to tweak your sound on a per-game basis, the app has a graphic EQ and presets to cycle through. This headset comes equipped with noise cancelling, too, so you can enjoy an immersive, narrative title even if your neighbors are working in their yard. You also get over 35-hours of battery life, so you'll be able to marathon the first day of league launch on Path of Exile without worrying about charge. Just keep in mind the PlayStation variant won't work with Xbox consoles wirelessly.
Great noise isolation performance.
Microphone captures speech naturally and subdues noise.
Heavy and high clamping force.
The Audeze Maxwell 2 ANC is great for wired gaming. The headset supports analog connections for mic input and audio output on PCs, PlayStations, and Xbox consoles. You'll miss out on wired USB support with Xbox consoles unless you get the Xbox variant, though. It's also worth noting there's a slight bass roll-off over analog when compared to the other connections, so you may notice slightly less rumbly explosions while grinding for the latest Helldivers 2 Warbond. The headset doesn't operate passively even when using the analog connection. While this means you're at the mercy of the headset's battery, the plus side is that you retain access to ANC and app features like EQ.
Great noise isolation performance.
Microphone captures speech naturally and subdues noise.
Heavy and high clamping force.
The Audeze Maxwell 2 ANC has very good audio reproduction accuracy. Its frequency response adheres to the headset's V-shaped sound signature for the most part, with a noteworthy peak in the low-treble that can cause bullet ricochets to jump out as harsh compared to other sound effects. Despite some measured stereo mismatch, the headset reproduces real content without bias to one side or the other, ensuring footsteps are placed accurately so you can pinpoint attackers' positions while you defend the site. That said, stereo matching can vary from unit to unit, so you may have a different experience. We noticed consistent background hiss, likely from the ANC system, alongside high-pitched feedback noise that played sporadically. Both issues didn't crop up with audio playing on the headset.
The Audeze Maxwell 2 ANC has great noise isolation performance. Its active noise cancelling system attenuates plenty of bass-range noise, from airplane engine rumble to thudding footsteps from upstairs neighbors. Meanwhile, the earpad seal passively isolates you from high-pitched noise like screeching brakes at a busy intersection. The headset also doesn't leak too much of your audio, so you can work in close proximity to a neighbor without them noticing your audio unless you have your volume cranked up in a quiet room. Like most ANC headsets, you can switch to transparency mode if you need to monitor your surroundings.
The Audeze Maxwell 2 ANC has an amazing boom microphone. Over the dongle connection and with AI noise reduction enabled, captured speech sounds true to life with a touch of extra bass to add extra body to your voice. Even if you're in a noisy environment, the mic system easily suppresses distractions so nobody on call notices what's going on in the background. The headset also has an integrated mic, which doesn't sound as good as the boom mic.
The Audeze Maxwell 2 ANC has disappointing frequency response consistency. If you wear glasses or have long hair that can interrupt the headset's earpad seal, you might notice less rumble and thump from bassy effects like explosions. Still, the headset sounds consistent between wears on the same person.
Performance Usages
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Audeze Maxwell 2 ANC comes in a PlayStation and Xbox variant. We tested the PlayStation version, and we took a photograph of our unit's label. We don't expect any differences in performance with the Xbox variant besides added Xbox compatibility and an included Dolby Access license. There's also a non-ANC Audeze Maxwell 2.
If you encounter more variants, please let us know in the comments, and we'll update the review.
Popular Headphones Comparisons
The Audeze Maxwell 2 ANC introduces active noise cancelling to the popular Audeze Maxwell lineup. While similar to the non-ANC Audeze Maxwell 2, the ANC version has a shorter battery life and a slightly different tuning, alongside a steeper price. And while the headset's noise isolation performance, now bolstered by an ANC system, is quite competitive among gaming headsets, rivaling that of the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite, the headset still has the same shortcomings of the non-ANC version: a heavy design with high clamping force and a range of user-reported issues like background hiss. If you game for longer periods and are sensitive to clamping, entries like the Sony INZONE H9 II offer better ergonomics at a cheaper price, though the ANC performance doesn't compete with more premium headsets. Depending on console compatibility and your openness to third-party Bluetooth dongles, the Sony WH-1000XM6 might be an option with their best-in-class ANC performance, as their LC3 codec audio latency over the Gaming Audio Profile competes with dedicated 2.4GHz wireless dongles.
If you're interested in more gaming entries, check out our picks for the best wireless gaming headsets, the best gaming headsets, and the best earbuds for gaming.
The Audeze Maxwell 2 and Audeze Maxwell 2 ANC are similar headsets. Both entries have a nearly identical physical design, with only some off-white highlights on the ANC version to differentiate the two. That said, the ANC version has a bit of extra bass and treble energy, resulting in a V-shaped sound signature compared to the more balanced non-ANC entry. In terms of ergonomics and microphone performance, both headsets are pretty much neck and neck. The ANC version also has motion sensors you can use for head tracking, but you'll need to use a third-party service like Dolby Access. If you care about ANC, the ANC version's system is quite impressive; whether it's worth the extra spend over the non-ANC version will determine which you should pick.
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite and Audeze Maxwell 2 ANC are both ANC-enabled gaming headsets. Each has unique characteristics that set it apart from the other, though. For one, the SteelSeries uses dynamic drivers while the Audeze uses planar magnetic ones. By default, the SteelSeries has a warm profile while the Audeze has a more V-shaped tuning. That said, you can customize either headset's signature with its respective app, though you have more granular control with the SteelSeries' parametric EQ. If you juggle multiple devices or consoles, the SteelSeries has more flexible connectivity thanks to its dock, which supports two USB devices, a line-in port, and a Bluetooth source simultaneously. On the other hand, the Audeze's mic sounds just a tad more natural, and it supports the commonly supported LDAC codec for Hi-Res Bluetooth listening.
The Audeze Maxwell 2 ANC and the ASUS ROG Kithara are both gaming headsets that take radically different approaches. The ASUS is a passive, wired-only, open-back with a flat presentation. In contrast, the Audeze Maxwell 2 ANC is an active headset equipped with active noise cancelling and supports both wired and wireless connections. Its active design also allows for app customization in the form of a graphic EQ alongside the aforementioned ANC system. If you're partial to flat sound signatures or do some production work on the side, you might prefer the ASUS. But if you prefer the flexibility to walk around with a wireless headset and don't have a super controlled listening environment (like a living room or apartment), the Audeze is likely more your speed.
The Sony INZONE H9 II and the Audeze Maxwell 2 ANC are both gaming headsets. However, they're quite different ergonomically. The Sony is less than half the weight and has a very light clamping force, making it more universally comfortable and less fatiguing to wear over time. On the other hand, the Audeze is heavy and bulky, but has a better build quality and finish. While both offer ANC, the Sony's overall noise isolation falls short of the Audeze's, which block out much more mid- and bass-range noise like rumbly traffic and background chatter. Both have a boom mic system that performs amazingly well, reproducing your voice naturally and preventing noise from bleeding into the captured audio. The Audeze has a backup integrated mic, LDAC codec support, and two-device Bluetooth multipoint, so it's more suitable if you need a one-size-fits-all headset that you can use casually, though it costs more.
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