Audeze Maxwell vs Fractal Scape: Which Headphones Are Better?

Tested using Methodology v2.0

Updated Dec 23, 2025 06:44 PM

This review is in Early access

See Audeze Maxwell Wireless Review

Walmart.com

TypeOver-ear

Noise CancellingNo

EnclosureClosed-Back

Bass Amount Slightly Emphasized (2 dB)

WirelessYes

TransducerPlanar Magnetic

Treble Amount Balanced (-1 dB)

MicYes

Sound Signature Warm

TypeLocked

Noise CancellingLocked

EnclosureLocked

Bass Amount Locked

WirelessLocked

TransducerLocked

Treble Amount Locked

MicLocked

Sound Signature Locked

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5

Our Verdict

Audeze Maxwell Wireless

Fractal Scape

Full comparison details regarding individual product score sets can be found in the section below

Variants

Maxwell for PlayStation (Dark Gray)
Maxwell for Xbox (Dark Gray)

Scape (Dark)
Scape (Light)

Review

See Fractal Scape Review

171

Check Price

Dark Gray

Maxwell for Xbox

Dark

Scape

Dark Gray

Maxwell for PlayStation

Light

Scape

Walmart.com

Main Differences for

Sports And Fitness

Threshold

0.10

Sports And Fitness

6.6

0.0

No major differences between these headphones for sports and fitness. See full list of tests below.

Full Comparison

Sports And Fitness

6.6

0.0

Travel

6.2

0.0

Office Work

6.7

0.0

Wireless Gaming (In Development)

7.8

0.0

Wired Gaming (In Development)

7.8

0.0

Audio Reproduction Accuracy

6.6

0.0

Noise Isolation

5.2

0.0

Microphone (In Development)

8.3

0.0

Frequency Response Consistency

5.2

0.0

Sound

Sound Profile

SAMPLE

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Normalization Frequency

400 Hz

Lock Hz

Bass Amount

Slightly Emphasized (2 dB)

Locked

Treble Amount

Balanced (-1 dB)

Locked

Sound Signature

Warm

Locked

Show Text

Frequency Response Consistency

5.2

N/A

Consistency L

SAMPLE

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Consistency R

SAMPLE

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Std. Deviation

1.68 dB

Lock dB

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Raw Frequency Response

Raw FR L

SAMPLE

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Raw FR R

SAMPLE

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Bass Profile: Target Compliance

9.2

N/A

Bass Profile: Target Compliance

SAMPLE

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RMS Deviation From Target

2.7 dB

Lock dB

Low-Frequency Extension

20 Hz

Lock Hz

Low Bass

1.75 dB

Lock dB

Mid Bass

2.54 dB

Lock dB

High Bass

0.69 dB

Lock dB

Show Text

Mid-Range Profile: Target Compliance

9.0

N/A

Mid-Range Profile: Target Compliance

SAMPLE

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RMS Deviation From Target

1.4 dB

Lock dB

Low Mid

-1.41 dB

Lock dB

Mid-Mid

-0.68 dB

Lock dB

High Mid

0.44 dB

Lock dB

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Treble Profile: Target Compliance

9.8

N/A

Treble Profile: Target Compliance

SAMPLE

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RMS Deviation From Target

1.69 dB

Lock dB

Low Treble

-1.32 dB

Lock dB

Mid Treble

-0.71 dB

Lock dB

High Treble

-2.37 dB

Lock dB

Show Text

Peaks/Dips

7.8

N/A

Peaks/Dips Graph

SAMPLE

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Peaks

1.24 dB

Lock dB

Dips

1.42 dB

Lock dB

Show Text

Stereo Mismatch

5.1

N/A

Frequency Response Mismatch

SAMPLE

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Phase Response Mismatch

SAMPLE

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Weighted Amplitude Mismatch

1.64 dB

Lock dB

Weighted Frequency Response Mismatch

1.46 dB

Lock dB

Weighted Phase Mismatch

4.3°

Lock°

Show Text

Group Delay

2.1

N/A

Group Delay

SAMPLE

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Weighted Group Delay

2.4 ms

Lock ms

Show Text

Cumulative Spectral Decay

CSD

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SAMPLE

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PRTF

6.2

N/A

PRTF

SAMPLE

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PRTF Accuracy (RMS Deviation)

3.5 dB

Lock dB

PRTF Size (Avg.)

4.08 dB

Lock dB

PRTF Distance

11.08 dB

Lock dB

Show Text

Harmonic Distortion

8.9

N/A

Harmonics Levels

SAMPLE

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THD Ratio

SAMPLE

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WHD @ 94 dB SPL

0.10%

Lock%

WHD @ 104 dB SPL

0.22%

Lock%

Show Text

Electrical Aspects

Impedance

SAMPLE

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Sensitivity @1kHz-1V

N/A

Bluetooth Max SPL

107.9 dB

Lock dB

Show Text

Virtual Soundstage

4.1

N/A

Virtual Soundstage

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SAMPLE

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Head Modeling

On/Off

Locked

Speaker Modeling

On/Off

Locked

Room Ambience

Locked

Head Tracking

Locked

Virtual Surround

Dolby Atmos

Locked

Show Text

Test Settings

Firmware

1.0.1.74

Locked

Power

Locked

Connection

Wireless (Proprietary)

Locked

Codec

PCM, 24-bit, 48kHz

Locked

Test Instrument

Audio Precision APx517B

Locked

EQ

Audeze

Locked

ANC

No ANC

Locked

Tip/Pad

Default

Locked

Microphone

Boom

Locked

Show Text

Design

Style

Design Picture 2

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SAMPLE

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Type

Over-ear

Locked

Enclosure

Closed-Back

Locked

Wireless

Yes

Locked

Transducer

Planar Magnetic

Locked

Show Text

Comfort

7.0

N/A

Comfort Picture

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SAMPLE

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Weight

1.07 lbs

Lock lbs

Clamping Force

1.1 lbs

Lock lbs

Show Text

Controls

7.6

N/A

Controls Picture

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SAMPLE

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OS Compatibility

Not OS specific

Locked

Ease Of Use

Good

Locked

Feedback

Good

Locked

Call/Music Control

Yes

Locked

Volume Control

Yes

Locked

Microphone Control

Mute/Unmute

Locked

Channel Mixing

Yes

Locked

Noise Cancelling Control

Locked

Talk-Through

Locked

Additional Controls

Bluetooth + Multi function

Locked

Show Text

Portability

5.3

N/A

Portability Picture

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SAMPLE

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L

10.2" (26.0 cm)

Lock" (Lock cm)

W

9.1" (23.0 cm)

Lock" (Lock cm)

H

2.4" (6.0 cm)

Lock" (Lock cm)

Volume

220.12 in³ (3,607.10 cm³)

Lock in³ (Lock cm³)

Transmitter Required

Locked

Show Text

Case

0.0

N/A

Case Picture

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SAMPLE

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Type

No case

Locked

L

N/A

W

N/A

H

N/A

Volume

N/A

Build Quality

8.0

N/A

Build Quality Picture

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SAMPLE

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Show Text

Stability

6.0

N/A

Stability Picture

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SAMPLE

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Show Text

Headshots 1

Angled Picture

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SAMPLE

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Side Picture

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SAMPLE

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Headshots 2

Front Picture

Compare High-Res

SAMPLE

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Rear Picture

Compare High-Res

SAMPLE

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Top

Top Picture

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SAMPLE

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In The Box

In The Box Picture

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SAMPLE

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Show Text

Isolation

Noise Isolation - Full Range

5.3

N/A

Noise Isolation - Full Range Graph

SAMPLE

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Noise Cancelling

Locked

Overall Attenuation

-12.98 dB

Lock dB

Bass

3.77 dB

Lock dB

Mid

-13.49 dB

Lock dB

Treble

-32.74 dB

Lock dB

Show Text

Noise Isolation - Common Scenarios

4.4

N/A

Noise Isolation - Common Scenarios Graph

SAMPLE

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Airplane Noise Attenuation

-9.48 dB

Lock dB

Airplane Noise Isolation Audio

Office Noise Attenuation

-9.99 dB

Lock dB

Office Noise Isolation Audio

Street Noise Attenuation

-11.12 dB

Lock dB

Street Noise Isolation Audio

Show Text

Noise Isolation - Voice Handling

ANC Wind Handling

ANC Wind Handling Graph

SAMPLE

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ANC Wind Noise

N/A

Leakage

7.4

N/A

Leakage

SAMPLE

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Leakage Audio

Overall Leakage @ 1ft

37.39 dB

Lock dB

Show Text

Microphone

Microphone Style

Integrated

Yes

Locked

In-Line

Locked

Boom

Yes

Locked

Detachable Boom

Yes

Locked

Mic

Yes

Locked

Show Text

Recording Quality

7.5

N/A

Microphone Frequency Response

SAMPLE

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Recorded Speech

LFE

89.8 Hz

Lock Hz

FR Std. Dev.

3.84 dB

Lock dB

HFE

6,088.74 Hz

Lock Hz

Weighted THD

0.307

Lock

Gain

-6.85 dB

Lock dB

Show Text

Noise Handling

9.0

N/A

SpNR

SAMPLE

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SpNR

42.68 dB

Lock dB

Noise Gate

On/Off Toggle

Locked

Speech + Pink Noise Handling

9.0

0.0

Speech + Pink Noise Audio Sample

Speech + Subway Noise Handling

9.0

0.0

Speech + Subway Noise Audio Sample

Show Text

Active Features

Battery

9.0

N/A

Battery Type

Rechargable

Locked

Continuous Battery Life

77.4 hrs

Lock hrs

Additional Charges

0.0

Lock

Total Battery Life

77.4 hrs

Lock hrs

Charge Time

3.2 hrs

Lock hrs

Power-Saving Feature

Auto-Off Timer

Locked

Audio While Charging

Yes

Locked

Passive Playback

Locked

Charging Port

USB-C

Locked

Show Text

App Support

7.0

N/A

App Picture

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SAMPLE

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App Name

AudezeHQ

Locked

iOS

Yes

Locked

Android

Yes

Locked

macOS

Yes

Locked

Windows

Yes

Locked

Equalizer

Graphic + Presets

Locked

ANC Control

Locked

Mic Control

Adjustable Level

Locked

Room Effects

Locked

Playback Control

Locked

Button Mapping

Locked

Surround Support

Locked

Show Text

Connectivity

Wired Connection

8.3

N/A

Cable Picture

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SAMPLE

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Analog Audio

Yes

Locked

USB Audio

USB-C

Locked

Detachable

Yes

Locked

Length

4.07 ft (1.24 m)

Lock ft (Lock m)

Connector

1/8" TRS

Locked

Latency - Analog

9.1 ms

N/A

Latency - USB

13.0 ms

Lock ms

Recorded Latency

Recorded Latency Connection

Analog

Locked

Show Text

Bluetooth Connection

8.9

N/A

Bluetooth Version

5.3

Locked

Multi-Device Pairing

2 Devices

Locked

Quick Pair (Android)

Yes

Locked

Quick Pair (iOS)

Locked

Line Of Sight Range

334.65 ft (102.00 m)

Lock ft (Lock m)

Latency - SBC

186 ms

Lock ms

Latency - aptX

N/A

Latency - aptX Adaptive (High Quality)

N/A

Latency - aptX Adaptive (Low Latency)

N/A

Latency - LDAC

236 ms

N/A

Recorded Latency

Recorded Latency Codec

SBC

Locked

AAC Support

Yes

Locked

Show Text

Wireless Connection (Dongle)

8.0

N/A

Line Of Sight Range

173.88 ft (53.00 m)

Lock ft (Lock m)

Latency - Dongle

23 ms

Lock ms

Recorded Latency

Show Text

PC Compatibility

Analog

Audio + Microphone

Locked

Wired USB

Audio + Microphone

Locked

Non-BT Wireless

Audio + Microphone

Locked

Show Text

PlayStation Compatibility

PS4 Analog

Audio + Microphone

Locked

PS4 Wired USB

Audio + Microphone

Locked

PS4 Non-BT Wireless

Audio + Microphone

Locked

PS5 Analog

Audio + Microphone

Locked

PS5 Wired USB

Audio + Microphone

Locked

PS5 Non-BT Wireless

Audio + Microphone

Locked

Show Text

Xbox Compatibility

Xbox One Analog

Audio + Microphone

Locked

Xbox One Wired USB

Locked

Xbox One Non-BT Wireless

Audio + Microphone

Locked

Xbox Series X|S Analog

Audio + Microphone

Locked

Xbox Series X|S Wired USB

Locked

Xbox Series X|S Non-BT Wireless

Audio + Microphone

Locked

Show Text

Base/Dock

3.4

N/A

Type

Wireless USB Dongle

Locked

USB Input

Yes

Locked

Line In

Locked

Line Out

Locked

Optical Input

Locked

RCA Input

Locked

Dock Charging

Locked

Power Supply

USB

Locked

Show Text

Check Price

Dark Gray

Maxwell for Xbox

Dark

Scape

Dark Gray

Maxwell for PlayStation

Light

Scape