SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite vs Audeze Maxwell 2: Which Headphones Are Better?

Tested using Methodology v2.0

Updated Feb 27, 2026 03:23 PM

This review is in Early access

See SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite Review

Audeze

TypeLocked

Noise CancellingLocked

EnclosureLocked

Bass Amount Locked

WirelessLocked

TransducerLocked

Treble Amount Locked

MicLocked

Sound Signature Locked

TypeLocked

Noise CancellingLocked

EnclosureLocked

Bass Amount Locked

WirelessLocked

TransducerLocked

Treble Amount Locked

MicLocked

Sound Signature Locked

Our Verdict

SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite

Audeze Maxwell 2

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

Variants

Arctis Nova Elite (Obsidian)
Arctis Nova Elite (Sage & Gold)

Maxwell 2 (Gray for Playstation)
Maxwell 2 (Gray for Xbox)

Review

See Audeze Maxwell 2 Review

Check Price

Obsidian

Arctis Nova Elite

Gray for Playstation

Maxwell 2

Audeze

Sage & Gold

Arctis Nova Elite

BestBuy.com

Gray for Xbox

Maxwell 2

Main Differences for

Sports And Fitness

Threshold

0.10

Sports And Fitness

0.0

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Full Comparison

Sports And Fitness

0.0

Travel

0.0

Office Work

0.0

Wireless Gaming (In Development)

0.0

Wired Gaming (In Development)

0.0

Audio Reproduction Accuracy

0.0

Noise Isolation

0.0

Microphone (In Development)

0.0

Frequency Response Consistency

0.0

Sound

Sound Profile

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Normalization Frequency

Lock Hz

Bass Amount

Locked

Treble Amount

Locked

Sound Signature

Locked

Show Text

Frequency Response Consistency

N/A

Consistency L

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Consistency R

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Std. Deviation

Lock dB

Show Text

Raw Frequency Response

Raw FR L

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Raw FR R

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Bass Profile: Target Compliance

N/A

Bass Profile: Target Compliance

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

RMS Deviation From Target

Lock dB

Low-Frequency Extension

Lock Hz

Low Bass

Lock dB

Mid Bass

Lock dB

High Bass

Lock dB

Show Text

Mid-Range Profile: Target Compliance

N/A

Mid-Range Profile: Target Compliance

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

RMS Deviation From Target

Lock dB

Low Mid

Lock dB

Mid-Mid

Lock dB

High Mid

Lock dB

Show Text

Treble Profile: Target Compliance

N/A

Treble Profile: Target Compliance

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

RMS Deviation From Target

Lock dB

Low Treble

Lock dB

Mid Treble

Lock dB

High Treble

Lock dB

Show Text

Peaks/Dips

N/A

Peaks/Dips Graph

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Peaks

Lock dB

Dips

Lock dB

Show Text

Stereo Mismatch

N/A

Frequency Response Mismatch

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Phase Response Mismatch

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Weighted Amplitude Mismatch

Lock dB

Weighted Frequency Response Mismatch

Lock dB

Weighted Phase Mismatch

Lock°

N/A

Show Text

Group Delay

N/A

Group Delay

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Weighted Group Delay

Lock ms

N/A

Show Text

Cumulative Spectral Decay

CSD

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

PRTF

N/A

PRTF

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

PRTF Accuracy (RMS Deviation)

Lock dB

PRTF Size (Avg.)

Lock dB

PRTF Distance

Lock dB

Show Text

Harmonic Distortion

N/A

Harmonics Levels

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

THD Ratio

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

WHD @ 94 dB SPL

Lock%

WHD @ 104 dB SPL

Lock%

Show Text

Electrical Aspects

Impedance

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Sensitivity @1kHz-1V

Lock dB SPL

N/A

Bluetooth Max SPL

Lock dB

Show Text

Virtual Soundstage

N/A

Virtual Soundstage

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Head Modeling

Locked

Speaker Modeling

Locked

Room Ambience

Locked

Head Tracking

Locked

Virtual Surround

Locked

Show Text

Test Settings

Firmware

Locked

Power

Locked

Connection

Locked

Codec

Locked

Test Instrument

Locked

EQ

Locked

ANC

Locked

Tip/Pad

Locked

Microphone

Locked

Show Text

Design

Style

Design Picture 2

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Type

Locked

Enclosure

Locked

Wireless

Locked

Transducer

Locked

Show Text

Comfort

N/A

Comfort Picture

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Weight

Lock lbs

Clamping Force

Lock lbs

Show Text

Controls

N/A

Controls Picture

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

OS Compatibility

Locked

Ease Of Use

Locked

Feedback

Locked

Call/Music Control

Locked

Volume Control

Locked

Microphone Control

Locked

Channel Mixing

Locked

Noise Cancelling Control

Locked

Talk-Through

Locked

Additional Controls

Locked

Show Text

Portability

N/A

Portability Picture

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

L

Lock" (Lock cm)

W

Lock" (Lock cm)

H

Lock" (Lock cm)

Volume

Lock in³ (Lock cm³)

Transmitter Required

Locked

Show Text

Case

N/A

Case Picture

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Type

Locked

L

N/A

W

N/A

H

N/A

Volume

N/A

Show Text

Build Quality

N/A

Build Quality Picture

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Show Text

Stability

N/A

Stability Picture

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Show Text

Headshots 1

Angled Picture

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Side Picture

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Headshots 2

Front Picture

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Rear Picture

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Top

Top Picture

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

In The Box

In The Box Picture

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Show Text

Isolation

Noise Isolation - Full Range

N/A

Noise Isolation - Full Range Graph

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Noise Cancelling

Locked

Overall Attenuation

Lock dB

Bass

Lock dB

Mid

Lock dB

Treble

Lock dB

Show Text

Noise Isolation - Common Scenarios

N/A

Noise Isolation - Common Scenarios Graph

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Airplane Noise Attenuation

Lock dB

Airplane Noise Isolation Audio

Office Noise Attenuation

Lock dB

Office Noise Isolation Audio

Street Noise Attenuation

Lock dB

Street Noise Isolation Audio

Show Text

Noise Isolation - Voice Handling

ANC Wind Handling

ANC Wind Handling Graph

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

ANC Wind Noise

Show Text

Leakage

N/A

Leakage

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Leakage Audio

Overall Leakage @ 1ft

Lock dB

Show Text

Microphone

Microphone Style

Integrated

Locked

In-Line

Locked

Boom

Locked

Detachable Boom

Locked

Mic

Locked

Show Text

Recording Quality

N/A

Microphone Frequency Response

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Recorded Speech

LFE

Lock Hz

FR Std. Dev.

Lock dB

HFE

Lock Hz

Weighted THD

Lock

Gain

Lock dB

Show Text

Noise Handling

N/A

SpNR

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SpNR

Lock dB

Noise Gate

Locked

Speech + Pink Noise Handling

0.0

Speech + Pink Noise Audio Sample

Speech + Subway Noise Handling

0.0

Speech + Subway Noise Audio Sample

Show Text

Active Features

Battery

N/A

Battery Type

Locked

Continuous Battery Life

Lock hrs

≈ Lock hrs

Additional Charges

Lock

Total Battery Life

Lock hrs

≈ Lock hrs

Charge Time

Lock hrs

≈ Lock hrs

Power-Saving Feature

Locked

Audio While Charging

Locked

Passive Playback

Locked

Charging Port

Locked

Show Text

App Support

N/A

App Picture

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

App Name

Locked

iOS

Locked

Android

Locked

macOS

Locked

Windows

Locked

Equalizer

Locked

ANC Control

Locked

Mic Control

Locked

Room Effects

Locked

Playback Control

Locked

Button Mapping

Locked

Surround Support

Locked

Show Text

Connectivity

Wired Connection

N/A

Cable Picture

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Analog Audio

Locked

USB Audio

Locked

Detachable

Locked

Length

Lock ft (Lock m)

Connector

Locked

Latency - Analog

Lock ms

Latency - USB

N/A

Lock ms

Recorded Latency

Recorded Latency Connection

Locked

Show Text

Bluetooth Connection

N/A

Bluetooth Version

Locked

Multi-Device Pairing

Locked

Quick Pair (Android)

Locked

Quick Pair (iOS)

Locked

Line Of Sight Range

Lock ft (Lock m)

Latency - SBC

Lock ms

Latency - aptX

N/A

Latency - aptX Adaptive (High Quality)

N/A

Latency - aptX Adaptive (Low Latency)

N/A

Latency - LDAC

N/A

Lock ms

Recorded Latency

Recorded Latency Codec

Locked

AAC Support

Locked

Show Text

Wireless Connection (Dongle)

N/A

Line Of Sight Range

Lock ft (Lock m)

Latency - Dongle

Lock ms

Recorded Latency

Show Text

PC Compatibility

Analog

Locked

Wired USB

Locked

Non-BT Wireless

Locked

Show Text

PlayStation Compatibility

PS4 Analog

Locked

PS4 Wired USB

Locked

PS4 Non-BT Wireless

Locked

PS5 Analog

Locked

PS5 Wired USB

Locked

PS5 Non-BT Wireless

Locked

Show Text

Xbox Compatibility

Xbox One Analog

Locked

Xbox One Wired USB

Locked

Xbox One Non-BT Wireless

Locked

Xbox Series X|S Analog

Locked

Xbox Series X|S Wired USB

Locked

Xbox Series X|S Non-BT Wireless

Locked

Show Text

Base/Dock

N/A

Type

Locked

USB Input

Locked

Line In

Locked

Line Out

Locked

Optical Input

Locked

RCA Input

Locked

Dock Charging

Locked

Power Supply

Locked

Show Text

Check Price

Obsidian

Arctis Nova Elite

Gray for Playstation

Maxwell 2

Audeze

Sage & Gold

Arctis Nova Elite

BestBuy.com

Gray for Xbox

Maxwell 2