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Audeze announces maxwell 2 gaming headset.

Review:


Looks like a solid iteration but it's getting even heavier than Maxwell 1... That's gonna be a deal breaker for many.
 
Those don't look bad but if that is plastic construction on the parts that bear prying forces it is concerning. I have had several plastic headphones eventually crack just from the pressures of clamping on your head, most recently the Razer Kaira Pro. I'm saving for Sennheiser HDB 630. Right now using some "Mad Dog" modded Fostex through am amp.
 
In the market for a new headset and just ordered the Razer Blackshark V3 at just $150. Those are $360 with shipping, so 2.4x the price. Are they that much better to warrant such an insane price tag?
 
Hifiman just dropped a gaming headset with Asus, and now Audeze is back with the Maxwell 2. It's a solid round of upgrades across the board — especially durability, since it's way less likely to develop that infamous planar crinkle if you manhandle the cups. The mic is better, the comfort strap is better, and overall build quality feels more dialed in. Bass, though, is a matter of taste: the original Maxwell hits harder with bigger, warmer low‑end, while the Maxwell 2 delivers tighter, cleaner, more controlled bass with better spatial detail. In short: Maxwell = boom, Maxwell 2 = precision. And sometimes a man wants one, sometimes the other.
 
Hmm... I have tried the first one and had all kinds of static/audio drops. But that was just probably my headset and Maxwell 1 was very well received. Still, I am just sticking to Audeze LCD wired and I have Steelseries Nova Pro for consoles.
 
Wasting no time I see. Sony is a headphone legend. Audeze has some fresh ideas. This could be a cool marriage. For me? The best open back headphones I can afford at the time and a $0.99 USB lapel mic. I'm not dropping headphones money and not getting headphones. You can get software virtual surround stuff that does a good enough job on any decent headphones. The physical gaming headphone driver array was always a bit of a meme imo.
 
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In the market for a new headset and just ordered the Razer Blackshark V3 at just $150. Those are $360 with shipping, so 2.4x the price. Are they that much better to warrant such an insane price tag?
Yeah the sound quality won't disappoint you. And the build quality (based on my experience on Maxwell 1) is matching the 300 buck price tag.

But there are some other shortcomings as a gaming headset, e.g. heavy weight, no simultaneous Bluetooth, etc.

You can wait a bit till it's available on Amazon or Best buy, then you can try and decide if you like it.
 
In the market for a new headset and just ordered the Razer Blackshark V3 at just $150. Those are $360 with shipping, so 2.4x the price. Are they that much better to warrant such an insane price tag?
Planar magnetic drivers are like the OLED of headphones. Only they do what they do. How much you value that thing is personal. You may prefer what other technologies do. Besides this, you may not overall put as much value into sound as another person.
 
I have an LCD-X, it weights about 630 grams. Can't use it for more than an hour or It starts killing my neck / upperback. Sounds is fucking phenomenal. I usually just use my sennheiser hd650. Not as good but still really good and light.
 
Review:


Looks like a solid iteration but it's getting even heavier than Maxwell 1... That's gonna be a deal breaker for many.

the biggest thing that made the first gens perfect for me was the Wicked cushions headstrap. it Has alot more surface area

the 2nd gens seem to come with a wide headstrap from the start so it shouldnt be uncomfortable at all.
 
I went down the headphone rabbit hole last year and bought 5 of them.

I currently own:
1. Sennheiser HD490 Pro
2. HiFiMan Edition X2
3. Sennheiser Drop PC38X
4. FiiO FT1
5. Aune AR5000

All sound GREAT when connected to Fosi K7.

I also tried out the Audeze maxwell and they sounded great, but felt I was better with what I already had.
 
Which one is better for PC? There are two versions of these headphones - PlayStation or Xbox.
They're the same headset, the PlayStation model doesn't include the Dolby license so you have to buy it separately, the Xbox version includes the license and it's baked into the hardware and the higher price reflects that, if you already paid for Dolby Access on your PC the PlayStation version is the cheaper option, otherwise go with the Xbox model unless you own a PlayStation 5 and plan to use it there as well.

IMO Dolby Atmos for Headphones is AMAZING, you want this.
 
Yeah the sound quality won't disappoint you. And the build quality (based on my experience on Maxwell 1) is matching the 300 buck price tag.

But there are some other shortcomings as a gaming headset, e.g. heavy weight, no simultaneous Bluetooth, etc.

You can wait a bit till it's available on Amazon or Best buy, then you can try and decide if you like it.

Planar magnetic drivers are like the OLED of headphones. Only they do what they do. How much you value that thing is personal. You may prefer what other technologies do. Besides this, you may not overall put as much value into sound as another person.
Thanks. I ordered the PS5 version as I have one too. I'll just return the Blackshark. They're pricey, but headphones can last a decade if you take care of them. Hopefully, the build quality isn't shit and they don't break like my Razer Man 'O' War. The weight is a bit concerning though. Those are chunky boys.
 
They're the same headset, the PlayStation model doesn't include the Dolby license so you have to buy it separately, the Xbox version includes the license and it's baked into the hardware and the higher price reflects that, if you already paid for Dolby Access on your PC the PlayStation version is the cheaper option, otherwise go with the Xbox model unless you own a PlayStation 5 and plan to use it there as well.

IMO Dolby Atmos for Headphones is AMAZING, you want this.
Thanks for explaining. I do have Dolby Atmos, so PlayStation one would be fine. Cheers.
 
This is definitely what we all look like wearing one of these, right..?

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How often do people upgrade their headsets?

My old ass steel series still seem to be doing fine
Once the battery becomes significantly bad I'm getting a new headset

So maybe every 4 or 5 years? I know have a JBL 350 for about 2 years and the battery is pretty solid
 
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Which reminds me, I do recommend Arctic Nova Pro headphones. They come with a little "mix" station that can connect you to console, PC, etc.

They have replaceable an rechargeable batteries, and they come with 2 out of the box. Replacements are like $15 for 2 off Amazon.

Headphones are super comfortable and sound quality is good. Not Maxwell good, but good.

They also have Bluetooth/USB mix built in so you can have your cell phone or computer audio mixed with console.
 
The weight of Maxwell 1 does not bother me, use them everyday. Very satisfied with them, only downside is that bass can be sometimes pretty light

What about Maxwell 2 ? My only criteria is audio quality, vs. Maxwell 1
 
Thanks. I ordered the PS5 version as I have one too. I'll just return the Blackshark. They're pricey, but headphones can last a decade if you take care of them. Hopefully, the build quality isn't shit and they don't break like my Razer Man 'O' War. The weight is a bit concerning though. Those are chunky boys.
I hope they work out for you. My current modded Fostex are 440g which is… a challenge… so that 560g does seem crazy to me. The headband does look wider, at least. The Senns I'm saving for are 311g tho. Everyone's skull constitution is different tho.
 
If anyone wants an absolute value king for a gaming headset real audio and physical build quality, grab a Phillips SHP9600, a cheap USB mic of your choosing, and a cheap little desk DAC like a Neohipo H1. For roughly a hundred dollars, you've got way more flexibility than any gaming headset. And you can actually wear it in public without shaming your family and frieds. The Audeze is more boutique grade quality on the audio, but the Phillips 9600 is far from a slouch. Plus you can get actual after-sales support if you sit on it.
 
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