Audeze has updated one of the best gaming headsets we've tested — the Audeze Maxwell 2 sounds better for both gaming and music, has better noise-canceling tech in its mic, and is (hopefully) more comfortable and versatile, design-wise.
The big update in the Maxwell 2 is the inclusion of Audeze's SLAM technology, which, according to the company, "produces heightened spatial immersion and precision along with punchier bass response." This tech first debuted in the brand's flagship CRBN2 electrostatic headphones in 2024, and is now part of the Maxwell lineup. It seems to have the same excellent 90mm planar magnetic drivers as the original Maxwell — which offer an impressive frequency response range of 10 - 50,000 Hz (much wider than the typical gaming headset frequency response range of 20 - 20,000 Hz).
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(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)
(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)
(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)
(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)
Tom's Hardware's Jeffrey Kampman had a chance to stop by Audeze's suite at CES and check out the headset, and he was especially impressed by the detail and positional audio — hopefully this will be even better for pinpointing directional footsteps or gunshots in games. As for music listening, he found the headset to be very transparent to the source material — he said the soundstage was perhaps a little stuffy (somewhat expected with the large, closed-back design) but that everything sounded great overall.
The headset also features improved AI-powered noise canceling technology for its detachable boom microphone — though, no word on whether this also applies to the built-in mics. Jeffrey said the sidetone sounded good, though noise-canceling was a little difficult to evaluate on the show floor.
Design-wise, the Maxwell 2 looks pretty similar to its predecessor — large, round plastic earcups with plush leatherette-covered memory foam earpads and a sturdy steel headband. It does have a wider, ventilated head strap, and Audeze says the earpads now have more space to accommodate a wider range of users. It's still a pretty hefty headset, however — it weighs 1.23 pounds (560g), which is almost 2.5 ounces (70g) heavier than the original Maxwell (1.08lbs / 490g). So we hope those nods to comfort end up paying off. The headset also has magnetic side plates that can be swapped out for ones with custom designs, though there are no alternate options available at launch. Like its predecessor, it features 2.4GHz wireless, Bluetooth, and wired connectivity, and gets up to 80 hours of battery life on either of its wireless connections.
(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)
The Maxwell 2 isn't the only planar magnetic gaming headset we've seen on the show floor: Asus also showed off its ROG Kithara, which is part of a collaboration with HiFiMan. The wired ROG Kithara features 100mm planar magnetic drivers and an open-back design, similar to the Audeze LCD-GX. It comes with a detachable full-band MEMS boom microphone and swappable 4.4mm, 6.3mm, and 3.5mm single-ended plugs, as well as a USB-C to dual 3.5mm adapter.
The Maxwell 2 is available to order now, and costs $329 for the PlayStation version and $349 for the Xbox version (both versions are also compatible with PC, Android, iOS, and Nintendo Switch).
Sarah Jacobsson Purewal is a senior editor at Tom's Hardware covering peripherals, software, and custom builds. You can find more of her work in PCWorld, Macworld, TechHive, CNET, Gizmodo, Tom's Guide, PC Gamer, Men's Health, Men's Fitness, SHAPE, Cosmopolitan, and just about everywhere else.
