Two premium wireless over-ears, two very different philosophies. The Audeze Maxwell 2 leans on planar magnetic drivers and a lower price; the Sennheiser HDB 630 counters with a lighter build, longer ANC battery life, and a bundled dongle for high-res wireless. Both score well in the HearWiki database, but they ask for different compromises. This head-to-head works through the numbers so you can decide which one matches your priorities.
Price and positioning
The Maxwell 2 costs $329, the HDB 630 costs $450. That is a $121 gap, which is meaningful at this tier. The Maxwell 2 asks for less money and gives you planar magnetic drivers, a 90 mm diaphragm that is rare in wireless headphones. The HDB 630 asks for more and gives you a lighter frame, a longer ANC battery figure, and a wider codec list including aptX Adaptive.
Neither is a budget product. Both sit in the upper-middle of the over-ear wireless market. The Maxwell 2 is positioned as a gaming-adjacent all-rounder with a strong sound pedigree. The HDB 630 is positioned as an audiophile travel headphone, with the bundled BTD 700 dongle as the key to unlocking high-resolution wireless performance. If price is your first filter, the Maxwell 2 wins outright.
The scores, side by side
The headline HearWiki scores are 88/100 for the Maxwell 2 and 86/100 for the HDB 630. That is a two-point gap, which in practical terms is effectively a tie. These are both strong buyability scores, derived from published review consensus, price, and availability, not from the sub-scores below. Do not read the headline as a weighted average of those sub-scores; it is a separate measure.
Looking at the sub-scores, the picture is closer still. Sound is 9.5/10 for the Maxwell 2 and 9.4/10 for the HDB 630, a hair apart. Battery is 9.5/10 versus 9.7/10, again close. The HDB 630 leads on value at 8.4/10 against 7.5/10, which is notable given its higher price, while the Maxwell 2 leads on calls at 9.0/10 against 8.5/10. ANC is listed for the HDB 630 at 8.2/10; the Maxwell 2 has no ANC sub-score listed, so you cannot compare those directly.
Sound
The Maxwell 2 uses a 90 mm planar magnetic driver. That is an unusual size for a wireless headphone, and the published reviews consistently describe a detailed, fast, low-distortion presentation. The HDB 630 uses a 42 mm dynamic driver with a 480 ohm impedance, which is high for a wireless model and suggests it is designed to be driven by its own amplifier stage. Reviewers describe balanced tuning and engaging sound, with some sonic quirks in certain settings.
Both score nearly identically on sound, so do not expect a dramatic winner here. The Maxwell 2 may appeal more if you want the planar signature, which tends to offer cleaner transients and better separation. The HDB 630 may appeal more if you want a warmer, more conventional dynamic sound with strong aptX support. Neither is a clear step above the other on paper.
Noise cancelling and battery
Both have active noise cancelling. The HDB 630 has a listed ANC sub-score of 8.2/10, described by reviewers as adaptive with strong performance. The Maxwell 2 has ANC listed as a feature, but no sub-score, so HearWiki has no figure for how well it performs. You should not assume the Maxwell 2 matches the HDB 630 on ANC based on price or driver type; the data simply does not say.
Battery life is where the two diverge. The Maxwell 2 offers 80 hours per charge without ANC, and 35 hours per charge with ANC on. The HDB 630 offers 60 hours per charge, and that figure is the same with ANC on, at 60 hours. Neither has a charging case, so there is no with-case figure for either. If you use ANC constantly, the HDB 630 lasts nearly twice as long per charge. If you leave ANC off, the Maxwell 2 lasts longer. The HDB 630 also has wear detection, which pauses playback when you take them off; the Maxwell 2 does not list that feature.
Calls and everyday use
For calls, the Maxwell 2 scores 9.0/10, the HDB 630 scores 8.5/10. The Maxwell 2 has two microphones, the HDB 630 has four. More mics do not automatically mean better call quality, but the HDB 630's lower score suggests the extra mics do not fully compensate. Both support multipoint, so neither gets credit for that in this comparison.
On physical design, the HDB 630 is much lighter at 311 g versus 560 g for the Maxwell 2. That is a significant difference for long listening sessions, especially if you are walking around. The Maxwell 2 is heavier, likely due to the planar drivers and larger build. The HDB 630 has no IP rating, meaning it is not water resistant; the Maxwell 2 also has no IP rating listed. Neither supports wireless charging, so that is not a differentiator.
Bluetooth versions differ: the Maxwell 2 has 5.3, the HDB 630 has 5.2. Codec support also differs. The Maxwell 2 supports SBC, AAC, LC3, LC3plus, and LDAC. The HDB 630 supports SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX HD, and aptX Adaptive. If you use an Android phone with LDAC, the Maxwell 2 is the better match. If you have an aptX Adaptive source, the HDB 630 is the one.
Which one should you buy?
Buy the Audeze Maxwell 2 if you want the lower price, the planar magnetic sound, and the longer battery with ANC off. It is also the better pick if you rely on LDAC or want a slightly higher call quality score. The heavier weight is the main trade-off.
Buy the Sennheiser HDB 630 if you want the lighter build, the longer ANC battery, wear detection, and a proven ANC sub-score. It costs more, but it also scores higher on value, which suggests reviewers think you get more for the extra money. If you listen with ANC on for hours at a time, the HDB 630 is the safer choice.
If you are still torn, the full comparison table at /compare/audeze-maxwell-2-vs-sennheiser-hdb-630 lines up every spec side by side. For more context on what else is out there, browse the best over-ear headphones or the best ANC earbuds if you are open to a different form factor.
FAQ
Which one has better sound quality?
The published sub-scores are nearly identical: 9.5/10 for the Maxwell 2 and 9.4/10 for the HDB 630. The difference is in driver type, not overall quality. The Maxwell 2 uses planar magnetics, which some listeners prefer for detail and speed, while the HDB 630 uses a dynamic driver with a warmer, more conventional tuning. Your preference will depend on your ears.
How long does the battery last on each?
With ANC off, the Maxwell 2 lasts up to 80 hours per charge, the HDB 630 lasts 60 hours. With ANC on, the Maxwell 2 drops to 35 hours, while the HDB 630 stays at 60 hours. If you use ANC constantly, the HDB 630 is the clear winner; if you rarely use it, the Maxwell 2 lasts longer.
Are these good for phone calls?
Both are above average. The Maxwell 2 scores 9.0/10 for calls, the HDB 630 scores 8.5/10. The Maxwell 2 has two microphones, the HDB 630 has four, but the higher score suggests the Maxwell 2 handles voice pickup better in practice. Neither is a bad choice for calls, but the Maxwell 2 has the edge on paper.
