Over-Ear
AKG K280
Not yet scored
$200
Full review dataAKG K280 vs Audeze Maxwell 2: which should you buy?
Specs, scores and condensed review verdicts for the AKG K280 vs Audeze Maxwell 2, side by side. Where a product has no HearWiki score yet, not enough reviews have been aggregated to rate it.
Score breakdown
Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.
Audeze Maxwell 2 leads on 5 of 6 measures.
- AKG K280
- Audeze Maxwell 2
HearWiki score
-
88
Sound
-
9.5
Battery
-
9.5
Calls
-
9.0
Value
-
7.5
Price (USD)
$200
$330
Generation & platform
The scores rank quality. This is the other question: is the newer one actually newer technology, or the same platform in a new shell?
Half a step newer
Audeze Maxwell 2 (2026) against AKG K280 (2018). The Audeze Maxwell 2 edges ahead on platform, but only just: ANC type Adaptive against None.
- K2802018
- Maxwell 220268 yr newer
What differsK280Maxwell 2
- ANC type
- None
- Adaptive
Platform
Specifications
K280Maxwell 2
- Type
- Over-Ear
- Over-Ear
- Price (USD)
- $200
- $330
- HearWiki score
- Not scored
- 88
- Released
- 2018
- 2026
- Availability
- Discontinued
- Sold new
- Driver
- 30 mm dynamic
- 90 mm planar magnetic
- Driver type
- dynamic
- planar
- Driver size
- 30 mm
- 90 mm
- Drivers per side
- 1
- 1
- Frequency response
- -
- 10 Hz - 50 kHz
- Impedance
- 75 Ω
- -
- Sensitivity
- 101 dB/mW
- -
- Bluetooth
- -
- 5.3
- Codecs
- -
- SBC, AAC, LC3, LC3plus, LDAC
- Multipoint pairing
- -
- Yes
- Battery life
- -
- 80 h
- Battery life (ANC on)
- -
- 35 h
- Full charge time
- -
- 120 min
- Active noise cancelling
- No
- Yes
- ANC type
- -
- adaptive
- Transparency mode
- -
- Yes
- Companion app
- -
- Yes
- Custom EQ
- -
- Yes
- Wear detection
- -
- No
- Controls
- -
- buttons
- Weight
- 250 g
- 560 g
- Detachable cable
- Yes
- -
- USB-C
- -
- Yes
- Microphones
- -
- 2
- Call noise reduction
- -
- Yes
- Call NR technology
- -
- AI ENC
What reviewers said
AKG K280
The AKG K280 is an open-back, over-ear headphone with a unique dual-driver setup per side, using a parabolic lens to direct sound precisely into the ear canal. It delivers a spacious, speaker-like presentation with strong bass and midrange clarity, making it a solid choice for wired listening at home. The included long cable and detachable design add convenience for stationary use.
- Pro:Open-back design offers a wide, airy soundstage
- Pro:Dual drivers per ear provide detailed bass and mids
- Pro:Detachable cable adds flexibility for replacement or upgrades
- Con:No noise cancellation, so ambient sound leaks in
- Con:High 75-ohm impedance may need a dedicated amp
- Con:Bulky 10-foot cable limits portability
Audeze Maxwell 2
No summary yet - we haven't aggregated enough reviews.
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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