Over-Ear
ASTRO Gaming A50 Gen 5
81Outstanding
$260
Full review dataASTRO Gaming A50 Gen 5 vs Audeze Maxwell 2 ANC: which should you buy?
On aggregated review scores the Audeze Maxwell 2 ANC comes out ahead with a HearWiki score of 88. The full breakdown - sub-scores, specs and what reviewers actually said - is below.
Our pick: Audeze Maxwell 2 ANC - Outstanding overall at around $429.
Over-Ear
Audeze Maxwell 2 ANC
88Outstanding
$430
Full review dataScore breakdown
Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.
Audeze Maxwell 2 ANC leads on 4 of 7 measures.
- ASTRO Gaming A50 Gen 5
- Audeze Maxwell 2 ANC
HearWiki score
81
88
Sound
8.2
9.3
Noise cancelling
-
8.5
Battery
7.1
8.0
Calls
9.2
9.0
Value
7.4
6.5
Price (USD)
$260
$430
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?
New platform
Audeze Maxwell 2 ANC (2026) against ASTRO Gaming A50 Gen 5 (2025). The Audeze Maxwell 2 ANC is the newer platform here: Bluetooth 5.3 against 5.2, Top codec LC3 against SBC, LE Audio (LC3) and ANC type Adaptive against None. It also adds Transparency mode.
- A50 Gen 52025
- Maxwell 2 ANC20261 yr newer
What differsA50 Gen 5Maxwell 2 ANC
- Bluetooth
- 5.2
- 5.3
- Top codec
- SBC
- LC3
- LE Audio (LC3)
- No
- Yes
- ANC type
- None
- Adaptive
- Transparency mode
- No
- Yes
Platform
Everyday features
Level on: Multipoint pairing, USB-C, Custom EQ, Companion app.
Specifications
A50 Gen 5Maxwell 2 ANC
- Type
- Over-Ear
- Over-Ear
- Price (USD)
- $260
- $430
- HearWiki score
- 81
- 88
- Released
- 2025
- 2026
- Availability
- Sold new
- Sold new
- Driver
- 40 mm dynamic
- 90 mm planar magnetic
- Driver type
- dynamic
- planar
- Driver size
- 40 mm
- 90 mm
- Drivers per side
- 1
- 1
- Frequency response
- 20 Hz - 20 kHz
- 10 Hz - 50 kHz
- Impedance
- 32 Ω
- -
- Sensitivity
- -
- 115 dB/mW
- Bluetooth
- 5.2
- 5.3
- Codecs
- SBC
- SBC, AAC, LC3, LC3plus, LDAC
- Multipoint pairing
- Yes
- Yes
- Latency
- 20 ms
- -
- Wireless range
- 12 m
- -
- Battery life
- 24 h
- 40 h
- Battery life (ANC on)
- -
- 35 h
- Full charge time
- 180 min
- 120 min
- Quick charge
- 10 min → 2 h
- -
- Wireless charging
- Yes
- -
- Active noise cancelling
- No
- Yes
- ANC type
- none
- adaptive
- Transparency mode
- No
- Yes
- Companion app
- Yes
- Yes
- Custom EQ
- Yes
- Yes
- Wear detection
- No
- No
- Controls
- buttons
- both
- Weight
- 363 g
- 560 g
- Detachable cable
- Yes
- -
- USB-C
- Yes
- Yes
- Connector
- USB-C
- -
- Microphones
- 1
- 2
- Call noise reduction
- Yes
- Yes
- Call NR technology
- -
- AI ENC
What reviewers said
ASTRO Gaming A50 Gen 5
The ASTRO Gaming A50 Gen 5 is a premium wireless headset designed for cross-platform versatility, offering seamless switching between consoles and PC. With dual-source Bluetooth and a long 24-hour battery life, it pairs convenience with strong audio performance, though it lacks active noise cancellation. Its comfortable build and low-latency wireless connection make it a solid pick for gamers who value flexibility and all-day wear.
- Pro:Excellent multi-device wireless switching
- Pro:Long 24-hour battery life with wireless charging
- Pro:Comfortable premium build for extended sessions
- Con:No active noise cancellation
- Con:Only supports SBC Bluetooth codec
- Con:Relatively heavy at 363g
Audeze Maxwell 2 ANC
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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