Over-Ear
Audeze Maxwell 2 ANC
88Outstanding
$430
Full review dataAudeze Maxwell 2 ANC vs Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro Mkii: 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
Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro Mkii
74Great
$700
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 7 of 7 measures.
- Audeze Maxwell 2 ANC
- Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro Mkii
HearWiki score
88
74
Sound
9.3
8.1
Noise cancelling
8.5
-
Battery
8.0
-
Calls
9.0
-
Value
6.5
5.7
Price (USD)
$430
$700
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 ANC (2026) against Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro Mkii (2024). The Audeze Maxwell 2 ANC edges ahead on platform, but only just: ANC type Adaptive against None. It also adds USB-C.
- Maxwell 2 ANC20262 yr newer
- DT 1990 Pro Mkii2024
What differsMaxwell 2 ANCDT 1990 Pro Mkii
- ANC type
- Adaptive
- None
- USB-C
- Yes
- No
Platform
Everyday features
Specifications
Maxwell 2 ANCDT 1990 Pro Mkii
- Type
- Over-Ear
- Over-Ear
- Price (USD)
- $430
- $700
- HearWiki score
- 88
- 74
- Released
- 2026
- 2024
- Availability
- Sold new
- Still sold new
- Driver
- 90 mm planar magnetic
- 2× 45 mm dynamic
- Driver type
- planar
- dynamic
- Driver size
- 90 mm
- 45 mm
- Drivers per side
- 1
- 2
- Frequency response
- 10 Hz - 50 kHz
- 5 Hz - 40 kHz
- Impedance
- -
- 30 Ω
- Sensitivity
- 115 dB/mW
- 94 dB/mW
- Bluetooth
- 5.3
- -
- Codecs
- SBC, AAC, LC3, LC3plus, LDAC
- -
- Multipoint pairing
- Yes
- -
- Battery life
- 40 h
- -
- Battery life (ANC on)
- 35 h
- -
- Full charge time
- 120 min
- -
- Active noise cancelling
- Yes
- No
- ANC type
- adaptive
- -
- Transparency mode
- Yes
- -
- Companion app
- Yes
- -
- Custom EQ
- Yes
- -
- Wear detection
- No
- -
- Controls
- both
- buttons
- Weight
- 560 g
- 376 g
- Detachable cable
- -
- Yes
- USB-C
- Yes
- No
- Connector
- -
- XLR
- Model code
- -
- 1000303
- Microphones
- 2
- -
- Call noise reduction
- Yes
- -
- Call NR technology
- AI ENC
- -
What reviewers said
Audeze Maxwell 2 ANC
No summary yet - we haven't aggregated enough reviews.
Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro Mkii
The Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro MkII is a wired, open-back over-ear headphone that refines the original's studio-oriented sound with a lower 30-ohm impedance for easier use with a wider range of devices. It features a 45mm dynamic driver, a detachable cable, and a build quality that feels premium, delivering a detailed and lively audio signature. While it excels in clarity and spaciousness, its pronounced treble and lack of features like noise cancellation or a microphone make it a specialized tool for critical listening and studio work rather than casual everyday use.
- Pro:Highly detailed and resolving sound with excellent clarity
- Pro:Lower 30-ohm impedance makes it easier to drive than the original
- Pro:Premium build quality with comfortable, durable design
- Con:Elevated treble can be harsh or fatiguing for some listeners
- Con:No inline microphone for calls or voice chat
- Con:Pricey for a wired-only headphone without ANC
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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