Over-Ear
Audeze Maxwell 2 ANC
88Outstanding
$430
Full review dataAudeze Maxwell 2 ANC vs Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones: 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.
Score 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.
- Audeze Maxwell 2 ANC
- Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones
HearWiki score
88
83
Sound
9.3
8.5
Noise cancelling
8.5
9.5
Battery
8.0
6.9
Calls
9.0
7.9
Value
6.5
8.6
Price (USD)
$430
$280
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 Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2023). The Audeze Maxwell 2 ANC is the newer platform here: Top codec LC3 against aptX Adaptive and LE Audio (LC3). The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones answers on convenience features: it adds Wear detection.
- Maxwell 2 ANC20263 yr newer
- QuietComfort Ultra Headphones2023
What differsMaxwell 2 ANCQuietComfort Ultra Headphones
- Top codec
- LC3
- aptX Adaptive
- LE Audio (LC3)
- Yes
- No
- Wear detection
- No
- Yes
Platform
Everyday features
Level on: Bluetooth, ANC type, Multipoint pairing, USB-C, Transparency mode, Custom EQ, Companion app.
Specifications
Maxwell 2 ANCQuietComfort Ultra Headphones
- Type
- Over-Ear
- Over-Ear
- Price (USD)
- $430
- $280
- HearWiki score
- 88
- 83
- Released
- 2026
- 2023
- Availability
- Sold new
- Still sold new
- Driver
- 90 mm planar magnetic
- 35 mm dynamic
- Driver type
- planar
- dynamic
- Driver size
- 90 mm
- 35 mm
- Drivers per side
- 1
- -
- Frequency response
- 10 Hz - 50 kHz
- 20 Hz - 20 kHz
- Sensitivity
- 115 dB/mW
- -
- Bluetooth
- 5.3
- 5.3
- Codecs
- SBC, AAC, LC3, LC3plus, LDAC
- SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive
- Multipoint pairing
- Yes
- Yes
- Battery life
- 40 h
- 24 h
- Battery life (ANC on)
- 35 h
- 18 h
- Full charge time
- 120 min
- 180 min
- Quick charge
- -
- 15 min → 3 h
- Wireless charging
- -
- No
- Active noise cancelling
- Yes
- Yes
- ANC type
- adaptive
- adaptive
- Transparency mode
- Yes
- Yes
- Companion app
- Yes
- Yes
- Custom EQ
- Yes
- Yes
- Wear detection
- No
- Yes
- Controls
- both
- both
- Voice assistant
- -
- Yes
- Weight
- 560 g
- 254 g
- Water resistance
- -
- none
- USB-C
- Yes
- Yes
- Connector
- -
- 2.5 mm balanced
- Microphones
- 2
- 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.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones
These over-ear wireless headphones from Bose deliver adaptive noise cancellation and a comfortable, travel-friendly design. With Bluetooth 5.3, multipoint connectivity, and up to 24 hours of battery life, they are built for long listening sessions. The included custom EQ and transparency mode add flexibility for different environments.
- Pro:Adaptive noise cancellation effectively blocks distractions
- Pro:Long 24-hour battery life for extended use
- Pro:Comfortable over-ear fit suitable for travel
- Con:No water resistance rating
- Con:No wireless charging support
- Con:Battery life drops to 18 hours with ANC on
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
Compare something else
Swap either side out, or start again from the picker.