Audeze Maxwell 2 ANC vs Dan Clark Audio Aeon Closed X: 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.
Score 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
- Dan Clark Audio Aeon Closed X
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?
Audeze Maxwell 2 ANC (2026) against Dan Clark Audio Aeon Closed X (2020). The Audeze Maxwell 2 ANC edges ahead on platform, but only just: ANC type Adaptive against None. It also adds USB-C, Transparency mode, Custom EQ and Companion app.
- Maxwell 2 ANC20266 yr newer
- Aeon Closed X2020
- ANC type
- Adaptive
- None
- USB-C
- Yes
- No
- Transparency mode
- Yes
- No
- Custom EQ
- Yes
- No
- Companion app
- Yes
- No
Platform
Everyday features
Specifications
- Type
- Over-Ear
- Over-Ear
- Price (USD)
- $430
- $680
- HearWiki score
- 88
- 65
- Released
- 2026
- 2020
- Availability
- Sold new
- Discontinued
- Driver
- 90 mm planar magnetic
- 62 mm planar magnetic
- Driver type
- planar
- planar
- Driver size
- 90 mm
- 62 mm
- Drivers per side
- 1
- 1
- Frequency response
- 10 Hz - 50 kHz
- 20 Hz - 20 kHz
- Impedance
- -
- 14 Ω
- Sensitivity
- 115 dB/mW
- 91 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
- none
- Transparency mode
- Yes
- No
- Companion app
- Yes
- No
- Custom EQ
- Yes
- No
- Wear detection
- No
- No
- Controls
- both
- none
- Weight
- 560 g
- 342 g
- Foldable
- -
- No
- Detachable cable
- -
- Yes
- USB-C
- Yes
- No
- 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.
Dan Clark Audio Aeon Closed X
The Dan Clark Audio Aeon Closed X is a wired, closed-back planar magnetic headphone that delivers a neutral-leaning sound with clear mids, punchy bass, and deep extension. It stands out for its light weight and spacious soundstage for a closed design, though it can sound sharp in the treble without its damping inserts and benefits from a capable amplifier for best performance.
- Pro:Lightweight for a planar magnetic design
- Pro:Neutral, detailed sound with clear mids and punchy bass
- Pro:Unusually spacious soundstage for closed-back headphones
- Con:Treble can be sharp without included damping inserts
- Con:Damping inserts reduce dynamics when used
- Con:Benefits from ample amplifier current despite low impedance
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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