Audeze Maxwell 2 ANC vs DUNU Mortise: 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 5 of 7 measures.
- Audeze Maxwell 2 ANC
- DUNU Mortise
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?
Both shipped in 2026. The Audeze Maxwell 2 ANC edges ahead on platform, but only just: ANC type Adaptive against None.
- Maxwell 2 ANC2026
- Mortise2026
- ANC type
- Adaptive
- None
Platform
Specifications
- Type
- Over-Ear
- Over-Ear
- Price (USD)
- $430
- $410
- HearWiki score
- 88
- 81
- Released
- 2026
- 2026
- Availability
- Sold new
- Sold new
- Driver
- 90 mm planar magnetic
- 50 mm dynamic
- Driver type
- planar
- dynamic
- Driver size
- 90 mm
- 50 mm
- Drivers per side
- 1
- 1
- Frequency response
- 10 Hz - 50 kHz
- 5 Hz - 40 kHz
- Impedance
- -
- 38 Ω
- Sensitivity
- 115 dB/mW
- 98 dB/mW
- Sensitivity (dB/Vrms)
- -
- 113
- 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
- none
- Weight
- 560 g
- 325 g
- Detachable cable
- -
- Yes
- USB-C
- Yes
- -
- Connector
- -
- 3.5 mm
- 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.
DUNU Mortise
The DUNU Mortise is a wired, open-back over-ear headphone with a 50mm dynamic driver and a lightweight carbon fiber diaphragm, housed in North American black walnut for a natural, resonant sound. It offers a high-impedance design with a detachable high-purity copper cable and interchangeable plugs, making it a versatile option for audiophiles seeking detailed, spacious audio without active noise cancellation.
- Pro:Open-back design for a wide, airy soundstage
- Pro:High-flux magnetic circuit and carbon fiber diaphragm for precise transient response
- Pro:Detachable cable with interchangeable plug system for flexibility
- Con:No active noise cancellation, suitable only for quiet environments
- Con:Requires a dedicated amplifier due to high impedance and moderate sensitivity
- Con:Limited controls and no built-in features, focusing purely on sound quality
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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