Over-Ear
Audeze Maxwell 2 ANC
88Outstanding
$430
Full review dataAudeze Maxwell 2 ANC vs FiiO Ft5: 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
FiiO Ft5
75Great
$380
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 5 of 7 measures.
- Audeze Maxwell 2 ANC
- FiiO Ft5
HearWiki score
88
75
Sound
9.3
8.0
Noise cancelling
8.5
-
Battery
8.0
-
Calls
9.0
-
Value
6.5
7.1
Price (USD)
$430
$380
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 FiiO Ft5 (2024). The Audeze Maxwell 2 ANC edges ahead on platform, but only just: ANC type Adaptive against None.
- Maxwell 2 ANC20262 yr newer
- Ft52024
What differsMaxwell 2 ANCFt5
- ANC type
- Adaptive
- None
Platform
Specifications
Maxwell 2 ANCFt5
- Type
- Over-Ear
- Over-Ear
- Price (USD)
- $430
- $380
- HearWiki score
- 88
- 75
- Released
- 2026
- 2024
- Availability
- Sold new
- Still sold new
- Driver
- 90 mm planar magnetic
- 90 mm planar magnetic
- Driver type
- planar
- planar
- Driver size
- 90 mm
- 90 mm
- Drivers per side
- 1
- 1
- Frequency response
- 10 Hz - 50 kHz
- 7 Hz - 40 kHz
- Impedance
- -
- 36 Ω
- Sensitivity
- 115 dB/mW
- 96 dB/mW
- Sensitivity (dB/Vrms)
- -
- 110
- 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
- -
- Weight
- 560 g
- 456 g
- Detachable cable
- -
- Yes
- USB-C
- Yes
- -
- Connector
- -
- 3.5 mm
- Balanced connection
- -
- Yes
- 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.
FiiO Ft5
The FiiO FT5 is an open-back planar magnetic headphone that delivers a spacious, detailed, and engaging sound signature with robust build quality. Its large 90mm driver provides textured bass and high resolution, though its substantial weight and fit may not suit all listeners, especially those with smaller heads. While not purely neutral, it offers strong performance and value for wired audio enthusiasts.
- Pro:Large 90mm planar driver produces detailed and textured sound
- Pro:Spacious and open soundstage with natural tonality
- Pro:Excellent build quality with premium materials
- Con:Heavy weight may cause discomfort during long sessions
- Con:Headband fit is less ideal for smaller heads
- Con:Open-back design provides no sound isolation
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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