Over-Ear
Audeze Maxwell 2 ANC
88Outstanding
$430
Full review dataAudeze Maxwell 2 ANC vs Focal Azurys: 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
Focal Azurys
79Great
$540
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 6 of 7 measures.
- Audeze Maxwell 2 ANC
- Focal Azurys
HearWiki score
88
79
Sound
9.3
8.5
Noise cancelling
8.5
-
Battery
8.0
-
Calls
9.0
5.5
Value
6.5
7.8
Price (USD)
$430
$540
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 Focal Azurys (2024). The Audeze Maxwell 2 ANC edges ahead on platform, but only just: ANC type Adaptive against None. It also adds Multipoint pairing, USB-C, Transparency mode and Custom EQ.
- Maxwell 2 ANC20262 yr newer
- Azurys2024
What differsMaxwell 2 ANCAzurys
- ANC type
- Adaptive
- None
- Multipoint pairing
- Yes
- No
- USB-C
- Yes
- No
- Transparency mode
- Yes
- No
- Custom EQ
- Yes
- No
- Companion app
- Yes
- No
Platform
Everyday features
Specifications
Maxwell 2 ANCAzurys
- Type
- Over-Ear
- Over-Ear
- Price (USD)
- $430
- $540
- HearWiki score
- 88
- 79
- Released
- 2026
- 2024
- Availability
- Sold new
- Still sold new
- Driver
- 90 mm planar magnetic
- 40 mm dynamic
- Driver type
- planar
- dynamic
- Driver size
- 90 mm
- 40 mm
- Drivers per side
- 1
- 1
- Frequency response
- 10 Hz - 50 kHz
- 15 Hz - 22 kHz
- Sound signature
- -
- warm
- Impedance
- -
- 26 Ω
- Sensitivity
- 115 dB/mW
- 100 dB/mW
- Bluetooth
- 5.3
- -
- Codecs
- SBC, AAC, LC3, LC3plus, LDAC
- -
- Multipoint pairing
- Yes
- No
- Battery life
- 40 h
- -
- Battery life (ANC on)
- 35 h
- -
- Full charge time
- 120 min
- -
- Wireless charging
- -
- No
- 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
- buttons
- Voice assistant
- -
- No
- Weight
- 560 g
- 306 g
- Water resistance
- -
- none
- Detachable cable
- -
- Yes
- USB-C
- Yes
- No
- Connector
- -
- 3.5 mm
- Microphones
- 2
- 1
- 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.
Focal Azurys
The Focal Azurys are a lightweight, wired closed-back over-ear headphone with a balanced, reference-leaning sound that adds a touch of bass and lower-treble energy for broad appeal. Its premium metal build and comfortable fit make it suitable for office or casual listening, though its passive isolation is limited and its tuning may not satisfy those seeking maximum detail or punch.
- Pro:Lightweight and comfortable for long sessions
- Pro:Premium mostly-metal construction
- Pro:Balanced sound with broad appeal
- Con:Limited passive noise isolation
- Con:Less engaging or punchy than some rivals
- Con:Smaller fit may not suit all head sizes
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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