Over-Ear
Audeze Maxwell 2 ANC
88Outstanding
$430
Full review dataAudeze Maxwell 2 ANC vs Focal Spirit One: 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 Spirit One
47Weak
$280
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 Spirit One
HearWiki score
88
47
Sound
9.3
6.8
Noise cancelling
8.5
-
Battery
8.0
-
Calls
9.0
-
Value
6.5
-
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?
Half a step newer
Audeze Maxwell 2 ANC (2026) against Focal Spirit One (2012). The Audeze Maxwell 2 ANC edges ahead on platform, but only just: ANC type Adaptive against None.
- Maxwell 2 ANC202614 yr newer
- Spirit One2012
What differsMaxwell 2 ANCSpirit One
- ANC type
- Adaptive
- None
Platform
Specifications
Maxwell 2 ANCSpirit One
- Type
- Over-Ear
- Over-Ear
- Price (USD)
- $430
- $280
- HearWiki score
- 88
- 47
- Released
- 2026
- 2012
- Availability
- Sold new
- Discontinued
- 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
- 6 Hz - 22 kHz
- Impedance
- -
- 32 Ω
- Sensitivity
- 115 dB/mW
- 104 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
- -
- Transparency mode
- Yes
- -
- Companion app
- Yes
- -
- Custom EQ
- Yes
- -
- Wear detection
- No
- -
- Controls
- both
- -
- Weight
- 560 g
- 225 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.
Focal Spirit One
The Focal Spirit One is a portable, wired over-ear headphone designed for use with smartphones and other mobile devices, featuring efficient 40mm dynamic drivers and a detachable cable. It delivers a warm, detailed sound with strong vocal presence and good instrument separation, though its presentation can feel somewhat restrained and less dynamic than some rivals. Its lightweight build and mobile-friendly design make it a practical choice for on-the-go listening, but comfort may wane during extended sessions.
- Pro:Efficient drivers get loud from portable sources
- Pro:Detachable cable adds convenience and durability
- Pro:Detailed midrange with clear vocal reproduction
- Con:Sound can feel restrained and lacking in excitement
- Con:Comfort may diminish over long listening periods
- Con:Treble rolls off early, reducing airiness
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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