Over-Ear
Audeze Maxwell 2 ANC
88Outstanding
$430
Full review dataAudeze Maxwell 2 ANC vs Grado RS1: 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
Grado RS1
76Great
$750
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
- Grado RS1
HearWiki score
88
76
Sound
9.3
8.7
Noise cancelling
8.5
-
Battery
8.0
-
Calls
9.0
-
Value
6.5
6.6
Price (USD)
$430
$750
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 Grado RS1 (2024). The Audeze Maxwell 2 ANC edges ahead on platform, but only just: ANC type Adaptive against None.
- Maxwell 2 ANC20262 yr newer
- RS12024
What differsMaxwell 2 ANCRS1
- ANC type
- Adaptive
- None
Platform
Specifications
Maxwell 2 ANCRS1
- Type
- Over-Ear
- Over-Ear
- Price (USD)
- $430
- $750
- HearWiki score
- 88
- 76
- Released
- 2026
- 2024
- Availability
- Sold new
- Still 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
- 12 Hz - 30 kHz
- Impedance
- -
- 38 Ω
- Sensitivity
- 115 dB/mW
- 99.8 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
- 255 g
- USB-C
- 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.
Grado RS1
The Grado RS1 is a premium open-back headphone known for its warm, organic midrange and lively, engaging sound that prioritizes musical enjoyment over clinical analysis. Handcrafted wooden housings and a lightweight build contribute to its premium feel, though its open-back nature means significant sound leakage. While it excels with most genres, its forward presentation can be less ideal for classical or chamber music, and comfort and ergonomics are somewhat polarizing.
- Pro:Lush, organic midrange with natural timbre
- Pro:Engaging, lively presentation that makes music enjoyable
- Pro:Lightweight and comfortable for extended listening
- Con:Open-back design leaks sound significantly
- Con:Forward presentation may not suit classical or chamber music
- Con:Comfort and fit can vary depending on ear placement
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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