Over-Ear
Audeze Maxwell 2 ANC
88Outstanding
$430
Full review dataAudeze Maxwell 2 ANC vs HiFiMAN Edition Xs: 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
HiFiMAN Edition Xs
79Great
$270
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
- HiFiMAN Edition Xs
HearWiki score
88
79
Sound
9.3
8.5
Noise cancelling
8.5
-
Battery
8.0
-
Calls
9.0
-
Value
6.5
9.3
Price (USD)
$430
$270
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 HiFiMAN Edition Xs (2022). The Audeze Maxwell 2 ANC edges ahead on platform, but only just: ANC type Adaptive against None. It also adds USB-C.
- Maxwell 2 ANC20264 yr newer
- Edition Xs2022
What differsMaxwell 2 ANCEdition Xs
- ANC type
- Adaptive
- None
- USB-C
- Yes
- No
Platform
Everyday features
Specifications
Maxwell 2 ANCEdition Xs
- Type
- Over-Ear
- Over-Ear
- Price (USD)
- $430
- $270
- HearWiki score
- 88
- 79
- Released
- 2026
- 2022
- Availability
- Sold new
- Still sold new
- Driver
- 90 mm planar magnetic
- 80 mm planar magnetic
- Driver type
- planar
- planar
- Driver size
- 90 mm
- 80 mm
- Drivers per side
- 1
- 1
- Frequency response
- 10 Hz - 50 kHz
- 8 Hz - 50 kHz
- Impedance
- -
- 18 Ω
- Sensitivity
- 115 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
- none
- Weight
- 560 g
- 405 g
- Foldable
- -
- No
- Detachable cable
- -
- Yes
- USB-C
- Yes
- No
- 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.
HiFiMAN Edition Xs
The HiFiMAN Edition XS is an open-back planar magnetic headphone that delivers exceptional detail, speed, and a wide soundstage for its price. Its 80mm drivers offer deep, well-defined bass and crisp highs, though the forward treble and bright tuning may not suit all listeners. Built for stationary listening, it prioritizes audio performance over portability, with a comfortable but occasionally variable fit.
- Pro:Excellent detail and transient speed
- Pro:Wide, immersive soundstage
- Pro:Deep and well-controlled bass for a planar
- Con:Bright upper treble can cause fatigue
- Con:Unusual imaging and forward upper mids
- Con:Comfort varies due to headband/gimbal design
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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