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Audeze Maxwell 2 ANC vs Marshall Monitor III: 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.

Score breakdown

Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.

Audeze Maxwell 2 ANC leads on 4 of 7 measures.

  • Audeze Maxwell 2 ANC
  • Marshall Monitor III
HearWiki score
88
82
Sound
9.3
8.5
Noise cancelling
8.5
8.1
Battery
8.0
10.0
Calls
9.0
8.5
Value
6.5
8.8
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?

Same generation

The Audeze Maxwell 2 ANC is 2 years newer, but it is the same generation of hardware: nothing in the radio, the codecs or the noise cancelling separates them. Nothing separates them on convenience features either, so the choice comes down to tuning and price.

  • Maxwell 2 ANC20262 yr newer
  • Monitor III2024

Level on: Bluetooth, Top codec, LE Audio (LC3), ANC type, Multipoint pairing, USB-C, Transparency mode, Custom EQ, Companion app.

Specifications

Maxwell 2 ANCMonitor III
Type
Over-Ear
Over-Ear
Price (USD)
$430
$380
HearWiki score
88
82
Released
2026
2024
Availability
Sold new
Still sold new
Driver
90 mm planar magnetic
32 mm dynamic
Driver type
planar
dynamic
Driver size
90 mm
32 mm
Drivers per side
1
1
Frequency response
10 Hz - 50 kHz
20 Hz - 20 kHz
Impedance
-
35 Ω
Sensitivity
115 dB/mW
117 dB/mW
Bluetooth
5.3
5.3
Codecs
SBC, AAC, LC3, LC3plus, LDAC
SBC, AAC, LC3
Multipoint pairing
Yes
Yes
Wireless range
-
10 m
Battery life
40 h
100 h
Battery life (ANC on)
35 h
70 h
Full charge time
120 min
150 min
Quick charge
-
15 min → 12 h
Wireless charging
-
No
Active noise cancelling
Yes
Yes
ANC type
adaptive
adaptive
Transparency mode
Yes
Yes
Companion app
Yes
Yes
Custom EQ
Yes
Yes
Wear detection
No
No
Controls
both
both
Voice assistant
-
Yes
Weight
560 g
250 g
Water resistance
-
none
USB-C
Yes
Yes
Connector
-
USB-C
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.

Marshall Monitor III

The Marshall Monitor III are over-ear wireless headphones that deliver a distinctive Marshall-tuned sound and an exceptional battery life of up to 100 hours. They include adaptive active noise cancellation, Bluetooth 5.3 with multipoint, and a durable build, although their ANC performance isn't class-leading.

  • Pro:Exceptional battery life up to 100 hours
  • Pro:Distinctive Marshall audio signature
  • Pro:Adaptive ANC with transparency mode
  • Con:Noise cancellation not top-tier
  • Con:No water resistance rating
  • Con:Only one microphone for calls

Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.

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