Over-Ear
Audeze Maxwell 2 ANC
88Outstanding
$430
Full review dataAudeze Maxwell 2 ANC vs Sony Mdr-Mv1: 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
Sony Mdr-Mv1
71Good
$500
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
- Sony Mdr-Mv1
HearWiki score
88
71
Sound
9.3
7.7
Noise cancelling
8.5
-
Battery
8.0
-
Calls
9.0
-
Value
6.5
6.9
Price (USD)
$430
$500
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 Sony Mdr-Mv1 (2023). The Audeze Maxwell 2 ANC edges ahead on platform, but only just: ANC type Adaptive against None. It also adds Multipoint pairing and USB-C.
- Maxwell 2 ANC20263 yr newer
- Mdr-Mv12023
What differsMaxwell 2 ANCMdr-Mv1
- ANC type
- Adaptive
- None
- Multipoint pairing
- Yes
- No
- USB-C
- Yes
- No
Platform
Everyday features
Specifications
Maxwell 2 ANCMdr-Mv1
- Type
- Over-Ear
- Over-Ear
- Price (USD)
- $430
- $500
- HearWiki score
- 88
- 71
- Released
- 2026
- 2023
- Availability
- Sold new
- Still sold new
- Driver
- 90 mm planar magnetic
- 2× 40 mm dynamic
- Driver type
- planar
- dynamic
- Driver size
- 90 mm
- 40 mm
- Drivers per side
- 1
- 2
- Frequency response
- 10 Hz - 50 kHz
- 5 Hz - 80 kHz
- Sound signature
- -
- neutral
- Impedance
- -
- 24 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
- -
- Transparency mode
- Yes
- -
- Companion app
- Yes
- -
- Custom EQ
- Yes
- -
- Wear detection
- No
- -
- Controls
- both
- buttons
- Weight
- 560 g
- 223 g
- Water resistance
- -
- none
- Detachable cable
- -
- Yes
- USB-C
- Yes
- No
- Connector
- -
- 6.35 mm
- 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.
Sony Mdr-Mv1
The Sony MDR-MV1 is an open-back, wired studio headphone designed for critical listening and monitoring, featuring a 40mm dynamic driver and a lightweight 223g build. It delivers a neutral, highly detailed sound with spacious imaging and impressive comfort for long sessions, though its presentation is more analytical than fun. Its 6.35mm connector and balanced support make it a solid choice for studio use, while the lack of wireless or ANC features keeps it focused on pure performance.
- Pro:Neutral and accurate sound reproduction
- Pro:Extremely comfortable for extended wear
- Pro:Spacious open-back soundstage
- Con:Wired only with 6.35mm connector
- Con:No noise cancellation or wireless features
- Con:Sound may lack punch and drive
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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