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Audeze Maxwell 2 ANC vs Verum 1: 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 5 of 7 measures.

  • Audeze Maxwell 2 ANC
  • Verum 1
HearWiki score
88
68
Sound
9.3
8.2
Noise cancelling
8.5
-
Battery
8.0
-
Calls
9.0
-
Value
6.5
8.3
Price (USD)
$430
$350

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 Verum 1 (2018). The Audeze Maxwell 2 ANC edges ahead on platform, but only just: ANC type Adaptive against None. It also adds USB-C, Transparency mode, Custom EQ and Companion app.

  • Maxwell 2 ANC20268 yr newer
  • 12018
What differsMaxwell 2 ANC1

Platform

ANC type
Adaptive
None

Everyday features

USB-C
Yes
No
Transparency mode
Yes
No
Custom EQ
Yes
No
Companion app
Yes
No

Specifications

Maxwell 2 ANC1
Type
Over-Ear
Over-Ear
Price (USD)
$430
$350
HearWiki score
88
68
Released
2026
2018
Availability
Sold new
Discontinued
Driver
90 mm planar magnetic
82 mm planar magnetic
Driver type
planar
planar
Driver size
90 mm
82 mm
Drivers per side
1
1
Frequency response
10 Hz - 50 kHz
-
Impedance
-
8 Ω
Sensitivity
115 dB/mW
107 dB/mW
Sensitivity (dB/Vrms)
-
116
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
none
Transparency mode
Yes
No
Companion app
Yes
No
Custom EQ
Yes
No
Wear detection
No
No
Controls
both
none
Voice assistant
-
No
Weight
560 g
475 g
USB-C
Yes
No
Pad material
-
protein-leather
Balanced connection
-
Yes
Microphones
2
-
Call noise reduction
Yes
-
Call NR technology
AI ENC
-

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