Over-Ear
Audeze Maxwell 2
88Outstanding
$330
Full review dataAudeze Maxwell 2 vs Audio Technica ATH-R70x: which should you buy?
On aggregated review scores the Audeze Maxwell 2 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 - Outstanding overall at around $329.
Over-Ear
Audio Technica ATH-R70x
77Great
$380
Full review dataScore breakdown
Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.
Audeze Maxwell 2 leads on 6 of 6 measures.
- Audeze Maxwell 2
- Audio Technica ATH-R70x
HearWiki score
88
77
Sound
9.5
8.8
Battery
9.5
-
Calls
9.0
-
Value
7.5
-
Price (USD)
$330
$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?
Half a step newer
Audeze Maxwell 2 (2026) against Audio Technica ATH-R70x (2014). The Audeze Maxwell 2 edges ahead on platform, but only just: ANC type Adaptive against None. It also adds USB-C.
- Maxwell 2202612 yr newer
- ATH-R70x2014
What differsMaxwell 2ATH-R70x
- ANC type
- Adaptive
- None
- USB-C
- Yes
- No
Platform
Everyday features
Specifications
Maxwell 2ATH-R70x
- Type
- Over-Ear
- Over-Ear
- Price (USD)
- $330
- $380
- HearWiki score
- 88
- 77
- Released
- 2026
- 2014
- Availability
- Sold new
- Still sold new
- Driver
- 90 mm planar magnetic
- 45 mm dynamic
- Driver type
- planar
- dynamic
- Driver size
- 90 mm
- 45 mm
- Drivers per side
- 1
- 1
- Frequency response
- 10 Hz - 50 kHz
- 5 Hz - 40 kHz
- Sound signature
- -
- neutral-warm
- Impedance
- -
- 470 Ω
- Sensitivity
- -
- 98 dB/mW
- Sensitivity (dB/Vrms)
- -
- 104
- Bluetooth
- 5.3
- -
- Codecs
- SBC, AAC, LC3, LC3plus, LDAC
- -
- Multipoint pairing
- Yes
- -
- Battery life
- 80 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
- buttons
- none
- Weight
- 560 g
- 210 g
- Detachable cable
- -
- Yes
- USB-C
- Yes
- No
- Connector
- -
- 2.5 mm balanced
- Balanced connection
- -
- Yes
- Microphones
- 2
- -
- Call noise reduction
- Yes
- -
- Call NR technology
- AI ENC
- -
What reviewers said
Audeze Maxwell 2
No summary yet - we haven't aggregated enough reviews.
Audio Technica ATH-R70x
The Audio Technica ATH-R70x is an open-back, wired headphone designed for critical listening and mixing, offering a neutral-warm sound signature with a spacious and natural presentation. Its ultra-lightweight frame and comfortable fit make it easy to wear for long sessions, though its high 470-ohm impedance demands a dedicated amplifier to reach its full potential. With low distortion and a well-balanced midrange, it serves as a reliable reference tool for studio work and detailed music enjoyment.
- Pro:Very lightweight and comfortable for long listening sessions
- Pro:Neutral-warm sound with accurate midrange and controlled bass
- Pro:Open, spacious soundstage with natural imaging
- Con:High impedance requires a powerful amplifier to drive properly
- Con:Open-back design leaks sound and offers no isolation
- Con:No built-in controls or wireless features
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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