Over-Ear
Audeze Maxwell 2
88Outstanding
$330
Full review dataAudeze Maxwell 2 vs Austrian Audio Hi-X55: 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
Austrian Audio Hi-X55
44Weak
$350
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
- Austrian Audio Hi-X55
HearWiki score
88
44
Sound
9.5
5.3
Battery
9.5
-
Calls
9.0
-
Value
7.5
4.5
Price (USD)
$330
$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 (2026) against Austrian Audio Hi-X55 (2020). The Audeze Maxwell 2 edges ahead on platform, but only just: ANC type Adaptive against None. It also adds USB-C.
- Maxwell 220266 yr newer
- Hi-X552020
What differsMaxwell 2Hi-X55
- ANC type
- Adaptive
- None
- USB-C
- Yes
- No
Platform
Everyday features
Specifications
Maxwell 2Hi-X55
- Type
- Over-Ear
- Over-Ear
- Price (USD)
- $330
- $350
- HearWiki score
- 88
- 44
- Released
- 2026
- 2020
- Availability
- Sold new
- Discontinued
- Driver
- 90 mm planar magnetic
- 44 mm dynamic
- Driver type
- planar
- dynamic
- Driver size
- 90 mm
- 44 mm
- Drivers per side
- 1
- -
- Frequency response
- 10 Hz - 50 kHz
- 5 Hz - 28 kHz
- Sound signature
- -
- mid-forward
- Impedance
- -
- 25 Ω
- Sensitivity
- -
- 102 dB/mW
- Sensitivity (dB/Vrms)
- -
- 118
- 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
- -
- Weight
- 560 g
- 305 g
- Foldable
- -
- Yes
- Detachable cable
- -
- Yes
- USB-C
- Yes
- No
- Connector
- -
- 3.5 mm
- 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.
Austrian Audio Hi-X55
The Austrian Audio Hi-X55 is a wired, closed-back over-ear headphone aimed at studio monitoring, featuring a 44mm dynamic driver and a mid-forward sound signature. It offers solid build quality, comfortable long-session wear, and passive isolation, though its tuning may not suit casual listeners. With a detachable cable and foldable design, it's a practical professional tool, but its price demands a preference for analytical accuracy over consumer-friendly warmth.
- Pro:Sturdy build quality
- Pro:Comfortable for long listening sessions
- Pro:Detachable cable and foldable design
- Con:Sound may not be competitive for the price
- Con:Treble can be sharp at times
- Con:Mid-forward tuning not ideal for casual listening
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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