Over-Ear
Audeze Maxwell 2
88Outstanding
$330
Full review dataAudeze Maxwell 2 vs Beyerdynamic DT 280 MK II: 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
Beyerdynamic DT 280 MK II
57Average
$400
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
- Beyerdynamic DT 280 MK II
HearWiki score
88
57
Sound
9.5
6.0
Battery
9.5
-
Calls
9.0
6.5
Value
7.5
5.5
Price (USD)
$330
$400
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 Beyerdynamic DT 280 MK II (2019). The Audeze Maxwell 2 edges ahead on platform, but only just: ANC type Adaptive against None.
- Maxwell 220267 yr newer
- DT 280 MK II2019
What differsMaxwell 2DT 280 MK II
- ANC type
- Adaptive
- None
Platform
Specifications
Maxwell 2DT 280 MK II
- Type
- Over-Ear
- Over-Ear
- Price (USD)
- $330
- $400
- HearWiki score
- 88
- 57
- Released
- 2026
- 2019
- Availability
- Sold new
- Still sold new
- Driver
- 90 mm planar magnetic
- dynamic
- Driver type
- planar
- dynamic
- Driver size
- 90 mm
- -
- Drivers per side
- 1
- 1
- Frequency response
- 10 Hz - 50 kHz
- -
- Impedance
- -
- 80 Ω
- Sensitivity
- -
- 100 dB/mW
- 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
- 170 g
- Detachable cable
- -
- Yes
- USB-C
- Yes
- -
- Microphones
- 2
- 1
- Call noise reduction
- Yes
- -
- Call NR technology
- AI ENC
- -
What reviewers said
Audeze Maxwell 2
No summary yet - we haven't aggregated enough reviews.
Beyerdynamic DT 280 MK II
The Beyerdynamic DT 280 MK II is a closed, over-ear broadcast headset designed for professional studio and communication use, offering strong passive isolation and clear voice capture via its pivoting boom mic. It features a detachable cable, replaceable ear cushions, and a single dynamic driver, making it a practical choice for production environments. With an 80-ohm impedance and 100 dB sensitivity, it pairs well with standard broadcast gear, though it lacks active noise cancellation and wireless connectivity.
- Pro:Closed-back design provides strong passive isolation
- Pro:Detachable cable and replaceable ear cushions enhance durability
- Pro:Pivoting boom microphone ensures clear voice pickup
- Con:No active noise cancellation, relying solely on passive isolation
- Con:Wired-only connection limits portability
- Con:Single-ear design may not suit all monitoring tasks
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
Compare something else
Swap either side out, or start again from the picker.