Over-Ear
Audeze Maxwell 2
88Outstanding
$330
Full review dataAudeze Maxwell 2 vs Beyerdynamic DT 880 32: 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 880 32
78Great
$240
Full review dataScore breakdown
Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.
Audeze Maxwell 2 leads on 5 of 6 measures.
- Audeze Maxwell 2
- Beyerdynamic DT 880 32
HearWiki score
88
78
Sound
9.5
8.4
Battery
9.5
-
Calls
9.0
-
Value
7.5
6.9
Price (USD)
$330
$240
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 880 32 (2025). The Audeze Maxwell 2 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 220261 yr newer
- DT 880 322025
What differsMaxwell 2DT 880 32
- ANC type
- Adaptive
- None
- USB-C
- Yes
- No
- Transparency mode
- Yes
- No
- Custom EQ
- Yes
- No
- Companion app
- Yes
- No
Platform
Everyday features
Specifications
Maxwell 2DT 880 32
- Type
- Over-Ear
- Over-Ear
- Price (USD)
- $330
- $240
- HearWiki score
- 88
- 78
- Released
- 2026
- 2025
- Availability
- Sold new
- 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
- -
- 32 Ω
- 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
- none
- Transparency mode
- Yes
- No
- Companion app
- Yes
- No
- Custom EQ
- Yes
- No
- Wear detection
- No
- No
- Controls
- buttons
- none
- Weight
- 560 g
- 295 g
- USB-C
- Yes
- No
- Pad material
- -
- velour
- Connector
- -
- 3.5 mm
- Model code
- -
- 483931
- 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.
Beyerdynamic DT 880 32
The Beyerdynamic DT 880 32 is a wired, semi-open over-ear headphone aimed at critical listening in quiet environments. It delivers a balanced, detailed sound with strong midrange and imaging, plus plush velour comfort, though its open-back nature leaks sound and provides minimal isolation, making it unsuitable for portable or noisy settings. The 32-ohm version can work with basic gear, but performance shines best with a dedicated amplifier.
- Pro:Detailed, balanced sound with excellent midrange clarity
- Pro:Very comfortable velour pads and sturdy build
- Pro:Open, spacious soundstage with good imaging
- Con:Semi-open design leaks sound and offers little isolation
- Con:Not recommended for portable use due to sound quality drop
- Con:Non-detachable cable limits replacement options
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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