Audeze Maxwell 2 vs Beyerdynamic DT 880 Pro: 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.
Score 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 Pro
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?
Audeze Maxwell 2 (2026) against Beyerdynamic DT 880 Pro (2008). The Audeze Maxwell 2 edges ahead on platform, but only just: ANC type Adaptive against None. It also adds Multipoint pairing, USB-C, Transparency mode and Custom EQ.
- Maxwell 2202618 yr newer
- DT 880 Pro2008
- ANC type
- Adaptive
- None
- Multipoint pairing
- Yes
- No
- USB-C
- Yes
- No
- Transparency mode
- Yes
- No
- Custom EQ
- Yes
- No
- Companion app
- Yes
- No
Platform
Everyday features
Specifications
- Type
- Over-Ear
- Over-Ear
- Price (USD)
- $330
- $250
- HearWiki score
- 88
- 76
- Released
- 2026
- 2008
- 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 - 35 kHz
- Impedance
- -
- 250 Ω
- Sensitivity
- -
- 96 dB/mW
- Sensitivity (dB/Vrms)
- -
- 114
- Bluetooth
- 5.3
- -
- Codecs
- SBC, AAC, LC3, LC3plus, LDAC
- -
- Multipoint pairing
- Yes
- No
- Battery life
- 80 h
- -
- Battery life (ANC on)
- 35 h
- -
- Full charge time
- 120 min
- -
- Wireless charging
- -
- No
- 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
- Water resistance
- -
- none
- USB-C
- Yes
- No
- Model code
- -
- 490970
- 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 Pro
The Beyerdynamic DT 880 Pro is a semi-open, wired studio headphone built for critical listening and professional work. It delivers a balanced, detailed sound with a bright treble edge, but its design offers minimal isolation and requires a quiet environment plus a good amplifier for optimal performance. Its durable, repairable construction and comfortable fit make it a long-standing choice for mixing and mastering.
- Pro:Balanced, detailed sound with wide frequency response
- Pro:Durable, repairable build quality
- Pro:Comfortable for long sessions
- Con:Minimal noise isolation; leaks sound
- Con:Bright treble may be fatiguing for some
- Con:Requires a dedicated amplifier for best results
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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