Over-Ear
Audeze Maxwell 2
88Outstanding
$330
Full review dataAudeze Maxwell 2 vs Bose SoundLink Around-Ear Wireless: which should you buy?
Specs, scores and condensed review verdicts for the Audeze Maxwell 2 vs Bose SoundLink Around-Ear Wireless, side by side. Where a product has no HearWiki score yet, not enough reviews have been aggregated to rate it.
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
- Bose SoundLink Around-Ear Wireless
HearWiki score
88
-
Sound
9.5
-
Battery
9.5
-
Calls
9.0
-
Value
7.5
-
Price (USD)
$330
$230
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?
New platform
Audeze Maxwell 2 (2026) against Bose SoundLink Around-Ear Wireless (2017). The Audeze Maxwell 2 is the newer platform here: Bluetooth 5.3 against 2.1, Top codec LC3 against SBC and LE Audio (LC3). It also adds USB-C.
- Maxwell 220269 yr newer
- SoundLink Around-Ear Wireless2017
What differsMaxwell 2SoundLink Around-Ear Wireless
- Bluetooth
- 5.3
- 2.1
- Top codec
- LC3
- SBC
- LE Audio (LC3)
- Yes
- No
- USB-C
- Yes
- No
Platform
Everyday features
Level on: Multipoint pairing.
Specifications
Maxwell 2SoundLink Around-Ear Wireless
- Type
- Over-Ear
- Over-Ear
- Price (USD)
- $330
- $230
- HearWiki score
- 88
- Not scored
- Released
- 2026
- 2017
- Availability
- Sold new
- Discontinued
- Driver
- 90 mm planar magnetic
- 2× driver
- Driver type
- planar
- -
- Driver size
- 90 mm
- -
- Drivers per side
- 1
- 2
- Frequency response
- 10 Hz - 50 kHz
- 20 Hz - 20 kHz
- Impedance
- -
- 50 Ω
- Bluetooth
- 5.3
- 2.1
- Codecs
- SBC, AAC, LC3, LC3plus, LDAC
- SBC
- Multipoint pairing
- Yes
- Yes
- Wireless range
- -
- 9 m
- Battery life
- 80 h
- 15 h
- Battery life (ANC on)
- 35 h
- -
- Full charge time
- 120 min
- 180 min
- Quick charge
- -
- 15 min → 2 h
- Active noise cancelling
- Yes
- -
- ANC type
- adaptive
- -
- Transparency mode
- Yes
- -
- Companion app
- Yes
- -
- Custom EQ
- Yes
- -
- Wear detection
- No
- -
- Controls
- buttons
- buttons
- Voice assistant
- -
- No
- Weight
- 560 g
- 149.4 g
- USB-C
- Yes
- No
- 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.
Bose SoundLink Around-Ear Wireless
The Bose SoundLink Around-Ear Wireless headphones are over-ear wireless models built for steady audio performance across volume levels, with a focus on clear calls and a comfortable, durable design. They offer a long 15-hour battery life, multipoint Bluetooth connectivity, and quick charging for convenient everyday use.
- Pro:Consistent sound at various volume levels
- Pro:Comfortable over-ear fit with durable build
- Pro:15-hour battery life with quick charge capability
- Con:Only supports SBC codec, no AAC or aptX
- Con:Uses older Bluetooth 2.1 technology
- Con:No USB-C charging port
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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