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Audeze Maxwell 2 vs Dan Clark Audio Aeon Open X: which should you buy?

Specs, scores and condensed review verdicts for the Audeze Maxwell 2 vs Dan Clark Audio Aeon Open X, 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 6 of 6 measures.

  • Audeze Maxwell 2
  • Dan Clark Audio Aeon Open X
HearWiki score
88
-
Sound
9.5
-
Battery
9.5
-
Calls
9.0
-
Value
7.5
-
Price (USD)
$330
$500

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 Dan Clark Audio Aeon Open X (2018). The Audeze Maxwell 2 edges ahead on platform, but only just: ANC type Adaptive against None.

  • Maxwell 220268 yr newer
  • Aeon Open X2018
What differsMaxwell 2Aeon Open X

Platform

ANC type
Adaptive
None

Specifications

Maxwell 2Aeon Open X
Type
Over-Ear
Over-Ear
Price (USD)
$330
$500
HearWiki score
88
Not scored
Released
2026
2018
Availability
Sold new
Discontinued
Driver
90 mm planar magnetic
planar magnetic
Driver type
planar
planar
Driver size
90 mm
-
Drivers per side
1
1
Frequency response
10 Hz - 50 kHz
20 Hz - 20 kHz
Impedance
-
13 Ω
Sensitivity
-
94 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
326 g
USB-C
Yes
-
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.

Dan Clark Audio Aeon Open X

The Dan Clark Audio Aeon Open X is an open-back planar magnetic headphone that combines a lightweight, portable design with full-size comfort. Its construction uses titanium alloy, aluminum, and carbon fiber, along with a hinge-free titanium headband for durability and a secure fit.

  • Pro:Lightweight and portable design
  • Pro:High-quality materials like titanium and carbon fiber
  • Pro:Open-back planar drivers for detailed sound
  • Con:No active noise cancellation
  • Con:Requires a dedicated amplifier due to low impedance and sensitivity
  • Con:Open-back design leaks sound and lets in ambient noise

Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.

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