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Audeze Maxwell 2 vs FiiO EH3 NC: which should you buy?

Specs, scores and condensed review verdicts for the Audeze Maxwell 2 vs FiiO EH3 NC, 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
  • FiiO EH3 NC
HearWiki score
88
-
Sound
9.5
-
Battery
9.5
-
Calls
9.0
-
Value
7.5
-
Price (USD)
$330
$200

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 FiiO EH3 NC (2019). The Audeze Maxwell 2 is the newer platform here: Bluetooth 5.3 against 5.0, Top codec LC3 against aptX HD, LE Audio (LC3) and ANC type Adaptive against Hybrid. It also adds Multipoint pairing and Transparency mode.

  • Maxwell 220267 yr newer
  • EH3 NC2019
What differsMaxwell 2EH3 NC

Platform

Bluetooth
5.3
5.0
Top codec
LC3
aptX HD
LE Audio (LC3)
Yes
No
ANC type
Adaptive
Hybrid

Everyday features

Multipoint pairing
Yes
No
Transparency mode
Yes
No

Level on: USB-C, Custom EQ, Companion app.

Specifications

Maxwell 2EH3 NC
Type
Over-Ear
Over-Ear
Price (USD)
$330
$200
HearWiki score
88
Not scored
Released
2026
2019
Availability
Sold new
Discontinued
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
-
Impedance
-
32 Ω
Sensitivity
-
98 dB/mW
Bluetooth
5.3
5.0
Codecs
SBC, AAC, LC3, LC3plus, LDAC
SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX Low Latency, aptX HD
Multipoint pairing
Yes
No
Wireless range
-
10 m
Battery life
80 h
50 h
Battery life (ANC on)
35 h
30 h
Full charge time
120 min
180 min
Active noise cancelling
Yes
Yes
ANC type
adaptive
hybrid
Transparency mode
Yes
No
Companion app
Yes
Yes
Custom EQ
Yes
Yes
Wear detection
No
No
Controls
buttons
buttons
Weight
560 g
293 g
Detachable cable
-
Yes
USB-C
Yes
Yes
Pad material
-
protein-leather
Connector
-
3.5 mm
Microphones
2
4
Call noise reduction
Yes
Yes
Call NR technology
AI ENC
noise-cancelling mic

What reviewers said

Audeze Maxwell 2

No summary yet - we haven't aggregated enough reviews.

FiiO EH3 NC

The FiiO EH3 NC is a wireless over-ear headphone with hybrid active noise cancellation and large 45mm dynamic drivers. It offers a long 50-hour battery life (30 hours with ANC on), support for high-quality aptX codecs, and a customizable EQ via its companion app. While it lacks multipoint and transparency mode, its USB-C connectivity and physical buttons provide straightforward control.

  • Pro:Long battery life of up to 50 hours
  • Pro:Hybrid ANC for effective noise reduction
  • Pro:Supports aptX HD and aptX Low Latency for better audio
  • Con:No multipoint connection for multiple devices
  • Con:No transparency mode for ambient sound
  • Con:Limited to Bluetooth 5.0, not the latest version

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

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