Over-Ear
Audeze Maxwell 2
88Outstanding
$330
Full review dataAudeze Maxwell 2 vs FiiO Ft1: 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
FiiO Ft1
79Great
$160
Full review dataScore breakdown
Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.
Audeze Maxwell 2 leads on 4 of 6 measures.
- Audeze Maxwell 2
- FiiO Ft1
HearWiki score
88
79
Sound
9.5
8.0
Battery
9.5
-
Calls
9.0
-
Value
7.5
9.2
Price (USD)
$330
$160
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 FiiO Ft1 (2024). 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 220262 yr newer
- Ft12024
What differsMaxwell 2Ft1
- 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 2Ft1
- Type
- Over-Ear
- Over-Ear
- Price (USD)
- $330
- $160
- HearWiki score
- 88
- 79
- Released
- 2026
- 2024
- Availability
- Sold new
- Still sold new
- Driver
- 90 mm planar magnetic
- 60 mm dynamic
- Driver type
- planar
- dynamic
- Driver size
- 90 mm
- 60 mm
- Drivers per side
- 1
- 1
- Frequency response
- 10 Hz - 50 kHz
- 10 Hz - 40 kHz
- Impedance
- -
- 32 Ω
- Sensitivity
- -
- 98 dB/mW
- Sensitivity (dB/Vrms)
- -
- 113
- 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
- buttons
- Weight
- 560 g
- 340 g
- Detachable cable
- -
- Yes
- USB-C
- Yes
- No
- Connector
- -
- 3.5 mm
- Balanced connection
- -
- 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.
FiiO Ft1
The FiiO FT1 is a budget-friendly closed-back over-ear headphone that delivers impressive low-end performance and a fun, engaging sound signature. Its large 60 mm dynamic drivers are easy to drive, and the solid wood cups add a touch of premium build quality, making it a strong value pick for its price. While not built for portability or exercise, it excels as a stationary listening companion for bass lovers.
- Pro:Excellent bass response for the price
- Pro:Easy to drive thanks to 60 mm dynamic drivers
- Pro:Solid wood cups offer a premium feel
- Con:Large and bulky design, not portable
- Con:No active noise cancellation
- Con:Lacks app support and custom EQ
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
Compare something else
Swap either side out, or start again from the picker.