Over-Ear
Audeze Maxwell 2
88Outstanding
$330
Full review dataAudeze Maxwell 2 vs Focal Bathys: 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
Focal Bathys
78Great
$800
Full review dataScore breakdown
Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.
Audeze Maxwell 2 leads on 6 of 7 measures.
- Audeze Maxwell 2
- Focal Bathys
HearWiki score
88
78
Sound
9.5
9.2
Noise cancelling
-
6.8
Battery
9.5
7.6
Calls
9.0
8.1
Value
7.5
7.4
Price (USD)
$330
$800
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 Focal Bathys (2022). The Audeze Maxwell 2 is the newer platform here: Bluetooth 5.3 against 5.1, Top codec LC3 against aptX Adaptive and LE Audio (LC3).
- Maxwell 220264 yr newer
- Bathys2022
What differsMaxwell 2Bathys
- Bluetooth
- 5.3
- 5.1
- Top codec
- LC3
- aptX Adaptive
- LE Audio (LC3)
- Yes
- No
Platform
Level on: Multipoint pairing, USB-C, Transparency mode, Custom EQ, Companion app.
Specifications
Maxwell 2Bathys
- Type
- Over-Ear
- Over-Ear
- Price (USD)
- $330
- $800
- HearWiki score
- 88
- 78
- Released
- 2026
- 2022
- Availability
- Sold new
- Still sold new
- Driver
- 90 mm planar magnetic
- 40 mm dynamic
- Driver type
- planar
- dynamic
- Driver size
- 90 mm
- 40 mm
- Drivers per side
- 1
- 1
- Frequency response
- 10 Hz - 50 kHz
- 15 Hz - 22 kHz
- Bluetooth
- 5.3
- 5.1
- Codecs
- SBC, AAC, LC3, LC3plus, LDAC
- SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX Adaptive
- Multipoint pairing
- Yes
- Yes
- Wireless range
- -
- 15 m
- Battery life
- 80 h
- 30 h
- Battery life (ANC on)
- 35 h
- -
- Full charge time
- 120 min
- 90 min
- Wireless charging
- -
- No
- Active noise cancelling
- Yes
- Yes
- ANC type
- adaptive
- -
- Transparency mode
- Yes
- Yes
- Companion app
- Yes
- Yes
- Custom EQ
- Yes
- Yes
- Wear detection
- No
- -
- Controls
- buttons
- -
- Voice assistant
- -
- Alexa, Google Assistant
- Weight
- 560 g
- 350 g
- Water resistance
- -
- none
- Detachable cable
- -
- Yes
- USB-C
- Yes
- Yes
- Connector
- -
- 3.5 mm
- Microphones
- 2
- 8
- Call noise reduction
- Yes
- -
- Call NR technology
- AI ENC
- -
What reviewers said
Audeze Maxwell 2
No summary yet - we haven't aggregated enough reviews.
Focal Bathys
The Focal Bathys are premium over-ear wireless headphones that combine high-fidelity sound with active noise cancellation and versatile connectivity, including a USB-C DAC mode for high-resolution wired listening. They offer strong battery life, multipoint Bluetooth, and a robust feature set, making them a top choice for audiophiles seeking wireless convenience without compromising on audio quality. While ANC is effective rather than best-in-class, the overall performance and build justify their premium price point.
- Pro:Excellent sound quality with detailed, dynamic drivers
- Pro:Versatile USB-C DAC mode for high-resolution wired audio
- Pro:Solid battery life, often exceeding rated figures in real-world use
- Con:ANC is competent but not class-leading
- Con:Premium price point may be prohibitive for some
- Con:No water resistance rating
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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