Over-Ear
Audeze Maxwell 2
88Outstanding
$330
Full review dataAudeze Maxwell 2 vs Focal Elex: 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.
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
- Focal Elex
HearWiki score
88
72
Sound
9.5
8.7
Battery
9.5
-
Calls
9.0
-
Value
7.5
-
Price (USD)
$330
$440
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 Focal Elex (2020). The Audeze Maxwell 2 edges ahead on platform, but only just: ANC type Adaptive against None.
- Maxwell 220266 yr newer
- Elex2020
What differsMaxwell 2Elex
- ANC type
- Adaptive
- None
Platform
Specifications
Maxwell 2Elex
- Type
- Over-Ear
- Over-Ear
- Price (USD)
- $330
- $440
- HearWiki score
- 88
- 72
- Released
- 2026
- 2020
- Availability
- Sold new
- Discontinued
- 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
- 5 Hz - 23 kHz
- Impedance
- -
- 80 Ω
- Sensitivity
- -
- 104 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
- 450 g
- Detachable cable
- -
- Yes
- 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.
Focal Elex
The Focal Elex is a wired, open-back over-ear headphone that delivers a highly detailed and balanced sound signature, making it a versatile choice across many music genres. It combines solid build quality and a comfortable fit with an easy-to-drive 80-ohm design, offering strong technical performance that stands out in its price class. While its substantial weight and lack of included accessories are minor drawbacks, its overall sonic value is widely praised.
- Pro:Excellent detail and clarity
- Pro:Balanced, natural tuning with dynamic punch
- Pro:Comfortable fit and attractive build
- Con:Heavy at 450 grams
- Con:No carrying case included
- Con:Potential quality-control concerns
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.