Over-Ear
Audeze Maxwell 2
88Outstanding
$330
Full review dataAudeze Maxwell 2 vs Focal Listen Wireless: 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 5 of 7 measures.
- Audeze Maxwell 2
- Focal Listen Wireless
HearWiki score
88
37
Sound
9.5
7.1
Noise cancelling
-
0.0
Battery
9.5
4.5
Calls
9.0
6.0
Value
7.5
3.5
Price (USD)
$330
$270
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 Listen Wireless (2017). The Audeze Maxwell 2 is the newer platform here: Bluetooth 5.3 against 4.1, Top codec LC3 against aptX, LE Audio (LC3) and ANC type Adaptive against None. It also adds Multipoint pairing, USB-C, Transparency mode and Custom EQ.
- Maxwell 220269 yr newer
- Listen Wireless2017
What differsMaxwell 2Listen Wireless
- Bluetooth
- 5.3
- 4.1
- Top codec
- LC3
- aptX
- LE Audio (LC3)
- Yes
- No
- ANC type
- Adaptive
- None
- Multipoint pairing
- Yes
- No
- USB-C
- Yes
- No
- Transparency mode
- Yes
- No
- Custom EQ
- Yes
- No
- Companion app
- Yes
- No
Platform
Everyday features
Specifications
Maxwell 2Listen Wireless
- Type
- Over-Ear
- Over-Ear
- Price (USD)
- $330
- $270
- HearWiki score
- 88
- 37
- Released
- 2026
- 2017
- 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
- 15 Hz - 22 kHz
- Impedance
- -
- 32 Ω
- Sensitivity
- -
- 122 dB/mW
- Bluetooth
- 5.3
- 4.1
- Codecs
- SBC, AAC, LC3, LC3plus, LDAC
- SBC, aptX
- Multipoint pairing
- Yes
- No
- Wireless range
- -
- 15 m
- Battery life
- 80 h
- 20 h
- Battery life (ANC on)
- 35 h
- -
- Full charge time
- 120 min
- 180 min
- Wireless charging
- -
- No
- 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
- 300 g
- Water resistance
- -
- none
- Foldable
- -
- Yes
- Detachable cable
- -
- Yes
- USB-C
- Yes
- No
- Pad material
- -
- leatherette
- Connector
- -
- 3.5 mm
- Microphones
- 2
- 2
- Call noise reduction
- Yes
- Yes
- Call NR technology
- AI ENC
- cVc
What reviewers said
Audeze Maxwell 2
No summary yet - we haven't aggregated enough reviews.
Focal Listen Wireless
The Focal Listen Wireless is a straightforward, audio-focused over-ear headphone that delivers a warm, well-organized sound signature true to the wired Listen lineage. It offers reliable battery life and a sturdy, foldable build, though its feature set is minimal and its design feels bulky by modern standards. While competent and pleasant to listen to, it faces stiff competition at its price point and doesn't stand out beyond its core sound quality.
- Pro:Smooth, well-organized sound with a wide frequency response
- Pro:Solid battery life, meeting or slightly exceeding the 20-hour rating
- Pro:Foldable design with a wired 3.5mm option for flexibility
- Con:Bulky and heavy design
- Con:No active noise cancellation or transparency mode
- Con:Limited codec support (only SBC and aptX) and no multipoint
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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