Over-Ear
Audeze Maxwell 2
88Outstanding
$330
Full review dataAudeze Maxwell 2 vs Focal Spirit Classic: 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 Spirit Classic
53Average
$350
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 6 measures.
- Audeze Maxwell 2
- Focal Spirit Classic
HearWiki score
88
53
Sound
9.5
7.5
Battery
9.5
-
Calls
9.0
-
Value
7.5
4.5
Price (USD)
$330
$350
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 Spirit Classic (2014). The Audeze Maxwell 2 edges ahead on platform, but only just: ANC type Adaptive against None. It also adds USB-C.
- Maxwell 2202612 yr newer
- Spirit Classic2014
What differsMaxwell 2Spirit Classic
- ANC type
- Adaptive
- None
- USB-C
- Yes
- No
Platform
Everyday features
Specifications
Maxwell 2Spirit Classic
- Type
- Over-Ear
- Over-Ear
- Price (USD)
- $330
- $350
- HearWiki score
- 88
- 53
- Released
- 2026
- 2014
- 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 - 22 kHz
- Sound signature
- -
- neutral-warm
- Impedance
- -
- 32 Ω
- Sensitivity
- -
- 102 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
- buttons
- Weight
- 560 g
- 310 g
- Detachable cable
- -
- Yes
- USB-C
- Yes
- No
- Pad material
- -
- foam
- Connector
- -
- 6.35 mm
- Microphones
- 2
- 1
- 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 Spirit Classic
The Focal Spirit Classic is a wired, closed-back over-ear headphone with a neutral-warm sound signature, delivering balanced and detailed audio with a lively, dynamic character. Its solid build quality and comfortable fit make it a versatile choice for everyday listening, though it may benefit from a capable amplifier to reach its full potential. While its closed-back design limits soundstage openness, the headphone offers strong tonal coherence and performance for its price point.
- Pro:Excellent tonal balance and detail retrieval
- Pro:Solid build quality with useful accessories
- Pro:Neutral-warm sound signature suits varied genres
- Con:Bass is not boosted, which may not suit bass-heavy listeners
- Con:Requires a stronger source or amp for best performance
- Con:Limited soundstage openness typical of closed-back design
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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