Over-Ear
Audeze Maxwell 2
88Outstanding
$330
Full review dataAudeze Maxwell 2 vs GoldPlanar Gl2000 Dual-Magenetic: 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
GoldPlanar Gl2000 Dual-Magenetic
57Average
$560
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
- GoldPlanar Gl2000 Dual-Magenetic
HearWiki score
88
57
Sound
9.5
7.1
Battery
9.5
-
Calls
9.0
-
Value
7.5
5.3
Price (USD)
$330
$560
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 GoldPlanar Gl2000 Dual-Magenetic (2021). The Audeze Maxwell 2 edges ahead on platform, but only just: ANC type Adaptive against None.
- Maxwell 220265 yr newer
- Gl2000 Dual-Magenetic2021
What differsMaxwell 2Gl2000 Dual-Magenetic
- ANC type
- Adaptive
- None
Platform
Specifications
Maxwell 2Gl2000 Dual-Magenetic
- Type
- Over-Ear
- Over-Ear
- Price (USD)
- $330
- $560
- HearWiki score
- 88
- 57
- Released
- 2026
- 2021
- Availability
- Sold new
- Discontinued
- Driver
- 90 mm planar magnetic
- 112.5 mm planar magnetic
- Driver type
- planar
- planar
- Driver size
- 90 mm
- 112.5 mm
- Drivers per side
- 1
- 1
- Frequency response
- 10 Hz - 50 kHz
- 4 Hz - 50 kHz
- Sound signature
- -
- warm
- Impedance
- -
- 60 Ω
- Sensitivity
- -
- 99 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
- none
- Weight
- 560 g
- 530 g
- Detachable cable
- -
- Yes
- USB-C
- Yes
- -
- 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.
GoldPlanar Gl2000 Dual-Magenetic
The GoldPlanar Gl2000 is a large, open-back planar magnetic headphone that offers a warm, engaging sound with strong dynamics and texture, making it a solid entry point into planar audio. Its dual-sided magnet design and 112.5mm driver deliver good efficiency and low distortion, though its resolution and refinement may not fully justify the price for all listeners. Comfort is generally praised, and the detachable cable with balanced support adds flexibility, but it lacks built-in controls or ANC.
- Pro:Efficient and easier to drive than many planars
- Pro:Warm, musical tuning with good texture and dynamics
- Pro:Comfortable fit for extended listening sessions
- Con:Resolution and bass transient performance are only average for the price
- Con:Stock leather pads can overly warm the sound
- Con:Build refinement trails some competitors at this price
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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