Audeze Maxwell 2 vs GoldPlanar Gl600: 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.
Score breakdown
Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.
Audeze Maxwell 2 leads on 5 of 6 measures.
- Audeze Maxwell 2
- GoldPlanar Gl600
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?
The Audeze Maxwell 2 is 6 years newer, but it is the same generation of hardware: nothing in the radio, the codecs or the noise cancelling separates them. The platform is level; the newer hardware shows up in convenience features instead - the Audeze Maxwell 2 adds USB-C. For 6 years between them, that is a thin return - treat this as a restyle rather than a new platform.
- Maxwell 220266 yr newer
- Gl6002020
- USB-C
- Yes
- No
Everyday features
Specifications
- Type
- Over-Ear
- Over-Ear
- Price (USD)
- $330
- $180
- HearWiki score
- 88
- 44
- Released
- 2026
- 2020
- Availability
- Sold new
- Discontinued
- Driver
- 90 mm planar magnetic
- 66 mm planar magnetic
- Driver type
- planar
- planar
- Driver size
- 90 mm
- 66 mm
- Drivers per side
- 1
- 1
- Frequency response
- 10 Hz - 50 kHz
- 6 Hz - 50 kHz
- Impedance
- -
- 22 Ω
- Sensitivity
- -
- 100 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
- -
- ANC type
- adaptive
- -
- Transparency mode
- Yes
- -
- Companion app
- Yes
- -
- Custom EQ
- Yes
- -
- Wear detection
- No
- -
- Controls
- buttons
- -
- Weight
- 560 g
- 375 g
- Detachable cable
- -
- Yes
- USB-C
- Yes
- No
- Connector
- -
- 3.5 mm
- Balanced connection
- -
- Yes
- Microphones
- 2
- -
- Call noise reduction
- Yes
- -
- Call NR technology
- AI ENC
- -
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