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Audeze Maxwell 2 vs GoldPlanar Gl850: which should you buy?

Specs, scores and condensed review verdicts for the Audeze Maxwell 2 vs GoldPlanar Gl850, side by side. Where a product has no HearWiki score yet, not enough reviews have been aggregated to rate it.

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 Gl850
HearWiki score
88
-
Sound
9.5
-
Battery
9.5
-
Calls
9.0
-
Value
7.5
-
Price (USD)
$330
$190

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?

Same generation

The Audeze Maxwell 2 is 4 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 4 years between them, that is a thin return - treat this as a restyle rather than a new platform.

  • Maxwell 220264 yr newer
  • Gl8502022
What differsMaxwell 2Gl850

Everyday features

USB-C
Yes
No

Specifications

Maxwell 2Gl850
Type
Over-Ear
Over-Ear
Price (USD)
$330
$190
HearWiki score
88
Not scored
Released
2026
2022
Availability
Sold new
Discontinued
Driver
90 mm planar magnetic
93 mm AMT
Driver type
planar
amt
Driver size
90 mm
93 mm
Drivers per side
1
1
Frequency response
10 Hz - 50 kHz
10 Hz - 40 kHz
Impedance
-
32 Ω
Sensitivity
-
90 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
-
Detachable cable
-
Yes
USB-C
Yes
No
Balanced connection
-
Yes
Microphones
2
-
Call noise reduction
Yes
-
Call NR technology
AI ENC
-

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