Over-Ear
Audeze Maxwell 2
88Outstanding
$330
Full review dataAudeze Maxwell 2 vs Grado Hemp: 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
Grado Hemp
67Good
$500
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
- Grado Hemp
HearWiki score
88
67
Sound
9.5
7.8
Battery
9.5
-
Calls
9.0
-
Value
7.5
6.7
Price (USD)
$330
$500
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 Grado Hemp (2020). The Audeze Maxwell 2 edges ahead on platform, but only just: ANC type Adaptive against None.
- Maxwell 220266 yr newer
- Hemp2020
What differsMaxwell 2Hemp
- ANC type
- Adaptive
- None
Platform
Specifications
Maxwell 2Hemp
- Type
- Over-Ear
- Over-Ear
- Price (USD)
- $330
- $500
- HearWiki score
- 88
- 67
- Released
- 2026
- 2020
- Availability
- Sold new
- Still sold new
- Driver
- 90 mm planar magnetic
- 44 mm dynamic
- Driver type
- planar
- dynamic
- Driver size
- 90 mm
- 44 mm
- Drivers per side
- 1
- 1
- Frequency response
- 10 Hz - 50 kHz
- 13 Hz - 28 kHz
- Impedance
- -
- 38 Ω
- Sensitivity
- -
- 98 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
- 218 g
- USB-C
- 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.
Grado Hemp
The Grado Hemp is an open-back, wired over-ear headphone with a 44mm dynamic driver, tuned for a lively, treble-forward sound that appeals to audiophiles and fans of Grado's signature character. It offers detailed, textured audio with an engaging presentation, though its niche design means it's not ideal for everyday mixed use. The lightweight build is offset by a non-isolating open-back structure and a cable that may require some getting used to.
- Pro:Detailed and clear sound with a lively character
- Pro:Lightweight open-back design for an airy presentation
- Pro:Engaging, textured audio that suits music-focused listening
- Con:No noise isolation due to open-back construction
- Con:Comfort may wane during extended listening sessions
- Con:Cable handling can be finicky
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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