Over-Ear
Audeze Maxwell 2
88Outstanding
$330
Full review dataAudeze Maxwell 2 vs Grado PS500x: 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.
Score 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 PS500x
HearWiki score
88
70
Sound
9.5
8.2
Battery
9.5
-
Calls
9.0
-
Value
7.5
-
Price (USD)
$330
$600
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 PS500x (2024). The Audeze Maxwell 2 edges ahead on platform, but only just: ANC type Adaptive against None.
- Maxwell 220262 yr newer
- PS500x2024
What differsMaxwell 2PS500x
- ANC type
- Adaptive
- None
Platform
Specifications
Maxwell 2PS500x
- Type
- Over-Ear
- Over-Ear
- Price (USD)
- $330
- $600
- HearWiki score
- 88
- 70
- Released
- 2026
- 2024
- Availability
- Sold new
- Discontinued
- 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
- 14 Hz - 29 kHz
- Impedance
- -
- 32 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
- -
- Weight
- 560 g
- 215 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 PS500x
The Grado PS500x is an open-back, wired over-ear headphone aimed at audiophiles and studio use, featuring a 44mm dynamic driver and a 32-ohm impedance that makes it easy to drive from portable sources. It delivers an energetic, open sound with strong bass and good timing, though its open design leaks sound heavily and its build feels utilitarian rather than luxurious. Tuning sets it apart from other Grado models, offering competitive detail and the brand's signature presentation.
- Pro:Energetic and entertaining sound with strong bass
- Pro:Easy to drive from portable devices thanks to 32-ohm impedance
- Pro:Open, informative presentation with good timing
- Con:Open-back design leaks sound heavily, unsuitable for public use
- Con:Build quality feels basic and not luxurious
- Con:Refinement could be better compared to rivals
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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