Over-Ear
Audeze Maxwell 2
88Outstanding
$330
Full review dataAudeze Maxwell 2 vs Grado Sr125x: 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 Sr125x
70Good
$180
Full review dataScore 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
- Grado Sr125x
HearWiki score
88
70
Sound
9.5
7.7
Battery
9.5
-
Calls
9.0
-
Value
7.5
7.4
Price (USD)
$330
$180
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 Sr125x (2018). The Audeze Maxwell 2 edges ahead on platform, but only just: ANC type Adaptive against None. It also adds Multipoint pairing and USB-C.
- Maxwell 220268 yr newer
- Sr125x2018
What differsMaxwell 2Sr125x
- ANC type
- Adaptive
- None
- Multipoint pairing
- Yes
- No
- USB-C
- Yes
- No
Platform
Everyday features
Specifications
Maxwell 2Sr125x
- Type
- Over-Ear
- Over-Ear
- Price (USD)
- $330
- $180
- HearWiki score
- 88
- 70
- Released
- 2026
- 2018
- 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
- 20 Hz - 20 kHz
- Impedance
- -
- 38 Ω
- Sensitivity
- -
- 99.8 dB/mW
- Bluetooth
- 5.3
- -
- Codecs
- SBC, AAC, LC3, LC3plus, LDAC
- -
- Multipoint pairing
- Yes
- No
- Battery life
- 80 h
- -
- Battery life (ANC on)
- 35 h
- -
- Full charge time
- 120 min
- -
- Wireless charging
- -
- No
- 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
- 380 g
- Water resistance
- -
- none
- Foldable
- -
- No
- Detachable cable
- -
- No
- USB-C
- Yes
- No
- Connector
- -
- 6.35 mm
- 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 Sr125x
The Grado SR125e is an open-back dynamic headphone known for its energetic, quick response and controlled low-end. While it can be driven easily by most sources, pairing it with a dedicated amplifier can unlock its full potential. Its sound signature includes a noticeable emphasis in the midrange, and the attached cable is quite sturdy but not user-replaceable.
- Pro:Fast, energetic sound
- Pro:Tight, well-defined bass
- Pro:Easy to drive without an amp
- Con:Prominent midrange spike may be fatiguing
- Con:Thick, non-detachable cable
- Con:Open-back leaks sound and offers little isolation
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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