Over-Ear
Audeze Maxwell 2
88Outstanding
$330
Full review dataAudeze Maxwell 2 vs HiFiMAN Ananda Stealth V2: 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
HiFiMAN Ananda Stealth V2
78Great
$250
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
- HiFiMAN Ananda Stealth V2
HearWiki score
88
78
Sound
9.5
8.2
Battery
9.5
-
Calls
9.0
-
Value
7.5
6.9
Price (USD)
$330
$250
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 HiFiMAN Ananda Stealth V2 (2023). The Audeze Maxwell 2 edges ahead on platform, but only just: ANC type Adaptive against None. It also adds Multipoint pairing, USB-C, Transparency mode and Custom EQ.
- Maxwell 220263 yr newer
- Ananda Stealth V22023
What differsMaxwell 2Ananda Stealth V2
- ANC type
- Adaptive
- None
- Multipoint pairing
- Yes
- No
- USB-C
- Yes
- No
- Transparency mode
- Yes
- No
- Custom EQ
- Yes
- No
- Companion app
- Yes
- No
Platform
Everyday features
Specifications
Maxwell 2Ananda Stealth V2
- Type
- Over-Ear
- Over-Ear
- Price (USD)
- $330
- $250
- HearWiki score
- 88
- 78
- Released
- 2026
- 2023
- Availability
- Sold new
- Still sold new
- Driver
- 90 mm planar magnetic
- planar magnetic
- Driver type
- planar
- planar
- Driver size
- 90 mm
- -
- Drivers per side
- 1
- -
- Frequency response
- 10 Hz - 50 kHz
- 8 Hz - 55 kHz
- Impedance
- -
- 26 Ω
- Sensitivity
- -
- 93 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
- -
- Quick charge
- -
- none
- Wireless charging
- -
- No
- Active noise cancelling
- Yes
- No
- ANC type
- adaptive
- none
- Transparency mode
- Yes
- No
- Companion app
- Yes
- No
- Custom EQ
- Yes
- No
- Wear detection
- No
- No
- Controls
- buttons
- none
- Weight
- 560 g
- 440 g
- Water resistance
- -
- none
- USB-C
- Yes
- No
- Balanced connection
- -
- 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.
HiFiMAN Ananda Stealth V2
The HiFiMAN Ananda Stealth V2 is an open-back planar magnetic headphone that delivers strong technical performance with easy driving requirements. Its tonal balance is praised for being natural and responsive to equalization, though comfort details like the inner foam and limited earcup swivel may deter some users. Overall, it offers solid value for those seeking a detailed, spacious listening experience without amplification demands.
- Pro:Excellent technical performance and clarity
- Pro:Easy to drive with low impedance and high sensitivity
- Pro:Natural tonal balance that responds well to EQ
- Con:Distinct treble peaks that may vary in perception
- Con:Comfort issues with inner foam and lack of earcup swivel
- Con:No included carrying case or accessories beyond basic cable
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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