Over-Ear
Audeze Maxwell 2
88Outstanding
$330
Full review dataAudeze Maxwell 2 vs KEF Mu7: 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
KEF Mu7
52Average
$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 7 measures.
- Audeze Maxwell 2
- KEF Mu7
HearWiki score
88
52
Sound
9.5
6.0
Noise cancelling
-
6.3
Battery
9.5
8.0
Calls
9.0
6.5
Value
7.5
6.2
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?
New platform
Audeze Maxwell 2 (2026) against KEF Mu7 (2022). The Audeze Maxwell 2 is the newer platform here: Bluetooth 5.3 against 5.1, Top codec LC3 against aptX HD and LE Audio (LC3). It also adds Transparency mode, Custom EQ and Companion app.
- Maxwell 220264 yr newer
- Mu72022
What differsMaxwell 2Mu7
- Bluetooth
- 5.3
- 5.1
- Top codec
- LC3
- aptX HD
- LE Audio (LC3)
- Yes
- No
- Transparency mode
- Yes
- No
- Custom EQ
- Yes
- No
- Companion app
- Yes
- No
Platform
Everyday features
Level on: ANC type, Multipoint pairing, USB-C.
Specifications
Maxwell 2Mu7
- Type
- Over-Ear
- Over-Ear
- Price (USD)
- $330
- $180
- HearWiki score
- 88
- 52
- Released
- 2026
- 2022
- Availability
- Sold new
- Still sold new
- Driver
- 90 mm planar magnetic
- 40 mm dynamic
- Driver type
- planar
- dynamic
- Driver size
- 90 mm
- 40 mm
- Drivers per side
- 1
- 1
- Frequency response
- 10 Hz - 50 kHz
- 20 Hz - 20 kHz
- Impedance
- -
- 16 Ω
- Sensitivity
- -
- 118.5 dB/mW
- Bluetooth
- 5.3
- 5.1
- Codecs
- SBC, AAC, LC3, LC3plus, LDAC
- SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX HD
- Multipoint pairing
- Yes
- Yes
- Wireless range
- -
- 10 m
- Battery life
- 80 h
- 40 h
- Battery life (ANC on)
- 35 h
- 40 h
- Full charge time
- 120 min
- -
- Quick charge
- -
- 15 min → 8 h
- Wireless charging
- -
- No
- Active noise cancelling
- Yes
- Yes
- ANC type
- adaptive
- adaptive
- Transparency mode
- Yes
- No
- Companion app
- Yes
- No
- Custom EQ
- Yes
- No
- Wear detection
- No
- No
- Controls
- buttons
- buttons
- Voice assistant
- -
- Yes
- Weight
- 560 g
- 309 g
- Water resistance
- -
- none
- USB-C
- Yes
- Yes
- Microphones
- 2
- 1
- Call noise reduction
- Yes
- Yes
- Call NR technology
- AI ENC
- cVc
What reviewers said
Audeze Maxwell 2
No summary yet - we haven't aggregated enough reviews.
KEF Mu7
The KEF Mu7 are over-ear wireless headphones with adaptive noise cancellation and a robust 40-hour battery life, even with ANC active. They offer broad codec support including aptX HD, multipoint Bluetooth 5.1, and a comfortable build, though sound character and feature set may divide opinion. Their performance leans toward a neutral, hi-fi presentation, but they lack some modern conveniences like transparency mode or EQ adjustments. Overall, they're a solid, if not class-leading, option for long-listening sessions with adaptive ANC.
- Pro:Excellent 40-hour battery life with ANC on
- Pro:Adaptive noise cancellation for changing environments
- Pro:Broad codec support including aptX HD and AAC
- Con:Sound can feel bland or lacking in dynamics
- Con:No transparency mode for quick ambient awareness
- Con:Limited control options and no custom EQ
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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