Over-Ear
Audeze Maxwell 2
88Outstanding
$330
Full review dataAudeze Maxwell 2 vs Meze 105 Aer: 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
Meze 105 Aer
79Great
$300
Full review dataScore breakdown
Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.
Audeze Maxwell 2 leads on 4 of 6 measures.
- Audeze Maxwell 2
- Meze 105 Aer
HearWiki score
88
79
Sound
9.5
8.3
Battery
9.5
-
Calls
9.0
-
Value
7.5
9.1
Price (USD)
$330
$300
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 Meze 105 Aer (2024). The Audeze Maxwell 2 edges ahead on platform, but only just: ANC type Adaptive against None. It also adds USB-C, Transparency mode, Custom EQ and Companion app.
- Maxwell 220262 yr newer
- 105 Aer2024
What differsMaxwell 2105 Aer
- ANC type
- Adaptive
- None
- USB-C
- Yes
- No
- Transparency mode
- Yes
- No
- Custom EQ
- Yes
- No
- Companion app
- Yes
- No
Platform
Everyday features
Specifications
Maxwell 2105 Aer
- Type
- Over-Ear
- Over-Ear
- Price (USD)
- $330
- $300
- HearWiki score
- 88
- 79
- Released
- 2026
- 2024
- Availability
- Sold new
- Still sold new
- Driver
- 90 mm planar magnetic
- 50 mm dynamic
- Driver type
- planar
- dynamic
- Driver size
- 90 mm
- 50 mm
- Drivers per side
- 1
- 1
- Frequency response
- 10 Hz - 50 kHz
- 5 Hz - 30 kHz
- Impedance
- -
- 42 Ω
- Sensitivity
- -
- 112 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
- none
- Transparency mode
- Yes
- No
- Companion app
- Yes
- No
- Custom EQ
- Yes
- No
- Wear detection
- No
- No
- Controls
- buttons
- none
- Weight
- 560 g
- 336 g
- Detachable cable
- -
- Yes
- USB-C
- Yes
- No
- Pad material
- -
- velour
- Connector
- -
- 3.5 mm
- 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.
Meze 105 Aer
The Meze 105 Aer is an open-back, wired over-ear headphone that pairs a 50mm dynamic driver with a lightweight 336g frame, offering a natural, warm-neutral sound with strong vocal presence and easy driveability from portable sources. Its velour pads and comfortable fit make it suitable for long listening sessions, while its balanced connection and wide frequency range add to its versatility for home use. However, it lacks a balanced 4.4mm cable in the box and its open design leaks sound, limiting portability and private listening scenarios.
- Pro:Excellent comfort with velour pads and easy clamp force
- Pro:Natural, warm-neutral sound with clear vocals and detail
- Pro:Easy to drive from phones or laptops despite 42-ohm impedance
- Con:No balanced 4.4mm cable included
- Con:Included cable is overly long for on-the-go use
- Con:Open-back design leaks sound significantly
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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