Over-Ear
Audeze Maxwell 2
88Outstanding
$330
Full review dataAudeze Maxwell 2 vs Philips Fidelio L3: 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
Philips Fidelio L3
61Average
$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
- Philips Fidelio L3
HearWiki score
88
61
Sound
9.5
7.1
Noise cancelling
-
6.0
Battery
9.5
6.8
Calls
9.0
5.8
Value
7.5
7.2
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 Philips Fidelio L3 (2020). 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). The Philips Fidelio L3 answers on convenience features: it adds Wear detection.
- Maxwell 220266 yr newer
- Fidelio L32020
What differsMaxwell 2Fidelio L3
- Bluetooth
- 5.3
- 5.1
- Top codec
- LC3
- aptX HD
- LE Audio (LC3)
- Yes
- No
- Wear detection
- No
- Yes
Platform
Everyday features
Level on: ANC type, Multipoint pairing, USB-C, Transparency mode, Custom EQ, Companion app.
Specifications
Maxwell 2Fidelio L3
- Type
- Over-Ear
- Over-Ear
- Price (USD)
- $330
- $180
- HearWiki score
- 88
- 61
- Released
- 2026
- 2020
- 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
- 7 Hz - 40 kHz
- Impedance
- -
- 16 Ω
- Sensitivity
- -
- 103 dB/mW
- Bluetooth
- 5.3
- 5.1
- Codecs
- SBC, AAC, LC3, LC3plus, LDAC
- SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX HD
- Multipoint pairing
- Yes
- Yes
- Battery life
- 80 h
- 38 h
- Battery life (ANC on)
- 35 h
- 32 h
- Full charge time
- 120 min
- 120 min
- Quick charge
- -
- 10 min → 2 h
- Wireless charging
- -
- No
- Active noise cancelling
- Yes
- Yes
- ANC type
- adaptive
- adaptive
- Transparency mode
- Yes
- Yes
- Companion app
- Yes
- Yes
- Custom EQ
- Yes
- Yes
- Wear detection
- No
- Yes
- Controls
- buttons
- both
- Voice assistant
- -
- Yes
- Weight
- 560 g
- 360 g
- Water resistance
- -
- none
- Foldable
- -
- Yes
- Detachable cable
- -
- Yes
- USB-C
- Yes
- Yes
- Connector
- -
- 3.5 mm
- Microphones
- 2
- 2
- Call noise reduction
- Yes
- Yes
- Call NR technology
- AI ENC
- noise-cancelling mic
What reviewers said
Audeze Maxwell 2
No summary yet - we haven't aggregated enough reviews.
Philips Fidelio L3
The Philips Fidelio L3 are premium over-ear wireless headphones with adaptive active noise cancellation and a robust 38-hour battery life (32 with ANC on). They support high-quality aptX HD streaming, multipoint connectivity, and feature a foldable design with a detachable cable for wired use. Their 40mm drivers deliver a wide frequency response, making them a versatile choice for both travel and home listening.
- Pro:Excellent battery life of up to 38 hours
- Pro:Adaptive noise cancellation with transparency mode
- Pro:Supports aptX HD for high-resolution wireless audio
- Con:No water resistance rating
- Con:No wireless charging support
- Con:Heavier than some competitors at 360 grams
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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