Over-Ear
Audeze Maxwell 2
88Outstanding
$330
Full review dataAudeze Maxwell 2 vs Sennheiser HD 505: 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
Sennheiser HD 505
79Great
$330
Full review dataScore breakdown
Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.
Audeze Maxwell 2 leads on 6 of 6 measures.
- Audeze Maxwell 2
- Sennheiser HD 505
HearWiki score
88
79
Sound
9.5
8.1
Battery
9.5
-
Calls
9.0
-
Value
7.5
5.9
Price (USD)
$330
$330
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 Sennheiser HD 505 (2025). The Audeze Maxwell 2 edges ahead on platform, but only just: ANC type Adaptive against None. It also adds USB-C.
- Maxwell 220261 yr newer
- HD 5052025
What differsMaxwell 2HD 505
- ANC type
- Adaptive
- None
- USB-C
- Yes
- No
Platform
Everyday features
Specifications
Maxwell 2HD 505
- Type
- Over-Ear
- Over-Ear
- Price (USD)
- $330
- $330
- HearWiki score
- 88
- 79
- Released
- 2026
- 2025
- Availability
- Sold new
- Sold new
- Driver
- 90 mm planar magnetic
- 38 mm dynamic
- Driver type
- planar
- dynamic
- Driver size
- 90 mm
- 38 mm
- Drivers per side
- 1
- 1
- Frequency response
- 10 Hz - 50 kHz
- 12 Hz - 38.5 kHz
- Sound signature
- -
- neutral
- Impedance
- -
- 120 Ω
- Sensitivity
- -
- 107.9 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
- -
- Transparency mode
- Yes
- -
- Companion app
- Yes
- -
- Custom EQ
- Yes
- -
- Wear detection
- No
- -
- Controls
- buttons
- none
- Weight
- 560 g
- 237 g
- Detachable cable
- -
- Yes
- 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.
Sennheiser HD 505
The Sennheiser HD 505 is a wired, open-back headphone that delivers a neutral, mid-focused sound with good bass extension and a smooth treble, drawing on the brand's classic house tuning. While it offers solid detail retrieval and a comfortable fit for many, its $330 price point and some design choices—like a proprietary cable—make it a mixed value compared to other options in Sennheiser's lineup. It lacks ANC and on-cable controls, focusing purely on passive, high-fidelity listening for home use.
- Pro:Neutral, mid-focused sound with smooth treble
- Pro:Good bass extension for an open-back design
- Pro:Comfortable fit with lightweight build (237 g)
- Con:Proprietary cable system limits aftermarket options
- Con:Sparse accessories included in the box
- Con:Higher price than similar-performing rivals
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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