Over-Ear
Audeze Maxwell 2
88Outstanding
$330
Full review dataAudeze Maxwell 2 vs Sennheiser HD 550: 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 550
81Outstanding
$200
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
- Sennheiser HD 550
HearWiki score
88
81
Sound
9.5
8.3
Battery
9.5
-
Calls
9.0
-
Value
7.5
9.0
Price (USD)
$330
$200
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 550 (2024). The Audeze Maxwell 2 edges ahead on platform, but only just: ANC type Adaptive against None. It also adds USB-C.
- Maxwell 220262 yr newer
- HD 5502024
What differsMaxwell 2HD 550
- ANC type
- Adaptive
- None
- USB-C
- Yes
- No
Platform
Everyday features
Specifications
Maxwell 2HD 550
- Type
- Over-Ear
- Over-Ear
- Price (USD)
- $330
- $200
- HearWiki score
- 88
- 81
- Released
- 2026
- 2024
- Availability
- Sold new
- Still 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
- 6 Hz - 39.5 kHz
- Impedance
- -
- 150 Ω
- Sensitivity
- -
- 106.7 dB/mW
- Sensitivity (dB/Vrms)
- -
- 106
- 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
- -
- 3.5 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 550
The Sennheiser HD 550 is a wired, open-back over-ear headphone that delivers a well-balanced and engaging sound signature for its price point. It features a custom 38 mm dynamic driver and a 150-ohm impedance, making it easy to drive while offering deep bass and refined treble. The design includes a detachable cable and practical accessories, though comfort and upper-midrange smoothness could be improved.
- Pro:Excellent tonal balance and tuning for the price
- Pro:Easy to drive despite 150-ohm impedance
- Pro:Deep, impactful bass response
- Con:Lower treble can sound scratchy or dry
- Con:Headband comfort may be an issue for some
- Con:Slight graininess in the upper mids
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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