Audeze Maxwell 2 vs Sennheiser HD 560s: 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.
Score 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 560s
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?
Audeze Maxwell 2 (2026) against Sennheiser HD 560s (2020). The Audeze Maxwell 2 edges ahead on platform, but only just: ANC type Adaptive against None. It also adds USB-C.
- Maxwell 220266 yr newer
- HD 560s2020
- ANC type
- Adaptive
- None
- USB-C
- Yes
- No
Platform
Everyday features
Specifications
- Type
- Over-Ear
- Over-Ear
- Price (USD)
- $330
- $200
- HearWiki score
- 88
- 79
- 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
- 6 Hz - 38 kHz
- Impedance
- -
- 120 Ω
- Sensitivity
- -
- 99 dB/mW
- Sensitivity (dB/Vrms)
- -
- 110
- 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
- buttons
- Weight
- 560 g
- 280 g
- Detachable cable
- -
- Yes
- USB-C
- Yes
- No
- Pad material
- -
- velour
- Connector
- -
- 6.35 mm
- Model code
- -
- 509144
- 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 560s
The Sennheiser HD 560S is a wired, open-back over-ear headphone designed for critical listening, offering a neutral and highly detailed sound with a wide soundstage. Its lightweight build and plush velour earcups ensure long-lasting comfort, while the 120-ohm impedance allows it to be driven easily by most devices. It prioritizes accuracy over excitement, making it a solid choice for purists, though it lacks noise cancellation and a microphone.
- Pro:Wide, open soundstage
- Pro:Neutral and analytical tuning
- Pro:Very comfortable for long sessions
- Con:Not an energetic or fun sound signature
- Con:Open-back design leaks sound
- Con:No built-in microphone
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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