Over-Ear
Audeze Maxwell 2
88Outstanding
$330
Full review dataAudeze Maxwell 2 vs Shure Aonic 50 Gen 2: 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
Shure Aonic 50 Gen 2
71Good
$390
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 7 measures.
- Audeze Maxwell 2
- Shure Aonic 50 Gen 2
HearWiki score
88
71
Sound
9.5
8.0
Noise cancelling
-
5.2
Battery
9.5
8.8
Calls
9.0
5.5
Value
7.5
5.6
Price (USD)
$330
$390
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 Shure Aonic 50 Gen 2 (2023). The Audeze Maxwell 2 is the newer platform here: Bluetooth 5.3 against 5.2 and LE Audio (LC3).
- Maxwell 220263 yr newer
- Aonic 50 Gen 22023
What differsMaxwell 2Aonic 50 Gen 2
- Bluetooth
- 5.3
- 5.2
- LE Audio (LC3)
- Yes
- No
Platform
Level on: Top codec, ANC type, Multipoint pairing, USB-C, Transparency mode, Custom EQ, Companion app.
Specifications
Maxwell 2Aonic 50 Gen 2
- Type
- Over-Ear
- Over-Ear
- Price (USD)
- $330
- $390
- HearWiki score
- 88
- 71
- Released
- 2026
- 2023
- 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
- 20 Hz - 22 kHz
- Impedance
- -
- 39 Ω
- Sensitivity
- -
- 97.5 dB/mW
- Bluetooth
- 5.3
- 5.2
- Codecs
- SBC, AAC, LC3, LC3plus, LDAC
- SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX HD, aptX Voice, aptX Adaptive, LDAC
- Multipoint pairing
- Yes
- Yes
- Wireless range
- -
- 100 m
- Battery life
- 80 h
- 45 h
- Battery life (ANC on)
- 35 h
- -
- Full charge time
- 120 min
- -
- 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
- No
- Controls
- buttons
- buttons
- Voice assistant
- -
- Alexa
- Weight
- 560 g
- 334 g
- Water resistance
- -
- none
- Foldable
- -
- Yes
- Detachable cable
- -
- Yes
- USB-C
- Yes
- Yes
- Connector
- -
- 3.5 mm
- Model code
- -
- MH36458
- Microphones
- 2
- 6
- Call noise reduction
- Yes
- -
- Call NR technology
- AI ENC
- -
What reviewers said
Audeze Maxwell 2
No summary yet - we haven't aggregated enough reviews.
Shure Aonic 50 Gen 2
The Shure Aonic 50 Gen 2 are over-ear wireless headphones that deliver a balanced, neutral sound with strong detail retrieval, making them a solid pick for critical listening. They offer excellent battery life, extensive codec support including LDAC and aptX Adaptive, and useful features like adaptive ANC, transparency mode, and a customizable EQ, though their noise cancellation isn't the most potent in the category. With a foldable, wired-capable design and 45-hour playback, they're a versatile option for both home and travel use.
- Pro:Excellent 45-hour battery life
- Pro:Wide codec support including LDAC and aptX Adaptive
- Pro:Balanced, neutral sound with good detail
- Con:Noise cancellation is decent but not class-leading
- Con:Heavier than some competitors at 334g
- Con:Lacks water resistance
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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