Over-Ear
Audeze Maxwell 2
88Outstanding
$330
Full review dataAudeze Maxwell 2 vs Sony Mdr-M1: 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
Sony Mdr-M1
79Great
$260
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 6 measures.
- Audeze Maxwell 2
- Sony Mdr-M1
HearWiki score
88
79
Sound
9.5
8.2
Battery
9.5
-
Calls
9.0
-
Value
7.5
7.4
Price (USD)
$330
$260
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?
Same generation
The Audeze Maxwell 2 is 2 years newer, but it is the same generation of hardware: nothing in the radio, the codecs or the noise cancelling separates them. The platform is level; the newer hardware shows up in convenience features instead - the Audeze Maxwell 2 adds USB-C.
- Maxwell 220262 yr newer
- Mdr-M12024
What differsMaxwell 2Mdr-M1
- USB-C
- Yes
- No
Everyday features
Specifications
Maxwell 2Mdr-M1
- Type
- Over-Ear
- Over-Ear
- Price (USD)
- $330
- $260
- HearWiki score
- 88
- 79
- Released
- 2026
- 2024
- 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
- 5 Hz - 80 kHz
- Impedance
- -
- 50 Ω
- Sensitivity
- -
- 102 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
- -
- ANC type
- adaptive
- -
- Transparency mode
- Yes
- -
- Companion app
- Yes
- -
- Custom EQ
- Yes
- -
- Wear detection
- No
- -
- Controls
- buttons
- buttons
- Weight
- 560 g
- 216 g
- Detachable cable
- -
- Yes
- USB-C
- Yes
- No
- Balanced connection
- -
- Yes
- 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.
Sony Mdr-M1
The Sony MDR-M1 is a wired, closed-back studio monitor that builds on the legacy of the MDR-7506 with modern refinements. Its 40 mm dynamic drivers and 50-ohm impedance make it easy to drive from standard gear, while the detachable cable and lightweight build add everyday practicality. The extended frequency response and balanced connectivity position it as a solid, versatile choice for professional tracking and mixing.
- Pro:Easy to drive without a dedicated amp
- Pro:Detachable cable for convenient replacement or upgrades
- Pro:Lightweight and comfortable for long sessions
- Con:Wired-only design limits portability
- Con:Closed-back soundstage may feel less open than open-back rivals
- Con:Plastic build may not feel as premium as pricier monitors
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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