Audeze Maxwell 2 vs STAX SR-202: which should you buy?
Specs, scores and condensed review verdicts for the Audeze Maxwell 2 vs STAX SR-202, side by side. Where a product has no HearWiki score yet, not enough reviews have been aggregated to rate it.
Score 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
- STAX SR-202
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 STAX SR-202 (2019). The Audeze Maxwell 2 edges ahead on platform, but only just: ANC type Adaptive against None.
- Maxwell 220267 yr newer
- SR-2022019
- ANC type
- Adaptive
- None
Platform
Specifications
- Type
- Over-Ear
- Over-Ear
- Price (USD)
- $330
- $500
- HearWiki score
- 88
- Not scored
- Released
- 2026
- 2019
- Availability
- Sold new
- Discontinued
- Driver
- 90 mm planar magnetic
- 2× electrostatic
- Driver type
- planar
- electrostatic
- Driver size
- 90 mm
- -
- Drivers per side
- 1
- 2
- Frequency response
- 10 Hz - 50 kHz
- 7 Hz - 41 kHz
- Sound signature
- -
- neutral
- Impedance
- -
- 183000 Ω
- Sensitivity
- -
- 100 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
- -
- Weight
- 560 g
- 295 g
- USB-C
- 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.
STAX SR-202
The Stax SR-202 is a wired electrostatic over-ear headphone that relies on electrostatic force to move its ultra-thin diaphragm, delivering a natural and delicate sound. With a wide frequency response from 7 Hz to 41 kHz and a high maximum output, it aims for a neutral, detailed presentation, though it requires a dedicated electrostatic amplifier to operate.
- Pro:Natural, delicate sound reproduction
- Pro:Very wide frequency response (7 Hz–41 kHz)
- Pro:Neutral tuning for accurate monitoring
- Con:Requires a special electrostatic amplifier
- Con:High impedance (183 kΩ) limits portability
- Con:No noise cancellation or wireless features
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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