Over-Ear
Audeze Maxwell 2
88Outstanding
$330
Full review dataAudeze Maxwell 2 vs STAX SR-L300: 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
STAX SR-L300
64Good
$550
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 6 measures.
- Audeze Maxwell 2
- STAX SR-L300
HearWiki score
88
64
Sound
9.5
8.1
Battery
9.5
-
Calls
9.0
-
Value
7.5
6.8
Price (USD)
$330
$550
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 STAX SR-L300 (2016). The Audeze Maxwell 2 edges ahead on platform, but only just: ANC type Adaptive against None. It also adds USB-C, Transparency mode, Custom EQ and Companion app.
- Maxwell 2202610 yr newer
- SR-L3002016
What differsMaxwell 2SR-L300
- ANC type
- Adaptive
- None
- USB-C
- Yes
- No
- Transparency mode
- Yes
- No
- Custom EQ
- Yes
- No
- Companion app
- Yes
- No
Platform
Everyday features
Specifications
Maxwell 2SR-L300
- Type
- Over-Ear
- Over-Ear
- Price (USD)
- $330
- $550
- HearWiki score
- 88
- 64
- Released
- 2026
- 2016
- Availability
- Sold new
- Discontinued
- Driver
- 90 mm planar magnetic
- electrostatic
- Driver type
- planar
- electrostatic
- Driver size
- 90 mm
- -
- Drivers per side
- 1
- 1
- Frequency response
- 10 Hz - 50 kHz
- 7 Hz - 41 kHz
- Impedance
- -
- 145000 Ω
- Sensitivity
- -
- 101 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
- none
- Transparency mode
- Yes
- No
- Companion app
- Yes
- No
- Custom EQ
- Yes
- No
- Wear detection
- No
- No
- Controls
- buttons
- none
- Weight
- 560 g
- 322 g
- Detachable cable
- -
- No
- USB-C
- Yes
- No
- Pad material
- -
- leatherette
- 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-L300
The STAX SR-L300 is a wired, open-back electrostatic headphone designed for audiophiles who value pristine detail and an expansive soundstage. It offers a remarkably wide frequency response and a lightweight build, but it requires a dedicated electrostatic amplifier to function, making it part of a larger system investment rather than a plug-and-play product. Its tuning leans toward vocal clarity and musicality, appealing to listeners seeking a specialized, high-fidelity experience.
- Pro:Excellent detail and clarity across a wide frequency range
- Pro:Very lightweight for an electrostatic design
- Pro:Natural, engaging vocal reproduction
- Con:Requires a dedicated electrostatic amplifier, adding significant cost
- Con:No built-in controls or wireless features
- Con:Leatherette pads may not suit all comfort preferences
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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