Over-Ear
Audeze Maxwell 2
88Outstanding
$330
Full review dataAudeze Maxwell 2 vs STAX SR-X1: 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-X1
71Good
$410
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-X1
HearWiki score
88
71
Sound
9.5
8.4
Battery
9.5
-
Calls
9.0
-
Value
7.5
7.4
Price (USD)
$330
$410
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-X1 (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
- SR-X12020
What differsMaxwell 2SR-X1
- ANC type
- Adaptive
- None
- USB-C
- Yes
- No
Platform
Everyday features
Specifications
Maxwell 2SR-X1
- Type
- Over-Ear
- Over-Ear
- Price (USD)
- $330
- $410
- HearWiki score
- 88
- 71
- Released
- 2026
- 2020
- Availability
- Sold new
- Discontinued
- Driver
- 90 mm planar magnetic
- 30 mm electrostatic
- Driver type
- planar
- electrostatic
- Driver size
- 90 mm
- 30 mm
- Drivers per side
- 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
- -
- Transparency mode
- Yes
- -
- Companion app
- Yes
- -
- Custom EQ
- Yes
- -
- Wear detection
- No
- -
- Controls
- buttons
- -
- Weight
- 560 g
- 234 g
- Detachable cable
- -
- Yes
- USB-C
- Yes
- No
- 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-X1
The STAX SR-X1 is an affordable entry point into the world of electrostatic headphones, delivering exceptionally fast, detailed, and transparent sound with a balanced tonal character. It offers a spacious and neutral presentation that remains lightweight and comfortable for extended listening, though it requires an external electrostatic amplifier and is not suited for portable use. While its bass is less impactful than dynamic counterparts, it still impresses with surprising low-end authority for an electrostatic design.
- Pro:Exceptional speed, detail, and transparency
- Pro:Lightweight and comfortable for long sessions
- Pro:Spacious and neutral soundstage
- Con:Requires a dedicated electrostatic amplifier
- Con:Not portable-friendly due to wired, open design
- Con:Bass impact is less than dynamic headphones
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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