Over-Ear
Audeze Maxwell 2
88Outstanding
$330
Full review dataAudeze Maxwell 2 vs Thieaudio Cypher: 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
Thieaudio Cypher
79Great
$400
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
- Thieaudio Cypher
HearWiki score
88
79
Sound
9.5
8.7
Battery
9.5
-
Calls
9.0
-
Value
7.5
8.0
Price (USD)
$330
$400
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
Both shipped in 2026. The Audeze Maxwell 2 edges ahead on platform, but only just: ANC type Adaptive against None.
- Maxwell 22026
- Cypher2026
What differsMaxwell 2Cypher
- ANC type
- Adaptive
- None
Platform
Specifications
Maxwell 2Cypher
- Type
- Over-Ear
- Over-Ear
- Price (USD)
- $330
- $400
- HearWiki score
- 88
- 79
- Released
- 2026
- 2026
- Availability
- Sold new
- 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 - 20 kHz
- 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
- -
- Weight
- 560 g
- 411 g
- Detachable cable
- -
- Yes
- USB-C
- Yes
- -
- Pad material
- -
- velour
- Connector
- -
- 3.5 mm
- 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.
Thieaudio Cypher
The Thieaudio Cypher is a wired, open-back over-ear headphone with a 50mm dynamic driver and a warm, mid-forward tuning that emphasizes vocals and acoustic detail. Its velour pads and detachable cable add comfort and flexibility, though opinions vary on bass response and soundstage width. At $399, it targets listeners who prioritize midrange clarity and relaxed treble over deep bass or expansive imaging.
- Pro:Rich, detailed midrange with excellent vocal reproduction
- Pro:High-quality build with comfortable velour pads
- Pro:Detachable cable and 3.5mm connectivity for easy swapping
- Con:Bass response can feel underwhelming or rolled-off depending on source
- Con:Soundstage is often described as intimate or narrow
- Con:Potential channel imbalance and quality control issues on some units
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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