Gaming
Audeze Maxwell
Not yet scored
$300
Full review dataAudeze Maxwell vs SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite: which should you buy?
Specs, scores and condensed review verdicts for the Audeze Maxwell vs SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite, side by side. Where a product has no HearWiki score yet, not enough reviews have been aggregated to rate it.
Gaming
SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite
84Outstanding
$430
Full review dataScore breakdown
Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.
SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite leads on 6 of 7 measures.
- Audeze Maxwell
- SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite
HearWiki score
-
84
Sound
-
8.9
Noise cancelling
-
8.7
Battery
-
9.5
Calls
-
9.1
Value
-
5.4
Price (USD)
$300
$430
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
SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite (2025) against Audeze Maxwell (2023). The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite edges ahead on platform, but only just: ANC type Adaptive against None.
- Maxwell2023
- Arctis Nova Elite20252 yr newer
What differsMaxwellArctis Nova Elite
- ANC type
- None
- Adaptive
Platform
Level on: Top codec, LE Audio (LC3), Multipoint pairing.
Specifications
MaxwellArctis Nova Elite
- Type
- Gaming
- Gaming
- Price (USD)
- $300
- $430
- HearWiki score
- Not scored
- 84
- Released
- 2023
- 2025
- Availability
- Discontinued
- Sold new
- Driver
- 90 mm planar magnetic
- 40 mm dynamic
- Driver type
- planar
- dynamic
- Driver size
- 90 mm
- 40 mm
- Drivers per side
- -
- 1
- Frequency response
- -
- 10 Hz - 40 kHz
- Impedance
- -
- 38 Ω
- Sensitivity
- -
- 101 dB/mW
- Bluetooth
- 5.3
- -
- Codecs
- SBC, AAC, LC3, LC3plus, LDAC
- LC3
- Multipoint pairing
- Yes
- Yes
- Wireless range
- -
- 10 m
- Battery life
- 80 h
- 44 h
- Battery incl. case
- -
- 60 h
- Full charge time
- 120 min
- 180 min
- Quick charge
- -
- 15 min → 4 h
- Wireless charging
- -
- No
- Active noise cancelling
- -
- Yes
- ANC type
- -
- adaptive
- Transparency mode
- -
- Yes
- Companion app
- -
- Yes
- Custom EQ
- -
- Yes
- Wear detection
- -
- No
- Controls
- -
- both
- Weight
- 490 g
- 350 g
- Case weight
- -
- 143 g
- Water resistance
- -
- none
- USB-C
- -
- Yes
- Microphones
- -
- 2
- Microphone type
- -
- beamforming
- Call noise reduction
- -
- Yes
- Call NR technology
- -
- AI ENC
What reviewers said
Audeze Maxwell
This closed-back wireless gaming headset pairs massive 90 mm planar magnetic drivers with both a low-latency proprietary connection and Bluetooth 5.3, making it a versatile pick for PC and console play. It offers a long 80-hour battery life, multipoint pairing, and support for high-quality codecs like LDAC, though it lacks active noise cancellation and is on the heavier side at 490 grams.
- Pro:Huge planar drivers deliver detailed, low-distortion audio
- Pro:Excellent battery life at up to 80 hours per charge
- Pro:Low-latency wireless plus Bluetooth with multipoint support
- Con:No active noise cancellation for isolating sound
- Con:Heavy build at 490 grams may cause fatigue
- Con:Long 2-hour charge time for a full refill
SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite is a high-end wireless gaming headset that pairs active noise cancellation with a 40mm dynamic driver for immersive sound. It offers a long 30-hour battery life, Bluetooth 5.3 with multipoint, and an extended frequency response up to 40kHz, making it a versatile choice for both gaming and music. The included carrying case adds extra charge, bringing total playtime to 60 hours.
- Pro:Hybrid ANC with transparency mode
- Pro:Long battery life with charging case
- Pro:Supports high-res codecs like LDAC and LC3
- Con:Premium price point may be steep
- Con:Heavier than some competitors at 380g
- Con:No wired connection option mentioned
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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