Is the Audeze Maxwell 2 worth the upgrade from the Focal Bathys?
Verdict
Clear upgrade
Going from the Focal Bathys to the Audeze Maxwell 2 buys you 10.3 points of HearWiki score - a clear step up that reviewers agree on rather than a marketing refresh. The gains are concentrated in battery (7.6 to 9.5) and calls (8.1 to 9.0). On paper: battery life 30 h to 80 h, bluetooth 5.1 to 5.3 and driver size 40 mm to 90 mm. Worth checking: weight goes 350 g to 560 g and full charge time goes 90 min to 120 min. It's also $470 cheaper, which makes this an easy call. If your current pair is worn out or the gains line up with how you listen, this one is worth the money.
What actually changes
Sub-scores both products have, on the same 0-10 scale. Bars extend right for a gain, left for a loss.
- Sound9.29.5
- Battery7.69.5
- Calls8.19.0
- Value7.47.5
Spec differences
Only where the two genuinely differ - everything they share is omitted.
| Spec | Bathys | Maxwell 2 | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battery life | 30 h | 80 h | |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX Adaptive | SBC, AAC, LC3, LC3plus, LDAC | |
| Weight | 350 g | 560 g | |
| Bluetooth | 5.1 | 5.3 | |
| Full charge time | 90 min | 120 min | |
| Driver size | 40 mm | 90 mm | |
| Microphones | 8 | 2 | |
| Driver | 40 mm dynamic | 90 mm planar magnetic | |
| Frequency response | 15 Hz - 22 kHz | 10 Hz - 50 kHz |
About this verdict
Direction matters here: this page answers "Bathys to Maxwell 2". The other direction is a separate question with a different answer. Scores blend published review verdicts across over-ear and shift as new reviews land, so a marginal call today may not be one next quarter.