Is the Audeze Maxwell 2 worth the upgrade from the HiFiMAN Edition Xs?
Verdict
Meaningful upgrade
The Audeze Maxwell 2 scores 9.7 points above the HiFiMAN Edition Xs. That's a real improvement, though not the kind you'd notice on every track. The gains are concentrated in sound (8.5 to 9.5). You do give up ground on value (9.3 to 7.5). On paper: active noise cancelling, driver size 80 mm to 90 mm and usb-c. Worth checking: weight goes 405 g to 560 g. That costs $60 more, or about $6 per point of score - reasonable value for the jump. Worth doing if you're replacing anyway; harder to justify as a pure upgrade if what you have still works.
What actually changes
Sub-scores both products have, on the same 0-10 scale. Bars extend right for a gain, left for a loss.
- Sound8.59.5
- Value9.37.5
Spec differences
Only where the two genuinely differ - everything they share is omitted.
| Spec | Edition Xs | Maxwell 2 | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active noise cancelling | No | Yes | |
| Weight | 405 g | 560 g | |
| Driver size | 80 mm | 90 mm | |
| USB-C | No | Yes | |
| Controls | none | buttons | |
| Driver | 80 mm planar magnetic | 90 mm planar magnetic | |
| Frequency response | 8 Hz - 50 kHz | 10 Hz - 50 kHz |
About this verdict
Direction matters here: this page answers "Edition Xs 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.