Is the Audeze Maxwell 2 ANC worth the upgrade from the JBL Tour One?
Verdict
Clear upgrade
Going from the JBL Tour One to the Audeze Maxwell 2 ANC buys you 40.0 points of HearWiki score - a clear step up that reviewers agree on rather than a marketing refresh. The gains are concentrated in sound (6.8 to 9.3), noise cancelling (6.3 to 8.5) and calls (6.8 to 9.0). On paper: codecs AAC to SBC, AAC, LC3, LC3plus, LDAC, bluetooth 5.0 to 5.3 and battery life (anc on) 25 h to 35 h. Worth checking: battery life goes 50 h to 40 h and weight goes 273 g to 560 g. That costs $129 more, or about $3 per point of score - reasonable value for the jump. 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.
- Sound6.89.3
- Noise cancelling6.38.5
- Battery7.68.0
- Calls6.89.0
Spec differences
Only where the two genuinely differ - everything they share is omitted.
| Spec | Tour One | Maxwell 2 ANC | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battery life | 50 h | 40 h | |
| Codecs | AAC | SBC, AAC, LC3, LC3plus, LDAC | |
| Weight | 273 g | 560 g | |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.3 | |
| Battery life (ANC on) | 25 h | 35 h | |
| Driver size | 40 mm | 90 mm | |
| Microphones | 4 | 2 | |
| Driver | 40 mm dynamic | 90 mm planar magnetic | |
| Frequency response | 10 Hz - 40 kHz | 10 Hz - 50 kHz |
About this verdict
Direction matters here: this page answers "Tour One to Maxwell 2 ANC". 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.