Is the Audeze Maxwell 2 ANC worth the upgrade from the Sony WH-1000XM4?
Verdict
Clear upgrade
Going from the Sony WH-1000XM4 to the Audeze Maxwell 2 ANC buys you 13.1 points of HearWiki score - a clear step up that reviewers agree on rather than a marketing refresh. The gains are concentrated in calls (6.1 to 9.0), value (4.2 to 6.5) and sound (8.0 to 9.3). You do give up ground on battery (8.5 to 8.0). On paper: battery life 38 h to 40 h, codecs SBC, AAC, LDAC to SBC, AAC, LC3, LC3plus, LDAC and bluetooth 5.0 to 5.3. Worth checking: weight goes 254 g to 560 g and wear detection goes Yes to No. That costs $114 more, or about $9 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.
- Sound8.09.3
- Noise cancelling8.28.5
- Battery8.58.0
- Calls6.19.0
- Value4.26.5
Spec differences
Only where the two genuinely differ - everything they share is omitted.
| Spec | WH-1000XM4 | Maxwell 2 ANC | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battery life | 38 h | 40 h | |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC | SBC, AAC, LC3, LC3plus, LDAC | |
| Weight | 254 g | 560 g | |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.3 | |
| Battery life (ANC on) | 30 h | 35 h | |
| Full charge time | 180 min | 120 min | |
| Driver size | 40 mm | 90 mm | |
| Wear detection | Yes | No | |
| Controls | touch | both | |
| Driver | 40 mm dynamic | 90 mm planar magnetic | |
| Frequency response | 4 Hz - 40 kHz | 10 Hz - 50 kHz |
About this verdict
Direction matters here: this page answers "WH-1000XM4 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.