With the Audeze Maxwell, the company combines elements from its gaming-focused and audiophile-oriented divisions. The result is a wireless headset that delivers a great gaming experience and fantastic audio for music and video.
A promising start
Right from the get-go, the Audeze Maxwell delivers a promise of high quality. It’s incredibly well built, especially for a product calling itself a “gaming headset.” The absence of plastic results in a weightiness that implies quality, reminiscent of the Apple AirPods Max. However, unlike Apple’s big headphones, the Maxwell is better balanced for a more comfortable fit.
The Audeze Maxwell connects to PCs or consoles using ultra-low latency wireless thanks to 2.4 GHz. Alternatively, there’s Bluetooth 5.3, expanding wireless compatibility to other devices.
Audio options
PC users can install the Audeze app to tune EQ settings, transparent “sidetone” audio, and make other tweaks, but it’s more of a nice-to-have than a must-install. I’d honestly recommend just sticking with the stock sound. Virtual Surround Sound is also an option and the Xbox version of this headset does include a Dolby Atmos License for the additional $30.
For the majority of my testing, I kept things stock and stereo. While I appreciate that there are gamers out there who swear by Virtual Surround Sound, and I’m happy to see Audeze considering that audience, I’ve always returned to stereo for a more consistent experience.
Good for gaming and so much more
In its stock configuration, the Audeze Maxwell sounds brilliant, especially considering that it’s a closed-back headset. As a long-time convert of Sennheiser’s open-backs for optimal competitive gaming audio, I was very surprised by the soundstage boasted by Maxwell, which is crucial in pinpointing the direction of enemy gunfire and footsteps or for better immersion in single-player games.
Additionally, I haven’t noticed any offensively boosted frequencies, which is a common issue with other gaming-oriented headsets. While it is perhaps a touch on the warm side, with pleasing bass, it’s not overdone, and the mids and highs are still perfectly distinguishable. It’s great tuning, and I think the general gamer/audio enthusiast will greatly enjoy it. Those 90mm planar magnetic drivers are award-winning for good reason and are a real treat for the ears.
Essential tech
What makes a headset a headset is a microphone. The mic included on the Maxwell is perfectly fine. It’ll do the job during working-from-home calls or chatting on Discord, with some helpful noise cancelation, but that’s about it. You won’t be recording voiceovers with the Maxwell’s mic, so keep your expectations in check.
For many years, wireless tech has often been linked with battery anxiety. Users worry about running out of battery life during a gaming marathon or while away and without a charger. With the Audeze Maxwell, this is not an issue. Boasting up to 80 hours of battery life and fast-charging, you should never be caught out of juice.
Final Verdict
At $299, the Audeze Maxwell asserts itself as a legitimate contender against popular choices like the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless, Razer Barracuda Pro, and Astro A50. For those who want both a brilliant gaming experience and fantastic music playback, the Maxwell rises above and gets my recommendation, with the only caveat being the weight and warmth of the earpads that is common with closed-back designs.
Positives and Negatives
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Impressive build quality.
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Superb gaming sound.
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Fantastic for music and movies.
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The software allows some customization.
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Goes toe-to-toe with some heavy hitters in the market.
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Weight could be an issue.
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Earpads can make ears warm.
Disclosure: Maxwell Wireless gaming headset review sample provided by Audeze.
