Audeze Maxwell Gaming Headset Review – Quality for Gaming Audio

There are undoubtedly a large number of headsets on the market, and the list grows longer almost every time you blink. That said, many categories of headphones allow for better choices for the consumer. However, even then, there are many options available to you. These options include choice of wireless, expected battery life, on-ear or in-ear headphones, aesthetics and more. The new Audeze Maxwell Gaming Headphones aim to cover many of these options in one device for serious audiophiles.

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Although the device is marketed as a gaming headset, it is quite flexible in what it is used for, where it is placed, and for how long. With a host of features and configuration options, it also offers consumers so many options that are often a stumbling block when it comes to making the right choice of a pair of headphones.

Design and construction

Design-wise, these aren't your typical pair of gaming headphones. On the contrary, it is minimalist, more in line with a professional aesthetic. This is what I prefer: a solid device with high-end aesthetics.

Like many other gaming headsets, the Maxwell is large. However, this is the case for most models of the year. That said, most other headsets in this category have a rounded rectangle shape. However, in this specific case it presents a circular approach, which creates a large footprint in terms of size.

The wider frame also provides additional padding. Its cups are padded enough to feel like a pillow and wrap around your ears. This padding also serves as a first-line buffer against noise. The padded cups are covered in a very soft faux leather material, which adds to the smooth feel.

The Audeze Maxwell's design approach has two drawbacks. First of all, with its oversized frame, weight always comes into play. At 490g, this is extra weight to place on your head for an extended period of time. However, the padding does a great job of softening the impact.

The headband is another element that helps mitigate the impact. Unlike standard size options that extend from the internal frame, the Maxwell uses ankles that can be attached to select the tightness of the headband. With this approach it is more difficult to get the precise size you need. While this hasn't bothered me too much in general, I can imagine that for many others it might be a bit difficult.

The matte black finish and minimalist design give a premium feel. It doesn't meet all expectations, but it is beautiful and very comfortable.

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Features and software

The first notable feature of this headset is its multiple connection options. It offers one wireless option via its auxiliary cable and two wireless options thanks to its built-in Bluetooth 5.3 support and an additional USB dongle for direct WiFi. The great thing about these options is that they work very well. At no time did I have trouble connecting to a device I was using, whether it was my PC, my smartphone or my console.

Plus, it can connect to multiple devices at once. I found it interesting to connect to both my smartphone and my PC, pause the audio on the PC and continue using it on the smartphone. Of course, there is no 100% continuity between sources, but once you stop the audio on one device and start it on another, the process flows accordingly. This is a very useful feature.

In addition to the included cables and WiFi dongle, you'll also find a boom microphone. This connects to the left earbud, which also houses all of the Audeze Maxwell's buttons and controls. Interestingly, it wasn't until a few days later that I noticed I hadn't plugged in the boom microphone. Instead, I used the mic function without it, which worked fine. However, it was missing the noise cancellation and suppression features that were added. When connected, you can choose to enable these functions via software. In principle it works perfectly, but your voice is slightly muffled compared to a traditional audio device.

The device is available in two versions, one for the Xbox and the other for the PlayStation. The great thing is that they both work on PC and Mac and even the Switch console. That said, with a little tinkering and the included cables, I managed to get the PlayStation version to work with my Xbox. Of course, you won't have all the features included, but it will still work.

In this regard, enabling many additional functions, such as default sound, surround sound and others, requires installing the software on your PC. Additionally, it supports AAC and LDAC codecs natively, which covers a lot of bases, but for an authentic experience you need to download and install the software.

For using spatial audio, the Xbox version will work with Dolby Atmos out of the box. On the other hand, for the PlayStation version, you must use the Dolby Atmos app ($14.99) or the Razer THX Spatial Audio software ($19.99).

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Performance and battery

You don't have to be an audiophile to appreciate the quality of the Audeze Maxwell Gaming Headphones. Unlike the majority of other audio devices that use dynamic drivers, Audeze employs a different system known as planar magnetic drivers. This results in more precise and accurate audio reproduction, at least in theory.

Planar magnetic speaker technology is based on the use of a diaphragm in which a conductor is inserted between two magnetic elements. This technology is compared to dynamic loudspeakers, where the driver is fixed. The idea is that they provide more control over audio production, but they are not as efficient, hence the price difference.

And this can be seen when a sound is produced. When playing games for which it is more suitable, you can distinguish the different elements slightly. For example, in some AAA games, you can hear the wind rustling in the leaves or footsteps on the sand. However, it's the explosive sounds of gunfire and bombs that stand out the most. It’s a full, clear sound that I could listen to repeatedly.

If we move on to music, the quality is much better. Additional background sounds are more noticeable without affecting the foreground audio. This is also the case when it comes to watching movies. As we mentioned, gunshots and explosions are very sharp, which makes action movies all the more impressive.

Although the default audio is excellent, it can be improved by adding a few features, as we mentioned earlier. While the software isn't the easiest to use, you can turn on and dial in quality to your liking while still getting the most out of spatial and ambient sounds. This feature is great for gaming and even improves music listening.

Battery life is equally impressive, with up to 80 hours of playback. To put that into perspective, it would take three straight days of reading before worrying about recharging the battery. During testing, it took me three days at eight to ten hours per day, and I would still have five days of usage left at the current rate.

What's great about the battery is that it also offers fast charging support. This means you can get a day's reading in less than 30 minutes.

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Is the Audeze Maxwell Gaming Headset worth it?

I wasn't aware of the Audeze brand until I had the opportunity to review it. However, this is a relatively new brand in the region. The Audeze Maxwell Gaming Headphones make a good case for remaining a high-quality brand for audiophiles and gamers.

This quality, however, comes at a price. The retail price of this headset is R6,999, which puts it in the range of other premium headsets such as the Sony WH-1000XM5 and company. Overall, though, this is a great headset and isn't unjustifiably priced.