Wireless gaming headset with planar magnetic drivers and active noise cancellation

The Maxwell 2 ANC carries over Audeze's 90 mm planar magnetic architecture and pairs it with adaptive hybrid active noise cancellation of up to 35 dB. The goal is to keep the definition and dynamics of an audiophile headphone in a noisy environment, without sacrificing in-game latency. Two versions are available: a PlayStation version and an Xbox version.

90 mm planar acoustics

Each ear is fitted with a 90 mm planar magnetic driver using a Uniforce diaphragm, driven by a Fluxor N50 neodymium magnet array. Audeze's in-house Fazor (phase management) and SLAM (acoustic management) technologies keep driver behaviour in check to limit distortion at high levels: THD stays below 0.1% at 100 dB, with a frequency response of 10 Hz to 50 kHz and over 115 dB maximum SPL. The planar bass reaches low without encroaching on the midrange, which remains decisive both for in-game localisation and for music listening.

Power comes from dual dedicated 1.4 W balanced amplifiers. The headset supports Dolby Atmos and Tempest 3D spatial audio, with integrated self-calibrating head tracking that requires no external camera. It works with Embody Immerse Gaming Hive on PC and with the Dolby Atmos Renderer.

Adaptive hybrid active noise cancellation

The active noise cancellation is adaptive hybrid: it combines feedforward and feedback microphones to cut up to 35 dB of ambient noise, with a Transparency mode to stay aware of your surroundings. An important point for critical listening: the headset's frequency response stays identical whether ANC is on or off. The tonal balance does not change with the mode in use, unlike most noise-cancelling headphones.

Connectivity and compatibility: PlayStation or Xbox version

The Maxwell 2 ANC connects wirelessly via its USB-C dongle with ultra-low latency, up to 24-bit/96 kHz, over Bluetooth 5.3 (Auracast, LE Audio, LC3, LC3plus, LDAC, AAC, SBC, multipoint), over wired digital USB-C with dual audio endpoints and game/chat mix, or over analogue via an active 3.5 mm TRRS jack. On PC and Mac everything is available: wireless, USB-C, analogue jack, Dolby Atmos, game/chat mix and the Audeze app. Nintendo Switch, iOS and Android are supported over wireless, Bluetooth, USB-C and analogue jack.

The difference between the two variants concerns consoles. The PlayStation version is the one to choose for a PS5: ultra-low latency wireless, USB-C, 3.5 mm jack and Tempest 3D. The Xbox version covers Xbox Series consoles with ultra-low latency wireless, 3.5 mm jack, Dolby Atmos and game/chat mix. Both versions work with the Dolby Access app for Atmos on Windows, but only the Xbox version includes a free Dolby Atmos licence for Windows and Xbox. The rest of the compatibility (PC, Mac, Switch, mobile devices) is identical on both models.

Microphone, comfort and battery life

The headset ships with a detachable hypercardioid boom microphone and its pop filter. Processing combines beamforming, physical noise reduction and AI processing (FILTER AI Noise Removal) to separate your voice from keyboard and room noise. An internal microphone takes over for chat when the boom is removed.

The 1800 mAh lithium-polymer battery delivers 40 hours of playback with ANC off and 35 hours with ANC on. USB-C fast charging (5 V, 1.8 A max) restores 25% in 20 minutes, with a full charge in 2 hours. For wearability, the wide ventilated headband and memory foam earpads spread the headset's 560 g, in a closed-back circumaural design. Interchangeable magnetic ReSkin plates are available separately.

Technical specifications

• Type: closed-back circumaural wireless gaming headset
• Drivers: 90 mm planar magnetic, Uniforce diaphragm
• Magnetic structure: Fluxor magnet array, N50 neodymium magnets
• Acoustic technologies: Fazor (phase management), SLAM (acoustic management)
• Frequency response: 10 Hz – 50 kHz
• Max SPL: > 115 dB
• THD: < 0.1% at 100 dB
• Amplification: dual dedicated balanced amplifiers, 1.4 W per channel
• Spatial audio: Dolby Atmos / Tempest 3D
• Head tracking: integrated and self-calibrating, no external camera; works with Embody Immerse Gaming Hive (PC) and Dolby Atmos Renderer
• Active noise cancellation: adaptive hybrid (feedforward + feedback microphones), up to 35 dB, Transparency mode, identical frequency response with ANC on or off
• Boom microphone: detachable, hypercardioid, pop filter included
• Microphone processing: beamforming, physical and AI noise reduction (FILTER AI Noise Removal), internal microphone for chat
• Wireless: ultra-low latency USB-C dongle, up to 24-bit/96 kHz
• Bluetooth: 5.3, Auracast, LE Audio, LC3, LC3plus, LDAC, AAC, SBC, multipoint
• Wired digital: USB-C, dual audio endpoints, game/chat mix
• Wired analogue: active 3.5 mm TRRS jack
• PC / Mac compatibility: ultra-low latency wireless, USB-C, 3.5 mm jack, Dolby Atmos, game/chat mix, Audeze app
• Xbox compatibility: ultra-low latency wireless, 3.5 mm jack, Dolby Atmos, game/chat mix
• PlayStation compatibility: ultra-low latency wireless, USB-C, 3.5 mm jack, Tempest 3D
• Nintendo Switch compatibility: wireless, Bluetooth, USB-C, 3.5 mm jack
• iOS / Android compatibility: wireless, Bluetooth, USB-C, 3.5 mm jack, Audeze app
• Difference between versions: both versions are compatible with the Dolby Access app for Atmos on Windows, but only the Xbox version includes a free Dolby Atmos licence for Windows and Xbox
• Battery: 1800 mAh lithium-polymer
• Battery life: 40 h with ANC off, 35 h with ANC on
• Charging: USB-C 5 V / 1.8 A max, 25% in 20 min, full charge in 2 h
• Weight: 560 g
• Comfort: wide ventilated headband, memory foam earpads, interchangeable magnetic ReSkin plates (sold separately)
• In the box: Maxwell 2 ANC headset, detachable boom microphone with pop filter, USB-C wireless dongle, USB-C to USB-C cable (1.5 m), USB-C to USB-A adapter cable (0.3 m), 3.5 mm TRRS analogue cable (1.2 m)