AUDEZE MAXWELL // Audeze played us all along 😭

[@gearupaaron]

Happy 4th, y'all! Hope you're staying safe this time of the year. In case you missed it, here's the affiliate link for the Maxwell (it'll help this channel out some) amzn.to/4bye1g0

[@x-ray3431]

It's July 5th today. 🤔

[@gearupaaron]

@x-ray3431 It's like sayin' Merry Christmas... 'Tis the season 😁

[@markwade2667]

Where was the part where Audeze played us?

[@Beyeitze]

10:55 Yuzi give me big headache

[@rahulghadge7]

good content and review but a HARD no for the clickbait title. Making it sound like they did something wrong by the customers.

[@gearupaaron]

Thanks for watching! The title (and the closing thoughts in the video) comes from the thought that Audeze has always had the tech and means to produce something this competent at this price point, but instead focused on selling much pricier products to some buyers who likely could've been perfectly happy with something like the Maxwell.

[@dforrest]

Yeah but that still doesn't mean it isn't clickbait 😂

[@gearupaaron]

@dforrest The title is my personal opinion and I repeated it in the intro. If you believe in the shallowest meaning of "clickbait" , then by definition ALL YT titles can be considered clickbait.

[@baramis575]

@@gearupaaron It's clickbait because you knew your characterization would convince others that there was something wrong so they would be more likely to watch the video. I don't think you're doing anything wrong in doing that since that's literally massively common on YT but just don't act as if your intentions were 100% innocent when they obviously weren't lol. Again, nothing wrong with that but you're not fooling anyone

[@gearupaaron]

@baramis575 The title specifically said Audeze is doing something wrong. That was my professional take away after testing so many Audezes. Besides, I suck at SEOs. Literally.

[@lachcurtis5503]

Maxwell came out with a video for the strap, you can mix/match the strap holes you decide to use to dial in the fit ie; right side on the lowest holes, left side on the middle or top holes. Seemed to give more fitment options

[@bmacarthur]

I've had mine 3 weeks. They are the singe best purchase I've made in recent memory. I cannot belive how good they sound. I stayed up late my first night with them, listening to my favorite music for what seemed like the first time. Absolutely amazing

[@Karim-ik5ij]

I'm wondering how the latency is for gaming compared to wired

[@bmacarthur]

@@Karim-ik5ij absolutely none.

[@Karim-ik5ij]

@@bmacarthur Do you know how it compares to wired? actually merasured?

[@JimBobe]

Blud has only ever used apple in ear earbuds before lol

[@huandrew3874]

man my only wish for next gen is to be at least 50 g lighter

[@johnarmstrong1759]

I dont usually subscribe to many KZbinrs, but this video checked every box and broke down EVERYTHING, and answered any questions I had. Super awesome video!

[@gearupaaron]

Glad you think so, John! I try to cover everything, but I'm sure I missed bits here and there, but that's what other videos are for, ha-ha! Thank you for your support 🤙

[@asan1050]

Now that was a REVIEW! You gave it a major thumbs up, Thanks Aaron!

[@gearupaaron]

Anytime, sir!

[@ItzASecretBoi]

Can we just appreciate the fact this man has a whopping 140 comments (Now 141 at the time of writing this) and he's nearly replied to all of them? The title initially kind of threw me off since I was almost expecting this to be a video bashing on the product, but it seemed to be quite the opposite, clickbait maybe? It worked. I'm an upcoming streamer & music producer in the market for some new headphones, my previous headset being the Arctis 9 from SteelSeries. And I think i might be sold on these ones, they may just be that balance between audiophile & gaming that I've been looking for. And hopefully it's paired with some comfortability for those long gaming & production hours.

[@gearupaaron]

Be sure to check your Maxwell (if you end up getting one) for potential defects while you're still in warranty/return period. Random QC issues do crop up on these. Also my title is based on my conclusion that Audeze had the tech and means to make a $300 headphone this awesome all this time, but instead sold thousand dollar models to build its coffer. That's the cynic in me talking, lol. Thanks for watching!

[@alexandrutudoran3941]

Which one should I buy for PC?

[@BigBoss11121]

The most important question: Is this headset good for detailed single player games? not competitive though. ty

[@gearupaaron]

I think I mentioned it in passing in the video - I primarily play single players like you do, so with titles like Battlefield and Forza, audio presentation is fantastic.

[@BigBoss11121]

@@gearupaaron Thank you for replying

[@maxzoRHD]

@@BigBoss11121 For that kind of gaming they are awesome, expecialy with Dolby they come to "life" and everything sound very good, mine legit move air through ears with dolby on high volume, gives you that immersive vibe like you are in it. But for comp FPS games, not so much.

[@BigBoss11121]

@@maxzoRHD Man...... Thank you so much that I was looking for! I don't care to use it on FPS games I just love classic psychological horror games vibes like the ambience kind.

[@BlissBatch]

Absolutely, especially with Dolby Atmos and the Immersive EQ setting!

[@zuzzuhimosan2597]

Is this better then corsair virtuoso Max wireless?

[@thisreallylongname32]

I have them for a year now and i have NO CONS on this headset. regarding the only 3 slot headband, what do you mean ? there are not 3 sizes there are 9. You can do first set of screws on the right with first, second or third set of screwn on the left, after second set of screws on the right with first second and third on left, and last third set of scres on the left with first second and third on the right. You have 9 possible sizes to fit every head. The bug u mentioned with crackling has been long fixed.

[@dmytrylyt5950]

do you have any crinckle sound in earcups due to the fragility of the planar drivers?

[@thisreallylongname32]

@@dmytrylyt5950 nop

[@TyroneBigguns-mk3og]

@@thisreallylongname32 how about the static noise from side tone being turned on

[@thisreallylongname32]

@@TyroneBigguns-mk3og don't really use side tone bro, didn't notice anything

[@erezgaming]

Are there any issues regarding the build quality? Saw some pictures on reddit that the headband is breaking after 4-6 months. Update: I received my Audeze Maxwell and they are great. I notice that the headband screws where you attached your strap is different on the newer batch, older batch looks like a screw and the one I got doesn't.

[@jesukxd8494]

Headband breaking was with early units and Audeze said it has been fixed

[@TyroneBigguns-mk3og]

@@jesukxd8494 they didn't fix the static with sidetone turned on. Are they just ig oring it?

[@jesukxd8494]

@@TyroneBigguns-mk3og I have no idea because I never use it.

[@TyroneBigguns-mk3og]

@jesukxd8494 oh I'm surprised how many people don't use an amazing feature for gamers.

[@jesukxd8494]

@@TyroneBigguns-mk3og I see no reason to use it. It doesn't offer any benefit to me. I always wondered why so many people care about that feature.

[@Lycon721995]

the leather strap is a non issue.... leather hole punchers exist guys, and they are very cheap.

[@gearupaaron]

True that. But for those who don't necessarily want to mar their new purchases 🤷

[@peachakhunkhongsereedamron8794]

When you mention that you prefer 3.5mm over USB-C, do you mean that using a wired connection provides better overall sound quality compared to a wireless connection? Or am I misunderstanding?

[@gearupaaron]

I mentioned in the video that Max volume is only 60% as loud on USB-C. Hope that helps.

[@ganwb79]

They are meant to be used with the usb-c dongle mostly. Did you test with that? Bluetooth was more of a good to have. I have had them for more than a year. They are too heavy to be used outdoors. Strictly for around the home imo.

[@AndThenSome71]

Great video! I recently bought the arctis Nova 5x, which sounds great. But I still feel like I'm missing something regarding sound quality. Would the Maxwells be considered a noticeable upgrade?

[@BlissBatch]

Yes, these are true audiophile quality.

[@TyroneBigguns-mk3og]

@@AndThenSome71 minimal upgrade the sound is better mic quality is worse and you have static noise when sidetone is on.

[@gilvanoa.j506]

@@TyroneBigguns-mk3og its a way upgrade in sound and wayyyyy upgrade in build quality. sidetone you dont even need because you dont hear that much surroundings when you are playing a game. the mic with the noice suppression on low, sounds just about fine, plus it has a build-in background noise remover like discord has, which is actually a pretty impressive feature all together. and it does sound really fckin good with anything you throw at it.

[@TyroneBigguns-mk3og]

@gilvanoa.j506 the static is an issue and having a little bit of side tone make the experience just more natural and comfortable because the fit so tight around your ears. But the static makes it unbearable.

[@gilvanoa.j506]

@@TyroneBigguns-mk3og don’t have any static issues here and I have them from release date. Why would you use sidetone either way? You use sidetone because it’s tight around your ears? wtf is that for reason to use sidetone? 😂 anyways the accurate sound and and quality exceeded my expectations by far and I’ve used ALOT of gaming headsets lol. I don’t get why people use sidetone while gaming either way… it’s not like I’m using this bulky headset in traffic or whatever, got different headsets for public.

[@dustindavidson9139]

They sound good, but I've had issues with two units build quality (Early units). I've taken care of them too, always have them on a stand. Have a ticket submitted to customer service currently, but I'm out of warranty..

[@gearupaaron]

Sorry to hear that. Two problematic units is quite inexcusable, tbh.

[@jeiceginyu4595]

same took good care of mine andthe right side stopped playing audio. i have to RMA it

[@dustindavidson9139]

@@jeiceginyu4595 they outsourced manufacturing and assembly to China and this is the result.. Good luck, dude. Just packaged mine up to send out..

[@5_i_v_e]

Awesome review! I have the Maxwell also but have an issue with volume. They don’t get really loud but I hear a lot of people say they can’t listen about 65%. Just curious how much volume can you get out of your Maxwells?

[@ilove2wheels44]

I just bought mine today and they don’t get loud enough at all I’m coming from the old Astro A50’s I gonna take these Audeze back tomorrow if I can’t figure it out lol

[@Boostedbeard]

Volume Limiter in Audeze HQ app make sure its not checked. Theres also a driver issue in windows in installs a generic

[@marantz1969]

The background noise was fixed in the latest firmware update.

[@gearupaaron]

Are you referring to v1.0.1.63?

[@marantz1969]

@@gearupaaron yes,fixed it for me.

[@kenv2667]

mic quality is good enough, not the best. only issue is the driver quality. it is very fragile. lol I had mine replaced after 3 months, after that, luckily the unit is good.

[@jordybandsma2645]

Hey gearupaaron, have you noticed any significant changes through firmware updates over its first year?

[@Nuro1992]

Thanks for the information man... Just one question though, the current gen mmx 300 pros? Or the audeze maxwell? Thanks again.

[@BlissBatch]

I'd go with the Maxwell. You won't be disappointed!

[@Nuro1992]

Thats what i ended up going with and no doubt their amazing sound quality! Prolly woulda been happy either way. 😅 ​@BlissBatch

[@lightdarkskin358]

Audeez nuts 😂😂 sorry i had to

[@gearupaaron]

🤦

[@C6whateverr]

I just got these and right out the box turning them on, I have an extremely loud high pitched static noise. Hurts my ears even with them just sitting on my desk. Downloaded the software & updated firmware for both the dongle and headset to no avail. They even started screeching with side tone turned on. Troubleshooting hasn't helped. Sadly a return for me

[@Kanoog]

I got a TCL that died on me within a year, I still wouldn’t consider them a bad brand because my luck was unfortunate.

[@C6whateverr]

@@Kanoog Did not nor am I calling them a bad / low quality brand. I most likely had an unlucky draw from the inventory. I was expressing my disappointment and stating the problem as it was my first impression. I was expecting less of, if any issues. I would also hope for longevity out of a $300 pair of headphones.

[@gearupaaron]

Yikes, definitely a defective unit. Audeze really needs to tap into Sony's QC resources to up their quality game. The number of quality problems I've seen from owners is unusually high, especially for something at this price range.

[@C6whateverr]

@@gearupaaron I'm really hoping they work on it. I was excited to use them since most of the reviews and videos I've seen have been extremely positive. But now looking at it, most of the negative reviews are from the past couple months :/ I'm probably going to go with another option for now & check back in with these down the line for improvements.

[@RD-D]

I just got these today and same issue. I posted it on Reddit. What did you end up doing with yours?

[@NicholasOrr]

battery "reality" - I've never hit a flat battery - i just charge it when i feel like it... anything more than 40hrs is pretty much don't worry about it - this is a really QoL feature of this headset. I have the Airpod Pro gen2's and I defs miss the multichannel spatial audio with all the apple devices i have... maybe Sony/Audeze will release a new wireless headset with this feature built in... that mute button being a full on stuck slider is the only thing I don't like. i much prefer the tap style button for the mute feature with a "muted" and "unmuted" sound-feedback (because in a call it is polite to mute/unmute constantly and this switch is not easy to use)

[@abstractwars]

I have the Penrose and looking at the Maxwell, does it make sense purely for sound? And if not any better options for a noticeable step up? It’s ok if its wired combo.

[@gilvanoa.j506]

maxwells are def worth it

[@ibilesfighter3.16]

are the built in mics abled to be disable in the software? not muted but able to be not be read by the pc? i dont want some games to catch those mics instead of the actual mic im using because not all games let you change the mic used and even when changed in steam the game will still use the built in mic

[@gearupaaron]

Good question... Unfortunately the mics aren't controllable via the Audeze app.

[@Bobayu]

Can you play pc and ps5 audio at the same time?

[@Rhinotsoplots1000]

The side tone issue is really bugging me. I've tried updating it, but it doesn't help. I've tried what I think is power cycling, but it just doesn't seem to help it. Could you do a quick tutorial on how you fixed it?

[@Amadeus_]

PS5 Pro gamer here. How much better does the Xbox version Maxwell sound with the Dolby Atmos? Is there enough of a difference to justify the price? Otherwise, I guess I may just buy the PS versions. It's out of stock right now so I'll have to wait regardless, but I am eager for some feedback. And if anybody has compared the Maxwell to the Playstation Pulse Elite headset, do let me know! I haven't tried out planar magnetic drivers yet, so I'm a little intrigued.

[@andreas9119]

Are the yokes plastic or metal? I love the sound on my Audeze/HyperX Cloud Orbit S, but I'm sick and tired of plastic welding the hell out of them every time the plastic cracks from clamping force. Soured my overall feeling and went with some Beyerdynamics because they are literally built like a Panzer.

[@gearupaaron]

Metal. Overall very solid workmanship!

[@Sarefix]

Please tell me if i buy playstation version and connect to pc i can enable dolby ?

[@C0lbyte]

I just have to own this headset. Im using my current wired headset for gaming and music and videos, so allround. Btw on the top of my head, wouldnt it be possible to place washers around the screws on the strap so that you could use a strap with a straight line of a hole if that makes sense and then tighten at the preferred spot.

[@TeeDee87]

Mine broke after less than one year of use. Now been in repair for soon 2 months. No word from em after hearing they got my packet.

[@gearupaaron]

@audeze are you hearing this?

[@TeeDee87]

@@gearupaaron contacted my retailer yesterday they said there's long backlog of repairs but mine should be ready in a week or they will inform me if not.

[@itztriplec6380]

I had this heaset since release... and its still amazing! I also use the Steelseries Arctis Pro for competitive play but when it comes to single player games, Maxwell is the best.

[@dannehnyu2369]

Oh why arctis pro for competitive?

[@itztriplec6380]

@@dannehnyu2369 with the steelseries Sonar app, you can adjust the eq and soundstage. Make the sound seem closer to you. And Arctic Pro produce less bass so enemy footsteps come out clearer.

[@Leo.501]

@gearuparon These can do bluetooth and 2.4 in parallel ? Cheers!

[@gearupaaron]

No unfortunately. If it's simultaneous audio you're looking for, it does accept USB+BT or AUX+BT.

[@Leo.501]

@@gearupaaron Thank you, tomorrow I will receive them and I will try via usb-c and bluetooth. Thx

[@AstroTrain100]

What's the difference between playstation and xbox version?

[@gearupaaron]

Try this thread... www.reddit.com/r/headphones/s/oCQES6ypZQ

[@AstroTrain100]

@@gearupaaron Thanks

[@gearupaaron]

@AstroTrain100 Anytime! Have a great evening 🤙

[@codydriscoll1624]

My Maxwells won't stay connected to my Xbox when I plug in the dongle. Dongle turns on and sound comes from headphones for about 2 minutes before the disconnect noise happens then no sound from headset. Have tried to factory reset and tried every usb port on my Xbox. Anything will help please

[@BLUE-wk8wh]

What do you mean Audeze played us all along ?

[@steve_frampton]

I bought the Xbox version of these, the were heavy but not as heavy as I was expecting, so no issues there, the sound was amazing, and the battery lasted forever, but, and it was a big but. They were constantly losing the wireless connection with my PC when sat next to it and this happened multiple times a day. As a result they were returned and I went back to my old Astro A50’s.

[@gearupaaron]

Well, that kinda connection issue is annoying. Bummer to hear.

[@AbuNuds]

Im looking for a new headaet for gaming. I mainly play COD but casually like 30 min a day. I was looking at logitech g pro x2 or theae maxwells. I curently have arctis 7 but the left ear is going out. Any thoughts?

[@gearupaaron]

Is your budget around the $250-300 mark? Logi is more gamer-centric in terms of long-term comfort and mic, but for SQ and battery, it's the Maxwell FTW.

[@TyroneBigguns-mk3og]

@AbuNuds i can't speak on the logitech as I have sworn off them along time ago but I have to warn you these have static when sidetone is turned on.

[@xVoidCypher]

I have these headphones and I am connected via dongle. I get that same static/popping noise but ONLY when Side chat (voice through) is on. Also, it only pops and clicks when the voice through is turned up above 35-ish

[@kennethjensen4428]

Can you tell me, if this headphones block all surrounding noises around you?

[@Peezy-A1]

I’m on ps5 and I want a great headset not good great I don’t care about the price what should I get

[@gearupaaron]

There's this, the new Beyerdynamic MMX 300 Pro, etc...

[@pepedecoatza]

For audio drops, could you togle on.on android developer options the one called "disable a2dp hardware offload”? I had the same issue with my Maxwell using the LDAC codec. This option basically should be toggle on for any advance headphones as they will do the audio processing itself and not by the android phone

[@gearupaaron]

Great suggestion. I'll try it and see what happens.

[@pepedecoatza]

@@gearupaaron please let me know. It my help everyone here as well. Thx for your videos

[@HiCZoK]

How is it with clamping force ? I see some comments that people hear their own heartbeat in these. I am susceptible to that with other headsets so I am a bit afraid to get that one

[@trsskater]

The Clamping force is high. For me any headset that in it's resting position and the ear cups touch at the bottom is always too high. This one is the same as those. But the pads are soft enough that I don't feel like its hitting any pressure points like those other headphones. There are also aftermarket replacement cooling gel ear pads that make it more even comfortable. I wouldn't say you can hear your heart beat in these, but you don't need the sound cancelling because you can't hear anything with them on.

[@HiCZoK]

@@trsskater update. I got the maxwells and returned them. Clamping together with seal was too much for me. I could hear my own heartbeat. no idea what to get now

[@trsskater]

@@HiCZoK My other headset is the Corsair Virtuoso. They don't squeeze tightly and imo have a much better sound. It's very good for wireless with good sound imaging.

[@jeremyventurino9481]

​@@HiCZoKpull them apart a bit and give the cups a couple days to soften a bit. I had the same issue but it went away after about 15-20 hours of use over a week.

[@TheEnf0cer]

Steelseries Arctis Nova Pro x or Audeze Maxwell, i hear many ppl complain that the audeze headphone break quickly or issues vome up quickly, i dont wanna spend 300 bucks to return it within few weeks, i also dont want to risk it

[@haythamkenway2110]

how is the driver in your headset? no planar crinkle?

[@gearupaaron]

Solid as a rock. So far.

[@gustavo.lampert]

I had that issue on my 1 week old Sony Pulse Elite, returned it, sadly. Sound was very clear for gaming.

[@neeljahan262]

This is my 10th video I have watched about the Maxwell's and not one has proven me to not get one. Let's me order mine today haha!

[@gearupaaron]

Let us know what you think of it when you receive yours!

[@sjp3524]

Probably late to the “party” here but looking for any help. Used my headphones tonight and they were working perfect, but then out of nowhere the right ear just dies on me. Originally thought it had completely died but when running an audio test between left and right ear I can tell the right ear is just extremely low (like 10% of the left). I’ve tried factory resetting, firmware and drivers all up to date but no joy. Out of warranty by like 2 months as well.

[@andrewstevens1316]

Great review. I just broke my headphones that I’ve had for years and have looked into the Audeze Maxwell many times. Your review pushed me over the edge to purchase them as a replacement. Very excited! Subbed as well since I like the format and your presentation. Keep up the good work!

[@Unknown-se4ic]

Hey man I was looking to get these but I keep hearing from people that the headband broke on them and some sort of crackling sound because apparently the planer is very fragile people say that even if you treat them gently they’ll still break on ya! Do you have any suggestions? I was also looking at the beyerdynamic mmx 300 pro but I guess a wireless headset would be better! What’s the best of the best when it comes to headsets compatible with ps5?

[@jameshansen1490]

Been using these for 2 years and im not gentle on my equipment. Works flawless and theres no sound likeit. I disagree with this video

[@koerel]

I can recommend the Beyerdynamic MMX 200 if you're looking for something wireless that has a good chance to last a while. As someone who has owned a bunch of different headphones from both Beyerdynamic and Audeze (although not the Maxwells specifically I should mention) I tend to trust Beyerdynamic more than Audeze for build quality.

[@R1Armadill0]

Have been using my regular headphones plugged directly into my stereo and using a separate lapel style mic plugged into the PC. I've gone through so many mics as the wires just never seem to last. Decided to start looking at some of these headsets, and partly from your awesome review, I think I'm going to give these a try. Local Micro Center has a couple on the shelf, so we shall see. Great review! Cheers!

[@TyroneBigguns-mk3og]

Its crazy how no one is mentioning the horrible static when the sidetone turned on a little bit. I'm returning mine and I recommend looking somewhere else. 300+ for a gaming headset and it has such a massive flaw.

[@zawarudo6530]

seriously it has a static? that’s a shame such a nice headset

[@Loque69]

What gaming headphones do you recommend for that price range? Currently using black shark v2 pro but the headband clip just broke, that's why I'm looking for the best alternative

[@TyroneBigguns-mk3og]

@loque69 not sure I'm looking for another one unless there is something that can fix it. I messaged their support. If there is a fix then I'll stay with it. My buddies did say the mic is a bit worse than my last headset which was the steel series arctis pro. Sound is about the same but these are slightly more conformable although the clamp force is a bit high.

[@davegorthuis679]

Just about SQ and comfort... How does the Stax (Edifier) S3 compares to the Maxwell?

[@gearupaaron]

The Maxwell feels more open and dynamic (S3 has older planar mag setup but still solid), whereas the S3 has superior comfort (lighter and comes with choice of pads). That said, the S5 is coming soon 😉

[@davegorthuis679]

@@gearupaaron ok thanks, but this does not mean that the S3 is aversge sounding, true? Comfort is always number one, then SQ because without any comfort you cannot enjoy good SQ.

[@BLACKSYNTH]

Nice review, It's a shame rhe Mic isn't amy where close to the nice sound of the Razer shark v2 pro(2023) thoes things are £150

[@gearupaaron]

Thanks for watchin'! Yeah, good mics, but some ways to go. SQ is tops, so there's that, I suppose.

[@supertrexandroidx]

Generally love these headphones, but yeah, the bluetooth range isn't great. Just going from my bedroom to my kitchen can lose me the connection, and any obstructions at all will significantly impact it. I have to have the dongle plugged in to the front of my PC, because placing it in a port on the back causes the connection to constantly go in and out.

[@gearupaaron]

Wow, that kinda range really does suck.

[@WyldWolfDragon]

I've had 3 problems since i've owned this headset :C first 2 i had to return for a replacement unit, which comes with a re-newed warranty, and just recently learned about "Planar crinkling" basically sounds like someone's holding a piece of aluminum and is squishing it making noises whenever you move. u.u hoping it goes away on its own if not might have to see about returning it yet agian :C though i've been loving this headset since i've owned it on release day. just wish such issues wouldn't happen x.x

[@rotzilla]

Anyone else's game volume low? I just purchased a set of these and the Bluetooth volume is great but, the Xbox game volume is medium at best. With all known volumes turned up. Audeze so far is telling me that their volume level should be in spec. Any help is appreciated...

[@gearupaaron]

I'm guessing your firmware is up to date? You may have a defective unit.

[@rotzilla]

@@gearupaaron I updated that right out of the box. Audeze has hinted that maybe the headset has issues. The game volume and the Bluetooth volume aren't equal...

[@gearupaaron]

Are you still in the warranty period?

[@rotzilla]

@@gearupaaron yeah, they're brand new...

[@marcalo7]

​@@gearupaaronare these loudest gaming headset? Im looking for loudest gaming headset what do u recommend?

[@nervesconcord]

Worth noting, they had an even richer default sound and a way higher max volume before, which was nice to have for when you needed to listen to quieter music or immersing in games with Atmos audio options, but since firmware v1.60 they have altered the core sound and nerfed the upper limit hard. Some folks guessed it was to reduce the number of unit RMAs but now I literally own sub $30 headphones with a bigger volume range. It's not that it would even need to go back to the level it was, even a 10% increase would be enough, but yeah, V1.56 was the firmware that made these things even better.

[@XxKentokixX]

Ok, thanks for saying that it is not advisable to update the headset.

[@nervesconcord]

@@XxKentokixX I mean, the stock firmware had a lot of bugs which the updates do fix, but if you're on 1.56, stay on it. Annoyingly, there is a firmware rollback option in the HQ software but that only lets you go as far back as 1.60. A lot of the Audeze community on Reddit have been asking for 1.56 to be made a permanent option.

[@rbr9657]

I'm considering these to replace Sony WH3, but using mostly for music and general streaming from my Nvidia Shield to the tv. I hope someone can elaborate on the latency when strictly using bluetooth connection for youtube, various movie apps (without using the included dongle)? Also, can the full setup be done using your Android phone and saving EQ settings to the headphones? Thanks

[@FalseH3]

I currently have Astro A50’s for my Xbox series x. I have an Elgato capture device that I like to record to when playing sometimes. The issues with Xbox and wireless headsets is they don’t send the game chat audio back through HDMI. Only game sounds and party chat. You can only record game chat with a wired headset using an adapter to run to the external capture card. With this Audeze set having a 3.5 port would I be able to play with them wired when I wanted to record and then wirelessly when I’m not recording? I enjoy the freedom of wireless headphones but I would like the feature of being able to play wired for recording game chat purposes with out having to have two different sets of headphones. Would really appreciate your input.

[@gearupaaron]

So you're wondering if the headphone can handle simultaneous 3.5 and wireless with you switching between the two as needed?

[@FalseH3]

@@gearupaaron right! My Astro A50s do not have an option to use a cord as they have no port for a 3.5. Although if this doesn’t have a mix amp it probably will not work. Ideally what I need is a usb from my Xbox to a mixamp then a 3.5 from the mixamp to the headphones with a splitter also going to my capture card. It’s just very annoying the way Xbox doesn’t allow the capture of game chat with out it being a wired headset.

[@gearupaaron]

Gameplay recording ain't exactly my wheelhouse, so I don't want to lead you down the wrong path, but I do know at least that the Maxwell supports the following: Aux + BT: you can hear both; USB wired + BT: you can hear both. The only time it becomes a priority system is when you use the dongle with other connection methods.

[@FalseH3]

@@gearupaaron thank you for the input!

[@DefinitelyNotDavid1]

I'm a bit scared to get these headphones with people complaining about how easily they break and software problems

[@gearupaaron]

Yeah, Audeze's QC on these could be better, but that said, you're more likely to get a good unit than not.

[@HackAttackx10]

$30 is for the dolby license on PC

[@nSpiraliArchitectb]

Hi Aaron - awesome review as always, so glad I found your channel. I purchased the Edifier Stax S3 based on your review and am very curious how you find the Maxwell compares with it, as they apparently share the same driver. Thanks!

[@gearupaaron]

Thanks for your support! The Maxwell is more dynamic (better and newer planar mag hardware) and open (cup design), but the S3 is still my daily driver thanks to its lightness, lol. Also, there's the new S5 that I'll hopefully have in my hands in the next day or two, although that's priced at $500 now. Yikes.

[@dreddaman]

Guys it's a big difference in sound quality and loudness if compared wired and wireless planar??? Tnx for answer🎉

[@gearupaaron]

Yes, but not as much as you'd think. The headphone needs to be powered in order to use wired anyway, so the amp/dac is always running though at a slightly lower power.

[@dreddaman]

@@gearupaaron thanks for answering

[@WolfgangBrozart]

If they ever fix the quality control issues on these I'd probably buy them

[@dream-bits]

Thank you so much for this review.

[@gearupaaron]

This was a fun video to do, so I'm glad you enjoyed it 🤙 (Thank you for the tip as well!)

[@cosmic7234]

I just got mine. I love my edition xs but I think the Maxwell sounds better out of the box for my whole library. The Edition XS really excels at instrumentals but there’s too much pop punk, edm, and hip hop in my library for their frankly lacking bass. The maxwells response stays flat down to 50hz and it makes them sound so good out the box 😂

[@dream-bits]

Danke!

[@gearupaaron]

Whoa, this is awesome! Thank you so much for this! 🙏🙏

[@hardys9274]

Do they support BT multipoint. I want to use them as HP and Work HS when going to the office and there, to similtanously connect to my android to listen to music and and my work laptop if that teams call comes in.. At home i will have the dongle do the work while gaming.

[@gearupaaron]

Yes, it supports it. 👍

[@hardys9274]

@@gearupaaron sent my Nova wireless pro back as they do not support multipoint.

[@ehtlam100]

@@hardys9274 They should?..

[@AkimboWiiMotes]

Oh no I just realized once you took the cup off the screen between the ear and the speaker has no padding. This will hurt my ears due to the shape of my ears. Any suggestions for padded ear cups are appreciated.

[@Keprion]

Love them, was apart of first preorder

[@gearupaaron]

No problems with your unit?

[@KhaoShung]

10:24 name of the led panels in the background please :D they are damn nice

[@gearupaaron]

Twinkly Squares... amzn.to/3WHdjci (20% off ATM) - hope that helps!

[@KhaoShung]

@@gearupaaron thank you very much :)

[@gearupaaron]

No problem!

[@surv1vorfan]

Great job!!! i enjoyed your review. i will probably end up purchasing these.

[@gearupaaron]

Thanks, Jim 🤙 Let us know what you think of it when you get yours!

[@seefeel2043]

Hey Aaron, gonna review Melomania P100 over-ears? I've bought M100 in-ears after your video, lol

[@gearupaaron]

Yes, the P100 is on its way. Excited to check out 😁 ... How do you like the M100 so far?

[@seefeel2043]

@@gearupaaron Well, they have some minor and major-ish quirks, but perfectly cover two important use cases: lipsync video consumption (very good aptX Adaptive implementation) and whole day long music listening. They perfectly complement Jabra Elite 10, which I use for work :)

[@gorkagarciavega3941]

Audeze maxwell or astro a50x?

[@gearupaaron]

For straight up gaming features and maturity, Logitech. Audio quality and battery life, Maxwell.

[@bojidarmartinov5949]

​@gearupaaron logitech are overpriceddddd

[@Reaper9-4]

had mine afew days now and im super satisfied with the sound and quality, only caveat is that the cushions are not thick enough so my ears touch the plastic inside so it hurts after a few hours of using it. oh and if you want big bass rumble then this isnt for you, but the bass is ACCURATE and all the sounds in videogames and music is supreme. Theres more rumble and bass in lets say the xbox wireless headset for 100$ or whatever it costs nowadays,but overall that headset sounds like garbling shit compared to the maxwell. not a shill or anything so i advice people who have the same issue to search for thicker earpads for the maxwell. TLDR: *maxwell epic sound and soundquality. *Needs thicker earcups *no big bass rumble but its accurate *Do recommend it.

[@capj3968]

I just recently got my maxwell headset and my only complaint so far is I’m not super handy with tech and first use I tried joining a discord call while listening to music on KZbin and as soon as I joined a voice channel, the audio from KZbin pauses but the video still played. I had to leave the voice chat to get the audio from KZbin to return, any clue how I’d allow both audios to simultaneously play?

[@gearupaaron]

Unless you have a paid KZbin subscription, Google doesn't permit YT to play background video/audio. Probably what's happening here.

[@capj3968]

@@gearupaaron i don't have a youtube subscription, i think its a priority issue ive only got the headset yesterday so im going to try and fumble around with the software

[@shvy100]

maxwell don't have simultaneous Bluetooth

[@Benziemane]

I get a random popping noise on mine while just sitting and gaming. I use this as a gaming headset and for work but if I flex my jaw or when I am talking, I will hear a pop sound like a suction cup.. very annoying. Don't know if anyone else has this issue. Not consistent but it happens a lot

[@A_New_Reality]

Did you turn on sidetone? Sadly the sidetone on this headset leads to nasty crackling and popping background sounds. For this reason I keep sidetone off unless I am using it to talk to people. Would recommend keeping your dongle and headphones up to date just in case.

[@gearupaaron]

@A_New_Reality 👍

[@Benziemane]

@@A_New_Reality I appreciate it!!

[@volvvix]

65% volume is loud I use it at 32% I've had no issues going over 80hrs st that volume

[@jeffreyes6938]

Damn, I knew the Xbox tax actually existed 😢

[@KID_CHAMELEON]

It's for the Dolby Atmos license.

[@StickyLeafs]

Power On .. USB Dongle Gang!!!!

[@gearupaaron]

🤘😁

[@jbarbs808]

Reviewing everything BUT the audio quality on an audiophile style headset is wild especially considering the clickbait title.

[@gearupaaron]

Uhm, did you miss the SQ section (which is the longest section of all)? Plus, the Maxwell isn't marketed as an audiophile-level headphone - it's a gaming headset with audiophile-like qualities and tech for $300.

[@elvergonzales34]

Thank you very much!

[@gearupaaron]

Thanks for watching! 👍

[@Ruttagger]

Xbox tax?!?! It's the Dolby Atmos license.

[@Gubers]

These are by far the best sounding wireless gaming headphones on the market IMO. However, everything else about them is not great. They look and feel very high quality, especially for something at this pricepoint. But the build quality sucks. I am RMA'ing my second pair right now. I can get into a number of other issues but suffice it to say that the electronics seem sub-par and comfort/adjustability are not good. They're also very heavy. The Maxwells have fantastic drivers and Audeze tuned them well. But everything else about them is a compromise IMO. I guess I could mention that the mic noise cancellation is very good and the wireless low latency audio is very good. Just too many compromises though. I love my Maxwell's but I am moving on until they fix all these issues. Their prior generation gaming headset was exactly the same. Amazing audio but all sorts of other problems. Hopefully Sony can rectify the build quality, comfort and electronics related issues. Because these exact drivers in a comfortable, reliable package would be the absolute King of gaming headsets.

[@gearupaaron]

Hear hear! Thanks for sharing. I agree on the QC front.

[@johnski4709]

Don't drop yours. Mine slipped off my head when taking them off and hit my computer desk. Now the left earpiece makes a crinkly sound when I move my head. :^(

[@gearupaaron]

Bummer. That must've been a hard knock.

[@johnski4709]

@@gearupaaron yeah only dropped about half a foot on wood desk surface. Saw the new Wasabi version of these last week and ordered them right away =D

[@flewis02]

90mm? Planar magnetic...For only 300? Made for gaming??? Yep..my next set is here...

[@profane253]

Great personality, great review, see no bias; thanks for the great video and got a sub from me! Mine are arriving Thursday and cannot wait!

[@gearupaaron]

I appreciate your support! Let us know what you think of the Maxwells when you get 'em.

[@profane253]

@gearupaaron Thus far I'm really happy with them! They do sound better than my Sony WH-1000XM5, however, I'm used to listening to movies, games, music, etc. at a low volume, so to really hear the difference I have to turn the volume up a bit. But when I do, they sound awesome! I'm also really impressed with the build quality. The fact I have actual controls instead of swiping for the different functions is also a feature I really like. Can honestly say these are the best pair of headphones/headset I've owned. Lastly, I find these quite comfortable for long sessions. This is one area where the Sony's have them beat, but they are comfortable nonetheless.

[@adraineholmes4566]

Well if it had simultaneous Bluetooth then I'd buy it

[@gearupaaron]

+1

[@Nibiru420]

Good review! I have these and love them!!

[@gearupaaron]

Thanks for sharing... How long have you had yours?

[@Nibiru420]

@gearuparon About six to seven months. I did just send them in last week though for an RMA for a little issue, but they've taken care of it and are sending me new ones.

[@gearupaaron]

@Nibiru420 Another commenter said he's had two units with issues. Happy to see you got yours quickly resolved.

[@FuryonKnight]

I don't get it, how did audeze play us all along, how did they jip us??

[@gearupaaron]

They had the means and tech to build a budget headphone like the Maxwell for some time now, but kept stringing us along with more expensive gear instead.

[@FuryonKnight]

@@gearupaaron ah I see

[@jackjones77777]

THEY LIED! Thank you very much! Aaron!

[@gearupaaron]

Just shows how solid the planar mag tech was to begin with 😁

[@tom_loves_audio_tech_gaming]

Well i toke it to heart and bought the Maxwell. Sounds good... but also have the crackeling. Going to return it and never look back if i dont get this solved. To for this kind money. When not playing any sound. It should be dead silence. Seems if you put side tone "off" it goes a way. So an option you cant use.. hmm

[@gearupaaron]

Sucks to hear how rampant this issue is. Hope CS treats you right.

[@Евгений-Андреевич]

600$ in Russia 💀

[@gearupaaron]

Ooof, that's nuts.

[@Евгений-Андреевич]

@@gearupaaronthat’s only for PlayStation edition tho

[@gearupaaron]

@Евгений-Андреевич 😱

[@juanblanco7898]

I wonder why

[@Евгений-Андреевич]

@@juanblanco7898 probably cuz of nowadays situation with the war and it’s quite hard and expensive to get this product to Russia

[@bennyx1281]

I have the Hyper-X version, well did until a few days ago the frame broke. ( Way past warranty) Now I decided to save some money, and got the Alienware 920H. Well my Alienware headset is not working with my Alieneare PC. If I can't fix it by this weekend, it's going back & grab myself the Audeze Maxwell..

[@gearupaaron]

Let us know what you end up with - thanks for sharing your experience!

[@Boostedbeard]

Wearing a pair of DT 770 x pro LE's watching this and looking at my 7x nova's on my desk for 140$ wondering why the mazwell doesn't have

[@gearupaaron]

Indeed! Also, love your username 👍

[@TheSpiritedFendron]

Both are the same price on their site

[@gearupaaron]

Discounted or permanent price change?

[@TheSpiritedFendron]

@@gearupaaron permanent, both cost the same

[@SiskoSvK]

Lovely review! I personally tried the Blackshark V2s, the Arctis 7 and 9s, the Nova's and finally the Maxwell's, and I don't think I could go back! Another thing that I see alot of reviewers fail to mention is that this headset supports Bluetooth, however, its not simultaneous. Meaning, you can't game on your Xbox and listen to podcast/music on your phone at the same time. Which I believe is one big Achilles heel of this headset.

[@gearupaaron]

Glad you enjoyed the video! Do you mean multipoint Bluetooth? Yeah, consoles tend to have their own protocols unlike laptops and mobile devices. Wish device handoffs were better here.

[@AndrewSquier.]

Can u not just use Spotify on ur xbox? If you use Spotify.

[@jbz711]

I returned mine within a day. It would be exhausting to list all the problems I had with them.

[@gearupaaron]

Uh-ho, bummer. What have you settled on instead?