Shout out to everybody who caught this briefly yesterday. Had some bugs in the final render that needed fixing. Appreciate your patience on this one. Turtle Beach Stealth Pro comparison coming up quick!
nice video very comprehensive 20 min videos are rare on this channel and with your level of quality i bet it took a long time to make. would like to see a razer shark v2 2023 edition review aswell as how your focal clear compares to your wireless headphones in games
Rare writting somethng on TH-cam, but now really want to know, would be greatfull for answering. Already take ASUS ROG Azoth (thx to you to btw :) ), and thinking about next buying - new headset, my Penrose didnt feels good anymore. So what I wanna asking about. What matterial on earcup swivel? Penrose plastic breaks pretty easily by itself, Audize even try to fix it in later revisions by additional stiffening ribs (unsuccessfully by my own expiriense). And wireless range on Penrose was terrible to, as on 2,4 Gh, as on bluetooth, was it fixed in Maxwell?
@@OUTS1DER666 the swivels are aluminum now and they look like they have a brass bushing in there as well. They feel very high quality and I can’t imagine them being an issue long term. The wireless performance, incl bluetooth, is far superior to Penrose. I haven’t had a single disconnect or dropout in over a month of use.
These headphones are absolute garbage. Extremely heavy and clunky to wear, not comfortable at all. Wasted money buying these, I purchased some $60 turtle beaches from amazon, I'm happier with them. The audio isn't even good on these.... Very muffled, hard to sound hore..
I have these and they are amazing. Very comfortable. For me they don't get too hot either. Sound fantastic. Long battery life. Fits my big head. Literally zero complaints
How's the isolation? I'm playing with Sennheiser G4ME ONE open back headphones now and and I love them. It's just hard to play while my girlfriend is watching TV.
@@zanat0s I know you’re asking the other guy but I can confirm that the Xbox version works with ps5 3d audio wirelessly, i main on Xbox so I bought the Xbox version but I also own a ps5 and it works
@@eddi3401So the Xbox Verizon will work seamlessly on the ps5 but with the addition of Dolby atoms for music and etc? Needing a wireless headset for my ps5 and not sure to get this one or the Sony Pulse Elites which I know Sony bought Audeze but I would imagine these are still a step above the Pulse Elites.
Your ability to explain a lot of these concepts in terms that are easy to understand is unparalleled. I love that you always address every level of tech literacy in your videos, its extremely inclusive and shows that you're really committed to making sure the average consumer knows what their money is going to. Great work, always. Loving the long form stuff.
also subscribed to GadgetryTech and I love that he also gets technical with his reviews and at the same time providing his experience on using with gaming. I won't specify any names but he always gets a little bit of a shoutout from a certain youtuber because of his technical reviews, like gamers shouldn't get technical with audio and just be brain dead game and not pay attention to the details.
Love my Maxwell’s I have them since day 1. I have the nova pro wireless as well and on ps5 always have to deal with popping and distorted audio noises and not much help from SteelSeries. Highly recommend the Maxwells
How have they been? I'm seriously wanting a quality wireless headset. I've tried 3 or 4 different wireless and 2 or 3 wired headsets and returned them all because they just didn't get quite loud enough or beat the sound in my $40 wired Hyper X headsets. However I never spent $300+ for the top tier lines and have always heards its a waste to buy the Nove Pros for consoles since you can't utilize Sonar. So I stumble across these after learning about Sony's acquisition of Audeze. I think these would suit me better as they are just over-all finer tuned. I only game on ps5 and sometimes on my ps4 pro. But that base station on the Nova Pros seems to still be an advantage over everybody.
A little late comment, but I have to echo the majority opinion - these things exceed the hype - it's real. Musical sound quality, Gaming sound quality, voice sound quality, General sound quality, convenience. All of it. The microphone tends to compliment my voice timbre and others have noted how good my mic audio was - it tends to be a tiny bit on the warmer side, but certainly not muddy or muffled. Sure, it isn't 'the best' mic quality, but aside from a dedicated 'podcast' or 'broadcast' mic setup - it's perfectly solid. Plosives and sibilance are alleviated with mic placement - just position the mic boom a little off tot he side and you're golden. I don't really use the noise suppression since I'm usually in a mostly quiet environment. The sentiment in the video of these being "one of the very best tuned closed back headphones on the market available today" is spot on. My 'other headphones' are the Hifiman Ananda Stealth and a Burson Playmate 2 DAC/Amp - and these Maxwells are close enough in sound quality that most of the time, I just don't care and it just doesn't matter which 'phone I'm listening to. Yes, the Hifiman/Burson combo is 'better' and you can tell a difference (which becomes un-noticable after 10 minutes because of accommodation), but man - if you want something with a built in mic, these Maxwells are the ticket. I just wish they would get their PC app fully functional and sorted. "Way too good for the price" perfectly sums up these 'phones - actually even 'way too good for double the price' is probably more accurate.
I watch almost every review I can find on headsets that I'm interested in, and always find that Brian's reviews best answer and explain what I wanted to know about these headsets. The perfect depth of knowledge in audiophile sound and perfect comparisons with competing products. If I could only watch one review of a headset or mouse, etc, it would come from this guy.
what a fantastic review. really glad i found someone who not only understands what these headsets are made for, but also knows audiophile expectations. im so happy i saw this before i pulled the trigger on the Nova, i didnt even know this was coming out! im also coming from the Arctis Pro Wireless and they recently broke (time for an upgrade). I have a good collection of audiophile cans but no audeze. was really struggling between the two, but with my preference to audio quality to bells and whistles, this review was a godsend. Youve gained my respect and my subscribe. Thank you so much!
15:42 - Yeah pretty much. Personally I dont play any games at any notable level so I really want something that sounds good and immerse me in the game. Back when I actually played a couple of games in competitions and such though, I absolutely did not want sound stage at all. The narrower, the better spesifically because you already know every single map so damn well that you just know where they are regardless. All I wanted from the headset is to force feed into my ear that someone is actually there. Im very tempted to get these after hearing this praise, it sounds like everything im after in a gaming headset tbh. Theres only a couple of things I still wonder about though: 1 - Can they charge while being used over USB-C, and do they have charge protection? B - Is this user servicable? Can you actually access / replace batteries, pads or other consumable parts? 3 - Is this compatible with any other 3.5mm boom mics or is there some arbitrary limitation that only the one they provide works? IV - If I get this, will the rest of my headset collection not receive any love anymore? :(
18:38 Wouldn't it be better to run it in 24/44.1 KHz? To avoid upsampling? Most stuff runs at 44.1 KHz, some at 48, but downsampling doesn't hurt quality at all. I would only put it at 96 KHz if I had songs that were in that format. Otherwise, it doesn't do anything and can even hurt performance ever so slightly.
That was cool of you to promote GadgetryTech. He's honestly amazing. You two are the only dudes on TH-cam that review anything that I could actually see me chilling with.
Great review - I'm absolutely not in the market for a wireless headset but I watch every review all the same. It's obvious how much time and care goes into them and your ability to confidently discuss almost all aspects without getting too far into the weeds makes every video an easy watch. Glad to see the wireless headset game is really taking a step up! I remember trying one a few years ago and being heavily turned off by all the compromises just to ditch a wire (when I basically just play at my desk anyway) - happily that appears to be far less of an issue, at least with these more premium offerings.
Thanks again for a GREAT review. Your thoroughness and ability to give us gamers the realistic low-down on what we are looking for is still unparalleled. You got me hooked on the PC38X and I'm still going strong. However, if I ever decide to go back to a closed-back wireless headset, I know where to look before I make my buying decision. Now, if only someone would make a wireless open-back headset like these.
@@shahangilani To be unfairly brief: An open back will give you a larger more natural sounding sound stage, whereas a closed back will offer better isolation (reduced ambient sounds). It really depends on your situation/environment as to which you will prefer. I have and use both.
I never thought about offsetting the suspension to get a mid setting between the adjustable heights. Using my Arctis Nova 7 this really made it more comfortable for me. Thank you for pointing that out. Headset comfort literally instantly improved by just thinking outside the box. wow. You really never know when you will learn something new.
I figured this out as it was too big, then too small and i said, well lets see if doing just one will be noticeably offset. It did the trick! I can't seem to find a dongle update though.....
Maxwell is what I thought I was going to get from Penrose but didn’t. Great sound with solid interface. Reprioritizing the chat mix, strong connection options, versatility in music and gaming and build quality all made huge steps up from Penrose. I sub to bad seed for these kinds of in depth tests and you nailed it! Excellent work.
im not in the market for a new headset but your reviews are just so good. always thorough, informative and you even seem to enjoy doing the review itself. i really admire you man
Wow, you really pour your heart and soul into every review! I always enjoy your videos, even for stuff I've got no interest in or am not in the market for, and I've always wished you released videos more often... but if this is the depth and quality we get in return for our patience, then our patience you shall have! Stay up!
The sound quality is truly remarkable. By default, the bass might be lacking, but as mentioned in the reviews, there is great flexibility in adjusting it with the EQ.
I recently found your page. Thank you for helping me update my CoD setup: Wooting 60 HE+ // finalmouse ULX // Audeze Maxwell. I may suck but at least I'll suck in style.
@@strikerheadshot7215 the wooting slaps. I'm still getting used to it as I've aways played on larger keyboards but silky smooth. ULX is me. the Steel Series Aerox 5 i thought was a mercedez benz.. the ulx is that same mercedez but with the elite super charged f1 version. And I am a professional sound guy, so I am very sensitive to sound.... The maxwell is it. Versatile, clarity. I can localize footsteps so well. I hope this helps. You're about to LOOOOVE your setup.
I tried many and the best option under $ 70 for sure is Karmafier Immersum Headset. It has really really good audio. Amazing bass (I'm a bass head) and really clear highs. And I really appreciate the lack of muddy mids. I owned more expensive ones before that were not as good.
Best headset I've ever owned, does everything: gaming, listening to music, calls. And it sounds absolutely incredible with Zeos' EQ settings. But the windows & mac software is still kinda screwed up that's the only downside, but it does work better and crashes less in the lastest release. The phone app seems more stable, and the nice part is that once you save your presets, you never have to open the app again ( as long as you don't want to change anything )
I would like to see Audeze respond to the software issues on this thread. I’m waiting for a confirmation that firmware updates have addressed these bugs or they plan to roll out a new version of the Maxwell before I buy. As always thanks for a thorough review.
Seed love your reviews as always. I’ve been getting back into competitive shooters over more single player /mmos again. Currently rocking pc38x.. in your opinion what would you recommend for say cod / footsteps ? Would you still prefer closed back over open back ? I’m really considering these maxwells to swap back over to closed back.
I purchased the Nova Pro wireless because of your review and I am still very very happy, love them. I did replace the pads with aftermarkets for better comfort. If I were to upgrade I would check out the Maxwell. So mainly I am just here to say this was a phenomenal review, very informative and well done man.
@@AJCoReTV What's the real world battery life on them per battery? I tend not to listen to reviewers about how long between charges as they're usually review units that are gone in a week or two.
As a person who owned the Arctis Pro wireless, I was definitely disappointed in the Nova Pro wireless. The audio quality was barely even noticeably better than the previous model, and I would say that the APW had a better design overall.
Lovely how you mentioned joe! He's my usual topspot when it comes to headsets, but i just found your channel, and gonna watch you as well, also, the beard is Hella nice 🔥🔥🔥
Awesome review! One thing to take notice on is the fact that Audeze actually changed the use of Bluetooth and dongle simultaneous use. You can actually EQ the sound on the Maxwell from the app as of the last update. I use this a lot but I'm on Android so maybe this is an iPhone thing again... Anyway, If you are on Android you can EQ while listening, that's all. Cheers!
Just getting into the pc world of gaming and I must say your ability to explain each product you’ve reviewed is very understanding and for that I thank you for helping me put my money into quality products. Keep it up brotha!
Great review! The only thing I was left wondering personally is how the Maxwell compares to the Mobius. Kind of an unfair comparison given one is wired and one is wireless, so I can see why you didn’t mention it, but I have a Mobius and am curious whether there’s any benefit to upgrading (other than being able to go wireless or course).
Did you upgrade in the end? My favourite thing about the mobius is the 3D audio being able to be set from a manual direction. This doesn't seem to have that option as far as I can see.
@@ALifeOfWine No, I stuck with the Mobius. I was never confident enough there would be a benefit. I ended up picking up a PC38X and loving it actually.
I'm really impressed with the Maxwell, I have been wanting a wireless headset to as getting up to move around is something that's needed. I was using a DT1990 as my daily headset and I liked the Maxwell enough to loan the 1990s to my friend. The only thing i miss is the sound stage and imaging in some games like Hunt Showdown or Tarkov, but the convenience they provide is worth the minor hit. Amazing video as always Brian!
I haven't tried that many headphones to know this but is the soundstage and imaging of the DT's that much better compared to the M50x and the HD650? I really miss closed backs so I was shopping for something. I've been looking at the Rode NTH-100. Would I be better of with these?
@xire01 no, I do not. I am over 40, so audio is key in 1st person shooter gaming. The audio is so good, I have A40, Turtle beach 700 series and artic pros. These top all of them for audio quality.
Great video! Was thinking about getting this headset to replace my Turtle beach stealth 700 gen 2. I have an Xbox series X and ever since I got the turtle beach I’ve only had problems. Constantly disconnecting or dropping the audio. From all the research I’ve done it seems like it’s because it connects using the same frequency as wifi routers. Thank you again for the great video!
This dude is awsome just found your channel great review brother new sub! I have a few questions about this headset is there a place where I can DM you if that’s possible?!
14:30 Thank you for talking about background hiss. Most don't even consider it a thing worth mentioning in reviews because "gaming", but if you want a wireless device with low latency, you pretty much end up in gaming headsets... and good luck then.
14:04 This! This! And this! I don't know how people manage to cope with anything else, even desire it. I'm so relieved to have finally found these cans! Say, one question though: What about the different mics. Mine is more ball-shaped. What gives?
Two Maxwells have failed on me so far. One developed diaphragm crackling and the replacement had a speaker fail on the left side the other day. The second one never leaves my desk and still look like new. They keep failing on me but they do sound incredible and can handle as much bass as you throw a them with an EQ. Don't be wearing these things while running a microwave. I believe that is what caused the diaphragm crackling, so bad that they crackle when I chew food, move my mouth to talk, or walk with them on.
Did you get another pair? Im looking into getting a serious wireless headset for my ps5. Have narrowed it down to the Maxwells, Nova Pros, Or the upcoming Sony Pulse Elites. But anyways these are really getting my attention but since I can't buy them at bestbuy and have the luxury of returning and swapping them out same day and have to wait weeks if I have any issues out of the box has me leary. Ugh decisions decisions.
Thank you for giving us this review. We need more headsets like these. Audiophile quality in the gaming space is very underrated. Being able to hear things the way game developers intended is essential.
Have you tried out the Beyer Dynamic DT770(250ohm)'s paired with a DAC, Vs the Audeze Maxwells. Would love to ditch the Wire, Dac & Cables, but I'm not willing to sacrifice sound quality. I previously had the Penrose, but i felt like the DT770's edged them out.
It's crazy that these companies can't piece together a product that has the best of the best. Why isn't everyone using the Virtuoso mic? Why isn't everyone using the Wicked aftermarket pads? I'm not sure who has the best audio tech, but you get my point. To put out a product for $300 and it has clear disadvantages is crazy to me.
Yeah I feel that. Someone *should* be able to the put out the ONE. But there’s always a gotcha for some reason. Even if it was a cost/margins thing, I’m sure high end buyers would be willing to spend $25-$50 more if it was perfect across the board.
The corsair mic sounds great because corsair uses their "slipstream" technology which has a high bandwidth transmission. There is also no noise cancelling or compression which makes the mic have a flat frequency response
Very detailed review. Thank you very much. One question please. So does that mean you rank the steelseries nova above the penrose and morbious. For fps too? Too
Bought the audeze maxwell straight after watching this, the price is super competitive all things considered. I have the Arctis nova pro wireless (signature - first 500 sold) and i had to modify the ear cushions because of the ANC knob giving me litteral headaches. Even after modding it i was kinda bummed by the sharp and not so warm sound when it comes to music. And if i play LOL and DIablo games rather than any fps shooter like CSGO i never take advantage of the in-built sonar that the nova pro has.
They sound awesome but it seems to be quite a lot of people with driver imbalance and it's always the Left driver being louder than the Right driver. Did your unit have any issues? I'm sending mine back sadly.
Thank you so much for this video. Are you able to elaborate a bit more on the goxlr routing? My current view is that I'd have to line in my goxlr back to my pc and then output that to the headphones.
You had me sold on them until I heard the mic quality. They make you sound like you work for dispatch. They built in one sounds like it has permanent feedback. My personal opinion aside, this review is utterly amazing and I am definitely subscribing.
I currently have the Corsair HS80. I also have several audiophile (mid to low end) headphones. The fidelity of the HS80 is "good enough" in my opinion. The biggest pain point for me is the sidetone. You can barely hear yourself when talking. I had originally purchased it because I play Virtual Table Top RPG's online with my friends. So, there is a huge communication aspect involved. My hopes was to combine the fidelity of the audiophile headphones with the mic of the HS80 but with better sidetone. How is the sidetone on this? Is the Maxwell worth the upgrade?
Theoretically, with both having the 3.5mm headphone jack, could you just pull that mic from the 2023 Blackshark and stick it in this headset for best of both worlds?
The one trick pony about the Virtuoso XT is true, but that mic really is solid! I use it on my other box for Teams calls and everyone seems to say it sounds good. I still believe the first gen Arctis mics are also really solid.
4:48 this actually what am looking on wireless headset, to be able answering phone while gaming without losing game sound... is it possible now with this headset?
Just want say love your videos find them incredibly detailed and informative thank you for taking the time to make such great content! Wanted to ask as a avid gamer who is really wanting to up their audio game for a more immersive experience have you heard anything about the issues being reported of the planar drivers dying easily due to air pressure? A lot of posts saying " don't get them they die easy" I was literally about to buy them before seeing some of this feedback and it made me think twice. Would you still recommend them and if so any advice for someone new to audiophile level headphones like these?
Hey guys I have a question about the Audeze Maxwell. It looks like they have personalized spatial audio? Is that correct? Like how Creative does with their SXFI app and taking pics of your face and ears? I think Apple is doing that now with their new headphones too.
My main concern was the plastic bit holding the cups but hearing that about the bluetooth canceling out the normal usage is a hard pass. Being able to just chill with netflix or youtube while bashing my head against something like darksouls is something I can't go back on. Good review though.
Hell yeah to the Joe callout! His channel is pretty rad and he does a damn good job in his reviews! Currently rocking these as my main wireless headset. These are endgame, on that front. They blow my wired main, the VZR Model One, out the water for pure sound but the VZR does beat it on soundstage and imaging. That headset can be a cheat code, sometimes, but man it's just so warm in tone. Getting an ATH-R70X soon, so looking forward to what the world of open backs introduces me to! Great review and great callout!
my Maxwells arrived today and my Razer Nari Ultimates (that sadly Broke) and the hyper x cloud Alpha (my previous Headset before the Naris) sound like tincans in comparison. I honestly didn't expect such clarity and crisp bass.
great review! thank you! still waiting for re-stock here in the Philippines. QUESTION though: "great bluetooth headphones too as long as you don't need active noise cancelling" -so that AI noise cancelling doesn't work when in bluetooth connection, for example, using in phone calls? is it for built-in mic only or both?
My name is Maxwell. I found it impossible to watch this in the background as a result of my name constantly being said. Amazing video, very distracting lol
Is there a technical or performance reason they wouldn't allow bluetooth and dongle to connect at the same time? This seems like a (at least to me) a fairly big oversight considering this is a common feature on even $100 headsets. Its the one thing holding me back for now.
@@cbrew1138 that's understood by most people and it's also included in documentation with other headsets that using bluetooth may reduce battery life. If someone wants 80 hours with single connect or 60 hours with bluetooth on it should be an option.
Is the bluetooth thing fixed in a update now? Sound annoying if the sound cuts for every notification, but a DB lowering option for phonecalls like in the Steelseries headset would be nice.
Super informative videos! But man, this and your review between these, the stealth pro, and arctis nova pro wireless, has left me with a really tough decision to make.. coming from elite pro 2 with superamp, the simultaneous broadcast is a hard thing to let go of for the sim racing + music side of things. But the better sound quality overall I think makes these the better option. That battery life too!
Sounds like Audeze have another winner on their hands. I personally have Senheisser x58 Jubilee, Audeze Penrose, Corsair HS70SE and Focal Clear for gaming and I loooooove them all for both gaming and all (but the HS70SE) for music listening.
Hey I have the x58 jubilee from a while back and didn't use them because it has no base lol. Do I need an amp to get some base or are these meant to have non??
You're goated for these I've been looking for an upgrade from my virtuosos... I didn't like the novas since the audio quality was apparently relatively the same but these seem to be my best option for the best of both gaming and music on my computer 🤙🏼🤙🏼🤙🏼 thanks brotha
Hey, I've been watching your reviews for just a little while now, but these are some really great reviews! I'm pretty smitten with these headphones, but I'm worried about the weight. I wear glasses and the heavier the headphones, the more my glasses tend to push into my upper nose. The pressure there after a while might cause headaches and just general discomfort. If anyone might know, do these headphones do well with glasses? The review was great though, thanks a ton!
Long battery charge on any wireless accessory is nice but I always remember that batteries deteriorate over time so on the long run if you want something that you plan on sticking with for a very long time, wireless batteries shouldn't be the main focus for your purchase.
I'm glad I ordered mine yesterday before this dropped because this video is going to sell Audeze a million times over, sold me all over again. Thanks for all of the insight brother.
Shout out to everybody who caught this briefly yesterday. Had some bugs in the final render that needed fixing. Appreciate your patience on this one. Turtle Beach Stealth Pro comparison coming up quick!
nice video very comprehensive 20 min videos are rare on this channel and with your level of quality i bet it took a long time to make. would like to see a razer shark v2 2023 edition review aswell as how your focal clear compares to your wireless headphones in games
Man these looks nice. This video so good watched it twice.
I thought I was going crazy thinking I've watch this already.
lmao Thought I was trippin, straight up got kicked mid video.
Rare writting somethng on TH-cam, but now really want to know, would be greatfull for answering. Already take ASUS ROG Azoth (thx to you to btw :) ), and thinking about next buying - new headset, my Penrose didnt feels good anymore.
So what I wanna asking about. What matterial on earcup swivel? Penrose plastic breaks pretty easily by itself, Audize even try to fix it in later revisions by additional stiffening ribs (unsuccessfully by my own expiriense). And wireless range on Penrose was terrible to, as on 2,4 Gh, as on bluetooth, was it fixed in Maxwell?
@@OUTS1DER666 the swivels are aluminum now and they look like they have a brass bushing in there as well. They feel very high quality and I can’t imagine them being an issue long term. The wireless performance, incl bluetooth, is far superior to Penrose. I haven’t had a single disconnect or dropout in over a month of use.
Amazing review as always man. Thanks so much for the shout out!
These headphones are absolute garbage. Extremely heavy and clunky to wear, not comfortable at all. Wasted money buying these, I purchased some $60 turtle beaches from amazon, I'm happier with them. The audio isn't even good on these.... Very muffled, hard to sound hore..
@@montyfilms3 umm what? I got these same headphones and my ears have never been the same again.
@@Nodo-CAD they suck! i prefer $60 turtle beaches over these heavy pieces of garbage!
I have these and they are amazing. Very comfortable. For me they don't get too hot either. Sound fantastic. Long battery life. Fits my big head. Literally zero complaints
best headphones hands down, I love it and I wouldnt be able to go to a different headset
How's the isolation? I'm playing with Sennheiser G4ME ONE open back headphones now and and I love them. It's just hard to play while my girlfriend is watching TV.
Have you used Xbox version with 3d audio?
@@zanat0s I know you’re asking the other guy but I can confirm that the Xbox version works with ps5 3d audio wirelessly, i main on Xbox so I bought the Xbox version but I also own a ps5 and it works
@@eddi3401So the Xbox Verizon will work seamlessly on the ps5 but with the addition of Dolby atoms for music and etc? Needing a wireless headset for my ps5 and not sure to get this one or the Sony Pulse Elites which I know Sony bought Audeze but I would imagine these are still a step above the Pulse Elites.
Your ability to explain a lot of these concepts in terms that are easy to understand is unparalleled. I love that you always address every level of tech literacy in your videos, its extremely inclusive and shows that you're really committed to making sure the average consumer knows what their money is going to. Great work, always. Loving the long form stuff.
You’re the realest
Love the shout out for GadgetryTech. Dudes got good shit. He deserves more views. Glad to see a new video from you bro!
also subscribed to GadgetryTech and I love that he also gets technical with his reviews and at the same time providing his experience on using with gaming. I won't specify any names but he always gets a little bit of a shoutout from a certain youtuber because of his technical reviews, like gamers shouldn't get technical with audio and just be brain dead game and not pay attention to the details.
Love my Maxwell’s I have them since day 1. I have the nova pro wireless as well and on ps5 always have to deal with popping and distorted audio noises and not much help from SteelSeries. Highly recommend the Maxwells
How have they been? I'm seriously wanting a quality wireless headset. I've tried 3 or 4 different wireless and 2 or 3 wired headsets and returned them all because they just didn't get quite loud enough or beat the sound in my $40 wired Hyper X headsets. However I never spent $300+ for the top tier lines and have always heards its a waste to buy the Nove Pros for consoles since you can't utilize Sonar. So I stumble across these after learning about Sony's acquisition of Audeze. I think these would suit me better as they are just over-all finer tuned. I only game on ps5 and sometimes on my ps4 pro. But that base station on the Nova Pros seems to still be an advantage over everybody.
A little late comment, but I have to echo the majority opinion - these things exceed the hype - it's real. Musical sound quality, Gaming sound quality, voice sound quality, General sound quality, convenience. All of it.
The microphone tends to compliment my voice timbre and others have noted how good my mic audio was - it tends to be a tiny bit on the warmer side, but certainly not muddy or muffled. Sure, it isn't 'the best' mic quality, but aside from a dedicated 'podcast' or 'broadcast' mic setup - it's perfectly solid. Plosives and sibilance are alleviated with mic placement - just position the mic boom a little off tot he side and you're golden. I don't really use the noise suppression since I'm usually in a mostly quiet environment.
The sentiment in the video of these being "one of the very best tuned closed back headphones on the market available today" is spot on. My 'other headphones' are the Hifiman Ananda Stealth and a Burson Playmate 2 DAC/Amp - and these Maxwells are close enough in sound quality that most of the time, I just don't care and it just doesn't matter which 'phone I'm listening to. Yes, the Hifiman/Burson combo is 'better' and you can tell a difference (which becomes un-noticable after 10 minutes because of accommodation), but man - if you want something with a built in mic, these Maxwells are the ticket. I just wish they would get their PC app fully functional and sorted.
"Way too good for the price" perfectly sums up these 'phones - actually even 'way too good for double the price' is probably more accurate.
So awesome to see another extremely informative review. Killing it as always!
Thank you sir!
I watch almost every review I can find on headsets that I'm interested in, and always find that Brian's reviews best answer and explain what I wanted to know about these headsets.
The perfect depth of knowledge in audiophile sound and perfect comparisons with competing products. If I could only watch one review of a headset or mouse, etc, it would come from this guy.
what a fantastic review. really glad i found someone who not only understands what these headsets are made for, but also knows audiophile expectations. im so happy i saw this before i pulled the trigger on the Nova, i didnt even know this was coming out! im also coming from the Arctis Pro Wireless and they recently broke (time for an upgrade). I have a good collection of audiophile cans but no audeze. was really struggling between the two, but with my preference to audio quality to bells and whistles, this review was a godsend. Youve gained my respect and my subscribe. Thank you so much!
I came here for the review, but best part for me was GadgetryTech getting a shout out, man deserves a lot more subs!
Buy a USB C to USB A adapter.
15:42 - Yeah pretty much. Personally I dont play any games at any notable level so I really want something that sounds good and immerse me in the game. Back when I actually played a couple of games in competitions and such though, I absolutely did not want sound stage at all. The narrower, the better spesifically because you already know every single map so damn well that you just know where they are regardless. All I wanted from the headset is to force feed into my ear that someone is actually there.
Im very tempted to get these after hearing this praise, it sounds like everything im after in a gaming headset tbh. Theres only a couple of things I still wonder about though:
1 - Can they charge while being used over USB-C, and do they have charge protection?
B - Is this user servicable? Can you actually access / replace batteries, pads or other consumable parts?
3 - Is this compatible with any other 3.5mm boom mics or is there some arbitrary limitation that only the one they provide works?
IV - If I get this, will the rest of my headset collection not receive any love anymore? :(
18:38 Wouldn't it be better to run it in 24/44.1 KHz? To avoid upsampling? Most stuff runs at 44.1 KHz, some at 48, but downsampling doesn't hurt quality at all. I would only put it at 96 KHz if I had songs that were in that format. Otherwise, it doesn't do anything and can even hurt performance ever so slightly.
That was cool of you to promote GadgetryTech. He's honestly amazing. You two are the only dudes on TH-cam that review anything that I could actually see me chilling with.
Talent recognizes talent
Great review - I'm absolutely not in the market for a wireless headset but I watch every review all the same. It's obvious how much time and care goes into them and your ability to confidently discuss almost all aspects without getting too far into the weeds makes every video an easy watch.
Glad to see the wireless headset game is really taking a step up! I remember trying one a few years ago and being heavily turned off by all the compromises just to ditch a wire (when I basically just play at my desk anyway) - happily that appears to be far less of an issue, at least with these more premium offerings.
Thanks again for a GREAT review. Your thoroughness and ability to give us gamers the realistic low-down on what we are looking for is still unparalleled. You got me hooked on the PC38X and I'm still going strong. However, if I ever decide to go back to a closed-back wireless headset, I know where to look before I make my buying decision. Now, if only someone would make a wireless open-back headset like these.
What is better open or closed back and why ?
@@shahangilani To be unfairly brief: An open back will give you a larger more natural sounding sound stage, whereas a closed back will offer better isolation (reduced ambient sounds). It really depends on your situation/environment as to which you will prefer. I have and use both.
I never thought about offsetting the suspension to get a mid setting between the adjustable heights. Using my Arctis Nova 7 this really made it more comfortable for me. Thank you for pointing that out. Headset comfort literally instantly improved by just thinking outside the box. wow. You really never know when you will learn something new.
I figured this out as it was too big, then too small and i said, well lets see if doing just one will be noticeably offset. It did the trick! I can't seem to find a dongle update though.....
Maxwell is what I thought I was going to get from Penrose but didn’t. Great sound with solid interface. Reprioritizing the chat mix, strong connection options, versatility in music and gaming and build quality all made huge steps up from Penrose. I sub to bad seed for these kinds of in depth tests and you nailed it! Excellent work.
Hi, do you use surround sound or just stereo ? i play fps and want to locate footsteps :)
@oskarmarkus1987 to hear footsteps, you don't need Maxwell. There are cheaper headset for that.
You just earned a new sub. Probably my new go-to for tech reviews. Solid delivery and very thorough.
im not in the market for a new headset but your reviews are just so good. always thorough, informative and you even seem to enjoy doing the review itself. i really admire you man
Thanks a million. That really means a lot.
Wow, you really pour your heart and soul into every review! I always enjoy your videos, even for stuff I've got no interest in or am not in the market for, and I've always wished you released videos more often... but if this is the depth and quality we get in return for our patience, then our patience you shall have! Stay up!
Wow thank you so much. That really means a lot!
Thanks for the review! I am ordering this bad boy right now!
Babe, wake up. BadSeed Tech uploaded a new video
@@AhnafDayan skill issue
wait you never call me babe.
How long did you sleep on your arm for it to fall asleep 😬😅
Why are you calling your sister babe?
Babe: Huh?
The sound quality is truly remarkable. By default, the bass might be lacking, but as mentioned in the reviews, there is great flexibility in adjusting it with the EQ.
My brother has Artic Nova 7s Wireless and I thought they sounded really good. How would these compare to those
@@Panda-1911 Sorry, I can’t tell you which one is better because I haven’t owned Arctic Nova 7s.
I recently found your page. Thank you for helping me update my CoD setup: Wooting 60 HE+ // finalmouse ULX // Audeze Maxwell. I may suck but at least I'll suck in style.
Dawg this is about to be my exact setup lmao. I'm waiting for ulx batch in March and now I'm looking at this headset. I have the wooting rn
@@strikerheadshot7215 the wooting slaps. I'm still getting used to it as I've aways played on larger keyboards but silky smooth. ULX is me. the Steel Series Aerox 5 i thought was a mercedez benz.. the ulx is that same mercedez but with the elite super charged f1 version. And I am a professional sound guy, so I am very sensitive to sound.... The maxwell is it. Versatile, clarity. I can localize footsteps so well.
I hope this helps. You're about to LOOOOVE your setup.
Wtf am I going to do with audeze headphones... pockets empty and ears happy.
I love the detail that you have with this review and how much feedback was provided with how the headset operates
How does this compare the the new razer black shark you most recently reviewed? By the way your mic test of it alone was enough to make me buy it!
FAR exceeds the Blackshark in terms of audio quality. I'll have a full video on the Blackshark up pretty soon.
I tried many and the best option under $ 70 for sure is Karmafier Immersum Headset. It has really really good audio. Amazing bass (I'm a bass head) and really clear highs. And I really appreciate the lack of muddy mids. I owned more expensive ones before that were not as good.
bro
stop
im just trying to find a good headset
Great review B!, looking into these for sure since I was one of the people who was bothered my nova pro knob.
You're amazing. You've literally responded to all of my questions, I just bought them! So excited!
Best headset I've ever owned, does everything: gaming, listening to music, calls. And it sounds absolutely incredible with Zeos' EQ settings. But the windows & mac software is still kinda screwed up that's the only downside, but it does work better and crashes less in the lastest release. The phone app seems more stable, and the nice part is that once you save your presets, you never have to open the app again ( as long as you don't want to change anything )
I would like to see Audeze respond to the software issues on this thread. I’m waiting for a confirmation that firmware updates have addressed these bugs or they plan to roll out a new version of the Maxwell before I buy.
As always thanks for a thorough review.
Seed love your reviews as always. I’ve been getting back into competitive shooters over more single player /mmos again. Currently rocking pc38x.. in your opinion what would you recommend for say cod / footsteps ? Would you still prefer closed back over open back ? I’m really considering these maxwells to swap back over to closed back.
I purchased the Nova Pro wireless because of your review and I am still very very happy, love them. I did replace the pads with aftermarkets for better comfort. If I were to upgrade I would check out the Maxwell. So mainly I am just here to say this was a phenomenal review, very informative and well done man.
I’m stuck on Nova pro as well, sound great but most importantly for me, line in from my stream PC!
@@AJCoReTV What's the real world battery life on them per battery? I tend not to listen to reviewers about how long between charges as they're usually review units that are gone in a week or two.
@@dodo19923 I only swap batteries once very few weeks. I’ve not really checked how many actual hours… just now they last me very long!
As a person who owned the Arctis Pro wireless, I was definitely disappointed in the Nova Pro wireless. The audio quality was barely even noticeably better than the previous model, and I would say that the APW had a better design overall.
Lovely how you mentioned joe! He's my usual topspot when it comes to headsets, but i just found your channel, and gonna watch you as well, also, the beard is Hella nice 🔥🔥🔥
Awesome review!
One thing to take notice on is the fact that Audeze actually changed the use of Bluetooth and dongle simultaneous use.
You can actually EQ the sound on the Maxwell from the app as of the last update. I use this a lot but I'm on Android so maybe this is an iPhone thing again...
Anyway,
If you are on Android you can EQ while listening, that's all.
Cheers!
3:33 I found the numbs to only be noticeable over time cause the ear pads get worn in and flatten enough for your ears to start touching them.
Nice that you pump up Joe.. he got great reviews
Just getting into the pc world of gaming and I must say your ability to explain each product you’ve reviewed is very understanding and for that I thank you for helping me put my money into quality products. Keep it up brotha!
Thanks man! I appreciate you!
Great review! The only thing I was left wondering personally is how the Maxwell compares to the Mobius. Kind of an unfair comparison given one is wired and one is wireless, so I can see why you didn’t mention it, but I have a Mobius and am curious whether there’s any benefit to upgrading (other than being able to go wireless or course).
Did you upgrade in the end? My favourite thing about the mobius is the 3D audio being able to be set from a manual direction. This doesn't seem to have that option as far as I can see.
@@ALifeOfWine No, I stuck with the Mobius. I was never confident enough there would be a benefit. I ended up picking up a PC38X and loving it actually.
I'm really impressed with the Maxwell, I have been wanting a wireless headset to as getting up to move around is something that's needed. I was using a DT1990 as my daily headset and I liked the Maxwell enough to loan the 1990s to my friend. The only thing i miss is the sound stage and imaging in some games like Hunt Showdown or Tarkov, but the convenience they provide is worth the minor hit. Amazing video as always Brian!
I haven't tried that many headphones to know this but is the soundstage and imaging of the DT's that much better compared to the M50x and the HD650? I really miss closed backs so I was shopping for something. I've been looking at the Rode NTH-100. Would I be better of with these?
I play Siege, and own a pair of these Maxwells. These are great, for footsteps, and coms. Lovethem
@@UltraFarturas you go for the mmx300 gen.2 theyre the best closed back headset money can buy
@@sharkb0078 You dont need the dolby atmos version of the headset for this do you?
@xire01 no, I do not. I am over 40, so audio is key in 1st person shooter gaming. The audio is so good, I have A40, Turtle beach 700 series and artic pros. These top all of them for audio quality.
Great video! Was thinking about getting this headset to replace my Turtle beach stealth 700 gen 2. I have an Xbox series X and ever since I got the turtle beach I’ve only had problems. Constantly disconnecting or dropping the audio. From all the research I’ve done it seems like it’s because it connects using the same frequency as wifi routers. Thank you again for the great video!
As per usual, thorough, easy to follow, in-depth, and superb production quality. Love these videos. Keep up the amazing work!
This dude is awsome just found your channel great review brother new sub! I have a few questions about this headset is there a place where I can DM you if that’s possible?!
14:30 Thank you for talking about background hiss. Most don't even consider it a thing worth mentioning in reviews because "gaming", but if you want a wireless device with low latency, you pretty much end up in gaming headsets... and good luck then.
As usual an excellent review. You mentioned things I've not heard in any review of these Maxwells.
Thank you for this fantastic review!
14:04 This! This! And this! I don't know how people manage to cope with anything else, even desire it. I'm so relieved to have finally found these cans!
Say, one question though: What about the different mics. Mine is more ball-shaped. What gives?
Bro talked about everything that all other channels have missed. New sub right here 😁
Two Maxwells have failed on me so far. One developed diaphragm crackling and the replacement had a speaker fail on the left side the other day. The second one never leaves my desk and still look like new. They keep failing on me but they do sound incredible and can handle as much bass as you throw a them with an EQ. Don't be wearing these things while running a microwave. I believe that is what caused the diaphragm crackling, so bad that they crackle when I chew food, move my mouth to talk, or walk with them on.
Did you get another pair? Im looking into getting a serious wireless headset for my ps5. Have narrowed it down to the Maxwells, Nova Pros, Or the upcoming Sony Pulse Elites. But anyways these are really getting my attention but since I can't buy them at bestbuy and have the luxury of returning and swapping them out same day and have to wait weeks if I have any issues out of the box has me leary. Ugh decisions decisions.
The maxwell seems perfect for stuff like vrchat where sound clarity is king + it seems like a great option for general use
Whats vr chat
Thank you for giving us this review. We need more headsets like these. Audiophile quality in the gaming space is very underrated. Being able to hear things the way game developers intended is essential.
Have you tried out the Beyer Dynamic DT770(250ohm)'s paired with a DAC, Vs the Audeze Maxwells. Would love to ditch the Wire, Dac & Cables, but I'm not willing to sacrifice sound quality. I previously had the Penrose, but i felt like the DT770's edged them out.
It's crazy that these companies can't piece together a product that has the best of the best. Why isn't everyone using the Virtuoso mic? Why isn't everyone using the Wicked aftermarket pads? I'm not sure who has the best audio tech, but you get my point. To put out a product for $300 and it has clear disadvantages is crazy to me.
Yeah I feel that. Someone *should* be able to the put out the ONE. But there’s always a gotcha for some reason. Even if it was a cost/margins thing, I’m sure high end buyers would be willing to spend $25-$50 more if it was perfect across the board.
The corsair mic sounds great because corsair uses their "slipstream" technology which has a high bandwidth transmission. There is also no noise cancelling or compression which makes the mic have a flat frequency response
Very detailed review. Thank you very much. One question please. So does that mean you rank the steelseries nova above the penrose and morbious. For fps too? Too
Bought the audeze maxwell straight after watching this, the price is super competitive all things considered. I have the Arctis nova pro wireless (signature - first 500 sold) and i had to modify the ear cushions because of the ANC knob giving me litteral headaches. Even after modding it i was kinda bummed by the sharp and not so warm sound when it comes to music. And if i play LOL and DIablo games rather than any fps shooter like CSGO i never take advantage of the in-built sonar that the nova pro has.
great review mate! you're the best!
Nice review. Since my Virtuoso is literally falling apart after 3 years and has a lot of problems i guess my new headset is the Maxwell.
I don’t typically subscribe after watching just one video but holy crap what an insanely detailed review 👏🏻👏🏻 got my sub ✅
Just bought the xbox set arrives tomorrow cannot wait great information review
And are they worth it?
Your attention to detail and quality on these reviews always is impeccable! Thank you as usual
Nice Rosenstock shot in there. One of my favorite live shows I have ever gone to. Dude keeps the energy high the whole time.
They sound awesome but it seems to be quite a lot of people with driver imbalance and it's always the Left driver being louder than the Right driver. Did your unit have any issues? I'm sending mine back sadly.
Thank you for the detailed review. Sad you did not make a comparison with your dt 1990 :(
Thank you so much for this video. Are you able to elaborate a bit more on the goxlr routing? My current view is that I'd have to line in my goxlr back to my pc and then output that to the headphones.
Noise filtering is better to be handled on the PC/phone software IMO, the mic quality is still key (which this headset does not quite get)...
You had me sold on them until I heard the mic quality. They make you sound like you work for dispatch. They built in one sounds like it has permanent feedback. My personal opinion aside, this review is utterly amazing and I am definitely subscribing.
For me the killer feature is the base station on the steelseries wireless headphones. Specifically the ability to mix different sources.
Nice to see a new video after a month long hiatus, hope you're doing well! 💜
I currently have the Corsair HS80. I also have several audiophile (mid to low end) headphones. The fidelity of the HS80 is "good enough" in my opinion. The biggest pain point for me is the sidetone. You can barely hear yourself when talking. I had originally purchased it because I play Virtual Table Top RPG's online with my friends. So, there is a huge communication aspect involved. My hopes was to combine the fidelity of the audiophile headphones with the mic of the HS80 but with better sidetone. How is the sidetone on this? Is the Maxwell worth the upgrade?
Huge issue with sidetone and interference. If you like listening to yourself this is a huge issue with them. I bought them and found out the hard way.
Mine broke literally 3 months in, driver film got sucked up by the earcup.
Would love to hear your take on the razer 2023 blackshark v2. From what ive heard, the mic is just incredible
i think the mic is better on blackshark 2023 compare to this
Theoretically, with both having the 3.5mm headphone jack, could you just pull that mic from the 2023 Blackshark and stick it in this headset for best of both worlds?
The one trick pony about the Virtuoso XT is true, but that mic really is solid! I use it on my other box for Teams calls and everyone seems to say it sounds good. I still believe the first gen Arctis mics are also really solid.
Thanks for the detailed video!
4:48 this actually what am looking on wireless headset, to be able answering phone while gaming without losing game sound... is it possible now with this headset?
Just want say love your videos find them incredibly detailed and informative thank you for taking the time to make such great content! Wanted to ask as a avid gamer who is really wanting to up their audio game for a more immersive experience have you heard anything about the issues being reported of the planar drivers dying easily due to air pressure? A lot of posts saying " don't get them they die easy" I was literally about to buy them before seeing some of this feedback and it made me think twice. Would you still recommend them and if so any advice for someone new to audiophile level headphones like these?
Time to watch another amazing review.
love your videos man! You should do one on the EPOS H6 pro or the VZR Model Ones ! The model ones are very impressive!
Hey guys I have a question about the Audeze Maxwell. It looks like they have personalized spatial audio? Is that correct? Like how Creative does with their SXFI app and taking pics of your face and ears? I think Apple is doing that now with their new headphones too.
My main concern was the plastic bit holding the cups but hearing that about the bluetooth canceling out the normal usage is a hard pass. Being able to just chill with netflix or youtube while bashing my head against something like darksouls is something I can't go back on. Good review though.
Hell yeah to the Joe callout! His channel is pretty rad and he does a damn good job in his reviews! Currently rocking these as my main wireless headset. These are endgame, on that front. They blow my wired main, the VZR Model One, out the water for pure sound but the VZR does beat it on soundstage and imaging. That headset can be a cheat code, sometimes, but man it's just so warm in tone. Getting an ATH-R70X soon, so looking forward to what the world of open backs introduces me to! Great review and great callout!
I recently got an ifi zen dac because of your recommendations. Thanks alot. I love it.
Audeze maxwell v epos pc38x for strictly gaming which would you choose and why? Many thanks in advance
my Maxwells arrived today and my Razer Nari Ultimates (that sadly Broke) and the hyper x cloud Alpha (my previous Headset before the Naris) sound like tincans in comparison. I honestly didn't expect such clarity and crisp bass.
great review! thank you! still waiting for re-stock here in the Philippines.
QUESTION though: "great bluetooth headphones too as long as you don't need active noise cancelling" -so that AI noise cancelling doesn't work when in bluetooth connection, for example, using in phone calls? is it for built-in mic only or both?
Excellent review, thank you!
Thanks for a great review, nailed it! 👍
My name is Maxwell. I found it impossible to watch this in the background as a result of my name constantly being said. Amazing video, very distracting lol
What an amazing review mr. Seed that’s just another outstanding review well done.
Is there a technical or performance reason they wouldn't allow bluetooth and dongle to connect at the same time? This seems like a (at least to me) a fairly big oversight considering this is a common feature on even $100 headsets. Its the one thing holding me back for now.
From what I have heard and seen is that the battery life is king. And the duel connect is a battery sapper
@@cbrew1138 that's understood by most people and it's also included in documentation with other headsets that using bluetooth may reduce battery life. If someone wants 80 hours with single connect or 60 hours with bluetooth on it should be an option.
Is the bluetooth thing fixed in a update now? Sound annoying if the sound cuts for every notification, but a DB lowering option for phonecalls like in the Steelseries headset would be nice.
Super informative videos! But man, this and your review between these, the stealth pro, and arctis nova pro wireless, has left me with a really tough decision to make.. coming from elite pro 2 with superamp, the simultaneous broadcast is a hard thing to let go of for the sim racing + music side of things. But the better sound quality overall I think makes these the better option. That battery life too!
You’re the best TH-camr so for me to make a EQ settings I have to be playing the music in the background for the game thank you, brother
Sounds like Audeze have another winner on their hands. I personally have Senheisser x58 Jubilee, Audeze Penrose, Corsair HS70SE and Focal Clear for gaming and I loooooove them all for both gaming and all (but the HS70SE) for music listening.
Hey I have the x58 jubilee from a while back and didn't use them because it has no base lol. Do I need an amp to get some base or are these meant to have non??
You're goated for these I've been looking for an upgrade from my virtuosos... I didn't like the novas since the audio quality was apparently relatively the same but these seem to be my best option for the best of both gaming and music on my computer 🤙🏼🤙🏼🤙🏼 thanks brotha
Hey, I've been watching your reviews for just a little while now, but these are some really great reviews! I'm pretty smitten with these headphones, but I'm worried about the weight. I wear glasses and the heavier the headphones, the more my glasses tend to push into my upper nose. The pressure there after a while might cause headaches and just general discomfort. If anyone might know, do these headphones do well with glasses? The review was great though, thanks a ton!
Just found your channel... Nice work and info for sure... What are your thoughts on these now ?
Long battery charge on any wireless accessory is nice but I always remember that batteries deteriorate over time so on the long run if you want something that you plan on sticking with for a very long time, wireless batteries shouldn't be the main focus for your purchase.
I'm glad I ordered mine yesterday before this dropped because this video is going to sell Audeze a million times over, sold me all over again. Thanks for all of the insight brother.