Audeze Maxwell 2 vs Astro A50 X
Audeze Maxwell 2 (#2, best premium) vs Astro A50 X (#3): in our Over-ear Headphones for Gaming scoring the Audeze Maxwell 2 totals 9.1/10 and the Astro A50 X 8.8/10, the Audeze Maxwell 2 leading on Positional Audio and Features and the Astro A50 X on Microphone Quality and Comfort.
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TopsFive comparison scores
Side by side
| Audeze Maxwell 2 | Astro A50 X | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $329 | $354 |
| Driver Size | 90mm planar magnetic | 40mm graphene |
| Frequency Response | 10Hz-50kHz | 20Hz-20kHz |
| Connectivity | 2.4GHz + Bluetooth 5.3 | 2.4GHz + Bluetooth |
| Battery | 80 hours | 24 hours |
| Weight | 560g | ~365g |
| Platform Note | Separate Xbox/PlayStation versions | — |
| Latency | — | <15ms |
| Platforms | — | PC, PlayStation, Xbox (simultaneous via HDMI 2.1 dock) |
How they differ in real use
Built from our over ear gaming scoring, each product's published specifications, and verified owner feedback — not hands-on testing.
Both the Audeze Maxwell 2 and the Astro A50 X made our Top 5 Over-ear Headphones for Gaming, at #2 (best premium) and #3. Audeze's CES 2026 redesign of its flagship, replacing the discontinued original Maxwell. Still built around 90mm planar magnetic drivers—the largest in any gaming headset—now with SLAM technology for punchier bass and spatial immersion, an upgraded AI noise-suppression mic, and a wider, breathable headband for better long-session comfort. PLAYSYNC multi-platform switching via HDMI 2.1 is best-in-class for multi-console households. Microphone rated 'S tier' for team communication. PC-only gamers should consider other options to avoid paying for the unneeded base station.
We score over-ear headphones for gaming on Positional Audio (30%), Microphone Quality (25%), Latency (20%), Comfort (15%) and Features (10%). On that basis the Audeze Maxwell 2 totals 9.1 out of 10 and the Astro A50 X 8.8. The widest gap is Positional Audio, where the Audeze Maxwell 2 scores 10 against 8.3 for the Astro A50 X — spatial accuracy for gaming. Microphone Quality also separates them: 9.9 for the Astro A50 X versus 9 for the Audeze Maxwell 2. The Astro A50 X claws back ground on Comfort.
On paper, the specifications that actually differ: Driver Size — 90mm planar magnetic on the Audeze Maxwell 2 versus 40mm graphene on the Astro A50 X; Frequency Response — 10Hz-50kHz on the Audeze Maxwell 2 versus 20Hz-20kHz on the Astro A50 X; Connectivity — 2.4GHz + Bluetooth 5.3 on the Audeze Maxwell 2 versus 2.4GHz + Bluetooth on the Astro A50 X; Battery — 80 hours on the Audeze Maxwell 2 versus 24 hours on the Astro A50 X; Weight — 560g on the Audeze Maxwell 2 versus ~365g on the Astro A50 X.
Pricing as of August 5, 2026: $329 for the Audeze Maxwell 2 and $354 for the Astro A50 X, a $25 difference in the Audeze Maxwell 2's favor. Owners praise the Audeze Maxwell 2 for 90mm planar magnetic drivers (largest in gaming) and SLAM technology adds heightened spatial immersion and bass punch; the most common complaint is very heavy—inherits the original's substantial build. Owners praise the Astro A50 X for PLAYSYNC multi-platform switching and 40mm graphene drivers; the most common complaint is no ANC.
Audeze Maxwell 2
- 90mm planar magnetic drivers (largest in gaming)
- SLAM technology adds heightened spatial immersion and bass punch
- 80-hour battery life
- Upgraded AI mic with 2x noise-suppression bandwidth
- Very heavy—inherits the original's substantial build
- Expensive
- Requires buying Xbox or PlayStation version separately for console use
Astro A50 X
- PLAYSYNC multi-platform switching
- 40mm graphene drivers
- S-tier microphone quality
- Magnetic charging dock
- No ANC
- Complex setup with HDMI base station
- Expensive
Which should you buy?
The Audeze Maxwell 2 is the better fit for competitive FPS players and audiophile gamers — it is the higher-scoring pick here, chiefly for Positional Audio and Features. The Astro A50 X is the better fit for multi-console gamers (PS5 + Xbox + PC) and those tired of cable swapping, and the stronger choice if Microphone Quality and Comfort matter more to you than the overall score. Since the Audeze Maxwell 2 is both the higher scorer and $25 cheaper, the Astro A50 X only makes sense for multi-console gamers (PS5 + Xbox + PC). The Audeze Maxwell 2 is a poor fit for those sensitive to weight; the Astro A50 X is a poor fit for pC-only gamers (paying for unneeded base station).
Choose the Audeze Maxwell 2 if
- Competitive FPS players
- Audiophile gamers
- Those wanting best positional audio
Skip it if
- Those sensitive to weight
- Budget gamers
Choose the Astro A50 X if
- Multi-console gamers (PS5 + Xbox + PC)
- Those tired of cable swapping
- Team communication priority
Skip it if
- PC-only gamers (paying for unneeded base station)
- Those wanting simple setup
Common questions
Is the Audeze Maxwell 2 better than the Astro A50 X?
In our Over-ear Headphones for Gaming ranking the Audeze Maxwell 2 scores higher overall, 9.1 to 8.8, with the biggest advantage in Positional Audio. The Astro A50 X is stronger on Microphone Quality and Comfort, so it is the better pick if those matter most to you.
How much more does the Astro A50 X cost than the Audeze Maxwell 2?
$25 more as of August 5, 2026: $354 for the Astro A50 X against $329 for the Audeze Maxwell 2. Prices move, so the merchant page shows the current figure.
What is the main difference between the Audeze Maxwell 2 and the Astro A50 X?
The headline spec difference is Driver Size: 90mm planar magnetic on the Audeze Maxwell 2 versus 40mm graphene on the Astro A50 X. In use, the gap that matters most is Positional Audio (10 vs 8.3 in our scoring): spatial accuracy for gaming.