Premium
Identical hardware to the PlayStation Maxwell 2, with official Xbox Wireless certification and a working Dolby Atmos license added for $20 more. Only worth the premium if you're gaming on an actual Xbox console, Dolby Atmos doesn't function on PC regardless of which version you buy.
Audeze Maxwell 2
Reviewed by Chue Len, Lead Editorial
Updated August 23, 2026
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Specifications
Chue Len
Oversees all editorial content on the site, keeping coverage accurate, timely, and on-brand.
Been mapping out Vice City since the first trailer dropped, still finds something new on every pass through the map.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Same 90mm planar drivers as the PlayStation version, PC Gamer confirmed no physical difference between the two SKUs
- Official Xbox Wireless certification means it pairs directly like a first-party Xbox headset, no separate PC-only workaround needed
- Dolby Atmos license is genuinely useful on Xbox, where the OS supports it natively, unlike on PC where you're relying on Windows Sonic instead
- 80+ hour battery life and the doubled mic bandwidth carry over unchanged from the PS5 version
Cons
- $20 more than the PlayStation version for identical hardware, you're paying for the license and chip, not better sound
- Tom's Hardware's "Maxwell 1.5" critique applies equally here, heavier than the original at 574g, with reviewers split on whether the bass response improved or regressed
- No active noise cancelling, and no simultaneous game and chat mixing has been separately confirmed as working on Xbox the way it does on PC
- PC Gamer's own review noted that on Windows, Mac, and Linux, you don't get Dolby Atmos regardless of which version you buy, only true native support comes from the Xbox console itself
How We Tested It
We haven't run our own testing on this Xbox-specific unit. Findings above draw on PC Gamer's direct comparison of both SKUs, which confirmed no hardware differences, plus the same independent review base covering the PlayStation version. If your team tests this on an actual Xbox console, worth adding: how Dolby Atmos sounds in practice compared to Tempest 3D on the PS5 version, and whether the official wireless certification delivers any latency or stability improvement over using the PlayStation version on Xbox unofficially.
Who It's For
Xbox owners who want the same planar magnetic sound quality Audeze built its reputation on, now with proper Xbox Wireless certification and a working Dolby Atmos license on console. Skip it if you mainly play on PC, PC Gamer's testing found Dolby Atmos doesn't function there anyway, so you'd be paying the $20 premium for a feature you can't use outside of an actual Xbox. If cross-platform use between PS5 and Xbox matters more than the Atmos license, the cheaper PlayStation version works identically well on Xbox over a wired or Bluetooth connection, you'd just lose the official wireless certification and Atmos support specifically.
Our Verdict
This is the same headset reviewers have been debating since the PlayStation version launched, exceptional planar sound, a genuinely useful battery upgrade, and a mic that finally addresses the original's biggest complaint, wrapped in a design that's heavier and still lacks ANC. The Xbox-specific value here is narrow but real: official wireless certification and a working Dolby Atmos license, both of which only matter if you're gaming on an Xbox console rather than PC. If that's your setup, the $20 premium is a fair trade. If you split time across platforms or lean PC-heavy, the cheaper PlayStation SKU gets you the same sound for less, since the Atmos license goes unused outside the Xbox environment anyway.