Audeze has announced the Maxwell 2 at CES 2026 , along with its official launch, promising gamers an elevated audio experience that will likely surpass the original headset in just about every way. Audeze says the Maxwell 2 is an “inside-and-out upgrade.” What it means by that is that it has made adjustments and improvements to almost every facet of the headset. Seemingly every pain point, every complaint, and every recommendation that could have been made by reviewers and consumers has been taken into account. The result is a more comfortable headset that was designed to be worn for long hours while delivering unmatched sound quality and immersion.

While the original Maxwell headset has been our favorite gaming headset for the past year, we have no doubt that the Maxwell 2 will improve upon this experience. What made the Maxwell so popular is still present in the Maxwell 2. The massive 90mm planar magnetic drivers. However, Audeze is adding onto those with the inclusion of its patented SLAM technology, which it introduced with the CRBN2 electrostatic headphone in 2024. Pairing these two together, Audeze says, delivers a frequency range between 10Hz and 50kHz. This allows the headset to deliver crisp, clear sound with absolute precision. Impressively, Audeze says that every single detail, from dead quiet footsteps to heart-pounding explosions, will be articulated with “near-zero distortion.” This should make the Maxwell 2 a top choice for competitive gamers and single-player immersion seekers alike.

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With the launch of the Audeze Maxwell 2, gamers are getting big upgrades to comfort and convenience

The upgrades to the audio quality are without a doubt going to be the headlining improvement for many. That being said, don’t let the audio quality eclipse the other improvements. Audeze has made some HUGE strides in comfort with the launch of the Maxwell 2.

For example, the stiff leather head strap now has several perforations to improve the airflow. These small holes will help keep your head cooler than with the old headset. Another big improvement to comfort comes in the form of a new earpad design. Audeze has made them bigger, so there’s more space for a wider variety of users. The earpads also now attach with a magnetic system. Similar to the Astro A50 Gen 5, if the earpads ever need to be replaced, you can pop them off and snap on new ones in just a couple of seconds. This is a major quality-of-life improvement.

The upgrades don’t stop there, either. Audeze has also improved the microphone by upgrading the AI-powered noise cancellation technology. The mic now has upgraded FILTER AI noise removal for clearer vocals during chats. Of course, the headset still has over 80 hours of battery life, and it still uses a USB-C low-latency dongle for connection with the option for Bluetooth 5.3 as an alternative. The Audeze Maxwell 2 launches today, and is compatible with PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2, PC, Mac, Android, and iOS. There’s even a new app with improved customization management and several other new features. The PlayStation version retails for $329.99, and the Xbox version retails for $349.99. Both versions are compatible with all other above-mentioned platforms.