The Audeze Maxwell 2 meets
the Razer BlackShark V3 X HyperSpeed
The sound-quality pick across 13 of our reviews, with 90mm planar drivers and an 80-hour battery. We tested it head-to-head against the Razer BlackShark V3 X HyperSpeed across 7 key dimensions.
Audeze Maxwell 2
“The sound-quality pick across 13 of our reviews, with 90mm planar drivers and an 80-hour battery”
Razer BlackShark V3 X HyperSpeed
“A 270g wireless headset whose mic reviewers compare to $150-plus flagships, for under $100”
Head-to-Head Breakdown
Strengths & Weaknesses
Audeze Maxwell 2
- IGN's top pick for sound, where 'nothing sounds as good' as its 90mm planar magnetic drivers
- More than 80 hours per charge, the longest runtime in our lineup
- Connects by 2.4GHz dongle, Bluetooth 5.3 with LDAC, USB-C or 3.5mm across PC, PS5, Switch and phones
- At 560g it's the heaviest headset we considered, and IGN, TechByTravis and Audioviser all reported neck fatigue
- Consumer Tech Review and TechByTravis call the companion app basic, with no proper parametric EQ
- No ANC, no 2.4GHz and Bluetooth mixing, and the Xbox version costs $20 more
Razer BlackShark V3 X HyperSpeed
- Consumer Tech Review named it the best value headset it tested and was 'shocked with the audio quality under $100'
- GadgetryTech singled out the mic, and reviewers compare its clarity to $150 to $250 headsets
- At 270g against the Maxwell 2's 560g, IGN found it comfortable for marathon sessions
- The thin wire sliders feel delicate and can loosen over time, per Consumer Tech Review and The Video Nerd
- Bright stock tuning sounds thin on music until you set an EQ in Razer Synapse
- No simultaneous Bluetooth, ANC or 3.5mm jack, and Xbox owners need a separate model
The Verdict
Our Bottom Line
Thirteen of the 25 reviews we analyzed put the Audeze Maxwell 2 at or near the top, almost always for how it sounds. IGN spends about 10 hours with each headset across Counter-Strike 2, Final Fantasy XIV, The Last of Us Part II and Spotify, and its verdict was blunt: nothing sounds as good. The 90mm planar magnetic drivers make the difference. Consumer Tech Review and The Headphone Show both heard lower distortion and deeper, better-controlled bass than dynamic-driver headsets manage. Stream Tech Reviews pointed to transients so quick that explosions stop cleanly instead of smearing over footsteps.
Audeze Maxwell 2
Thirteen of the 25 reviews we analyzed put the Audeze Maxwell 2 at or near the top, almost always for how it sounds. IGN spends about 10 hours with each headset across Counter-Strike 2, Final Fantasy XIV, The Last of Us Part II and Spotify, and its verdict was blunt: nothing sounds as good. The 90mm planar magnetic drivers make the difference. Consumer Tech Review and The Headphone Show both heard lower distortion and deeper, better-controlled bass than dynamic-driver headsets manage. Stream Tech Reviews pointed to transients so quick that explosions stop cleanly instead of smearing over footsteps.
- PC and PlayStation players who put sound quality first
- Story-driven and cinematic gamers
- Music listeners who want one headset for both
- Players who'd rather not charge often, at 80-plus hours per charge
Razer BlackShark V3 X HyperSpeed
Consumer Tech Review runs elimination brackets across eight price tiers, and the BlackShark V3 X HyperSpeed took its value title outright. The reviewer said they were "shocked with the audio quality under $100." GadgetryTech, which measures headsets on a B&K 5128 ear simulator, called it a market disruptor, and IGN recommends the BlackShark V3 family to mid-range buyers.
- Competitive FPS players
- Budgets under $100
- Long sessions where weight matters
- Squad players who need a clear mic