Audeze - Maxwell Gaming Headsets! (1-20-2025: Update On Stolen Maxwells)

[Richy Hughes]

Hi Richy,

Thanks for your help.

I have just wrote to Audeze today earlier and was asked for the serial number a few more data, including receipt of the order.

I sent them everything, lets see what will be their answer.

Regarding the DAC/AMP, if I understood well, it has a internal DAC already, so it would not be necessary, right? I would need only an AMP. So my question is, would an FIIO A1 or A3 be "potent" enough? Or maybe, too much potent? Do you have any other amp recomendation? I was also looking into a Neoteck AMP, for the cheap cost.

Thank you!

I'm not sure what you angle are coming from with your question here. Your issue is that you cannot send digital information into the headset.
So therefore currently you have to use the internal analogue-to-digital converter which is provided for convenience. There will be a very strict limit to which amplifying a signal into the aux port is going to clip the ADC, and then at some point after, potentially cause damage to those components.
Yes it has its own dac/amp for sending the required signal to the headphone drivers. Both the internal dac and amp will be in use no matter which kind of input you use, wired USB, dongle, bluetooth, or - analogue via the 3.5.

So I understand that you are trying to bump up the signal coming from the console controller. I'm not sure what other limitations there are in this method.
For testing purposes, I did try to feed signal from my Mac 3.5 headphone output into the aux on the Maxwell, and it was ---- 'fine' ---- when playing loudly mastered pop music etc - so it may well be that a cheap and low-powered amp (nudged slowly upwards to a comfortable, safe level) might help you get the controller signal up just high enough that you can use the maxwell internal level control normally and with enough range. But I wouldn't choose to use it that way. The Maxwell are really designed for the wireless digital, or wired USB inputs.
I'd really be trying to get the correct version of the Maxwell hardware / firmware for your use-case, above any other options.

 

[NexusOne]

I am not sure but I think there is actually no app for ios? If not: Is it a huge disadvantage?

A short comparison:

Sound Quality: HD620S > Maxwell > Momentum 4
Isolation: Momentum 4 > HD620S > Maxwell

Is that correct?

 

[GregxD]

I've just found a way to increase the volume without an AMP.

On Dolby Atmos app for Xbox, I just incread it to +12db (flat/linear) on the personal mix option and it increased the sound in general. Also, on the mix options on the Maxwell I just did the same and the volume increased even more.

However, I am not sure if it "reduces" quality. Does anybody know? The volume is high enough for me now, at least, but I dont want to use an expensive Maxwell under its real quality.

Would the sound quality be better if I use an AMP instead of incresing the general volume on the mix, both on Dolby and Headphones?

Thanks to you all who are trying to help me in such problem.

 

[bronco1015]

I've been out of town this week and just grabbed my maxwells from the shelf to play some God of War
Ragnarök
and i have a rattling in both earcups and a channel imbalance i haven't experienced previously. I've not had any issue in the nearly 2 years I've owned them. Any idea what could cause this? To say I'm bummed is an understatement. These have been so fantastic.
Edit: I found out that the Maxwells took a tumble while I was away so I suppose this explains a potential reason for rattling and channel imbalance. Maybe a certain Significant other is tired of me gaming...

 

[valkyrieorion]

I’ve seen a lot of people recommend the pilot pad from zmf, does the co pilot pad work also?
The other option the carpa 3d printed replacement, can you use it in conjunction with the zmf pad? I want to try the carpa one first but if not I figured the zmf is the next thing to try and take some pressure off my head.

 

[Richy Hughes]

OK well it arrived - SIBILANCE. Anyone know what I mean?
Most concerning being that brighter sounding music seems to trigger distorted sibilance and ringy-ness. Having a mellower EQ helps a bit, but it does just seem like certain frequencies at a certain level don't sound very good at all, like - outside of what I'd expect from an Audeze driver. And it's an uglier sibilance than what I have experienced with some cheaper headphones like the DT990pro or the HD-25.

I've already contacted support so this is an appeal to 'the community' of Maxwell users, just wondering if anyone else has found these distort in the highs, because I'm not seeing those sort of comments out there, and a lot of very positive feedback from the reviewersphere about the tuning and it being a very capable driver.

Wondering if I'm alone, not sure if these need a repair.

I just wanted to be fair and report back. My Maxwells have improved after using them for a while. They still get a BIT edgy on some material but they seem to have mellowed out a fair bit after clocking up some serious hours on them.
Audeze did offer an examination for me but I'm at the point with them now where I can live with them.

Some folks poo-poo the idea that a headphone experience changes and settles in after a period of use (so-called burn in) but it's absolutely been true for all three sets of Audeze planars I've bought. And in this case, I couldn't begin to call it subtle. Perhaps there have been some environmental factors at play as well? Dunno. But in any case, I'm happy enough with the Maxwells at the moment.

 

[gsans]

Still no solution for this background noise when sidetone is activated... it's still very frustrating for an important function when playing....

 

[Cafofo]

Anyone has experience with the "range" the Maxwell can reach? I mean, using the Dongle on Computer I know that I can go 10 or 15meters from my computer and I can use the Headset Speakers with no problem. Problem is regarding the Microphone. When doing calls I can hear people clear withing certain distances, but when using the mic the range is not the same. Anyone has experience that??

 

[reaper1]

Is there a way to turn off internal mic?
With boom mic all os ok, but if I pull boom mic out then internal mic makes strange (very high frequency) sounds from both speakers - extremely loud.

 

[EugeneKey]

Is there a way to turn off internal mic?
With boom mic all os ok, but if I pull boom mic out then internal mic makes strange (very high frequency) sounds from both speakers - extremely loud.

Just turn off sidetone. This is a well-known issue—they didn’t properly tune the frequency filter for sidetone, so the high frequencies cause a lot of problems. I doubt they will fix this in future firmware updates, but I hope they pay much more attention to it in their future products so that the sidetone feature finally becomes usable.

 

[Mickey Robin]

I’m seriously considering the Audeze Maxwell, but I’m stuck on which version to buy.

I game mostly on PS5 (about 80% of the time) but also have a Switch and Series X that I play from to time. From what I’ve read, the Xbox Maxwell works on the PS5, but I’ve seen Audeze reps on here and other forums saying each version is tuned specifically for its console & it's better to get it for that platform. That’s got me second-guessing if I’m making the right choice.

I don’t want to mess with multiple headsets, so now I’m looking at the Astro A50X as an alternative or do I just get the PS5 version & not bother with wireless audio to series X, just use it wired usb?

For those who’ve tried the Maxwell (or even the A50X), what’s your experience? Does the Xbox version work just as well on PS5, or is the difference noticeable & what is the sound quality like for single player story driven games? Any advice would be awesome!

 

[Odin412]

I’m seriously considering the Audeze Maxwell, but I’m stuck on which version to buy.

I game mostly on PS5 (about 80% of the time) but also have a Switch and Series X that I play from to time. From what I’ve read, the Xbox Maxwell works on the PS5, but I’ve seen Audeze reps on here and other forums saying each version is tuned specifically for its console & it's better to get it for that platform. That’s got me second-guessing if I’m making the right choice.

I don’t want to mess with multiple headsets, so now I’m looking at the Astro A50X as an alternative or do I just get the PS5 version & not bother with wireless audio to series X, just use it wired usb?

For those who’ve tried the Maxwell (or even the A50X), what’s your experience? Does the Xbox version work just as well on PS5, or is the difference noticeable & what is the sound quality like for single player story driven games? Any advice would be awesome!

I have the Xbox version but I connect using Bluetooth to my AV receiver. There's a dongle that you can insert into the Xbox for a direct connection but I don't use it. The Maxwell is a fantastic headphone with great sound IMHO.

 

[Mickey Robin]

I have the Xbox version but I connect using Bluetooth to my AV receiver. There's a dongle that you can insert into the Xbox for a direct connection but I don't use it. The Maxwell is a fantastic headphone with great sound IMHO.

Thats good to know, I wonder if I could do the same with the playstation version but connect to my Samsung soundbar via Bluetooth, what is the audio lag like when using it connected to your av receiver & playing on console?

 

[Odin412]

Thats good to know, I wonder if I could do the same with the playstation version but connect to my Samsung soundbar via Bluetooth, what is the audio lag like when using it connected to your av receiver & playing on console?

That should work, if your soundbar can transmit Bluetooth. My Sony AV receiver Bluetooth mode can be set to either receive (e.g. from a phone or tablet) or transmit (to the Maxwell). I haven't noticed any audio lag when using the Maxwell. I tried connecting the Microsoft Surface headphone to the receiver once but that was unusable for me since the audio lag made the picture and sound out of sync.

 

[Mad Lust Envy]

I personally would not recommend BT for anything other than music and non-gaming content. The delay is too high.

If you have both consoles, there is only one choice to make, and that is the Xbox Maxwell, unless you're ok with using the 3.5mm aux cable.

The Xbox Maxwell (if/while the PS5 accepts general usb audio) will work when set to PC mode on specific usb ports (test all PS5 ports as some won't work due to protocol differences).

Otherwise, both will work through 3.5mm/aux connection to the controllers.