
SteelSeries
Arctis Nova 7 Series
Multi-device audio & comfort king, but buggy software.

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I got my Maxwell 2 yesterday and after using a Logitech Pro X (Gen 1) for years. Honestly, I can't believe I've been missing this much audio. They're a little heavy, yeah. But get the strap with them and you're solid. 24 hours in and I'm absolutely loving them. Was worried I'd regret the purchase but I'd do it again in a heartbeat.
I have the Maxwell 2. They released a firmware update yesterday that resolved launch issues. The sub bass is now pretty much identical to what the original version had. The rest of the sound signature was already great. They also fixed the processed sound the side tone had. Side tone sounds natural and instant. I am loving this new headset now. This is the only headset I want for PC, work calls, or whatever else. However I would never personally use open backs because I work from home and we have three dogs. There's just too much irritation going on around me at any given time for open backs. I need at least the noise isolation you get from a Maxwell or Maxwell 2. If you're in a quiet environment, I'm sure something like a 490 Pro is amazing.
I thought the directionality of the Maxwell was poor or at least the ones I had were. The Maxwell 2 was quite good, though. I didn't keep them but I thought the imaging was greatly improved from the original. Clarity shouldn't even be a question. There is no headset with better clarity or detail retrieval.
Actually, if you care at all about side tone, it sounds like the 2 are an upgrade in that department. That is my biggest issue with the M1.
I read that the robotic voice is a bug that goes away if you disconnect and reconnect the mic from the headset each time you connect to the dongle. They said after you do that the voice is very clear and the side tone is excellent. It seems like the M2 simply has some fw bugs they need to sort out, but it's good with workarounds. I'm sure Audeze will patch the bugs over time like they did with the M1. From your position the M2 will probably be amazing once you EQ them. Do keep in mind they are flat without EQ, but they take very well to it. I'm waiting for the M2 to pop up on Amazon before I get one.
TBH, the Maxwell 1 is excellent already. If you want to save money, definitely go for it. Maxwell 2 is the option for those who want an updated product at a similar price to the first.
I own the Maxwell 2 and just ordered the ASUS RoG Kithara yesteday but won't have it for another week. I'm expecting the Kithara to be among the best after using other HiFiMan headphones that are elite for gaming and seeing the tuning seems similar to the Arya Stealth, one of the best on the market for gaming at any price. I didn't have the Maxwell 1, so I can't compare the Maxwell 2 to that. Many have complained it has inadequate bass compared to the original, but I haven't heard the first one. It has a somewhat flat tuning that geared towards competitive gaming rather than music, which I expected given it's a gaming headset.
I have the Kithara and Maxwell 2. I prefer the Kithara regarding sound quality and comfort, but if you want wireless only Maxwell 2 is a good alternative and probably the better choice for Xbox, which has limited support for the Kithara plus Maxwell 2 has Atmos support.
Thanks ā you said it perfectly. For me, the most important thing is definitely the weight. Everything else is kind of okay, but the weight is an absolute dealbreaker if you want to wear them for home office and long hours like I do :D And honestly, Iād buy them even if they were 500 EUR or more ā with that sound quality in a wireless (or generally) closed-back? Insane⦠Iām actually really happy that the sidetone issues are being addressed too. That was another dealbreaker for me, since Iām very used to having real-time monitoring/sidetone in my current setup ā I wanna hear myself during calls lol.

SteelSeries
Arctis Nova 7 Series
Multi-device audio & comfort king, but buggy software.

Drop + EPOS / Sennheiser
PC38X
Unrivaled open-back sound for price, but lacks isolation.

SteelSeries
Arctis 7 Series
Durable comfort, long battery, but buggy software.

HyperX
Cloud III Series
FPS positional audio & comfort, but buggy DTS software.

HyperX
Cloud Alpha Series
Long battery & durable, but some sound bleed issues.

Ranked #1
Drop + EPOS / Sennheiser - PC38X

Ranked #1
SteelSeries - Arctis 7 Series

Ranked #1
SteelSeries - Arctis Nova Pro Series

Ranked #1
SteelSeries - Arctis Nova 7 Series

Ranked #1
SteelSeries - Arctis Nova Pro Series

Ranked #1
Astro (Logitech) - A50 Series