I’m looking for a help as I’m deciding which wireless headphones to buy. Currently I’m using SHP9500 with V-moda mic. I’ve been using them for years and every year I spend weeks searching for an upgrade and end up sticking with the SHP9500 since there were always some issues with wireless headphones. I thought I found the one. Audeze Maxwell, on YouTube everyone speak about them as the best. They are over my initial budget, but I said to myself, for the best I could spend little more. However when I browsed Audeze Reddit, I found lot of issues like USB problems, 1-2 sec delays on start of videos or streams etc., especially on PC. Well, that something I wouldn’t wanna deal with, with a price of 300 Euros I really don’t want to troubleshoot for hours/days. Now I do know there is lot of happy people who experience no issues and they simply do not post on Reddit that „I have no issue“ posts…
I usually play MMOs, with a music and/or Discord with friends, and other games like Battlefield, watching TV shows, movies and listening to music at home and quite environment (no ANC required). As for music genders I can really listen to anything which depend on the day and mood it goes from movie soundtracks, hip hop, DnB, chill music, pop to rock. Really anything…Regarding sound signature tbh, I have no idea what I should be looking for…
I’m on PC with wireless mice from Logitech. Not sure if interference is common with wireless headphones.
I don’t have USB-C port on my PC only old USB.
I dont have DAC/AMP, that why Audeze seemed perfect to me.
Priority list:
1)Wireless
2) Sound
3) Build/design
4) Mic
Is Audeze Maxwell right choise for me and should I ignore the „rare“ issues with the headphones? Or would you advice me to look for something else? I’m aware of mic being not the best, but to me from reviews it was good enough…
Thank you for reading and any opinion you can give
Maxwell is widely considered one of the best values in audiophilia, for gaming and music.
Realize the only people who complain about QC on forums are those having problems. Nobody who is happy with the Maxwell – the VAST majority of buyers – is sitting at their keyboards and typing, “Man, I love these things, and their quality control is amazing!”
No, they’re listening to music or playing games on their Maxwell, instead.
Sure, an abundance of common forum posts lead to certain truths in headphone land. For example: HiFiMan’s QC is sub-par compared to other brands. The Focal Elex had driver problems when it was first released. And so on. But even those QC issues don’t affect nearly as many units or buyers as one would think from forums, solely due to the “squeaky wheel gets the most grease” forum phenomenon I explained above.
as a general rule, you will see comments on issues a lot more because unhappy people like to complain more than give praise. HiFiMan get a lot of criticism on build quality problems and yet they are still one of the most popular and revered headphone brands in existence…so take everything with a few grains of salt. also, when possible, purchase from someone that has a great reputation for after sale support.
you can get USB A to USB C cables, just make sure it’s USB-IF certified otherwise you risk getting a bad or even dangerous cable that could damage what you connect to it. If your PC doesn’t have Bluetooth 5.0 support, then I would buy a Bluetooth 5.0 dongle. I don’t know where you live, but they’re about $25 or $30 USD and Asus makes the best one. I hope we see Bt 5.3 dongles soon as that’s the spec where the audio magic starts to happen.
what headphones / headsets have you been using as the number one complaint I’ve read about the Maxwell is it’s weight. if you’re used to light cans / sets, you may find them fatiguing or uncomfortable over long term use sessions.
I question the necessity of owning wireless gaming / desktop use headphones…
I found myself plugging my Momentum 4s into the Schiit DAC / Amp more often than not.
Wireless is worth it when you are 50 % split on using them on the go.
If you are in it for the wireless then any of the flag ships will do… Best to go and take a listen at a store.
The arguments for wireless are Noise canceling and portability. If you want good microphones audio, you wana double check the reviews, since Momentum 4s microphone quality is crap. Otherwise they are very good wireless headphones.
If I were using a desktop, i’d get a dac amp (good ones cost ~ couple of hundred max, Schiit, iFi etc).
If you want a good mic, the stationary mics are way better sounding.
wireless is all about convenience…and preference. the fact companies are striving to create headphones that are audiophile grade shows it’s also a very popular thing now too.
Thank you all for comments.
I tend to go with wireless since It is more justifiable for me to spend that much because I can use them more then just for desktop PC also wireless is very convenient yeah…
I got a pair of the Elitet sheepskin Dekoni Earpads for the Audeze Maxwell to test out free of charge thanks to a YouTuber who goes by BassDad. Thank you for sending them out! I reviewed the Audeze Maxwell, and think they are an incredible value. They are my favorite headphones that do come with some minor flaws most of which are related to the comfort and weight of the headphones. The stock earpads are poor in my view. I own a pair of Maxwells, and I frequently use them when I game with friends on my PC.
The Audeze Maxwell Sheepskin earpads are a very nice product. They are extremely comfortable, and feel plush and premium. The stock pads are thinner, these feel like you are walking into a luxury car and help the feel of the headphone on my head. Not only is the leather very plush and clean looking. The earpads looks fantastic with no issues with the stitching. The earpads have memory foaml inside of them that springs back into place providing excellent comfort, and are one of the most comfortable earpads that I have got to use.
They have a few flaws, one being that the earpads are extremely difficult to install. Yet having installed other earpads they are also difficult to install, generally but even with my experience in pad installation this install job was a challege. The frame at the bass of the earpads while light and durable, they are a easy to bend which increased install time for me from about two minutes to about twenty. So the bass of the earpads could be slightly more thick and durable.
The sonic change is minor and almost unnoticeable. The bass response feels more dynamic, slammier, and punchier if I had to describe it in audiophile terms. Yet the difference in between earpads is difficult to A/B due to memory and the challenge of installation of the earpads and auditory memory is short. The feeling of what is in my ears is almost more important to me than the sound coming out. These add great value for me as the cost isn’t too much to justify for a product that i really enjoy. The Maxwells are going for about 240 now B stock or used, so 80 dollars on earpads is a bit of an expense. It’s a luxury item, that for me is worth it, but for others, it may not be. I find these a good pairing, as it increases the comfort as they are the most plush, and clean feeling on my ears.
The best thing that I can say is that these earpads are my earpads of choice for the Audeze Maxwell, the earpads help make great headphones feel more premium, and classy, and I get that wonderful feeling of an Audeze sound headphones with the Dekoni earpads at a reasonable price. Truly a great combo, thanks for sending them out.
