These new $350 gaming headphones use spacial tech from a $5,000 mannequin

The Audeze Maxwell 2 gaming headphone arrives with one thing to show. Its predecessor earned a uncommon distinction in audio: it made audiophiles take gaming headsets significantly. Now, with patent-pending SLAM expertise borrowed from Audeze’s flagship $5,000 mannequin and a redesigned consolation system, the Maxwell II goals to widen that hole between itself and the competitors.

If you want gaming and music, that is actually thrilling information.

I have never tried the Maxwell 2 but, however the unique Maxwell was one of many best-sounding gaming headsets on sale, evaluating to devoted audiophile units. It’s why I selected it as the very best gaming choice in my record of the very best price range audiophile headphones. That makes this improve genuinely thrilling for anybody wanting a single headset throughout gaming, manufacturing monitoring and common media consumption, with out compromise.

At $329 (round £260) for PlayStation and $349 (round £276) for Xbox, the Maxwell 2 is on the premium finish of gaming audio. But if the unique is something to go by, they may justify each penny.

Why SLAM technology matters

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Plenty of gaming headsets promise immersion; the Maxwell 2 delivers it through high-end acoustic engineering. Audeze has integrated its patent-pending SLAM (Spatial Localization and Augmented Metrics) – originally debuted in the $5,000 CRBN2 electrostatic headphones – to provide heightened spatial immersion and punchier bass. This works in tandem with 90mm planar magnetic drivers featuring patented Fluxor magnets and Fazor waveguides.

The resulting 10Hz to 50kHz frequency range promises that every detail, from faint footsteps to heavy explosions, is articulated with near-zero distortion. To manage these features, Audeze has launched an all-new Audeze app for Windows, macOS and mobile, offering a sleek interface for deep customisation and lightning-quick responsiveness. For creative professionals and gamers alike, this means a refined, professional-grade monitoring experience that functions seamlessly across consoles, PC, and mobile platforms.

For creative professionals, this translates into one headset that can handle Zoom calls, game audio, reference monitoring and casual listening, without requiring constant device switching or tonal recalibration in your head. The original Maxwell managed this balance. The Maxwell 2 appears to refine it.