Audeze LCD-X vs Audeze Maxwell
Audeze LCD-X wins — These are not substitutes: LCD-X is a 600 g open-back studio planar (per Audeze spec sheet) and Maxwell is a 490 g close…
Scores: Audeze LCD-X 7.5/10 · Audeze Maxwell 7/10
These are not substitutes: LCD-X is a 600 g open-back studio planar (per Audeze spec sheet) and Maxwell is a 490 g closed wireless gaming headset with an 80-hour battery claim (per Audeze). Audio Science Review has not published a standard electronics SINAD review of either headphone; manufacturer THD is <0.1% at 100 dB on both, but Head-Fi treats LCD-X as a mixing tool and Maxwell as a headset...
Audeze LCD-X lists at $1,199 while Audeze Maxwell lists at $299 — Audeze Maxwell undercuts Audeze LCD-X by $900 (301%).
Spec-by-spec comparison
| Audeze LCD-X | Audeze Maxwell |
|---|
| Driver | 106 mm planar magnetic | 90 mm planar magnetic |
|---|
| Enclosure | Open-back | Closed-back |
|---|
| Weight | 600 g | 490 g |
|---|
| Connectivity | Wired, 4-pin mini-XLR | 2.4 GHz wireless + Bluetooth 5.3 |
|---|
Audeze LCD-X
What works
- 106 mm Uniforce planar drivers with <0.1% THD at 100 dB (per Audeze spec sheet)
- 10 Hz–50 kHz rated bandwidth and 20 Ω impedance on current LCD-X (per Audeze)
- Passive analog path — no battery, Bluetooth codec, or DSP in the chain
What doesn't
- 600 g mass (per Audeze) — Head-Fi and r/headphones threads regularly report neck and clamp fatigue inside 60–90 minutes
- Wired-only mini-XLR, no microphone; $1,199 MSRP and typically wants a dedicated headphone amp
Audeze Maxwell
What works
- 90 mm planar drivers, 10 Hz–50 kHz, <0.1% THD at 100 dB (per Audeze spec sheet)
- Up to 80 hours battery life on the 2.4 GHz dongle (per Audeze)
- Detachable boom mic plus Bluetooth 5.3 and low-latency 2.4 GHz in a 490 g closed-back headset (per Audeze)
What doesn't
- Closed-back 490 g chassis is still heavier than SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless at 338 g (per SteelSeries)
- Narrower, more in-head stage than open LCD-X; lithium pack and 2.4 GHz dongle will age unlike a passive headphone
Bottom line
Our pick: Audeze LCD-X.
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