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- Table of Contents
- Top
- Main Differences
- Sound
- Design
- Isolation
- Microphone
- Active Features
- Connectivity
- Comments
Audeze Maxwell Wireless vs Razer BlackShark V2 Pro Wireless 2023
Side-by-Side Comparison
Products
Audeze Maxwell Wireless
Razer BlackShark V2 Pro Wireless 2023
Tested using Methodology v2.0
Updated Apr 17, 2025 08:11 PM
SEE PRICE
Amazon.comTested using Methodology v1.6
Updated Mar 13, 2025 06:33 PM
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
TypeOver-Ear
Noise CancellingNo
EnclosureClosed-Back
Bass AmountSlightly Emphasized (2 dB)
WirelessYes
TransducerPlanar Magnetic
Treble AmountBalanced (-1 dB)
MicYes
Sound SignatureWarm
TypeOver-ear
Noise CancellingNo
EnclosureClosed-Back
WirelessYes
TransducerDynamic
MicYes
Variants
- Maxwell for PlayStation (Dark Gray)
- Maxwell for Xbox (Dark Gray)
- BlackShark V2 Pro Wireless 2023 (Black)
- BlackShark V2 Pro Wireless 2023 (White)
Our Verdict
Audeze Maxwell Wireless
Razer BlackShark V2 Pro Wireless 2023
The Audeze Maxwell Wireless are better than the Razer BlackShark V2 Pro Wireless 2023 for gaming. The Audeze have a more balanced default sound profile and deliver audio more consistently. They have a longer continuous battery life and lower latency. On the other hand, the Razer's companion software includes a graphic EQ, and their mic has a better recording quality, so your voice sounds more natural during online games.
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Dark Gray
Maxwell for Xbox
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BlackShark V2 Pro Wireless 2023
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Maxwell for PlayStation
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BlackShark V2 Pro Wireless 2023
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Finding storeMain Differences forNeutral Sound
Neutral Sound
Threshold
Neutral Sound
7.3
Full Comparison
Sound
Sound Profile
Sound Profile
Normalization Frequency
400 Hz
Bass Amount
Slightly Emphasized (2 dB)
Bass Amount
-2.75 dB
Treble Amount
-0.34 dB
Treble Amount
Balanced (-1 dB)
Sound Signature
Warm
Frequency Response Consistency
5.2
5.3
Consistency L
Consistency R
Avg. Std. Deviation
1.68 dB
1.52 dB
Raw Frequency Response
Bass Profile: Target Compliance
9.2
8.0
Bass Profile: Target Compliance
RMS Deviation From Target
2.7 dB
2.78 dB
Low-Frequency Extension
20 Hz
35.64 Hz
Low Bass
1.75 dB
-2.46 dB
Mid Bass
2.54 dB
1.46 dB
High Bass
0.69 dB
4.24 dB
Mid-Range Profile: Target Compliance
9.0
7.9
Mid-Range Profile: Target Compliance
RMS Deviation From Target
1.4 dB
2.84 dB
Low Mid
-1.41 dB
0.84 dB
Mid-Mid
-0.68 dB
0.98 dB
High Mid
0.44 dB
4.36 dB
Treble Profile: Target Compliance
9.8
7.2
Treble Profile: Target Compliance
RMS Deviation From Target
1.69 dB
4.15 dB
Low Treble
-1.32 dB
2.13 dB
Mid Treble
-0.71 dB
4.98 dB
High Treble
-2.37 dB
-5.38 dB
Peaks/Dips
7.8
7.0
Peaks/Dips Graph
Peaks
1.24 dB
2.13 dB
Dips
1.42 dB
1.18 dB
Stereo Mismatch
5.1
Frequency Response Mismatch
Phase Response Mismatch
Weighted Amplitude Mismatch
1.6 dB
0.17
Weighted Frequency Response Mismatch
1.5 dB
1.3
Weighted Phase Mismatch
4.3°
18.88
Cumulative Spectral Decay
CSD
PRTF
6.2
5.4
PRTF Accuracy (RMS Deviation)
3.5 dB
2.44 dB
PRTF Size (Avg.)
4.08 dB
4.99 dB
PRTF Distance
11.08 dB
8.52 dB
Openness
4.4
Acoustic Space Excitation
2.7
Harmonic Distortion
8.9
Harmonics Levels
WHD @ 94 dB SPL
0.10%
0.284
WHD @ 104 dB SPL
0.22%
0.128
Electrical Aspects
Impedance
Sensitivity @1kHz-1V
N/A
Bluetooth Max SPL
107.9 dB
Virtual Soundstage
4.1
2.0
Virtual Soundstage
Head Modeling
On/Off
No
Speaker Modeling
On/Off
On/Off
Room Ambience
No
No
Head Tracking
No
No
Virtual Surround
Dolby Atmos
THX Spatial Audio
Test Settings
Firmware
1.0.1.74
2.4.2.0
Power
On
On
Connection
Wireless (Proprietary)
Wireless (Proprietary)
Codec
PCM, 24-bit, 48kHz
PCM, 16-bit, 48kHz
Test Instrument
Audio Precision APx517B
EQ
Audeze
Music (Default)
ANC
No ANC
No ANC
Tip/Pad
Default
Default
Microphone
Boom
Boom
Imaging
8.2
Group Delay
Phase Response Mismatch
Weighted Group Delay
0.28
Weighted Phase Mismatch
4.3°
18.88
Weighted Amplitude Mismatch
1.6 dB
0.17
Weighted Frequency Mismatch
1.5 dB
1.3
Weighted Harmonic Distortion
7.7
Weighted Harmonic Distortion
WHD @ 90
0.10%
0.284
WHD @ 100
0.22%
0.128
Design
Style
Design Picture 2
Type
Over-Ear
Over-ear
Enclosure
Closed-Back
Closed-Back
Wireless
Yes
Yes
Transducer
Planar Magnetic
Dynamic
Comfort
7.0
7.5
Comfort Picture
Weight
1.07 lbs
0.73 lbs
Clamping Force
1.1 lbs
1 lbs
Controls
7.6
7.1
Controls Picture
OS Compatibility
Not OS specific
Not OS specific
Ease Of Use
Good
Good
Feedback
Good
Good
Call/Music Control
Yes
Yes
Volume Control
Yes
Yes
Microphone Control
Mute/Unmute
Mute/Unmute
Channel Mixing
Yes
No
Noise Cancelling Control
No
No
Talk-Through
No
No
Additional Controls
Bluetooth + Multi function
Presets
Breathability
Breathability After Picture
Avg.Temp.Difference
Portability
5.3
5.4
Portability Picture
L
10.2" (26.0 cm)
7.9" (20.0 cm)
W
9.1" (23.0 cm)
6.4" (16.4 cm)
H
2.4" (6.0 cm)
3.9" (10.0 cm)
Volume
220.12 in³ (3,607.10 cm³)
208.17 in³ (3,411.25 cm³)
Transmitter Required
No
No
Case
0.0
0.0
Case Picture
Type
No case
No case
L
N/A
N/A
W
N/A
N/A
H
N/A
N/A
Volume
N/A
N/A
Build Quality
8.0
6.5
Build Quality Picture
Stability
6.0
7.5
Stability Picture
Headshots 1
Angled Picture
Side Picture
Headshots 2
Front Picture
Rear Picture
Top
Top Picture
In The Box
In The Box Picture
Isolation
Noise Isolation - Full Range
5.3
5.5
Noise Isolation - Full Range Graph
Noise Cancelling
No
No
Overall Attenuation
-12.98 dB
-15.51 dB
Isolation Audio
Bass
3.77 dB
1.09 dB
Mid
-13.49 dB
-16.51 dB
Treble
-32.74 dB
-32.88 dB
Noise Isolation - Common Scenarios
4.4
Noise Isolation - Common Scenarios Graph
Airplane Noise Attenuation
-9.48 dB
Airplane Noise Isolation Audio
Office Noise Attenuation
-9.99 dB
Office Noise Isolation Audio
Street Noise Attenuation
-11.12 dB
Street Noise Isolation Audio
Noise Isolation - Voice Handling
Female Voice 1
Male Voice 1
Female Voice 2
Male Voice 2
ANC Wind Handling
ANC Wind Handling Graph
ANC Wind Noise
N/A
Leakage
7.4
7.6
Leakage Audio
Overall Leakage @ 1ft
37.39 dB
36.22 dB
Microphone
Microphone Style
Integrated
Yes
No
In-Line
No
No
Boom
Yes
Yes
Detachable Boom
Yes
Yes
Mic
Yes
Yes
Recording Quality
7.5
8.6
Microphone Frequency Response
Recorded Speech
LFE
89.8 Hz
20 Hz
FR Std. Dev.
3.84 dB
2.11 dB
HFE
6,088.74 Hz
10,540.06 Hz
Weighted THD
0.307
0.531
Gain
-6.85 dB
10.24 dB
Noise Handling
9.0
7.7
SpNR
42.68 dB
36.15 dB
Noise Gate
On/Off Toggle
On/Off Toggle
Speech + Pink Noise Handling
9.0
7.5
Speech + Pink Noise Audio Sample
Speech + Subway Noise Handling
9.0
8.0
Speech + Subway Noise Audio Sample
Active Features
Battery
9.0
9.0
Battery Type
Rechargable
Rechargable
Continuous Battery Life
77.4 hrs
69.3 hrs
Additional Charges
0.0
N/A
Total Battery Life
77.4 hrs
69.3 hrs
Charge Time
3.2 hrs
2.6 hrs
Power-Saving Feature
Auto-Off Timer
Auto-Off Timer
Audio While Charging
Yes
Yes
Passive Playback
No
No
Charging Port
USB-C
USB-C
App Support
7.0
8.5
App Picture
App Name
AudezeHQ
Razer Synapse 3.0
iOS
Yes
No
Android
Yes
No
macOS
Yes
No
Windows
Yes
Yes
Equalizer
Graphic + Presets
Graphic + Presets
ANC Control
No
No
Mic Control
Adjustable Level
Adjustable Level
Room Effects
No
No
Playback Control
No
No
Button Mapping
No
No
Surround Support
No
Yes
Connectivity
Wired Connection
8.3
10
Cable Picture
Analog Audio
Yes
No
USB Audio
USB-C
No
Detachable
Yes
Yes
Length
4.07 ft (1.24 m)
N/A
Connector
1/8" TRS
USB-C
Latency - Analog
9.1 ms
N/A
Latency - USB
13.0 ms
N/A
Recorded Latency
N/A
Recorded Latency Connection
Analog
No Wired Audio
Bluetooth Connection
8.9
8.2
Bluetooth Version
5.3
5.2
Multi-Device Pairing
2 Devices
Bluetooth + Console/Non-BT Wireless
Quick Pair (Android)
Yes
No
Quick Pair (iOS)
No
No
Line Of Sight Range
334.65 ft (102.00 m)
322.83 ft (98.40 m)
Latency - SBC
186 ms
249 ms
Latency - aptX
N/A
N/A
Latency - aptX Adaptive (High Quality)
N/A
N/A
Latency - aptX Adaptive (Low Latency)
N/A
N/A
Latency - LDAC
236 ms
N/A
Recorded Latency
Recorded Latency Codec
SBC
SBC
AAC Support
Yes
Yes
Wireless Connection (Dongle)
8.0
8.7
Line Of Sight Range
173.88 ft (53.00 m)
276.57 ft (84.30 m)
Latency - Dongle
23 ms
43 ms
Recorded Latency
PC Compatibility
Analog
Audio + Microphone
No
Wired USB
Audio + Microphone
No
Non-BT Wireless
Audio + Microphone
Audio + Microphone
PlayStation Compatibility
PS4 Analog
Audio + Microphone
No
PS4 Wired USB
Audio + Microphone
No
PS4 Non-BT Wireless
Audio + Microphone
Audio + Microphone
PS5 Analog
Audio + Microphone
No
PS5 Wired USB
Audio + Microphone
No
PS5 Non-BT Wireless
Audio + Microphone
Audio + Microphone
Xbox Compatibility
Xbox One Analog
Audio + Microphone
No
Xbox One Wired USB
No
No
Xbox One Non-BT Wireless
Audio + Microphone
No
Xbox Series X|S Analog
Audio + Microphone
No
Xbox Series X|S Wired USB
No
No
Xbox Series X|S Non-BT Wireless
Audio + Microphone
No
Base/Dock
3.4
3.4
Type
Wireless USB Dongle
Wireless USB Dongle
USB Input
Yes
Yes
Line In
No
No
Line Out
No
No
Optical Input
No
No
RCA Input
No
No
Dock Charging
No
No
Power Supply
USB
USB
Check Price
Dark Gray
Maxwell for Xbox
Searching
Finding storeBlack
BlackShark V2 Pro Wireless 2023
Searching
Finding storeDark Gray
Maxwell for PlayStation
Searching
Finding storeWhite
BlackShark V2 Pro Wireless 2023
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Finding store
Audeze Maxwell Wireless
Razer BlackShark V2 Pro Wireless 2023
Comments
Audeze Maxwell Wireless vs Razer BlackShark V2 Pro Wireless 2023: Main Discussion
What do you think of these products? Let us know below.
Looking for a personalized buying advice from the RTINGS.com experts? Insiders have direct access to buying advice on our insider forum.
Got it! Thank you very much!
Hi there and thanks for your question. Imaging is an important factor for gaming but it’s just one part of the equation. Well-matched L/R drivers can help you localize in-game audio (like enemy footsteps) in FPS games. However, imaging tends to vary between different units. The Audeze use planar magnetic drivers and their complicated manufacturing process can often result in imaging issues, like the phase issues we encountered in the unit we test. That said, there’s no guarantee you’ll experience the same issues if you buy your own Maxwell.
The Audeze do have a very good all-around performance when it comes to other facets of the audio reproduction that make a difference with gaming (including FPS shooters), and that’s why they’re our top pick. They have a balanced default sound profile, great mic performance, a long battery life and offer a low latency performance within a well-built frame. You can read more about our investigation into the imaging issues in this article if you’d like to learn more.
I have a question, I can see that the Imaging had score 5.7, how is it the Best Gaming Headset? Is this inculding FPS gaming?