Audeze Maxwell vs Sennheiser HD 600

107 facts in comparison

Based on 5,421 Reddit opinions. Close race—HD 600 edges ahead.

5.4K opinions
HD 600 leads by 1pts
Audeze Maxwell
82%
B+
Based on
2,742 Redditors

Audeze Maxwell

~$299
1,663 opinions

tldr; Gaming meets audiophile. Wireless planar, great mic. Best wireless gaming headset.

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VS
Reddit's Pick
Sennheiser HD 600
83%
B+
Based on
7,788 Redditors
Winner

Sennheiser HD 600

~$272
3,758 opinions

tldr; The reference. 30 years of relevance. Not exciting, just correct. The standard.

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Sound QualityComfortValueBuild QualityFeatures
🎵SOU
😌COM
💰VAL
🔧BUI
FEA
62
Points
55
Points

Score by Category

Sound Quality
89%68%
Comfort
14%67%
Value
78%75%
Build Quality
29%84%
Features
75%20%

Why is Sennheiser HD 600 better than Audeze Maxwell?

  • Higher Reddit score (83% vs 82%)
  • Better comfort (67% vs 14%)
  • Better build quality (84% vs 29%)
  • Reference tuning
  • Legendary status
  • Great value used
Based on 10,530 Reddit opinions
Too Close to Call

Reddit prefers the HD 600

Winning by 1 points (83% vs 82%)

Better comfort
Better build quality
Reference tuning
High confidence (10,530 mentions)

💬Reddit Sentiment

Based on 10,530 Reddit mentions

Overall Rating

Audeze Maxwell
8.2/10
2,742 mentions
HD 600
8.3/10
7,788 mentions
BUILD QUALITY
Audeze Maxwell2.9/10
HD 6008.4/10
SOUND QUALITY
Audeze Maxwell8.9/10
HD 6006.8/10
BASS
Audeze Maxwell8.8/10
HD 6001.7/10
COMFORT
Audeze Maxwell1.4/10
HD 6006.7/10
FEATURES
Audeze Maxwell7.5/10
HD 6002.0/10
VALUE
Audeze Maxwell7.8/10
HD 6007.5/10
⚔️

Head to Head

Head to Head

Audeze Maxwell: 4|HD 600: 2
Build QualityHD 600
Audeze Maxwell29%
HD 60084%
Sound QualityAudeze Maxwell
Audeze Maxwell89%
HD 60068%
BassAudeze Maxwell
Audeze Maxwell88%
HD 60017%
ComfortHD 600
Audeze Maxwell14%
HD 60067%
FeaturesAudeze Maxwell
Audeze Maxwell75%
HD 60020%
ValueAudeze Maxwell
Audeze Maxwell78%
HD 60075%
Audeze Maxwell82%
HD 60083%
Close race - HD 600 edges ahead by 1 points

Key Specs

SpecAudeze MaxwellSennheiser HD 600
Type
Over-ear, closed-back
Driver
90mm planar magnetic drivers
Frequency Response
10Hz - 50kHz
12-40,500 Hz
Battery Life
80+ hours
Connectivity
2.4 GHz wireless, Bluetooth 5.3, 3.5mm, USB-C

Key Highlights

Audeze Maxwell
🎮 Gaming wireless
🎵 Planar sound
🎤 Excellent mic
📶 Low latency
Sennheiser HD 600Winner
📐 Reference tuning
📜 Legendary status
💰 Great value used
⚠️ Intimate stage

Topic Battles

Audeze Maxwell: 3|Tied: 0|HD 600: 2
🎵Sound Quality
Audeze Maxwell wins
Audeze Maxwell
89%
HD 600
68%
😌Comfort
HD 600 wins
Audeze Maxwell
14%
HD 600
67%
💰Value
Audeze Maxwell wins
Audeze Maxwell
78%
HD 600
75%
🔧Build Quality
HD 600 wins
Audeze Maxwell
29%
HD 600
84%
Features
Audeze Maxwell wins
Audeze Maxwell
75%
HD 600
20%

Based on Reddit sentiment across 5 categories

📈Where They Rank

💬What Redditors Actually Say

What Redditors Say

Best praise vs top criticism for Sennheiser HD 600

Best Praise
+216 pts
That's nice but the timbre on HD600 is still more natural
r/headphones
View
Top Criticism
+52 pts
God the new hd600’s look so sad. They look so cheap compared to the older models and they still cost £400
r/headphones
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3 more quotes available below

What Redditors Say

Best praise vs top criticism for Audeze Maxwell

Best Praise
+50 pts
While that spiel is generally true, there are enthusiasts (like myself) that have and still buy "gaming headphones." Not all of them are terrible, although most are -- hence the stigma. If you want the best wireless gaming headset on the market right now, the easy recommendation is the Audeze Maxwell. The Maxwell isn't just the best gaming headset, but is a genuinely solid wireless headphone in its own right, and the best entry-level planar on the market. It competes with some of my higher-end, dedicated planars as a critical listening/reference headphone (out of the box). There are caveats: It's heavy and bulky. I'd recommend getting the CapraAudio comfort strap to improve comfort; it distributes the weight more evenly and reduces discomfort from heat buildup. The microphone (and sidetone) is subpar and should be replaced with a Modmic wireless later on down the road if you want better quality. I use the default mic, but I'm likely in the minority and simply don't care too much about how I sound, so long as I'm being heard. That is one of only two wireless headsets I would recommend. I've tried most of the other options, including the other "premium" models from Steelseries, Razer, Corsair, etc. None of them are worth the asking price. The Steelseries Nova Pro Wireless isn't quite a dumpster fire (and Sonar is about as close as a gaming company has gotten to developing a parametric EQ), but you're overpaying for the quality of that headset. The second set is probably out of your budget range, which is the Master & Dynamic MG20. It competes with the Maxwell's sound quality, is more comfortable, and has some additional benefits. There are QC issues with this set (like the Maxwell), so just be sure to test it thoroughly before your return/exchange window closes. It is an excellent headset, and was my go-to before the Maxwell and VZR Model One. If he wants to reconsider remaining on a wired setup, the FiiO FT1 coupled with the Meze Boom Mic cable is pretty much my go-to for single-player games. It's a $150 set that competes with headphones many times its price, and the Meze boom mic is a perfect fit and sounds great. You can also take a look at the VZR Model One (wired), the Simgot EM6L or Supermix 4 with a Kinera Ruyi/Gramr cable (wired). Most audio enthusiasts will steer you away from gaming headsets, and I think for a lot of people the best recommendation is a good, dedicated headphone with a separate mic, or a pair of IEMs. But even as an enthusiast, sometimes I just want a single solution, with a single cable or wireless option, with all the buttons and features I would expect from a gaming headset -- in other words, I get it.
r/HeadphoneAdvice
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Top Criticism
+16 pts
From my observation, he's a relatively new member here. I believe his Maxwell is the first actually good headphone and now he thinks he's the headphone aficionado. He's got a real hate-boner against Sennheiser, too. Nevermind that the Maxwell has a lot of issues... Watch out for him and take his comments with a grain of salt. It's often very negative.
r/headphones
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3 more quotes available below

📈Historical Price Data

Audeze Maxwell
Sennheiser HD 600
$240$320$400$480Apr '25May '25Jun '25Aug '25Sep '25Oct '25Nov '25Dec '25Feb '26Mar '26Low: $294.6Low: $266.35Current: $280.35
Audeze Maxwell
All-time low: $238.97(2025-06)
$37 below 90-day avg
Sennheiser HD 600
All-time low: $210(2020-01)
$44 below 90-day avg

Which is Better?

Too Close to Call

Both products have nearly identical approval ratings (83% vs 82%). Choose based on your specific needs and preferences.

Why HD 600
  • 📐 Reference tuning
  • 📜 Legendary status
  • 💰 Great value used
  • More discussed (7,788 vs 2,742)
Why Audeze Maxwell
  • Better Features (75% vs 20%)

❤️The Love/Hate Breakdown

Sentiment Breakdown

40%Positive
Positive
40%
Neutral
52%
Negative
8%
Based on 7,788 Reddit opinions

Sentiment Breakdown

50%Positive
Positive
50%
Neutral
39%
Negative
11%
Based on 2,742 Reddit opinions

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better, Sennheiser HD 600 or Audeze Maxwell?
Based on 10,530 Reddit comments, Sennheiser HD 600 has a slight edge with 83% positive sentiment vs Audeze Maxwell's 82%. The difference is small, so both are solid choices.
Should I buy Sennheiser HD 600 or Audeze Maxwell?
Both have similar approval ratings (83% vs 82%), so focus on specific features, pricing, and what matters most to you.
What do Redditors love about Sennheiser HD 600?
Reddit users highlight: Reference tuning. Legendary status. Great value used. With 7,788 mentions and 83% approval, it's a well-regarded choice in the community.
What do Redditors say about Audeze Maxwell?
Reddit users highlight: Gaming wireless. Planar sound. Excellent mic. With 2,742 mentions and 82% approval, it remains a popular alternative.
How many Reddit reviews were analyzed?
This comparison analyzed 10,530 Reddit comments: 7,788 about Sennheiser HD 600 and 2,742 about Audeze Maxwell. Data was sourced from headphones community discussions.
How accurate are these ratings?
Our sentiment analysis is approximately 80-85% accurate compared to manual review. Well-discussed products with many mentions tend to have more reliable scores than niche items with fewer data points.
Why trust Reddit over professional reviews?
Reddit users bought products with their own money and have no incentive to mislead. You're seeing hundreds of real opinions across different use cases, not just one reviewer's take. This crowdsourced approach surfaces both common praise and recurring complaints.

5,421 Reddit opinions analyzed · Last updated 4/16/2026