I can already hear the digital tomatoes being thrown at me, but I’m usually the type to throw on a podcast or music while playing games. I’ll always check out the soundtrack, voiceovers, and other audio-related content for a bit, and always during a review. Still, I’m just not someone who usually immerses themself in the non-visual parts of a game. That said, I’m trying to be a bit more intentional with doing one thing at a time, so I decided to give myself a chance by trying some legitimate gaming headphones. The Audeze lineup of products comes highly reviewed and recommended, so here’s my Audeze Maxwell Xbox gaming headphones impressions.

Audeze offers their Maxwell Gaming Headphones in both PlayStation and Xbox offerings now, so I figured I’d go with the Xbox set since that’s my go-to console. The Audeze Maxwell headphones boast over 80 hours of battery life, accompanied by a 20-minute fast charge, providing enough juice to last all day. For all of the specification tech folks, they also come with Bluetooth 5.3 capabilities, a reinforced aluminum and steel chassis, FILTER noise reduction, and spatial audio delivered thanks to 90mm planar magnetic drivers. For me, a lot of this information goes a bit over my head, so I will just say these feel and look like a premium piece of hardware, and their quality outshoots the price tag as well.

The Xbox-specific version of the Audeze Maxwell headphones comes with something I was really interested in trying. Along with a hint of green in the physical headphones, they also come equipped with an embedded Dolby Atmos license, which you can activate upon purchase. This gives you the ability to customize your game sessions in the Dolby Access app to personalize your spatial audio experience. For someone who isn’t a major audiophile, I could absolutely tell the difference in quality and spatial immersion when using these headphones. Of course, part of the draw is also the fact that they’re equipped with everything you’d need right out of the gate, which is also a huge help.

For a lot of us, gaming headphones are really a way to communicate with friends while playing our favorite games. I tested a few sessions using the Audeze Maxwell headphones with friends and got great feedback from them on the other end. I quickly felt like these were already becoming one of my favorite accessories for the Xbox, and having not spent a ton of time with gaming headphones, I immediately understood the appeal of them. Clear communication can make or break a high-intensity session, so it’s helpful to know that my squadmates were hearing me clearly and loudly, which required very little tinkering with settings.

From the image above, you can see that the padding on these headphones is the real deal. I was most concerned when seeking out gaming headphones about how they’d feel after an hour or more of wearing them. I didn’t feel any pain or strain while using the Audeze Maxwell Xbox gaming headphones, with my most extended session totaling over 3.5 hours at one time. I also felt like the fit was perfect, not too loose or tight, for allowing me to experience the most Dolby Atmos offers. I don’t usually have an intricate setup for audio, just a soundbar, so I felt as if I was playing some of my favorite games for the first time again in terms of wow-factor.

The only gripe I had initially was quickly solved. The Audeze Maxwell headphones have a suspension band that helps achieve two things. Firstly, the softer band allows the headphones to stay on your head securely. This allows the metal bar up top to structure the headphones and clamp the cups around your ears. Adjusting the suspension band felt more difficult than it needed to be. Still, because its a tight fit around the adjustable screws, you really have to put some strength behind removing and replacing them to fit your head. It works once you really go for it, but I was hesitant to start ripping away aggressively at my new headphones as I imagine many folks would be.

Overall, the Audeze Maxwell Xbox gaming headphones allowed me to level up my gaming experience in a way I didn’t know I had been missing. There are so many gaming headphones out there, but the look, quality, and user-friendly features of the Audeze Maxwell headphones were perfect for what I needed. They work with most popular devices, including the Switch 2, but Dolby Atmos compatibility is reserved for Xbox devices. You can buy them directly from the Audeze website and most major retailers. Let us know in the comments what your favorite gaming headphone is!

Phenixx Gaming is everywhere you are. Follow us on Facebook, TikTok, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram.

Also, if you’d like to join the Phenixx Gaming team, check out our recruitment article for details on working with us.

Phenixx Gaming is proud to be a Humble Partner! Purchases made through our affiliate links support our writers and charity!