Head-to-head · Best Gaming Headsets

Audeze Maxwell 2 vs Fractal Scape

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

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The short answer

Fractal Scape comes out ahead by a clear margin (4.5 vs 3.7). Fractal Scape is best for: comfort-focused gamers seeking wireless convenience. Read the strengths below before deciding.

Ranked #4 in Best Gaming Headsets

Audeze Maxwell 2

3.7

1 source$329as of Oct 22

90mm planar magnetic drivers and 80-hour battery life give the Audeze Maxwell 2 the audio detail and separation competitive FPS players want. Reviewers also found it extremely heavy and short on sub-bass, which hurts for immersive gaming and music. TechteamGB called it 'utter disappointment' over poor microphone quality, while Sidegrade praised the gaming performance but described it as a sidegrade from the original Maxwell. Analytical listeners and competitive gamers get the most out of it; everyone else may be put off by the weight and the bass limitations.

Strengths

— Excellent detail and sound separation for competitive FPS gaming
— 80-hour battery life
— Replaceable faceplates and improved headband design

Watch-outs

— Incredibly heavy at 562-574 grams
— Limited sub-bass and bass quantity

$329 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

Higher ratedRanked #1 in Best Gaming Headsets

Fractal Scape

4.5

5 sources$169.99as of Oct 11

The Fractal Design Scape is a comfortable wireless gaming headset that covers multiple platforms and sounds good doing it. Reviewers praised the plush fabric construction, the 320g weight for extended wear, and the web-based setup that skips software bloat. It has no surround sound and won't lay flat, but it works well across PC, Mac, and console. The wireless docking station and control crown add convenience, and reviewers generally felt the $199 price was fair for the quality. A good pick for gamers who want a premium, comfortable headset with good audio and no ANC.

Strengths

— Very comfortable with plush fabric that doesn't get hot
— Tuned sound quality out of the box without adjustments needed
— Wireless docking station with wireless charging and 2.4 GHz dongle storage

Watch-outs

— No surround sound or virtual surround sound capabilities
— Cannot be laid flat for storage or travel

$169.99 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

How they stack up

Audeze Maxwell 2

The Audeze Maxwell 2 uses 90mm planar magnetic drivers, against 50mm drivers in the Razer BlackShark V3 Pro Wireless, and its battery is rated up to 80 hours to the Razer's 70 hours on PC. At 562-574 grams it is the heaviest headset on this page, well above the 320g Fractal Scape. It costs about twice as much as the Scape and is short on sub-bass.

Fractal Scape

The Fractal Scape weighs 320g, lighter than the 357g Razer BlackShark V3 Pro Wireless and far lighter than the Audeze Maxwell 2 at 562-574 grams. It has no active noise cancelling, which the BlackShark V3 Pro includes, and no surround sound. Its battery is rated up to 50 hours with RGB off, against 70 hours for the Razer on PC and 80 hours for the Maxwell 2.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	Audeze Maxwell 2	Fractal Scape
Connectivity	USB-C wireless dongle, USB-C wired, 3.5mm wired, Bluetooth	2.4GHz, Bluetooth 5.3, USB
Driver Size	90mm planar magnetic	—
Battery Life	Up to 80 hours	Up to 50 hours with RGB off
Microphone	Detachable boom mic with AI noise reduction	Detachable boom mic
Compatibility	PC, Mac, Switch, PlayStation, Xbox, and mobile devices	PC, Mac, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, iPhone, Android
Audio Features	10 Hz - 50 kHz	2.4GHz wireless, Bluetooth 5.3, USB-C, Parametric EQ
Weight	562-574 grams	320g
Material	—	Fabric, Metal

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