Audeze Maxwell 2: the ReSkin program adds interchangeable magnetic earcups

Audeze has launched the ReSkin program around the Maxwell 2: a catalog of interchangeable magnetic earcups, available from launch with six designs, including a hand-painted numbered series. The mechanism takes advantage of a specific feature of the Maxwell 2, whose side plates are removable by design, without tools or adhesive. The shells can be removed with a simple gesture thanks to a magnet system built into the headset.

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A system built in from the design stage

The Maxwell 2 uses a magnet system on the external plates of the earcups. Unlike the stickers or vinyl films some players use to differentiate their gear, removal requires neither screwdriver nor adhesive, and there is no risk of damaging the finish. The principle is reminiscent of SteelSeries’ Arctis Nova, which has offered a colored plate swapping mechanism for several generations.

Sankar Thiagasamudram, CEO of Audeze, says that new designs and collaborations will regularly expand the catalog. The California-based manufacturer, acquired by Sony Interactive Entertainment in 2023, is opening with ReSkin an accessory channel directly associated with the Maxwell 2.

Six designs at launch

The opening catalog brings together five standard designs and one numbered Prestige series. On the standard side, there are Panopticon All-Seeing Eye, Flux Warning Futuristic Biohazard Sign, Kankan Koneko Angry Cat, Planar Scan (an X-ray-style motif of the Audeze driver), and White Audeze Deco Cup. Panopticon features a stylized eye covering the earcup, Flux Warning uses biohazard warning symbolism, Kankan Koneko shows a Japanese-style cat with a displeased expression, Planar Scan presents an X-ray view of the internal planar magnetic driver that makes the headset’s mechanics visible, and White Audeze Deco Cup offers a more understated white design.

The Día de los Muertos Prestige Edition series includes six numbered pieces (No.001 to No.006). These earcups are hand-painted by an artisan based in Southern California, then finished with a high-gloss lacquer.

The standard designs are sold for $39.99 each (about €37), the Prestige series for $59.99 (about €56). The price difference reflects the manual work on the numbered earcups, painted individually rather than printed in series.

The Maxwell 2 beneath the shell

ReSkin is only interesting because the underlying headset delivers on its technical promises. The Maxwell 2 carries over the architecture of the first Maxwell: 90 mm planar magnetic drivers with Fluxor magnets, Fazor waveguides, and Uniforce diaphragms. The new feature is the integration of SLAM (Symmetric Linear Acoustic Modulator) technology, developed for the electrostatic CRBN2 headset and used on the LCD-S20, which modulates acoustic pressure across the entire membrane to better control response in the low end of the spectrum.

Connectivity remains versatile: low-latency USB-C dongle, Bluetooth 5.3 supporting LDAC, LE Audio, AAC, and SBC, wired USB-C, and 3.5 mm jack. The detachable boom mic uses FILTER AI noise reduction processing. Claimed battery life exceeds 80 hours at 80 dBA, and 20 minutes of charging provides 24 hours of operation.

The Maxwell 2 is marketed in France from about €448 for the PlayStation version and €468 for the Xbox version. A standard ReSkin shell therefore represents around 10% of the price of the headset, the Prestige version around 14%.

Availability and compatibility

ReSkin shells are available immediately on audeze.com and are compatible with both versions of the Maxwell 2 (PlayStation and Xbox), which share the same chassis and the same magnet system. Audeze plans regular restocks with rotating designs and limited editions, while stocks last.

The approach stands apart from the dominant model in the premium gaming headset segment: rather than encouraging replacement of the product with a special edition (dedicated color, engraving, or specific packaging), Audeze allows the appearance of a headset the owner keeps to be modified. The model does, however, involve rotating designs and the limited nature of certain series, which opens up a collectible dimension for the numbered Prestige Edition.