Maxell is a Japanese electronics manufacturer founded in 1961, with roots in the dry battery and magnetic tape divisions of Nitto Electric Industrial. The company's name is a contraction of "Maximum capacity dry cell," reflecting its origins in battery manufacturing. Maxell became a dominant force in consumer recording media, producing audio cassettes, VHS tapes, floppy disks, and recordable optical discs such as CD-R and DVD±RW.

In the music world, Maxell is best known for its blank audio cassette lines, which were widely used for home recording, mixtapes, and studio reference copies through the cassette era. The UD (Ultra Dynamic) series, introduced in 1974, set a benchmark for high-fidelity cassette recording, and follow-up lines like the XLI, XLI-S, XLII, and XLII-S became staples among audiophiles and home recordists. The lower-cost UR series remains in production and is distributed internationally amid the renewed interest in analog tape formats.

Beyond its products, Maxell is embedded in pop culture through the "Blown Away Guy" advertising campaign, which debuted in Rolling Stone in 1980 and depicted a listener pinned back in a leather chair by the force of sound from a pair of speakers. The company also produces batteries, headphones, projectors, and other consumer electronics alongside its recording media catalog.

Maxell has 6 products cataloged on Equipboard, including Headphones & In-Ear Monitors and Conducting. Their gear is featured by 1 artist, with the strongest followings in Hip Hop. Notable users include DJ Screw.