Quick background - I've been looking for higher-end bluetooth headphones for a long time. I've been through Drop Pandas, Sony XM4, Sony XM5, Bose QC 35, Sony XM4 earbuds, Apple AirPods Pro 1 and 2, AirPods Max, Focal Elegia with dongle DAC, and a few more along the way. I've been happy with many, but they never seem to last.
I think there are 2 ways to look at the Bathys - top down (coming from high-end cans like Radiance and Celestee) or bottom up (consumer bluetooth headphones like Sony XM5, AirPods Max, etc). From the top, they aren't necessarily up to the wired standard (but they're not supposed to be). They're not far off, but wired cans with a nice DAC (an additional expense) WILL sound better. There are just realities with bluetooth headphones and they will always be hamstrung compared to their wired counterparts. They do have the advantage of ANC, wireless, and those cool flashy lights on the side, tho.
From the bottom up, I think they make a great case for their price. Yes, I can buy both the AirPods Max and AirPods Pro 2 for the price of these Bathys, but the sound quality is better than both combined. It's just that simple. Great sounding audio, comfortable, and DAC mode to get them into the ballpark of the wired cans. At the $800 asking price, they start making sense.
Focal state that they need around 50-100hrs of burn-in to sound their best. Wether you're a burn-in believer or not, I DO believe they're gotten better over the past 3 days of almost non-stop listening. I can't wait to see where we are in another couple of days. Also, there has been a definite improvement in comfort, as well.
I really enjoyed the Drop Pandas (after using the Sound ID app to customize the EQ) but, like so many others, the battery charge issues took them out of the running. Recently, I picked up a pair of AirPods Max. They sound very good (maybe a little mids-recessed) but I have issues with the comfort. To get a good seal, I have to push them forward on my head and that pushes them up against my ears. I can't wear them for more than an hour or so. I keep falling back to my AirPods Pro 2.
The Bathys definitely take it up a notch. They don't have the Apple amenities (spacial audio, fast switching between devices, killer ANC and pass-through), but they make up for all of that with their sound quality and EQ. In short, they sound spectacular, can handle some EQ customization, and are very comfortable.
Instead of trying to review these (as many others have already hit all the major points), I'll answer a could quick questions that I couldn't find answers to and then leave a recommendation -
1. Can you plug them into an iPhone using the DAC mode? Yes - you can connect them with a lightning to USB adapter (I used a cheap $10) and they'll play just fine - BUT - you loose your EQ and the app. So, you get a very clean yet uninspired neutral(ish) sound. If you're using an app with an EQ (like Spotify), then you're golden. If not (Apple Music), then I feel like it's a poor trade. I love how the bluetooth sounds (even with AAC) and the EQ is the icing on the cake. I'll stick with wireless or the Creative BT-W4 AptX dongle (see below).
2. If using an iPhone, you can assign the assistant button to Siri or Bixby. I've only seen this feature connected to Alexa or Google.
3. Soundstage is good, certainly on par with my Elegia connected to the Hidizs DAC. As a matter of fact, these are what I wanted the Elegia to be - wireless, far-better than the rest sound quality and EQ to customize. My Elegia and DAC are up for sale.
4. Yes, there is more plastic on board than you might want for $800, but let's be plain - the durability of the headphones are not in question. They are well made, case closed. I don't slight Focal at all for cutting a few corners (and weight) with a few plastic parts and cheap cables. These headphones are consumable - they are bluetooth and battery powered so I give them about 2 years before replacement. They're just NOT going to last long enough for the build to become a problem. In 2 years, they'll give them to my wife and I'll invest in the next pair.
5. When I connected mine to the phone for the first time, I was immediately greeted with a firmware update. I think this is a great sign. There are functions that I'd like to see implemented or changed and this gives me a small bit of hope that these will improve greatly a little down the road. A 10-band eq for more granular control is the top of my list.
6. Are they worth $800? No, not really. I'd have felt a lot better at the $600 price point. BUT, consider inflation, rising costs, the R&D that went in, and the leap in sound quality over other offerings. Given all these, I'll give them the $200 and call it good (which I would have easily spent on a decent DAC for a wired headphone).
7 - What if I want higher encoding rates with Aptx? - Get the Creative BT-W4. This small dongle will connect with AptX Adaptive and sounds basically the same as wired while keeping your eq preferences and access to the app. You can use the Apple to USB adapter for a phone or the USB C (it comes with a USB A adapter in the box) for a laptop. The highs are clearer and bass is stronger yet tighter. For general listening, I'll use the regular bluetooth and for my quiet "listening time," I'll plug in the dongle. It's just as good as wired with the amenities. Well worth the $50.
Compared to AirPods Max - If you already have the AirPod Pro 2, then I'd take these any day. I enjoyed the sound quality of the Max, but you get 90% of those headphones for $250 with better battery life and far more portability in the Pro 2. If you don't already have them, I think this should probably be most people's first stop in portable audio.
Compared to Sony XM5 - I love the XM5 for its bass and basic EQ. But, these have a ton more soundstage, separation, better frequency response, and the DAC mode. It's in a different class. If those things matter, you're going to spend the money. If they don't, you'll love the XM5.
Recommendations (TL;DR) - Buy the AirPods Pro 2 first. You can't beat the ANC, transparency, quality, and portability. You get all the benefits of the Apple ecosystem for $250. THEN, add the Bathys if you still yearn for the natural and smooth sound that puts a Focal headphone in a completely different class.
If you're still stuck on the $800, start with he AirPods Max. They're excellent.
If you're stuck on the $800 and an android user, get the Sony XM5 (but start with the XM4 earbuds for the portability). They're durable, sound good, and very comfortable. No point in paying the Apple tax if you're not going to use all the features.
Lastly, on the topic of AAC - I think this is the real bottleneck of the system. I listen to a lot of classical and AAC absolutely chokes in heavy orchestration and complexity. The BT-W4 connected with AptX Adaptive solves this problem in spades. Verdi's Dies Irae (Requiem) or Mars from The Planets both have very loud passages with massive layers and they come across clear and authoritative with the BT-W4. It's a stunning sound to hear when sitting in the Chick-fil-A having breakfast! Strongly recommended as your first accessory.
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From the manufacturer
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SPEAKER DRIVERS MADE IN FRANCEBathys is fitted with patented aluminium/magnesium “M”-dome speaker drivers, made in France using technologies from the finest Focal headphones. |
ELEGANCE & REFINEMENTThe Bathys design is inherited from Focal's open- and closed-back headphones. It combines high-grade materials – magnesium, real leather, aluminium, etc |
ACTIVE NOISE CANCELLATION TECHNOLOGYActive noise cancelling (Silent/Soft) for the immersion and transparency mode to interact with your environment |
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CONNECTIVITYCompatible with SBC, AAC, Apt-X and Apt-X Adaptive codecs, Bathys offers a wide range of connectivity options: Bluetooth 5.1, Jack, USB. Application available. |
FOCAL & NAIM APPDownload the “Focal & Naim” app on the App and Play stores. Enjoy an enhanced user experience with an equaliser that will adapt the sound to your musical preferences and other settings. |
FAST-CHARGING BATTERYIt offers over 30 hours of use in Bluetooth and active noise cancellation mode. while just 15 minutes will give you 5 extra listening hours. |
Compare with similar items
This Item  Focal Bathys Over-Ear Hi-Fi Bluetooth Wireless Headphones with Active Noise Cancelation |  |  |  | |  | |
| Price | $699.00 | -33% $99.99 List: $149.99 | $999.00 | $79.99 | -21% $549.20 New Price: $699.00 | $398.00 |
| Delivery | Get it as soon as Saturday, May 25 | Get it as soon as Saturday, May 25 | Get it as soon as Saturday, May 25 | Get it as soon as Saturday, May 25 | Get it May 22 - 28 | Get it as soon as Saturday, May 25 |
| Customer Ratings | ||||||
| Sound quality | ||||||
| Noise cancellation | ||||||
| Bass quality | ||||||
| Battery life | ||||||
| Comfort | ||||||
| Sold By | GRAMOPHONE | AnkerDirect | GRAMOPHONE | AnkerDirect | Electronics Expo (Authorized Dealer) | Amazon.com |
| connectivity tech | Wireless, Bluetooth 5.1 Multipoint, Wired, USB-C | Wireless | Wired | Wireless | Wireless, Bluetooth 5.1 Multipoint, Wired, USB-C | Bluetooth |
| headphones form factor | Over Ear | Over Ear | Over Ear | Over Ear | Over Ear | Over Ear |
| connector type | usb-c,wireless | wireless | 3.5mm Jack | 3.5mm Jack | usb-c,wireless | Stereo Mini Jack |
| noise control | active noise cancellation | active noise cancellation | sound isolation | active noise cancellation | active noise cancellation | active noise cancellation |
| headphones jack | 3.5 mm Jack | — | 3.5mm Jack, 6.35mm Jack | 3.5 mm Jack | 3.5 mm Jack | 3.5 mm Jack |
| cable feature | Without Cable | Without Cable | Detachable | Without Cable | Without Cable | Without Cable |
Reviews with images
Mature, Yet Youthfully Fun Sounding!!!
If you care about sound quality and still want a fun-sounding headphone with wonderful vocals, not pushed too close nor too far, but sit naturally this is a set to consider. There are a few faults, I have a medium to small head and these fit perfectly, but if you have a large head they might not fit properly. These are a tad smaller in size than the Elegia’s, but these have a little more lower end with the stage being a touch more intimate. The first time a listened to them, they were a little much in the upper mids, and there was a hint of smearing, with a prominent bass, but after around 50 hours of listening they smoothed out. The Bass reaches deep, with a good solid punch but is very well controlled so as to not muddy up the Mids, but giving them just a hint of warmth, that’s very pleasing to my ears, giving both male & female vocals a nice texturing while still keeping everything natural. The stage isn’t grand, but it is well-defined, just slightly less than the Sundara’s, about 1” out from the head (psychoacoustically). For being Bluetooth, these have a considerable amount of detail, more than I could imagine before I ever listened to them. Instruments come alive, no matter what I find myself listening to, be it Pop, Orchestra, EDM, Rock, Metal, Vocal-Center and so much more. The Treble is just done so tastefully and perfectly, that everything sounds proper giving everything enough air and sparkle for my liking without being harsh or sibilant. Though I do like the button layout, I do find myself occasionally fumbling with them, but I do have other Bluetooth headphones that have different layouts so I forget which is which. Overall, these are my favorite pair of Bluetooth headphones, and for that matter, my favorite pair of headphones overall. On the go, or when I’m on my PC, I hooked them up voila USB and they sound even richer with a touch better detail. The ANC works wonderfully, I prefer it on soft. After about an hour, I do have to adjust them to release a little pressure build-up, I simply just pull them slightly off and back on, but comfort is still ok, but not as good as my old pair of Bose or my Edifier WH950NB. But because of the sound quality, I can’t get enough of these, and the build quality is impeccable. These have a mature but still maintain the youthful fun sound. Wish they made a mini-Utopia like this, oh before I forget, there’s a nice app for these wish you can adjust everything including an equalizer. And I have no problems hooking up Bluetooth (very quick) and I have no cutting-out issues. If you ask me are these worth the $799, YES! These are so versatile, well-made, phenomenal sound quality, and with the possibility of future tweaks in the app for even more sound pleasure and ease.
Top reviews from the United States
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Reviewed in the United States on November 20, 2022
Reviewed in the United States on February 27, 2023
If you care about sound quality and still want a fun-sounding headphone with wonderful vocals, not pushed too close nor too far, but sit naturally this is a set to consider. There are a few faults, I have a medium to small head and these fit perfectly, but if you have a large head they might not fit properly. These are a tad smaller in size than the Elegia’s, but these have a little more lower end with the stage being a touch more intimate. The first time a listened to them, they were a little much in the upper mids, and there was a hint of smearing, with a prominent bass, but after around 50 hours of listening they smoothed out. The Bass reaches deep, with a good solid punch but is very well controlled so as to not muddy up the Mids, but giving them just a hint of warmth, that’s very pleasing to my ears, giving both male & female vocals a nice texturing while still keeping everything natural. The stage isn’t grand, but it is well-defined, just slightly less than the Sundara’s, about 1” out from the head (psychoacoustically). For being Bluetooth, these have a considerable amount of detail, more than I could imagine before I ever listened to them. Instruments come alive, no matter what I find myself listening to, be it Pop, Orchestra, EDM, Rock, Metal, Vocal-Center and so much more. The Treble is just done so tastefully and perfectly, that everything sounds proper giving everything enough air and sparkle for my liking without being harsh or sibilant. Though I do like the button layout, I do find myself occasionally fumbling with them, but I do have other Bluetooth headphones that have different layouts so I forget which is which. Overall, these are my favorite pair of Bluetooth headphones, and for that matter, my favorite pair of headphones overall. On the go, or when I’m on my PC, I hooked them up voila USB and they sound even richer with a touch better detail. The ANC works wonderfully, I prefer it on soft. After about an hour, I do have to adjust them to release a little pressure build-up, I simply just pull them slightly off and back on, but comfort is still ok, but not as good as my old pair of Bose or my Edifier WH950NB. But because of the sound quality, I can’t get enough of these, and the build quality is impeccable. These have a mature but still maintain the youthful fun sound. Wish they made a mini-Utopia like this, oh before I forget, there’s a nice app for these wish you can adjust everything including an equalizer. And I have no problems hooking up Bluetooth (very quick) and I have no cutting-out issues. If you ask me are these worth the $799, YES! These are so versatile, well-made, phenomenal sound quality, and with the possibility of future tweaks in the app for even more sound pleasure and ease.
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Top reviews from other countries
theobroma
Beneficio/ costo muy positivo y facilidades de pago.
Reviewed in Mexico on April 15, 2024Salter
Not only noise canceling. Excellent sound too. The future of ANC headphones.
Reviewed in Canada on November 11, 2022