Focal Bathys
Focal Bathys
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MUSIC: Very Good—8.0/10
CALLS: Poor—5.2/10
GAMING: Excellent—9.3/10
TV: Best in Class—10.0/10
PODCASTS & AUDIOBOOKS: Fair—6.2/10
EXERCISE: Fair—6.5/10
AIR TRAVEL: Very Good—8.7/10
NOISE REDUCTION: Very Good—8.3/10
BUILD QUALITY: Excellent—9.0/10
BATTERY: Best in Class—10.0/10
The Focal Bathys are high-end, over-ear, closed-back headphones with both wireless and wired connectivity options. They offer excellent sound quality and soundstage, with best-in-class performance for gaming, TV and video, and air travel. They feature active noise cancelling, app equalizer and customization features, but have a fair microphone quality. Suitable for long listening sessions due to excellent comfort, they have a substantial weight and are less portable. For wired use, they still require battery power due to the internal amplifier. They support AptX Adaptive for low latency but are not sweatproof or dustproof, making them less ideal for exercise. Battery life is considerable at 31 hours, but with a 1.5-hour charging time and they do not offer wireless charging. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Evaluation
Pros
- Exceptional overall sound quality
- Comfortable for long listening sessions
- Active noise cancelling feature included
- Detachable cable gives usage flexibility
- Equipped with an app equalizer
Cons
- Mic quality is only fair
- Poor score for calls and meetings
- Not suited for use during exercise
- Low portability due to size
Ratings by Category
TV & Video:5.0
The Focal Bathys is excellent for watching TV and videos due to its support for both wireless and wired connections with low latency, ensuring minimum audio delay, and its high sound quality coupled with very good soundstage and imaging that enhances the viewing experience while providing comfort during long sessions.
Battery Life:5.0
The Battery Life rating is based on hours of typical, actual usage.
Gaming:4.8
The Focal Bathys are well-suited for gaming primarily because they support AptX Adaptive, which provides low latency essential for synchronized audio during gameplay. Furthermore, their excellent overall sound quality and very good soundstage and imaging contribute to an immersive gaming experience, although the mic quality is only fair which might not be ideal for communication in multiplayer games.
Air Travel:4.6
This score evaluates the product for use on airplanes and other similar kinds of travel. It takes into account noise reduction and portability, including case shape, case size, and weight. It also incorporates the battery life of the product, long-haul comfort, noise reduction (both active and passive), and sound quality. We generally consider wireless products to be more suitable for air travel.
Music:4.4
The Focal Bathys headphones are highly regarded for music listening due to their closed enclosure type which provides natural isolation and their excellent overall sound quality that ensures a detailed and balanced audio experience. Additionally, the very good soundstage/imaging score further adds to an immersive listening experience, although without virtual surround sound.
Exercise:3.6
This score evaluates the product when used for exercise and physical activity. It mainly takes into account comfort, whether or not the products are sweatproof and how secure are the earbuds or headphones while wearing them. We also consider products with wireless capabilities to be more suitable for this particular scenario
Podcasts & Audiobooks:3.2
This score evaluates the product when used solely to listen to podcasts or audiobooks. It takes into account sound quality and sound signature, to be able to keep voices clear and intelligible. It also considers battery life, when available, and comfort.
Full Specs
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
| Price | $699 | ||
Brand | Focal | ||
Release Date | October 1, 2022 | ||
Form Factor | Headphones | ||
Connectivity | Wired + Wireless | ||
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score  | 8.1/10 | ||
Phone Calls Score | 5.3/10 | ||
Gaming Score | 9.4/10 | ||
TV and Video Score | 10/10 | ||
Exercise Score | 6.6/10 | ||
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | 31 Hours | ||
Wireless charging | No | ||
Charging time | 1.5 Hours | ||
Bluetooth version | 5.1 | ||
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | Yes | ||
Noise Reduction Score | 8.4/10 | ||
Virtual Surround | No | ||
Android App | Yes | ||
iOS App | Yes | ||
Mic Quality | 6.5/10 | ||
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | 9/10 | ||
Comfort score | 8.4/10 | ||
Weight | 350 Grams | ||
Microphone style | Integrated | ||
Waterproof Rating | 0 | ||
Shopping
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Soundguys
Christian Thomas | May 2023
"As much as I hesitate to recommend a headphone that sells for $800 USD, if you’re looking for the best sound quality you can find in the ANC space: it’s the Focal Bathys."
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This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec earbuds & headphones team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest earbuds or headphones information and makes it digestible for you.
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