I have been around consumer electronics and headphones for over two decades, and my jaw rarely drops when I hear about a new product. That is until I purchased the new Focal Bathys headphones. They came highly recommended by a trusted source, and I was skeptical because I’ve lived with my Sennheiser HD650’s and trusty Bose in-ear noise-canceling headphones for years. I travel with the Bose, and moving from buds to over-ear is a big step in bulk. I will start with the easy stuff. These headphones are aesthetically gorgeous.
They are black with a gun metal gray outer shell with a cool circular pattern cut into it. A slick Focal logo can either be brightly illuminated, mildly illuminated, or entirely off. None of the settings affect battery life enough to be measured. The ear cups are oval shaped, which I prefer to the circular shape of some headphones. My ears are oval, and the cups comfortably cover my entire ear.
The Bathys come with a hard shell case with adapters and wires and snugly fits the headphones. The ear pads have a soft memory foam texture, and the pressure on your head delivers a secure but comfortable fit. Long-term listening led to no head fatigue or ear discomfort.
What I Loved About The Focal Bathys Wireless Headphones
Now let’s get to the fun stuff. I am a complete audio dork. I love hi-fi and all that comes with it. I will sit with my friends and listen to the difference between phono cartridges and audition various interconnect cables. It’s a sickness, but I love it.
The Focal Bathys have three listening modes; wireless, wired via 3.5mm headphone cable, and wired via USB-C. The wireless performance was better than expected, and I walked around my house without any signal drops. The headphone jack improved the sound quality ever so slightly. When I connected the USB-C cable to my iPad, my jaw dropped wide open. I stream music with Qobuz primarily, but I also have Tidal, Amazon, and Apple Music (I said I was an audio dork).
When you use the USB-C connection, you allow the Bathys to use their internal DAC (digital to analog converter), which will unlock hi-res files up to 24/192, and will also upconvert the quality of standard music files. I dug into my hi-res playlist and felt as pleased as I do when my two-channel stereo is on. I love how deep and wide the soundstage is. Instruments are placed around your room, and they are deep. There is also a silence that the noise canceling provides that makes you feel as if you are in a cavern during dark and quiet moments in music.
I played Neil Young’s “Cowgirl in the Sand” off his Live at Massey Hall album and had chills everywhere. The eerie silence between guitar strokes transported me to the hall, and when the audience clapped at the end, it was as if a hypnotist snapped their fingers and woke me up. Dynamics are incredible, and these barely take any power to drive them so no headphone amp is needed. Bass response is tight and fast, so when I turned up Beastie Boys or old Digital Underground tracks, I smiled from ear to ear.
I also dug into classical and jazz and found the Bathys to be highly inviting and never fatiguing. These headphones make me want to listen to music all day and night. You will find yourself excited to hear your music, knowing that you will hear and experience it in a way you probably have not before using these headphones.
What I Wasn’t Crazy About
A couple of other things to mention. There are controls on the ear cup that allow you to change the volume, pause, and skip songs. There is also control for noise cancellation (which worked very well, in my opinion) on the other ear cup.
There’s a built-in microphone for calls and noise reduction for when you are in a noisy area, and finally, you can access Alexa or Google Assistant if you use those features.
Focal also has an excellent app that you can use to fine-tune the EQ and change the light on the logo that I mentioned earlier. Wireless battery power is rated at 30hrs with noise cancellation on.
That is impressive!
I must say that the $799.99 price tag was intimidating for me. Still, with a 3yr warranty, insanely good performance for music and movies, and long battery life for those long flights, I know I have a new favorite headphone.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, the Focal Bathys wireless headphones are an excellent choice for audiophiles and music lovers looking for high-quality sound and noise-canceling capabilities. These headphones provide an immersive listening experience with a deep and wide soundstage, tight and fast bass response, and incredible dynamics that make every genre sound amazing. The three listening modes and the built-in DAC allow for the best possible sound quality, unlocking hi-res files up to 24/192 and upconverting the quality of standard music files.
Additionally, the Focal Bathys headphones are aesthetically pleasing, with a sleek and comfortable design that includes oval-shaped ear cups, soft memory foam ear pads, and a hard shell case for safe storage. The battery life is impressive, with 30 hours of wireless power with noise canceling on, and the controls on the ear cup make it easy to change volume, pause, and skip songs. Overall, the Focal Bathys headphones offer a superior listening experience, making them well worth the investment for anyone who values high-quality sound and comfort.
