Focal, known for their hi-fi wired headphones which can price range can typically be in the thousands has decided to take another stab at the wireless market after the Focal Listen that didn’t do so well a few years back being so outdated. This time we get eye catching, conversation starting wireless Bathys. While they are more expensive than flagships from Sony, Bose, and others, it’s for good reason.
Style
These headphones just scream premium soon as you get a hold of them. Their build quality consists of magnesium and aluminum materials. You can see this in the hinges and its honeycombing grille you see similar on various Focal headphones. They come in at 350g which makes them not too heavy. Their earcups are made of leather and feel plushy and squishy to the touch. They are large and open so they should be able to fully envelope your ears. There are no wear sensors like you see on most of the modern headphones.
As far as manual operation they have a button on the left ear cup for ANC controls while the right side consists of volume controls, Bluetooth, and an ON/OFF switch with a DAC option in the middle. There is also a USB-C port for charging and a 3.5mm audio jack.
Included with the Focal Bathys is a Carrying Case, 3.5mm Cable, and USB-C Cable. They also come in two colors of Black Silver and Dune.
Features
You be surprised to know the Focal insignias light up adding a bit more pop to the headset. It can be toggled on/off via the Focal Naim app. Besides light changes you can do other things in the app like EQ settings, Noise Cancellation, and even Sound Personalization. This will allow you to take a test and cater them to your hearing. Besides that, you can see Battery Life and the Audio Format as Bathys support codecs SBC, AAC, and AptX Adaptive with Bluetooth 5.1 connection.
There is a DAC mode on the Bathys that will allow you to get 24bit/192kHz on your phone or PC. I surprisingly found it working better on iPhone than Android.
Sound
Bathys are incorporating 40mm M-shaped cone dynamic drivers. If you look inside the cups, they are angled to give you a closer feel to the music and surround your ears a bit more. You really get the feel of those vocals on Billy Withers “Aint No Sunshine” & “Lovely Day.” A bass heavy track like Busta Rhymes “Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Can See” still carries that thump but there is more emphasis on Busta’s vocals.
Experience
I have been using these headphones for the past six months and they have been a pleasant experience. I used them on my flights and daily travels and in some noisy environments. Now while the ANC isn’t top notch it is still good. Focal states can give you 30hrs of battery life and it holds true. I kept them mostly synchronized to an iPhone 15 Pro and OnePlus Open (later Galaxy S24 Ultra) at times simultaneously thanks to Multipoint and can’t remember changing them often. There is a quick charge giving you 5hrs off a 15min charge.
Verdict
Focal’s Bathys are an impressive pair of musical cans. They are comfortable for prolonged periods while a bit heavier than some headphones you have used. They have a distinct look that makes them stand out from the rest of the pack. They are superb with vocals and provide a balance in the bass department. ANC is fine but not the best in the eyes, but it will do.
With a $700 price tag they are geared toward those that are looking for a high-end product from head to toe. Its build quality is up there and even using it consistently for months it still looks like the first day I opened. Audio holds up nicely and has a different focus compared to those from Sony and Bose.
Unboxing of the Focal Bathys can be seen on Instagram / TikTok
