Focal is well-known for both studio and hi-fi speakers and headphones, but the Bathys Wireless Headphones are one of the brand’s first forays into noise cancellation. These wireless over-ear headphones come with active noise cancelling and a built-in USB digital-to-analogue converter (DAC), and like the brand’s portfolio of innovative products, they deliver extraordinarily high-fidelity sound.
So what features can you expect from these portable gems? For this Focal Bathys review, we’ve examined the headphones’ build quality, fit and comfort, sound quality, ANC, and important features like battery life and Bluetooth. If you’re looking for a pair of high-end ‘phones, hopefully by the end of this review, you’ll know if the Bathys are for you.
In a hurry? Here’s our verdict
Thanks to their built-in DAC, Focal Bathys achieve incredibly powerful hi-fi sound over Bluetooth; the kind you’d expect from a lossless wired connection. Better still, they’re operable via USB-C or 3.5 mm jack; therefore, capable of reaching even higher hi-fi standards.
These are some excellent, premium headphones that hit pretty much every mark. We’ve struggled to find any downsides!
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Rich, exceptionally detailed sound | Not necessarily a con, but the bold, futuristic aesthetic might not be to everyone's tastes |
| Active noise cancellation is fantastic - not surprising since the headphones are inspired by the silence and tranquillity of the Bathyscaphe, the first submarine exploration vehicle | Plastic buttons don't feel as high-end as the rest of the headphones' construction |
| Comfortable over-ear design and a solid, high-end construction | |
| Wired listening is possible via USB-C | |
Focal Bathys review
Build quality
The first thing that immediately stands out with the Focal Bathys is how solid and high-end they look. And this premium design goes beyond aesthetics.
Built from lightweight magnesium and aluminium, the headphones are rigid, exceptionally durable, and yet supremely comfortable to wear for long periods of time. The padded real leather headband reduces any irritation, which seems like a small deal but this makes a huge difference to general enjoyment when listening to music through headphones.
Plus, as expected with a pair of premium cans, they’re adjustable, meaning they can fit practically all head sizes.
Add to that the memory foam earcups, and you have yourself some very delightful-feeling headphones that sit snug with their over-ear design and immerse you completely in your music. The only thing we wished could have been improved are the buttons – made from plastic, they don’t quite reach the same standard as the rest of the construction, but this is a minor price to pay!
Controls
We’ve mentioned the buttons, and although they’re plasticky, they are placed ergonomically and are easy to find as you blindly reach up to the earcups. You have buttons for playback on the right earcup and an ANC button on the left.
There’s also Focal’s wireless control app for more options, allowing you to adjust settings and achieve the ideal sound. Select from multiple compatible Bluetooth codecs (SBC, AAC, aptX or aptX), and adjust their sound with five-band EQ. You can even name and save your settings for later.
Better still, compatibility with voice assistants like Amazon Alexa, Siri, and Google Assistant means you can tell your headphones what to do by interfacing with a tablet or smartphone. Four different built-in microphones on each earcup offer voice pickup for making phone calls, voice recording, accessing voice assistants, and picking up external noise for cancellation.
Sound quality
The Bathys utilise 40mm French-made aluminium magnesium drivers to deliver a detailed, distortion-free sound with a frequency response of 15 Hz to 22 kHz, encompassing an expansive range from deep, defined sub-bass to crisp treble. This is all balanced with a smooth and even mid-range that makes it easy to pick out every individual element of a track.
The Bathys’ sound is further enhanced by the DAC, which is an extremely welcome addition. Operating at a high 24-bit resolution with a 192 kHz sample rate, the included conversion really helps to define the sound of these headphones, ensuring you won’t have to compromise on sound or purchase a separate converter.
Everything is well-defined, while accurately reflecting the key elements of every song’s mix. Combined with a wide and spacious sound field, these headphones deliver a full, rich recreation of your favourite music.
Inspired by the Bathyscaphe, the very first submarine exploration vehicle, Focal have named the Bathys to reflect tranquillity, depth, and total silence. The noise cancelling – which we’ll discuss next – and incredibly detailed sound help the headphones to live up to this vision.
Noise cancellation
The noise cancellation of the Focal Bathys is nothing short of excellent, and this makes them a must-have for travel and commuting. Not only do leather memory foam earcups and a padded leather headband ensure your lasting comfort over long listening sessions, but active noise cancellation shuts out the outside world brilliantly.
Whether on a short train journey or a long-haul flight, the active noise cancellation doesn’t impede the sonic performance but does a great job at tuning out your surroundings and keeping you immersed in your music, podcast, or whatever else you’re listening to.
Three distinct settings give you flexibility:
- “Silent” offers total cancellation of external noise
- “Soft” provides partial attenuation but lets you hear your surroundings if and when you might need to
- “Transparent” turns any noise cancelling off for a more typical listening experience
Battery life
The Bathys grant up to 30 hours of battery life when streaming wirelessly via Bluetooth. Whilst they also require battery charge for wired listening, you could achieve 35 hours of entertainment when connected by minijack and 42 hours via USB-C.
If you’re in a hurry to revive a drained battery, the quick-charge feature grants you up to five hours of battery in only 15 minutes. For such powerful headphones with highly effective ANC, this battery life is more than respectable. And when the headphones aren’t in use, there’s Focal’s headphone stand – sold separately – for stylish storage of the Bathys.
FAQs
Are Focal Bathys durable?
The Focal Bathys are exceptionally durable and robust, courtesy of their magnesium and aluminium construction. And as well as being so hardwearing, they’re incredibly comfortable to wear, with the padded leather headband and memory foam ear cups allowing for enjoyable long listening sessions.
Where are Focal Bathys made?
Focal is a French brand, and the Bathys are made in the company’s workshops in France.
Is Focal a high-end brand?
Focal is a premium brand that has been innovating industry-leading hi-fi audio equipment for over 40 years. They’re known for their home speakers and amplifiers, and now, with the Bathys, their noise-cancelling headphones.
Final thoughts
After our Focal Bathys review, we can conclude that with everything these headphones are capable of, the Bathys are quite hard to fault. They are, in our opinion, one of the best-sounding wireless headphones on the market today.
While there has been some competition emerging in the premium wireless headphone market, Focal have earned their place in the upper echelon of hi-fi listening on the go.
Excellent sound quality, a lightweight and comfortable build, plenty of battery life, flexible sound customisation, and broad connectivity make the Focal Bathys an extremely strong first entry into the world of noise-cancelling Bluetooth headphones.
Are you interested in the Focal Bathys or want to see how they stack up against other noise-cancelling headphones? Browse the range of over-ear headphones now on AV.com.
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