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Recommended Component 2024 – Stereophile
Discover a Total Escape into Your Music
Thrill to a total escape into your music with Bathys, Focal's first wireless headphones with active noise cancellation. Benefiting from Focal's expertise in high-end headphones prowess, Bathys delivers a pure hi-fi sound via 5.1 Bluetooth® multipoint or using a wired connection thanks in its USB-DAC mode. These headphones boast Focal speaker drivers made in France, high-performance noise cancelling technology, over 30 hours of battery life, high-grade materials, and other must-have features.
"Recommended Component" Honors
Stereophile honored the Focal Bathys by awarding it the magazine's coveted Recommend Component status for 2024.
According to Stereophile,"The built-in DAC supports PCM audio up to 24/192. Controls are placed on the right-hand cup; as well as power on/off and source selection, these offer three noise-cancellation choices, can summon Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, or Apple's Siri, and even operate a hearing test, with the supplied Mimi app, to tailor the headphones' equalization for the user's hearing.
"In Bluetooth mode, even without EQ or Mimi, RvB found the sound of the Bathys 'impactful, punchy, and convincing.' He noted that detail retrieval was especially excellent on acoustic instruments and vocals, male voices sounded natural and not overly chesty, and transients were 'extraordinary' for 'phones with dynamic drivers."
"These Are the Creme de la Crème"
"These are the first wireless, noise-canceling headphones that even staunch audio nerds can enjoy," reports Parker Hall, Wired magazine, March 6, 2023.
"If you’re a traveling audio nerd who wants the best-sounding, most convenient noise-canceling headphones, these are the creme de la creme. They’re easier to take with you than any high-end wired headphones, and they sound as good as many wired pairs I’ve tested that cost the same price. Just remember to turn off the lights if you’re as tall as I am. I might like French headphones, but nobody needs to feel like the Eiffel Tower."
"Highly Recommendable"
"Focal’s entrance into this burgeoning premium Bluetooth headphones market isn’t surprising considering its presence at the premium end of the wired space. Nor is the success of its first effort," reports What Hi-Fi? magazine, October 4, 2022. "The Bathys are highly recommendable for anyone after the convenience of portability in a premium pair of headphones at this price."
What's in a Name?
So what's with the unusual name? Bathys comes from the word 'bathyscaphe', the first submarine exploration vehicle. The embodiment of calm, depth and absolute silence, this vessel is the inspiration behind the name that Focal chose for these noise-cancelling headphones.
Two Noise-Cancelling Modes
Bathys offers a detailed, precise, and dynamic sound, showcasing the high-fidelity sound responsible for Focal’s worldwide reputation for over 40 years. Two noise-cancelling modes allow you to enter deep into your music. The "Silent" mode is optimized for environments with high background noise, including airplanes and trains. The "Soft" mode helps with focus at home and in the office.
In addition to the noise-cancelling modes, Bathys also offers a "Transparency" mode that allows you to hear sounds around you when you need to.
"Rich, Full, Detailed, and Very Clear"
"Music is gorgeous with the Bathys and no amp needed! The sound is rich, full, detailed and very clear," reports Steve Huff, stevehuffphoto.com, November 5, 2022. "I love the Bathys and they are indeed the nicest wireless bluetooth headphones I have tested to date."
"The soundstage with headphones is much different from listening to speakers but there is indeed a soundstage within my head with these on. Vocals are in the middle, instruments are detailed yet rich with solidity to the sound. Bass is not explosive or loose but rather tight and fast but with enough OOMPH to keep me interested and very satisfied."
"Among the Best Audiophile Headphones"
"There’s no denying the Focal Bathys are among the best audiophile headphones around," observes Alex, Bracetti, tomsguide.com, November 10, 2022.
"The Bathys uses Bluetooth 5.1 for wireless connectivity. Range was lengthy, extending up to 50 feet in open spaces. Pairing was quick with iOS devices and instantaneous on Android devices via one-tap Google Fast Pair. Lastly, multipoint technology let me pair the headphones to two devices simultaneously."
Speaker Drivers Made in France
Manufactured in Saint-Étienne, France, in the Focal workshops, the speaker drivers inside the Bathys headphones benefit from the expertise of a company that constantly innovates to improve its products, providing the ideal solution regardless of how you want to listen to music.
With their aluminum/magnesium dome, the Bathys speaker drivers deliver a deep bass, soft trebles and a clear midrange, for an extremely precise sound. The integrated USB-DAC mode offers a resolution of up to 24 bit / 192 kHz for even more impressive performance.
A Refined Aesthetic Signature
The Bathys design is inherited from Focal’s open-back and closed-back headphones. These ergonomic headphones combine refined materials, such as magnesium on the yokes, real leather on the headband, and aluminum for a robust construction, resulting in outstanding comfort for any head shape. The earcup grilles reflect Focal’s distinctive headphones design, with its highly aesthetic curves.
Focal’s flame symbol features at the center of the earcup, incorporating a white backlight system to be activated if desired, for an understated, chic visual effect. Another standout feature of Bathys is its elegant and timeless black/silver color combination.
Effortless Operation and Control
Easily accessible control buttons and Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant voice assistants are provided for effortless operation and control of Bathys' features. Bathys also has an adjustable EQ to customize the sound. The voice assistants, EQ, and other settings are available in an easy-to-use dedicated app developed by Focal.
Compatible with SBC, AAC, Apt-X™, and Apt-X™ Adaptive codecs, Bathys provides an extensive choice of connectivity modes (Bluetooth®, Jack, USB). It also offers Clear Voice Capture microphone technology for crystal clear telephone conversations.
In terms of battery life, Bathys offers over 30 hours of use. A fast-charging function gives you five extra listening hours in just 15 minutes.
Carrying Case and Cables Included
Designed to be lightweight, compact, and with superior staying power, Bathys is the ideal travel companion. A meticulously finished carrying case is supplied with the headphones.
Two cables are provided for optimal wired listening to suit all uses. These consist of a 4-ft. (1.2m) analog cable with 3.5mm mini-plug and a 4-ft. digital USB-C cable.
Firmware Update
Focal has taken into account the feedback received and has issued a minor patch release – version 1.5.1 of the Bathys Headphones Firmware, in which they have addressed issues and points of improvement. These changes will lastingly improve the user experience when using Bathys.
The update is easily installed via the Focal & Naim App: please ensure you are running at least version 6.1.0 on either iOS or Android.
See FEATURES tab for info.
