The Focal Bathys MG are premium wireless noise cancelling headphones aimed at listeners who want Focal's audiophile-focused sound in a travel-ready design. They're an updated take on the original Focal Bathys and compete against other luxury wireless models like the Mark Levinson Nº 5909. Like the Noble FoKus Apollo, they also have a USB-DAC mode that helps distinguish them from more mainstream ANC-equipped headphones like the Sony WH-1000XM6. However, every listening mode requires battery power, and they don't support LDAC. They also can't play audio when the battery is depleted, even over the 3.5 mm connection.
Our Verdict
The Focal Bathys MG aren't a good choice for sports and fitness. They'll stay in place during light walks, but don't expect them to stay on your head during even moderate exercise. They also don't have any protection against water, sweat, or dust, so they're mostly meant for use indoors. That said, they're comfortable taking on a gentle stroll.
Impressive noise isolation.
Warm, well-controlled sound.
Good frequency response consistency, even with glasses.
Large, bulky design.
Unstable during moderate exercise.
No IP rating.
The Focal Bathys MG are good for travel. Their ANC does an impressive job blocking out most of the sounds of a street or commuter bus, although you may hear the lowest rumbles of the engine along with your audio if you're listening to quiet material. Their thick earpads remain comfortable over longer listening sessions, and their battery lasts around 30 hours, so these can easily get you through your next red-eye.
Impressive noise isolation.
Warm, well-controlled sound.
Comfortable enough for extended listening sessions.
Good frequency response consistency, even with glasses.
Large, bulky design.
No IP rating.
Mic makes your voice sound a bit thin and dark.
The Focal Bathys MG are good for office work. Their ANC does a great job blocking out most of the sounds you'd hear in a workplace, such as colleagues chatting or tapping away on keyboards, as well as higher-pitched sounds like A/C whine. They're also comfortable enough to wear all day, despite their fairly heavy weight. Their microphone keeps speech intelligible against ordinary background noise, but your voice sounds a touch thin and slightly muffled, and louder environments can overwhelm the noise reduction.
Impressive noise isolation.
Comfortable enough for extended listening sessions.
Good frequency response consistency, even with glasses.
Mic makes your voice sound a bit thin and dark.
The Focal Bathys MG aren't suitable for wireless gaming because they don't come with a proprietary wireless dongle, and their Bluetooth latency is high. That said, for games that don't depend on timing, such as turn-based RPGs, these are good enough.
The Focal Bathys MG are decent for wired gaming. Their USB-C connection supports audio and microphone input on PC, and latency over both USB-C and analog is low enough for most gaming. However, USB-C audio doesn't work with PlayStation or Xbox consoles, and the 3.5 mm connection only carries audio, so you'll need a third-party microphone for online team-based games. The headphones also need to be powered on regardless of which wired connection you use. Their warm, accurate sound and comfortable earpads work well for longer sessions, though their heavy, bulky fit won't suit everyone.
Warm, well-controlled sound.
Comfortable enough for extended listening sessions.
Mic makes your voice sound a bit thin and dark.
Can't be used passively.
The Focal Bathys MG have good audio reproduction accuracy. Their warm tuning adds a little extra weight to bass and low-mid sounds, with a slightly recessed treble that ensures sounds like snare drums never feel overly harsh. The response doesn't deviate much from this warm tuning, and the left and right drivers are very well matched. Harmonic distortion is also exceptionally low.
The Focal Bathys MG have great noise isolation. For the most part, the ANC does an excellent job reducing noise across the frequency spectrum, although it isn't as effective against the deepest rumbles of an engine or some mid-range noises like car doors slamming. Leakage is well controlled, and people nearby are unlikely to hear your audio unless you're listening loudly in a very quiet room.
The Focal Bathys MG have an okay microphone. Your voice is intelligible, but slightly dark and thin-sounding. The mic system also handles more steady-state background noise like AC hum reasonably well and keeps you intelligible in moderately busy environments like offices. However, louder sounds, such as a passing train, can overwhelm the noise reduction system and make you harder to understand.
The Focal Bathys MG have good frequency response consistency. Their audio delivery remains fairly consistent between wears, but the amount of low-bass you hear will depend a little on the seal created by their soft earpads against your head. Glasses can break this seal, which can cause a drop in low-bass. Still, for most people, these reproduce sound consistently with every wear, and taking a moment to reposition the ear cups each time helps maintain a more consistent sound.
Performance Usages
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Focal Bathys MG come in two colors: 'Graphene Grey' and 'Chestnut.' We bought and tested a 'Chestnut' model and took a photo of its label.
If you encounter another variant of these headphones, please let us know in the comments, and we'll update our review.
Popular Headphones Comparisons
The Focal Bathys MG are an incremental update to the original Focal Bathys Wireless. The MG keep the same combination of ANC, Bluetooth, powered analog playback, and USB-DAC support as the originals, but feel a touch better built and have a slightly warmer sound. The original Bathys have a slightly brighter, more balanced tuning and similarly impressive noise isolation. Given the MG's substantial price increase, they aren't worth the upgrade if you're happy with the originals, and most listeners will be better off with the cheaper pair. Compared to the rest of the wireless audiophile market, the Sennheiser HDB 630 offer a more balanced sound, much longer battery life, and considerably deeper in-app EQ customization. The Noble FoKus Apollo are more versatile for calls and wired use thanks to their stronger noise isolation, detachable boom mic, and passive analog playback. If chasing a balanced sound isn't a top priority, mainstream ANC flagships like the Sony WH-1000XM6 offer better ANC performance than most audiophile-focused cans.
Check out our recommendations for the best noise cancelling headphones, the best headphones for music, and the best audiophile headphones.
The Focal Bathys MG are an incremental update to the Focal Bathys Wireless. The main difference is that the newer version has a subtly warmer sound and feels a touch better built. Otherwise, the differences are slight. The two are similarly comfortable, offer comparable ANC performance, and near identical controls, app features, and connectivity options. If you're an owner of the original Bathys, there's no need to upgrade to the MG. If you're making a new purchase, get whichever you can find cheaper.
The Sennheiser HDB 630 are better value wireless audiophile cans than the Focal Bathys MG, though people who wear glasses may prefer the latter. The Sennheiser have a much longer battery life, and their balanced tuning reproduces voices and instruments more naturally than the warmer Focal Bathys MG. Perhaps the main attraction of the Sennheiser is their companion app, which offers both a parametric EQ and crossfeed options to dial in your ideal sound. That said, the Focal deliver much more consistent sound between wears, especially if you wear glasses, and feel better built.
The Focal Bathys MG are a better pick for audiophile wireless cans than the Mark Levinson Nº 5909, though the latter do offer more wired and codec flexibility. The Mark Levinson support LDAC, work passively via analog, and include a wider selection of cables and adapters. On the other hand, the Focal last considerably longer between charges, feel sturdier, and provide more sound customization options via their EQ. Their warm tuning also softens bright details, which many listeners will prefer. The Mark Levinson sound is noticeably brighter and can make sibilants harsh, but some listeners prefer that more detailed sound.
The Noble FoKus Apollo are more versatile headphones than the Focal Bathys MG, especially if you plan to take a lot of calls using your headphones. The Noble block out more noise than the Focal, last longer between charges, support passive analog playback, and include a detachable boom mic that captures speech more naturally than the Focal Bathys MG's integrated mic. The Noble also support LDAC and aptX HD, while the Focal support aptX Adaptive. The Focal have a warmer, smoother sound that many listeners may prefer, and their sound doesn't change across connection and ANC modes. The Noble's sound can change depending on how you use them.
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