The Focal Bathys Wireless are versatile high-end audiophile headphones designed for on-the-go listening. They're Focal's first pair of active noise cancelling headphones, and they also support aptX Adaptive codec for streaming high-quality audio or audio with lower latency via Bluetooth. If you prefer a wired connection, their USB-DAC mode converts digital audio signals from your device into an analog signal up to a resolution of 24 bits/192 kHz. They even have a companion app with a graphic EQ and presets, meaning you can fine-tune their sound to your liking. While they straddle both the casual and audiophile markets, a couple of design and performance choices may not completely satisfy either crowd, especially given their high price point.
Our Verdict
The Focal Bathys aren't designed for sports and fitness. They're bulky and heavy and can fall off of your head with moderate head movements. On the upside, their wireless design ensures that there isn't much to snag and pull the headphones off your head, but if you're jostling around, the headphones can be knocked off regardless.
- Very comfortable fit.
- Can fall off of your head with moderate movement.
The Focal Bathys are very good for traveling. Although they're bulky, even in their carrying case, the build quality is good, and they fit comfortably, making them suitable for long listening sessions. They have an ANC system to block out the low rumble of bus or plane engines, and their battery life easily lasts through long days on the go. If the battery drains, you can't listen to them over a wired connection or while they recharge.
- Great overall noise isolation performance.
- Very comfortable fit.
- Can fall off of your head with moderate movement.
The Focal Bathys are good for office use. These over-ears have a very comfortable fit, and their ANC system attenuates background noise like coworker chit-chat so you can focus on your work. Even though they have an integrated mic, the recording quality is only passable. On the upside, the headphones support multi-device pairing, so you can connect them to your PC and smartphone simultaneously.
- Great overall noise isolation performance.
- Very comfortable fit.
- No mic support via analog connection.
The Focal Bathys are Bluetooth headphones. Their latency is likely too high for competitive gaming even when using aptX Adaptive (Low Latency) where compatible, but casual gamers can use it without significant delay.
The Focal Bathys are decent for wired gaming. You can only use them via analog with PlayStation and Xbox consoles. The headphones don't have mic support when connected over analog. When plugged in with the DAC to a PC, you get mic support. Still, they have somewhat noticeable latency over both analog and USB-C, causing slight lip-sync delays. However, if that's not a deal breaker, they have a fairly balanced sound that ensures voices and instruments are reproduced accurately. Their accurate low-end means effects like explosions feel immersive and exciting. They also have a comfortable fit that's well-suited for long gaming marathons.
- Very comfortable fit.
- No mic support via analog connection.
The Focal Bathys have very good audio reproduction accuracy. Their response doesn't deviate much from their balanced sound profile through the bass and mid-ranges, although higher frequencies are a bit uncontrolled, which can make sounds like cymbals dull or piercing depending on their pitch. Their group delay remains below the audible threshold, resulting in tight bass and clear highs. The left and right drivers are also generally well-matched, apart from in the high-mids and treble regions, where some differences can cause objects like vocals to be slightly pulled to one side. These headphones have low distortion even at high levels, but they don't produce a very open or immersive sound.
The Focal Bathys do a great job blocking out external noise. Their ANC system handles low-end noise like airplane cabin rumble, city traffic, and bustling office environments effectively, helping you stay focused on your audio. However, they do leak audio, so if you listen at high volumes in a quiet environment, people nearby you will hear your audio.
The Focal Bathys have a reasonable microphone. While it captures your voice well enough, you won't sound very true-to-life. The mic has satisfactory noise handling capabilities, so it does a decent job separating your voice from noise around you, though it does distort your voice a little while doing so.
The Focal Bathys have very good frequency response consistency. These over-ears are very consistent between sessions and on different people, even those with glasses or long hair. Bass is quite similar across sessions, though there are narrow deviations in the mids depending on glasses, hair length, and head size.
Performance Usages
Changelog
- Updated Mar 24, 2026: This review has been updated to Test Bench 2.1, which removes the Group Delay test, and rebalances scoring for the Harmonic Distortion test and Audio Reproduction Accuracy performance usage. For more details, consult our full changelog.
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Updated Jan 23, 2026:
We've added a comparison with the DALI IO-12 in the Comfort box.
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Updated Jan 06, 2026:
We referenced the Sennheiser HDB 630 in the Battery box.
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Updated Sep 26, 2025:
We've updated the App Support section to mention the Noble FoKus Apollo's 10-band graphic EQ.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Focal Bathys come in two color variants: 'Black/Grey' and 'Dune.' Besides the difference in colorways, nothing suggests their features differ. You can see our model's label here. If you encounter another variant of these headphones, please let us know in the forums, and we'll update our review.
Popular Headphones Comparisons
The Focal Bathys are high-end wireless audiophile headphones designed for casual use. They have a premium design typical of this manufacturer's other offerings, like the Focal Celestee and Focal Clear Mg. Unique to the Focal line, they also have an active noise cancelling system, aptX Adaptive codec support, and a companion app for customizing their sound to your liking, making them more versatile than their strictly-audiophile counterparts. While they don't block out quite as much ambient noise as the Apple AirPods Max, they can still reduce a great amount of sound around you. Despite their high-end price point, you can't fully turn off their ANC system, which may be a little bothersome for some users.
Check out our recommendations for the best noise cancelling headphones, the best headphones for music, and the best audiophile headphones.
The Focal Bathys Wireless have the edge over the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 Wireless as wireless audiophile headphones. The Focal have more consistent audio delivery, and their companion app offers a more robust EQ. They also sound more balanced compared to the bassy Bowers & Wilkins (though some people may still prefer more punch and boom in their headphones), and have better overall noise isolation. Conversely, the Bowers & Wilkins are more comfortable and better built.
The Focal Bathys Wireless and the Mark Levinson Nº 5909 have very similar feature sets and are both marketed to audiophiles looking for a touch of luxury. That said, the Focal are superior overall and represent better value. Their default sound profile is less bright, with a balanced bass and mid-range, plus there's greater scope for adjustment via the graphic EQ and presets. Both headphones come with solid ANC systems and feature high-quality construction, but the Focal have a longer battery life. While both cans come with expansive codec support, the Mark Levinson just about edge the Focal in this regard, thanks to their LDAC support. Still, the Focal are available for less and offer more bang for your buck.
The Focal Bathys Wireless are more versatile than the Focal Azurys, but they also cost more, and if you don't need Bluetooth, you may prefer the Azurys. The Bathys do have some other upsides besides Bluetooth, such as noise cancelling, EQ to tailor the sound, the option of wired listening, and a more consistent sound between wearers. Still, the Azurys are comfy, a bit cheaper, lighter, and provide you with the brand's signature tuning, so it depends on where you want to wear your headphones.
The Focal Bathys and Sony WH-1000XM6 are aimed at different listeners. Focal's offering caters to those prioritizing high-fidelity audio, while Sony leans into the all-in-one experience expected from modern flagship headphones. Both support Bluetooth multipoint and Hi-Res codecs, but the Sony deliver a stronger showing when it comes to everyday features like active noise cancelling, microphone performance, and app integration. You also get extras like virtual surround sound, gesture-based controls, and customizable shortcuts for convenience. That said, the Focal Bathys have a more balanced sound than the Sony's warmer tuning, and they have better frequency response consistency; this means the Focal have a more replicable frequency response between individuals and reseats—an advantage for more critical listeners.
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Test Results
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