DALI IO-12 vs Focal Bathys Wireless: Which Headphones Are Better?

Tested using Methodology v2.0

Updated Jan 16, 2026 08:10 PM

This review is in Early access

See Focal Bathys Wireless Review

TypeOver-ear

Noise CancellingYes

EnclosureClosed-Back

Bass Amount Slightly Emphasized (2 dB)

WirelessYes

TransducerDynamic

Treble Amount Balanced (0 dB)

MicYes

Sound Signature Balanced

TypeLocked

Noise CancellingLocked

EnclosureLocked

Bass Amount Locked

WirelessLocked

TransducerLocked

Treble Amount Locked

MicLocked

Sound Signature Locked

Recommended in 4 articles:
Headphones
Critical Listening
Closed-Back
1

Our Verdict

Focal Bathys Wireless

DALI IO-12

Full comparison details regarding individual product score sets can be found in the section below

Variants

Bathys (Black/Gray)
Bathys (Dune)

IO-12 (Brown)

Review

See DALI IO-12 Review

Check Price

Black/Gray

Bathys

Brown

IO-12

Dune

Bathys

Brown

IO-12

Brown

IO-12

BestBuy.com

Brown

IO-12

Walmart.com

Main Differences for

Sports And Fitness

Threshold

0.10

Sports And Fitness

7.2

0.0

No major differences between these headphones for sports and fitness. See full list of tests below.

Full Comparison

Sports And Fitness

7.2

0.0

Travel

7.8

0.0

Office Work

7.6

0.0

Wireless Gaming (In Development)

6.1

0.0

Wired Gaming (In Development)

7.2

0.0

Audio Reproduction Accuracy

8.0

0.0

Noise Isolation

8.1

0.0

Microphone (In Development)

6.7

0.0

Frequency Response Consistency

7.9

0.0

Sound

Sound Profile

Preview Graph

SAMPLE

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Normalization Frequency

1,000 Hz

Lock Hz

Bass Amount

Slightly Emphasized (2 dB)

Locked

Treble Amount

Balanced (0 dB)

Locked

Sound Signature

Balanced

Locked

Show Text

Frequency Response Consistency

7.9

N/A

Consistency L

Preview Graph

SAMPLE

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Consistency R

Preview Graph

SAMPLE

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Std. Deviation

0.87 dB

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Raw Frequency Response

Raw FR L

Preview Graph

SAMPLE

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Raw FR R

Preview Graph

SAMPLE

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Bass Profile: Target Compliance

9.6

N/A

Bass Profile: Target Compliance

Preview Graph

SAMPLE

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RMS Deviation From Target

1.9 dB

Lock dB

Low-Frequency Extension

20 Hz

Lock Hz

Low Bass

2.3 dB

Lock dB

Mid Bass

1.6 dB

Lock dB

High Bass

1.16 dB

Lock dB

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Mid-Range Profile: Target Compliance

8.6

N/A

Mid-Range Profile: Target Compliance

Preview Graph

SAMPLE

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RMS Deviation From Target

1.93 dB

Lock dB

Low Mid

1.87 dB

Lock dB

Mid-Mid

-1.27 dB

Lock dB

High Mid

1.71 dB

Lock dB

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Treble Profile: Target Compliance

9.0

N/A

Treble Profile: Target Compliance

Preview Graph

SAMPLE

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RMS Deviation From Target

2.5 dB

Lock dB

Low Treble

1.47 dB

Lock dB

Mid Treble

-0.88 dB

Lock dB

High Treble

-3.45 dB

Lock dB

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Peaks/Dips

7.5

N/A

Peaks/Dips Graph

Preview Graph

SAMPLE

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Peaks

1.51 dB

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Dips

1.66 dB

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Stereo Mismatch

8.6

N/A

Frequency Response Mismatch

Preview Graph

SAMPLE

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Phase Response Mismatch

Preview Graph

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Weighted Amplitude Mismatch

0.04 dB

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Weighted Frequency Response Mismatch

1.43 dB

Lock dB

Weighted Phase Mismatch

1.6°

Lock°

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Group Delay

7.7

N/A

Group Delay

Preview Graph

SAMPLE

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Weighted Group Delay

0.9 ms

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Cumulative Spectral Decay

CSD

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SAMPLE

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PRTF

5.3

N/A

PRTF

Preview Graph

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PRTF Accuracy (RMS Deviation)

3.14 dB

Lock dB

PRTF Size (Avg.)

6.02 dB

Lock dB

PRTF Distance

5.77 dB

Lock dB

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Harmonic Distortion

9.0

N/A

Harmonics Levels

Preview Graph

SAMPLE

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THD Ratio

Preview Graph

SAMPLE

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WHD @ 94 dB SPL

0.07%

Lock%

WHD @ 104 dB SPL

0.28%

Lock%

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Electrical Aspects

Impedance

SAMPLE

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Sensitivity @1kHz-1V

N/A

Lock dB SPL

Bluetooth Max SPL

106.4 dB

Lock dB

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Virtual Soundstage

0.0

N/A

Virtual Soundstage

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SAMPLE

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Head Modeling

Locked

Speaker Modeling

Locked

Room Ambience

Locked

Head Tracking

Locked

Virtual Surround

Locked

Test Settings

Firmware

1.5.7

Locked

Power

Locked

Connection

Bluetooth

Locked

Codec

aptX, 16-bit, 48kHz

Locked

Test Instrument

TP-Link BE9300 BT 5.4

Locked

EQ

Dynamic

Locked

ANC

Silent

Locked

Tip/Pad

Default

Locked

Microphone

Integrated

Locked

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Design

Style

Design Picture 2

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Type

Over-ear

Locked

Enclosure

Closed-Back

Locked

Wireless

Yes

Locked

Transducer

Dynamic

Locked

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Comfort

7.5

N/A

Comfort Picture

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Weight

0.79 lbs

Lock lbs

Clamping Force

1.2 lbs

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Controls

7.6

N/A

Controls Picture

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OS Compatibility

Not OS specific

Locked

Ease Of Use

Good

Locked

Feedback

Decent

Locked

Call/Music Control

Yes

Locked

Volume Control

Yes

Locked

Microphone Control

Locked

Channel Mixing

Locked

Noise Cancelling Control

Presets

Locked

Talk-Through

On/Off

Locked

Additional Controls

Multi function + Voice Assistant

Locked

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Portability

5.7

N/A

Portability Picture

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SAMPLE

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L

7.9" (20.0 cm)

Lock" (Lock cm)

W

7.9" (20.0 cm)

Lock" (Lock cm)

H

2.4" (6.0 cm)

Lock" (Lock cm)

Volume

140.90 in³ (2,308.90 cm³)

Lock in³ (Lock cm³)

Transmitter Required

Locked

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Case

8.0

N/A

Case Picture

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Type

Hard case

Locked

L

9.0" (22.8 cm)

Lock" (Lock cm)

W

8.2" (20.9 cm)

Lock" (Lock cm)

H

2.8" (7.1 cm)

Lock" (Lock cm)

Volume

206.46 in³ (3,383.29 cm³)

Lock in³ (Lock cm³)

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Build Quality

8.0

N/A

Build Quality Picture

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SAMPLE

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Show Text

Stability

7.0

N/A

Stability Picture

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Headshots 1

Angled Picture

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Side Picture

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Headshots 2

Front Picture

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SAMPLE

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Rear Picture

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SAMPLE

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Top

Top Picture

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SAMPLE

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In The Box

In The Box Picture

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SAMPLE

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Isolation

Noise Isolation - Full Range

8.5

N/A

Noise Isolation - Full Range Graph

Preview Graph

SAMPLE

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Noise Cancelling

Yes

Locked

Overall Attenuation

-22.36 dB

Lock dB

Bass

-18.04 dB

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Mid

-20.18 dB

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Treble

-30.01 dB

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Noise Isolation - Common Scenarios

7.9

N/A

Noise Isolation - Common Scenarios Graph

Preview Graph

SAMPLE

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Airplane Noise Attenuation

-18.40 dB

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Airplane Noise Isolation Audio

Office Noise Attenuation

-18.55 dB

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Office Noise Isolation Audio

Street Noise Attenuation

-19.99 dB

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Street Noise Isolation Audio

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Noise Isolation - Voice Handling

ANC Wind Handling

ANC Wind Handling Graph

Preview Graph

SAMPLE

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ANC Wind Noise

Show Text

Leakage

6.9

N/A

Leakage

Preview Graph

SAMPLE

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Leakage Audio

Overall Leakage @ 1ft

39.93 dB

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Microphone

Microphone Style

Integrated

Yes

Locked

In-Line

Locked

Boom

Locked

Detachable Boom

Locked

Mic

Yes

Locked

Recording Quality

6.4

N/A

Microphone Frequency Response

Preview Graph

SAMPLE

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Recorded Speech

LFE

364.41 Hz

Lock Hz

FR Std. Dev.

5.86 dB

Lock dB

HFE

4,763.35 Hz

Lock Hz

Weighted THD

0.526

Lock

Gain

18.34 dB

Lock dB

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Noise Handling

7.0

N/A

SpNR

Preview Graph

SAMPLE

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SpNR

26.83 dB

Lock dB

Noise Gate

Always On

Locked

Speech + Pink Noise Handling

7.0

0.0

Speech + Pink Noise Audio Sample

Speech + Subway Noise Handling

7.0

0.0

Speech + Subway Noise Audio Sample

Show Text

Active Features

Battery

7.9

N/A

Battery Type

Rechargable

Locked

Continuous Battery Life

29.1 hrs

Lock hrs

Additional Charges

0.0

Lock

Total Battery Life

29.1 hrs

Lock hrs

Charge Time

2 hrs

Lock hrs

Power-Saving Feature

Standby mode

Locked

Audio While Charging

Locked

Passive Playback

Locked

Charging Port

USB-C

Locked

Show Text

App Support

7.5

N/A

App Picture

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SAMPLE

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App Name

Focal & Naim

Locked

iOS

Yes

Locked

Android

Yes

Locked

macOS

Locked

Windows

Locked

Equalizer

Graphic + Presets

Locked

ANC Control

Presets

Locked

Mic Control

Locked

Room Effects

Locked

Playback Control

Locked

Button Mapping

Locked

Surround Support

Locked

Show Text

Connectivity

Wired Connection

6.7

N/A

Cable Picture

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SAMPLE

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Analog Audio

Yes

Locked

USB Audio

USB-C

Locked

Detachable

Yes

Locked

Length

4.17 ft (1.27 m)

N/A

Connector

1/8" TRS

Locked

Latency - Analog

35.5 ms

Lock ms

Latency - USB

51.5 ms

Lock ms

Recorded Latency

Recorded Latency Connection

USB

Locked

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Bluetooth Connection

8.1

N/A

Bluetooth Version

5.1

Locked

Multi-Device Pairing

2 Devices

Locked

Quick Pair (Android)

Yes

Locked

Quick Pair (iOS)

Locked

Line Of Sight Range

334.65 ft (102.00 m)

Lock ft (Lock m)

Latency - SBC

283 ms

Lock ms

Latency - aptX

289 ms

Lock ms

Latency - aptX Adaptive (High Quality)

263 ms

Lock ms

Latency - aptX Adaptive (Low Latency)

58 ms

Lock ms

Latency - LDAC

N/A

Recorded Latency

Recorded Latency Codec

aptX Adaptive (Low Latency)

Locked

AAC Support

Yes

Locked

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Wireless Connection (Dongle)

0.0

N/A

Line Of Sight Range

N/A

Latency - Dongle

N/A

Recorded Latency

N/A

PC Compatibility

Analog

Audio Only

Locked

Wired USB

Audio + Microphone

Locked

Non-BT Wireless

Locked

Show Text

PlayStation Compatibility

PS4 Analog

Audio Only

Locked

PS4 Wired USB

Locked

PS4 Non-BT Wireless

Locked

PS5 Analog

Audio Only

Locked

PS5 Wired USB

Locked

PS5 Non-BT Wireless

Locked

Show Text

Xbox Compatibility

Xbox One Analog

Audio Only

Locked

Xbox One Wired USB

Locked

Xbox One Non-BT Wireless

Locked

Xbox Series X|S Analog

Audio Only

Locked

Xbox Series X|S Wired USB

Locked

Xbox Series X|S Non-BT Wireless

Locked

Show Text

Base/Dock

0.0

N/A

Type

No Base/Dock

Locked

USB Input

Locked

Line In

Locked

Line Out

Locked

Optical Input

Locked

RCA Input

Locked

Dock Charging

Locked

Power Supply

No Base/Dock

Locked

Check Price

Black/Gray

Bathys

Brown

IO-12

Dune

Bathys

Brown

IO-12