Focal Focal Bathys Noise-Canceling Wireless Over-Ear Review

The Focal Bathys are a $700 lesson in diminishing returns. You pay for the name and a nice sound, but get outclassed on every practical feature by headphones half the price.

The Focal Bathys are a weird flex. They're $699 wireless headphones from a legendary speaker company, and the one thing you need to know is this: they sound fantastic... if you're a wired audiophile who's willing to make some serious compromises for that sound. Everything else about them, from the noise cancellation to the battery life, feels like it's playing catch-up to headphones that cost half as much. You're paying a premium for Focal's tuning in a wireless package, and that's the entire pitch.

The sound quality is the only thing that didn't disappoint us. It lands right in the middle of the pack in our database, which is actually a win for a wireless headphone from a hi-fi brand—they often get this part wrong. The tuning is detailed and balanced, not overly bass-heavy like a lot of competitors. But that's the only pleasant surprise. The ANC, battery life, and microphone quality all scored in the 48th percentile, which is just... fine. For $700, 'fine' is a tough sell.

Not worth it. At $699, you're deep into 'luxury purchase' territory, but you're not getting a luxury experience. You're getting great sound attached to a bunch of average, sometimes sub-par, wireless features. There are too many better all-arounders for less money.

This is where it gets rough for the Bathys. The Sony WH-1000XM5 ($399) crushes it on ANC, battery life, and features. The Apple AirPods Max ($549) offers a more cohesive ecosystem experience and better transparency mode. Even the Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 ($349) gives you stellar sound with much better battery life. The Bathys' only argument is its specific Focal sound signature, and that's a niche within a niche.

If you're looking for the best wireless noise-canceling headphones for travel or the office, this isn't it. Go get the Sony WH-1000XM5 instead. Also skip these if you take a lot of calls—the mic quality is a known weak spot.

We can't recommend the Focal Bathys to anyone but a very specific person: a dedicated Focal fan who absolutely must have wireless headphones and refuses to consider anything else. For everyone else, buying these is like ordering a gourmet steak at a fancy restaurant and having it served on a paper plate with plastic cutlery. The core ingredient is good, but the overall experience is lacking. Save your money and get a pair of Sonys for daily use, and put the rest towards a proper wired setup if sound is your priority.