Focal Focal Bathys Noise-Canceling Wireless Over-Ear Review

The Focal Bathys is a $850 lesson in brand tax. It's perfectly average at everything and outstanding at nothing. For half the price, you can get a class-leading Sony or Bose.

The Focal Bathys are a classic case of a great audio brand trying to do too much and landing squarely in the middle of the pack. For $849, you're paying a massive premium for the Focal name on a wireless ANC headphone that, according to our data, is just average at everything. The one thing to know? These are for the die-hard Focal fan who absolutely must have wireless headphones from their favorite brand, and no one else. For everyone else, there are better options that cost hundreds less.

What surprised us was how thoroughly unremarkable the performance is across the board. In our testing database, the Bathys scores between the 48th and 50th percentile in every single category—sound, ANC, battery, comfort, you name it. That means it's literally average compared to all other wireless over-ears. For a product from a high-end audio house costing this much, we expected at least one standout feature, but it just doesn't have one. It's competent, but forgettable.

Not worth it. At $849, the Bathys is competing with—and losing to—headphones that cost $300-$400 less. You're paying for the badge, not for performance that justifies the price tag.

This is where it gets rough. The Sony WH-1000XM5 ($399) and Bose QuietComfort Ultra ($429) absolutely demolish the Bathys on ANC, features, and battery life for half the price. Even the Apple AirPods Max ($549), which are also expensive, offer a more cohesive ecosystem experience and better transparency mode. If you want true audiophile sound in this form factor, the Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 ($349) delivers a more engaging listen for a fraction of the cost. The Bathys loses on every practical front.

If you're looking for the best noise cancellation, skip this and get the Sony WH-1000XM5. If you want the best sound for your money, skip this and get the Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4. If you just want great wireless headphones, skip this and get literally anything else from the top of our charts.

We can't recommend the Focal Bathys to anyone but the most brand-devoted Focal collector. It's an average performer with a luxury price tag. For literally any use case—commuting, travel, home listening—there is a better, cheaper headphone available. Save your money and get a Sony, Bose, or Sennheiser. You'll get better features and likely won't be able to tell the difference in sound quality.