Focal FBATHYS

The Focal Bathys is a premium pair of wireless ANC headphones with a luxury build and a $599 USD price tag. But our data shows sound quality in the 20th percentile, ANC below average, and comfort near the bottom of the category. You're paying for the Focal name and leather materials, not the performance.

Let's talk numbers. The battery life is solid, sitting at the 46th percentile. You'll get over 30 hours in Bluetooth and ANC mode, and fast charging adds about 5 hours in 15 minutes. That's respectable, not class-leading. The ANC performance is a weak spot at the 32nd percentile. It works, but it won't make you forget the Sony or Bose flagships exist.

The sound quality is where things get uncomfortable. At the 20th percentile, the Bathys is well below average for its category. The 40mm Aluminum-Magnesium drivers are technically interesting, but our data suggests they don't translate into a listening experience that justifies the price. The microphone is even worse at the 15th percentile, so don't expect great call quality. And connectivity is nearly dead last at the 4th percentile, which is surprising for a pair of wireless headphones in this price range.

Stacked against the Sony ULT WEAR WHULT900N/B, the Bathys loses on almost every metric that matters. Sony's ANC is in a different league, and the sound signature is more engaging for most listeners. The Sennheiser HDB 630 is another strong alternative, offering better comfort and connectivity at a lower price. The Technics EAH-A800 beats the Bathys on sound quality and battery life while costing less.

Even budget options like the JBL Tune 670NC and TOZO HT3 embarrass the Bathys in some categories. The TOZO HT3, which costs a fraction of the price, delivers better comfort and connectivity scores. The Bathys has the luxury materials and the Focal name, but when you compare actual performance data, it's hard to justify the premium.

Here's where things get painful. The Bathys costs $599 USD in the US, CAD 999 in Canada, and GBP 792 in the UK. In Europe, prices swing from EUR 629 to EUR 812 depending on the store, with the best deal coming in at EUR 629. That's a EUR 183 spread, so shopping around matters if you're set on these. But even at the low end, you're paying flagship money for sound quality that lands in the 20th percentile. The Sony ULT WEAR and Technics EAH-A800 both deliver better overall performance for less cash. If you're asking whether the Focal Bathys is worth it, our data says no, not unless the brand name and leather headband are worth a few hundred extra to you.

The Focal Bathys sits in that awkward space where hi-fi pedigree meets wireless convenience, and the price tag makes you wince a little. We're talking about a pair of over-ear Bluetooth headphones with active noise cancellation that costs around $599 USD, or anywhere from EUR 629 to EUR 812 depending on which European store you're browsing. That's serious money for wireless cans, even ones with 40mm Aluminum-Magnesium drivers made in France.

So is the Focal Bathys good for music? On paper, the ingredients are there. You get real leather, a magnesium yoke, USB-C and 3.5mm connectivity, and over 30 hours of battery life with ANC on. But our database tells a different story. The sound quality lands in the 20th percentile for this category, which is rough for a brand that built its name on studio monitors and high-end speakers.

People searching for the best wireless headphones under $600 will absolutely run into the Bathys. And they'll find a beautifully built pair of headphones that, according to our numbers, doesn't quite deliver the audio experience the price suggests.

Skip the Focal Bathys if you care about comfort, call quality, or getting your money's worth. The 2nd percentile comfort score means these aren't great for long flights or all-day listening. If you take a lot of calls, the 15th percentile mic will frustrate you. And if you want reliable wireless connectivity, the 4th percentile score is a dealbreaker. Buy the Sony ULT WEAR for better ANC and sound, the Technics EAH-A800 for better battery and audio, or the TOZO HT3 if you want to save a pile of cash and still get better comfort.

Should you buy the Focal Bathys? Probably not. Unless you're a die-hard Focal fan who values the leather and aluminum construction above everything else, these headphones don't deliver the performance their price demands. The sound quality is mediocre for the category, the ANC is underwhelming, and the comfort score is one of the worst we've seen.

If you want great wireless headphones with ANC, buy the Sony ULT WEAR or the Technics EAH-A800 and pocket the difference. The Bathys feels like a luxury product that forgot to be a great headphone first.