Focal Bathys

[Terry Winks]

Anyone else got a set of these? My Sony WH-100X3’s after 6 years of solid abuse have finally bitten the dust (expedited by my 2 year old)

I love my cans, can only do my in ears for short periods of time, and they get used a lot. Price wise it’s a bit of leap, but I’m in my 40th year so I guess one last treat is ok.

Can’t really see anywhere that I could even test them though.

If anyone has any insights that would be good.

[tonyg58]

Don't know where you are, so can't advise on a dealer.
However they are on the John Lewis website, so they may (unlikely, but may) have a pair to listen to in one of the bigger stores.
Also you could always order them from there and send them back if you didn't like them.

[Terry Winks]

Yeah, Richersounds have the same thing, can try them for two weeks and if not what I want can return, they also have an offer for £150 off them at the moment trading in any old headphones, and they don't actually need the headphones.

So I am off there now to go and get it done.

[Terry Winks]

Within 10 seconds I knew they weren't going back, wow, they are incredible and a very noticeable step on from the Sony's. I mean they should be for the price, but wow.

[Hedgeman]

I have a pair, and yes they do sound incredible. Superbly detailed and natural.

Downsides, they are pretty chunky, and the noise cancelling is ok, but not fantastic. They aren't my cans of choice for plane or train.

[tonyg58]

Terry Winks said:

Within 10 seconds I knew they weren't going back, wow, they are incredible and a very noticeable step on from the Sony's. I mean they should be for the price, but wow.

You're in for a treat then, they'll probably take a more or so to run in and loosen off.
Expect them to get better for quite a while.

[Terry Winks]

Hedgeman said:

I have a pair, and yes they do sound incredible. Superbly detailed and natural.

Downsides, they are pretty chunky, and the noise cancelling is ok, but not fantastic. They aren't my cans of choice for plane or train.

I think Bose will always win for the noise cancelling side, but I’ll take the sound over that function. But yeah, I’m in love with them essentially. Got a few Hi Res Lossless tracks that are absolutely stand out.

[Terry Winks]

I can't begin to say how happy these things make me! Getting better and better.

[Hedgeman]

I've been travelling a lot in the past week, 6 flights with BA on a variety of aircraft with different levels of noisiness - A320, 777 and 787 - and thought I'd take my Focal Bathys with me. I also had my Bose QC II buds for contrast.

Conclusion - the noise cancellation of the Bathys just doesn't cut it for air travel. Yes, you can turn the volume up, but particularly on the noisier planes such as the 777, the background noise from the engines still intrudes enough to be detrimental to the experience, in a way it doesn't with the much cheaper, less detailed (though much more portable) Bose.

Overall it leaves the Bathys occupying a weird niche for me. Not great for noisy travel environments, and surpassed by superior wired options elsewhere.