Hi all,
Been on the hunt for the Focal Bathys and stumbled on Addicted to Audio who is doing a sale on Focal an Naim Headphones clearance
https://addictedtoaudio.com.au/collections/focal-naim-cleara…
The Bathys normally retails for around $1000 plus and hardly any discounts and this is first time it has dropped below that.
Oops. Done
I'd be somewhat scared using these ourdoors, with how brittle focal headbands are.
Thats nice
Very tempted at this price.
Already have the B&W Px8 though so can't really justify buying this.
Thank you
How much of a step up are these compared to the OzB fav Sony XM4/5 and Bose QC45?
Massive, but if you don't need ANC look at the Audeze Maxwell. Big wave of higher quality ANC headphones are about to come through, look to brands like AKG, Focal, Sennheiser, Audeze and HIFIMAN for better products that produce genuinely good audio that you can use for both desktop gaming and travel.
Do you have any more info on this new wave? Tried the bathys and liked the sound but found i was getting a hotspot on top of my head after a while. Wondering what good sounding options will likely be available in the near future
Nothing fully confirmed yet, sadly, only the Audeze Maxwell.
Sennheiser seem to be happily pushing their Momentum 4 headset so that seems likely for a firmware update, not much else of note to report yet.
I doubt many people would actually wear the bathys outside, they are pretty big and you'd feel like a Cyberman - not everyone is bothered by this but I wouldn't reach for them first. Honestly for almost half price the Sony xm5 are a great all-rounder for travel and in those environments. Comfort comes into it a lot too.
PS. Home listening doesn't need to conform to size and aesthetics but potable I like to be more compact.
I have Sony XM5 for gym workouts and focal utopia at home.
U wang good noise cancellation and endurable with unbalanced pumped music in the gym. not ref i guess.
you need massive in a nice and quiet environment.
So this one is not that attractive for me, personally. plus I have other headphones and speakers.
One of the worst combination of autocorrect gone wrong and terrible writing.
is this better Mr keyboard Warrior???
I utilize the Sony XM5 headphones during my gym workout sessions, owing to their commendable noise cancellation capabilities and resilience in the face of unbalanced and vigorous musical compositions that typify such environments. On the other hand, my domestic soundscape is enriched by the Focal Utopia headphones. My preferences lean towards a noise cancellation solution that provides a robust and lasting auditory experience amidst the acoustically intense milieu of the gym, necessitating an unambiguous prioritization of durability over reference-grade sound fidelity.
For circumstances wherein a voluminous auditory experience ensconced in a tranquil setting is sought, the aforementioned arrangement does not hold an allure for me personally. Furthermore, it is pertinent to note that my auditory preferences are amply served by an array of alternative headphones and speaker systems at my disposal.
@nng526: Did you get some help from chatgpt? Lol
Do you even know what keyboard warrior means? Calling out someone to put in a little more effort to at least make it look like a proper language is not being a keyboard warrior
John Darko did a good comparison/review on a few top noise cancelling headphones. None and perfect with different pros and cons. Depends if you want straight out sound quality or usability, battery life, comfort etc.
My takeaway from that was that the Bathys had the best sound but was also the best all arounder (where some of the others might have been better at specific things)
Thanks Op. Was gonna post this, such a good deal. Likely a new version coming out around the corner but hey, proper audio and above the commercial Sony xm5, Bose's, and on par with px8s for less price than on Qantas sale a little while ago.
Apparently A2A are being dropped by Focal hence the sale.
You need an amp with them?
They're wireless, so unlikely.
NO. The headphones have an active amplification input.
They have 3 input methods.
* Bluetooth
* DAC via USB-C
* 3.5mm Jack
Went and had a listen earlier in the year and didn't like them, walked out with Focal Radiance instead.
Picked up some Maxwell's recently, didn't A/B (wanted the Mic and UC), but they sound better from memory.
How is the bass on Maxwell? Is it boomy or high quality bass or clinical sounding bass?
No complaints, I don't find it boomy. Must say, I mainly use these for podcasts and calls sadly. Awesome noise cancelling mic. Plus I can plug the dongle into any USB-C and don't have to deal with crappy Bluetooth multi-point.
Radiance is very easy to drive. I have a Matrix Audio DAC that I sometimes use, but mainly they are used with an iPhone / Apple dongle.
You use a dac on radiance?
See above:-)
Thank you
How's the maxwell compared to the radiance? In terms of sound quality
Different. Radiance is a long way better, but it has a cord. I'm using the Maxwell much more simply because I can plug the UC dongle into what ever I'm using and don't have to deal with Bluetooth multi-point issues.
What didn't you like about them?
Awesome will go listen to them.
Sweet
The entire Focal range is being discontinued from Addicted to Audio. Discounted pricing is available across the range 'while stocks last'.
Thanks OP. I've had my eyes on the Bathys for sometime. Was ready to purchase earlier in month, but ran short on time to visit my local store for a test. Massive saving acheived from this sale.
So they are not going to be a reseller anymore?
That is what I was told by the sales rep.
Yeah I've seen a news article pointing to a new distributor for Australia/ Asia. It explains why they are offloading it all cheap.
@Movember20: From what others have said you'd have no luck directly with Focal anyway but I guess you'd go to the retailer first who won't be worse!
@Movember20: Good question. No idea. A2A website says 1 year warranty. So they should be taking responsibility for it surely. I've dealt with A2A before (had an issue with a pair of Sony headphones) and they were excellent in dealing with it. I'm not worried about them not honouring the warranty.
Yep heard this as had some focal speakers in for warranty
I just bought them wish me luck.
There is probably no doubt the Bathys may have better quality sound, but they are pretty expensive and bulky for a portable (got my XM5 for $350, the the XM4 can be had for $200-300). I'd just stick with those and keep your high end headphones for home listening (with a good DAC + headphone Amp).
The Bathys may suit people if it's going to be their only pair etc. No idea about comfort best to try on.
I had focal 2-ways in the car in the 2000s..
Based on my experience, I would agree with this.
Chances are you don't need the best sound quality if you're working and not as focused on music.
I'd pick up the most practical pair in terms of UX and transportability. Even the Momentum 3s feel like a downgrade over the Surface headphones I previously had which had better controls with the two wheels.
I've also tried taking some headphones out of the house with a BTR5, but have found the need for wires and lack of ANC to be a pain in a few situations.
But that's the things, the Bathys save you from having to carry anything except them, no wires, and you get great sound - very hard to beat as a complete package.
Didnt need or want but bought it anyway.
Anyone know what dac these have?
Thanks!
Price in title pls.