Here you go guys, rundown of my thoughts so far. It's pretty much all in the conclusion, but the song by song breakdown will give some justification for my conclusions, hopefully
PX8 vs Bathys (iOS Bluetooth exclusively)
Overall a very different listen. I’ve had 2 solid days with each now and have listened them all day, and also had my gf compare them for you guys for fun. It’s been interesting, I also sat down each day to do in depth comparisons track by track, genre by genre, listening to 30s-1minute of a track side by side, taking notes, and re-examining key details across four sessions over the weekend. All my other gear has gathered dust for four days now!
Rock
Formidable Cool - wolf alice
The bass in the intro of this song has a lot more energy, and drive in it on the PX8 than on the Bathys. I much prefer the bass here on the PX8, it’s a lot more fun, detailed and bodied. It doesn’t impeach on the vocals either, which sound more present on the PX8 throughout the track, they sound a little thin on the Bathys at times, whereas on the PX8 they are fuller and feel closer.
There are passages on the Bathys that feel a bit empty compared to PX8. Example, 2min, a strong bassline supports soft vocals.
On the Bathys the Bassline is fainter and lacks energy, while the vocal remains clear. This passage on the PX8 has a lot more drive, grunt and fun in it, where the Bathys trades the body of bassnotes for more spaciousness. But it doesn’t really add to the song here.
The Bathys presents all the instruments with clarity, and images better than the PX8 and sounds less congested. But the way the bass region is presented on the PX8 is just so much more…fun and alive, there is serious energy there.
Very solid win for PX8 in my book.
Giant Peach - Wolf Alice
Bathys sounds more holographic and wider, instruments are spread out more and placement feels more accomplished. PX8 has more grunt on the guitar and thickness, there is a real crunch and body in the guitar that grabs you.
Details are clearer and more distinct on the Bathys for sure, e.g. the two guitars are really clearly outlined in space and can be picked out.
But PX8 has a greater sense of punch and guitars are more present and have more bite. The highlight of the song, the opening riff, has a huge sense of impact and momentum on the PX8.
Winner - PX8
Failure - Another Space Song
Details jump out on the Bathys in a really cool way, it's immersive.
Guitar riff is meatier on the PX8 and more pleasant again. But I really like Bathys imaging here.
Greater sense of clarity on Bathys. I could listen to either and would have a preference depending on my mood.
Draw
Electronic
My Name is Dark - Grimes
Around 3.20, a droning (distorted guitar?) plays behind the vocal.
The bathys images the sound beautifully, it is very well separated and clear from the vocal. The PX8 doesnt quite image it in the same way, with the same clarity. There are several moments where the bathys renders details really nicely.
E.g. where second ambient vocals appear, they come across the image much more elegantly than PX8 and these secondary details are more present and easily discerned on Bathys.
Meanwhile the basslines and bass remains more energetic and engaging on PX8.
A solid win for Bathys, really liked the presentation
Flesh without Blood -Grimes
The Bathys ability to render sounds holographically here is just incredible for an ANC headphone. Effects pop out from every direction and its immensely engaging, the PX8 simply can’t do that, not even close.
Instead on the PX8 the sound sounds a lot more contained in one region, and the whole thing is driven by the bass and the vocal. The bass has more authority but is also dialled up, vocals sound similar on both, the guitar is more full bodied and enjoyable on the PX8.
This is a really tough call, the Bathys does awesome stuff with electronic music. Stuff no ANC headphone I’ve heard can do, which I associate more with Clear/Stellia in terms of imaging.
I think this could simply go either way, my preference is for PX8 though because it has more ‘soul’ on this track, for lack of a better word.
Winner PX8 (just)
Eve of Destruction - Chemical Bros
This track is full of effects and interesting instruments
Vocals sound more intimate and lush - PX8
Great imaging and placement of effects - Bathys
More spacious sound - Bathys
Better quality of drums/instrumentals - PX8
Draw
Galvanise Chemical Brothers
If you’re familiar with this song, or even not, the first 30s shows a stark difference in presentation. That opening effect is clearer and more detailed on Bathys.
The opening periodic instrumental is much more forceful and convincing on PX8, and the bass that kicks in at 0.18 is a lot more authoritative and deep on PX8, but also far more potent. The bass on Bathys is vastly dialled back in comparison, much lighter and more polite, but also not very impactful.
Huge win for PX8 for my tastes, I found the song lacking the usual drive and energy it does on speakers or live for that matter (saw em two months back, lucky me). It was just a bit meh on the Focals relatively, but I should add, some people like the more polite presentation, I think, it’s a matter of taste. And without the PX8 onhand, who knows, I might've been perfectly happy.
PX8 by a big margin
Vocals
Skyfall - Adele
Really strong difference on the vocal here. The PX8 sounds a lot more nuanced and fuller again, the Bathys vocal is flatter and has a less going on. In simple terms, I hear more emotion in Adele’s voice with the PX8
This was a very clear win for PX8 to me, it was a much more emotive and forceful listen. There were parts I listened to both on twice headphones to get a really clear idea of what’s going on as it was hard to focus on instrumentals and vocals simultaneously.
Winner - PX8, by a good margin
Blue Jeans - Lana Del Rey
Lots of interesting instrumental parts, ambient sections in this song, and they are more clearly recognisable on the bathys ever so slightly. some small details are harder to discern or on the PX8, or jump out less. Lana’s vocal feels a bit shimmery on Bathys, it’s hard to describe, it just sounds less like a human is singing? I had this problem with Elegia somewhat too. On PX8 there is a sweeter, warmer tone to voice which feels like an added detail.
Both headphones get slightly harsh with the vocal at one point, so out of interest I whipped out the Stellia…No harshness, which was interesting.
Once again I give the nod to PX8 for the vocal rendition. It’s more natural.
Innocents - Aurora
There is a transition at 40sish that sounds a lot more energetic and powerful on the PX8, drums kick in and another instrumental line.
On Bathys vs PX8 it sounds a little feeble, its a combination of the more present bass and fuller vocals on the PX8 which renders that transition with a lot more oomph. It sounds pretty spectacular on PX8.
After the transition the vocal continues with the new instrumental, on the Bathys the Vocal is pushes back in the mix and the instrumental is the most forward, present component.
On the PX8 the Vocal is front and centre, and I think this is more appropriate and sounds better.
Meanwhile the separation of instruments from the vocal is more pronounced on the Bathys. Notes have a sharper edge, everything sounds clearer and more defined in 3d space.
I preferred this on PX8 considerably, I think it has a more natural timbre which is noticeable on vocals.
Classical
Moonlight Sonata
Piano tones sound softer and more agreeable to me on PX8. Still great on Bathys, I have a feeling Bathys might do great with an ensemble. But here with a single instrument it really is a test of timbre and I think the PX8 sounds more natural in that regard.
PX8 for timbre
Hip-Hop/Rap/Alternative
Numb - Jay Z & Linking Park
Same story, the beat is more engaging and the song sounds more ‘colourful’ on the PX8. The Bathys feels like a clear window to the music, when Chester’s vocal kicks in I find it more emotive and involving on PX8 but clear and cripsier on Bathys.
I think this song benefits a lot from the added energy the PX8 adds to the table.
Winner PX8
Girlfriend impressions
My gf picked up the PX8 and Bathys because she liked how they looked. I didn’t tell her what I was upto. She really dug the PX8. I asked her to try the Bathys too and she gave me her opinion, note, I haven’t told her anything about my impressions or conclusions.
Run Boy Run - Woodkid (her choice)
She listented to the PX8 first and loved it. Then she had a go on Bathys and switched between them a few times. Quotes as they were said:
“The voice is further away” - on Bathys
“It is good though.” on Bathys
“it’s a bit..How can I say, sharp? it’s not hitting the nerves in the same way…” - On Bathys
“On the focals everything is on the same level? does that make sense. The instruments are the same volume, which isn’t how it should be, I think. On the Bowers and Wilkins the singer is in the center and the instruments around that part, but not on the same level, it sounds more like a concert. I think these ones (Focal) would be good for the song you showed me (Lorn - Electronic Music). I like the bowers ones a lot more they sound more alive.”
I know eerily similar to what I’m saying, but I did not prompt her or tell her which I preferred overall. She’s not a newbie to this stuff, as a disclaimer, she has an astonishingly good ear musically, used to be a singer & voice actress. Has a musical memory I wish I had as a guitarist…Not saying this makes her opinion more valid, just saying she doesn’t have an untrained ear and can pick out sounds well enough.
Overall
(Above is a sample of the tracks, I did quite a lot more spread over 3 sessions but didn’t want this post to become absurdly long)
I think these are two different presentations and sound signatures. Coming from a desktop setup, especially a focal setup like me, I’m almost always on my Stellia, from that perspective the Bathys may be more agreeable, certainly initially. They have a very clear sound, with a holographic presentation that is more spherical and what I’m used to.
The PX8 create a more cohesive soundstage, kind of like listening to speakers or a concert, layering sounds closer together but retaining almost all the detail Bathys present.
They’re different enough that I can see people preferring either. But given the use case I think generally the PX8 might be better suited for on the fly. Personally I have a pretty big leaning toward PX8 at this point, which is a huge surprise for me as I expected the Bathys to trounce the PX8, to be honest, given the Focal driver onboard and how good i know their closed backs can be.
The PX8 just has a brilliant sense of energy and life. once you put away the analysts glasses and just enjoy, it is supremely fun and emotive. The quality of the bass, and the thickness in the midrange renders both guitars and vocals with a delectable quality. It's hard to isolate why it's so enjoyable, some tint of magic got in there. And i think that’s what I’d personally seek from a ANC headphone, others may differ.
Bathys provides those floating details, those nice little surprises you’re used to from desk headphones. That age old trope ‘I can hear new details in my songs’ will bear true hear, Bathys will do fantastic stuff with detail, especially in electronic music. It will demand attention and even wow at points. I think it will impress the inner analyst more, and I think it is excellent for electronic music.
I’m going to spend a few more days with each now. But at this point, about 10 hours or so on each, I’m pretty darn happy with the PX8 as my ANC headphone and probably wouldn't pick up Bathys again if it wasn't to do a bit more testing.
Ps. There has been talk of comparing Airpods max to these. I don’t think they’re close, I shipped mine out last week, but I’ve spent plenty of time with them. These both provide noticeably superior sound quality imo.
The testing crew
