Ah, that's a problem a lot of focals actually have (depending on the shape of your head). I has to return the Celestee for this exact same reason - it created a really bad Hotspot at the top of my head.
Focal Bathys Hi-Fi Bluetooth & ANC Headphones: Early Impressions
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Ansch
Head-Fier
I've been using these about 2 months now. Mainly for work via usb DAC 80% of the time and 20% on BT when I'm out and about or walking the dog.
I prioritize sound quality over absolute ANC performance for this purchase and the ANC on the Bathys does the job sufficiently well without compromising SQ in all the ANC modes.
Now that I've had some use of the headphones, the sound does mellow out and no longer do they sound too hot or sharp on some tracks. I'll take it as a combination of burn-in, a final EQ setting that I'm happy with and me just getting used to the sound profile.
Comfort level for me is great. I have no complaints with the ear pads nor the head band as some others have. I can wear this for hours in the office. This will be different for everyone.
Overall no regrets on the purchase and very happy with them.
LifeAspect
500+ Head-Fier
I spent over a week with Bathys already and have some observations. First due to the angled driver design.. I found headphone positioning to be the most critical element in getting their great sound out. If I push the headphone to much to the front, I get a boomy sound, and an odd distant stage, but if I get them just right, with headphones more pushed to the center or a bit back I get quite an amazing stage and separation. Also, the treble response gets way better. I would even say that it's more important than EQ in sound coherence to my ears. Also, the clamp is a thing, unfortunately. If You, like me, have a big but not necessarily wide head You can into the trouble of not getting enough clamp, which makes drivers to be positioned a tiny bit too far from the ear and creates again a bit hollow presentation. What I do, is when I put headphones on, I push them a bit so that the pads get a better seal, unfortunately, it's more of a hack and a temporary solution. Last, I found USB DAC mode to sound considerably better than BT from iPhone 14... obviously. So I wonder if anyone found a good cable or connector for Lighting to USB to use.
These are very good headphones that can sound quite amazing!
These are very good headphones that can sound quite amazing!
RayMets1
100+ Head-Fier
In wanting to listen to music in BT with the best codex for sound qualify available for the Bathys. I purchased the Creative BT-W4 Bluetooth Aptx Adaptive adapter and attached it to my PC. I can now listen to the Bathys wirelessly using Qobuz in Exclusive mode on my Dell XPS 13 laptop using Aptx Adaptive codex. I do hear an upgrade in the music quality from the built in PC Bluetooth with clearer sound and a more dynamic bass. The sound is very close to the Sound when wired to the USB-C.
I also tried the small adapter on my Samsung Galaxy s22 Ultra which only supports Aptx, not Aptx Adaptive. The results were the same as on my PC, This is a great way to get the best sound out of Bathys, for those who prefer to listen in BT mode.
I also tried the small adapter on my Samsung Galaxy s22 Ultra which only supports Aptx, not Aptx Adaptive. The results were the same as on my PC, This is a great way to get the best sound out of Bathys, for those who prefer to listen in BT mode.
gazzington
Headphoneus Supremus
I’m not fully understanding how the bathys works usb wise. Does this mean it can be used for example with a mojo2? I haven’t bought the bathys yet but am strongly considering it
Do yours have a popping noise when you're walking? That was my biggest issue with mine. I'm wondering if mine were defective.
Nope. The Bathys have accept a USB-C input to the internal DAC. Basically, the Mojo2 is already built into the headphones, and you can connect to it directly.
There *is* technically an analog input, and you could run that from the Mojo2. But my understanding is that the Bathys digitizes any analog input, and powers itself with the internal DAC/amp no matter what. So I’m not sure how much would be gained using a Mojo2. But I haven’t tried that config.
As another point of reference - I recently compared the USB-driven Bathys to my Lirics with a DragonflyRed. You still get what you pay for - the Lirics were substantially more resolving and much clearer in the midband.
Ansch
Head-Fier
No popping noise from the ANC when walking, but it does get Microphonic in between tracks when I'm walking. That's where it shows it's weightiness. Compare to wireless earbuds where you have less of that effect.
Mine popped, not the anc, it sounded more like the diaphragm, the 5909 had the same issue, but worse. The px8 don't have that issue
Ansch
Head-Fier
Is the popping sound what you hear each time you take a step? I get the microphonic effect when no music is playing and each step I take I hear a "thump"
Yeah, but it happened for me when playing music
Ansch
Head-Fier
Do you think it is coming out of the drivers? or from the headphone moving on your head while walking? If you hold it down firmer on your head does it happen?
RumiKeys
New Head-Fier
the quality look of the product intrigues me and I'm sure they are as comfortable as the one might imagine.
ngoshawk
Headphoneus SupremusReviewer at Headfonics
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This came out in late October, with references to all three. The Bathys was chosen as decidedly better sound-wise. I would agree with Will's assessment as well.
https://www.ecoustics.com/reviews/focal-bathys/
There is also a YouTube where the Bathys v Px8 is discussed.
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