Climbing The Wireless Ladder
I've been using and collecting wireless Bluetooth over ear headphones for several years now. I started with a pair of headphones costing around $100 which were just okay. I've since passed them along to a family member. Then I picked up a pair of the Sony WH1000XM3s and these were, as should be expected, a major step up both in sound quality and noise cancellation. Truly a very nice set of headphones but I was sure that sound quality could be improved.
When the Drop Panda headphones became available, I picked up a pair. No noise cancellation but a big step up in sound quality compared to the Sony WH1000XM3. I happily lived with the Pandas when noise cancellation was not required, such as while walking outside I live in a relatively quiet suburban area), but when noise cancellation was required, such as when travelling, I used the Sony WH1000XM3.
Since most of my wireless headphone listening was done when noise cancellation was not needed, I began to look for wireless headphones with better sound quality than the Pandas. I found a used pair of the Beyerdynamic Amiron Wireless on the Head-Fi classified with a price I just couldn't resist and being a big fan of the Beyerdynamic house sound (I own 7 different Beyerdynamic headphones) I picked them up. The Amiron Wireless are a noticeable step up from the Pandas but like the Pandas these headphones do not have ANC (active noise cancellation).
Just as I did with the Pandas, I happily used the Amiron Wireless during my frequent long walks and the Sony WH1000XM3 when travelling but then I saw that the Focal Bathys were being released. Since I also own three other Focal headphones (Radiance, Clear MG and Elear), all of which I really enjoy, I ordered the Bathys. Upon their arrival I put them through their paces to make such that everything worked and then burned them in for about 50 hours.
Okay so now you know a bit of my history with wireless headphones so I can get down to the heart of this little review. However, before I do that, I really need to say in no uncertain terms that the USB DAC feature of the Bathys is a game changer. As far as I know no other wireless headphone offers this feature and only one other headphone that I know of, that being the AKG N90Q, has this ability. While the AKGs have a USB DAC mode it is limited to use with a laptop or desktop PC and does not work with any portable device that I own since the AKG N90Q in DAC mode requires too much power. Yes, I also own the AKG N90Q. Granted using the USB DAC mode on the Bathys does require a wired connection but the Bathys work flawlessly with my iPhone 12 when used in the USB DAC mode (iPhone -> Apple lightening to USB-A camera adapter -> USB-A to USB-C cable -> Bathys). The Bathys USB DAC mode also works with an iPad Air and a Fire HD 10 Plus (both with a USB-C outputs). No more worrying about Apple's less than desirable Bluetooth codec or any other Bluetooth codec for that matter. Just plug in the Bathys and stream music in high resolution flac (up to 24bit/192kHz) from the iPhone into the Bathys. Oh and it sounds great!
And now finally on to the comparisons. Before I began doing the wireless Bluetooth comparisons, I did some quick comparisons using the headphones in "passive" wired mode with an Oppo HA-1 desktop DAC/headphone amp. The Amiron Wireless and the Panda do not need to be powered to be used with a wired connection, in fact the Panda cannot be powered on when used with a wired connection. The Sony can be used with the power off but sound really terrible. Both the Sony and the Bathys were used with the power and ANC on. The wired listening served to confirm what I wrote above, namely that in order of overall sound quality the headphones are the Sony WH1000XM3, the Drop Panda, the Beyerdynamic Amiron Wireless and the Focal Bathys.
For the wireless Bluetooth testing I used an iPhone 12 Pro Max and streamed music from Qobuz. All four headphones have iOS apps which feature differing degrees of customization. The Sony uses the "Headphone" app, the Panda uses the third party app "SoundID", the Amiron Wireless uses the "MIY" app and the Bathys use the Focal app. All headphones were used with their respective app also being used. And of course, since the comparisons were done using an iPhone only one Bluetooth codec was used: AAC (Advanced Audio Codec)
Once again, my listening using Bluetooth reconfirmed the overall sound quality of the four headphones, even when used with their respective apps, namely that in order of overall sound quality the headphones are the Sony WH1000XM3, the Drop Panda, the Beyerdynamic Amiron Wireless and the Focal Bathys.
My listening notes for each headphone via Bluetooth:
Sony WH1000XM3 - somewhat "dark" and boxy or closed in sounding with fairly decent high end and somewhat muddy sounding bass. Okay for travelling and when good noise cancellation is needed.
Drop Panda - less "dark" than the Sony with a very nice high end but a little light in the bass. Fairly open sound for a portable closed back headphone.
Beyerdynamic Amiron Wireless - now things are starting to get interesting. More open sounding with very good high end and rich, deep bass. To be fair, the Amiron Wireless are full size, over ear headphones and are more suited to wearing around the house or office and are not really suited for travelling, other than when sitting in a hotel room.
Focal Bathys - like the Amiron Wireless the Bathys are major step up from the Sony WH1000XM3 and the Drop Panda, with crisp high end, great bass and a nice, balanced sound. Unlike the Amiron Wireless the Bathys are true portable headphones with slightly smaller ear cups but with over 95% of the sound of a full size, over ear headphone.
For me the Focal Bathys is the clear winner among these four wireless headphones with the best overall sound and the best feature set, especially the USB DAC mode. While the need to have the Bathys powered on when used in passive wired mode with a desktop headphone amp may seem inconvenient, the noise cancellation is active and comes in handy in many situations. Due to the wonderful and unique (at this time) USB DAC mode and the full size headphone sound I would say that despite their relatively high price the Bathys are actually a bargain since all one now needs to listen to high resolution music on headphones is a compatible mobile device, the correct cables and adapters, a music streaming subscription and of course, the Focal Bathys.
