Overall Score 5.7 Represents average audio ecosystem compatibility score.
The Focal Bathys have a weight of 350g, these are higher than 320g, which we consider as the highest average a headphone should weigh for comfort during long use. We consider a lower weight better for the reason that lighter devices are more comfortable to transport.
Detachable cables are cables that have connectors on both ends. One end goes into your headphone cups, while the other end is inserted into an audio source. Some new headphones, and not just the expensive ones, are coming with detachable cables, Focal Bathys are one of those.
Focal Bathys are foldable, which makes them more portable. Foldable headphones are easier to transport and take up less storage space.
Twisted headphone cables can be a great source of annoyance and inconvenience, Focal Bathys's cable is designed to minimize tangling. Constant twisting of the cables can also lead to bends in the copper wires, affecting sound quality, or rendering your headphones defective.
Headphones that are designed to allow air to pass through their ear cups from the rear of the speaker driver unit are known as open-back. This design provides a very natural and accurate sound, Focal Bathys have this kind of design which means that resonances and low-frequency that tend to build up caused by the rear enclosure are no longer a concern.
Over-ear headphones have larger earpads that fit around your entire ear Focal Bathys have a comfortable full-size form with earcups that fully enclose your ears. This design is loved for its increased sound isolation and the fact that it won't leak sound to your neighbors.
Focal Bathys have stereo speakers, devices with stereo speakers deliver sound from independent channels on both left and right sides, this creates a richer sound and a better listening experience.
Active noise cancellation uses more advanced technology to actively counter noise. How it works, it detects and analyzes the sound pattern of incoming noise and then inverts the soundwaves to cancel it out. In simple terms, it's like taking +1 outside (noise from your surrounding) and adding -1 inside (counter sound within the device) to make 0 hence "diluting" the noise.
Focal Bathys allow you to listen at lower volume levels, causing less ear fatigue as you don't have to crank up the volume to overcome background noise.
Passive Noise Cancellation uses well-designed ear cups to seal out unwanted noise. This is used for both in-ear earphones and over-ear headphones where the headphone itself will keep surrounding noise out. The Focal Bathys sits tightly in place, creating an acoustic seal that reduces background noise and prevents your music from leaking out.
Low-frequency response measures if and how well a particular audio device reproduces low audible frequencies and if it makes any changes to the signal while at it. Focal Bathys's lowest frequency is at 15Hz, the lower the low-frequency response, the stronger and juicier the bass.
High frequency response measures if and how well a particular audio device reproduces high audible frequencies and if it makes any changes to the signal on the way through. Focal Bathys's highest frequency is at 22000Hz, the higher the high-frequency response, the clearer and crispier the treble.
The driver unit is the component that produces sound in the device, its size dictates the loudness of the headphone. Focal Bathys driver unit is 40mm in diameter, bigger drivers are more powerful and can produce better bass.
Neodymium magnets when used in audio devices produce a higher sensitivity and substantial sound output while using less power. They can help produce music at quite a high sound pressure level, SPL, with the use of high magnetic flux. The Focal Bathys have this type of magnet.
If your headphones play wirelessly, cancel ambient noise, or enhance your listening experience with active features, their battery life will reduce over time. The device's battery life is given by the manufacturer, with longer battery life, you get to use it for longer and have to charge the device less often. Focal Bathys's battery life is 35 hours
A rechargeable battery is a type of electrical battery that can be charged, discharged into a load, and recharged many times, as opposed to a disposable or primary battery, which is supplied fully charged and discarded after use. Focal Bathys's battery can be recharged and used over again.
Focal Bathys can be used wirelessly, wireless devices allow users more freedom of movement.
Bluetooth is a wireless technology standard that allows data transfers between devices placed in close proximity, using short-wavelength, ultra-high frequency radio waves. Focal Bathys has a v5.1
Focal Bathys support USB TYPE-C, an industry-standard connector for transmitting both data and power on a single cable. The USB-C plug is now part and parcel of most current laptops, phones, and tablets, it features reversible plug orientation and cable direction.
Focal Bathys support APTX Adaptive, an audio codec for Bluetooth devices that are developed by Qualcomm. It has a variable bit rate (between 279kbps and 420kbps), which means it can adjust the bit rate for different scenarios, such as listening to HD audio or reducing interference from other devices.
Focal Bathys support APTX, a codec used for transmitting audio wirelessly with Bluetooth. It is developed by Qualcomm and supports 16-bit audio at a bit rate of 384kbps.
Focal Bathys support AAC, a codec that is used for Bluetooth audio. It supports 24-bit audio at 250kbps. Because it uses psychoacoustic modeling, it can provide better results than other codecs at a similar bit rate.
Bluetooth is a short-range wireless technology standard that is used for exchanging data between fixed and mobile devices over short distances. The Focal Bathys can connect at a 15meters distance via Bluetooth or infrared to another device.
Being an industry standard audio plug, a standard 3.5mm male connector is suitable for use with all MP3 players and computer sound cards. This means that it is commonly used in stereo headphones to your phone or connecting your phone to an external amplifier, sound bars, your car radio, etc. Focal Bathys has this connector giving it a wider range of connectivity with most of the sound devices out there. All plugs have at least a tip and sleeve with the number of rings that stand as a differentiating factor.
Focal Bathys have only 8 microphones, more microphones result in better sound quality and enable the device to filter out background noise.
Focal Bathys use a noise-canceling type of microphone, these microphones are designed to filter out background noise from the desired sound. Especially useful in noisy environments.
Focal Bathys support ambient sound mode, which uses microphones to pass through ambient noises so that they can still be heard. It’s useful when you want to listen to music but also be aware of what’s happening around you, for example when you’re having a jog but would still want to be able to hear traffic.
Focal Bathys have a mute function, they have an option to mute/unmute a conversation directly from the device. The mute function means that you unilaterally turn off the microphone, but you can still hear the other party's voice.
Focal Bathys support multipoint, which allows you to link to more Bluetooth devices and switch between them. For example, you can easily switch calls from one device to another without having to manually disconnect and reconnect.
Focal Bathys can be used as a headset. A headset is one headphone or pair with a built-in microphone. Headsets can be used for apps that require communication i.e. Zoom, Google Meet, Skype, games with voice chat, mobile phones, etc.
Carrying headphones without a case, or putting them in bags without a casing can easily put them at risk of getting damaged. The Focal Bathys come with their own special case or pouch, which is useful for safe transportation.