5.0 out of 5 stars Exquisite. Sublime. But...worth the price??

S.s.p. · June 27, 2025

(function() { P.when('cr-A', 'ready').execute(function(A) { if(typeof A.toggleExpanderAriaLabel === 'function') { A.toggleExpanderAriaLabel('review_text_read_more', 'Read more of this review', 'Read less of this review'); } }); })(); .review-text-read-more-expander:focus-visible { outline: 2px solid #2162a1; outline-offset: 2px; border-radius: 5px; } The Focal Bathys MG are an audiophile bluetooth headphone with an audiophile price. That price will be a deal-breaker for the mass market but may very well appeal to audiophiles willing to spend big money for exceptional, beautiful sounding headphones.Out of the box, they sound great, and the sound quality improves with break-in. I never imagined bluetooth headphones could sound this great. You can also use the included USB-C cable to plug them directly into your smartphone, bypassing the smartphone's DAC and using the built-in Focal DAC; this takes the SQ up a few notches.The package also includes a cord with a minijack that you can plug into your stereo for wired listening if you wish. Weirdly, the power must be on for this; so the Bathys MG is not a passive headphone even when used with the analog cable.The Bathys MG have a brilliant soundstage that's wide and deep; instruments and voices sound clear and you can identify where each one is in space - true with orchestral music and even more so with smaller ensembles like jazz quartets, folk or rock bands. The bass is tight and punchy but not at all booming or out of proportion. The mids are lush and clear; acoustic pianos and guitars sound amazingly clear and beautiful. Highs are crisp. The sound has a warmth to it, I wouldn't say it's a bias, but closer to analog than any active headphones I've heard.Big disclaimer: I did not test other headphones in the same price range; that was probably dumb considering how much I spent on these. It's possible that similarly priced wireless headphones by Dali, Mark Levinson, Meze Audio, Audio Technica and the like sound better; I'd urge you to visit your local hi-fi shop and listen to a few of the competing headphones in the same price range before spending your hard-earned money.Like all Focal headphones, the Bathys MG are visually beautiful, almost a work of art.Regarding comfort: They weigh a bit more than the mostly plastic Sony & Bose mass-market headphones, but not *much* heavier, and the headband distributes the weight nicely; I found them comfortable for hours-long listening sessions. My head is a bit bigger than average, but I didn’t experience any discomfort from clamping. My wife’s is average for a woman and she found the fit perfectly comfortable and secure.The noise cancellation and transparency mode are good (grade = B+), but in this category only they are surpassed by the Sony XM series or Bose Quiet Comfort series of portable BT headphones; I’ve owned these in the recent past and would give them an A for noise cancellation and transparency mode.The carry case is a very protective hard shell case. It is nice looking and functional. It has just enough room for the headphones and the two cables I mentioned above (analog mini-jack and USB).Like all companies that sell wireless headphones, Focal makes an app for smartphones. I found it easy to use. It lets you adjust the EQ to your liking and customize some of the controls and options.Now we get to the big question. Are these worth the money?For me, sadly no. I love the way these sound. I was in heaven for about two weeks, before I decided to return them. I have a pretty good audiophile stereo system, which I will always choose over any headphones when listening at home. To listen when my wife is sleeping, I have passive/wired Hifi-man planar headphones that are pretty good with my stereo.So my main use-case for wireless headphones is when traveling or at the office. In those scenarios, sound quality is less important and convenience is more important.So I returned the Bathys MG and bought the new Sony XM6. The Sonys as you know are a mass market consumer-grade product. They cost 1/3 as much as the Bathys MG. IMHO, they're much better for traveling, they're lighter and more compact, and the noise cancellation is top-notch on a plane, train, or bus. The SQ is excellent for a consumer grade BT headphone, and for me that’s good enough on an airplane or train.If you doubt that you'd get $1500 of value from the Bathys MG, you might consider the original Bathys, which list for $699 but can often be found for around $600 - including here on Bolo. It's also a bluetooth headphone with a USB-C cable and an internal DAC that blows away the DAC in your smartphone. The SQ approaches that of the much more expensive MG model and has many of the same SQ characteristics I described above.The MG weren't right for me, but they sound ridiculous (I mean that in the best possible way). For audiophiles who do a lot of headphone listening and would value getting audiophile sound quality wirelessly from a smartphone or similar device, the Focal Bathys MG are worth your very strong consideration.

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply the Best Wireless Headphones Available

T. · July 7, 2025

The best wireless headphones on the market. Forget about Apple's, Sony's, Bose's etc. Focal Bathys MG is on a league of its own! Rivaling multi-thousand dollar wired headphones.Besides their supreme sound quality, their Design is excellent. Their pads are so soft, making listening for hours pleasurable. Active Noise Cancelling is also great (second only to Sony and Bose; but with much better sound)!Another great product from Focal. If money is an issue, one can go with the original Focal Bathys (which are still better sounding than anything at their price range). However, with Focal Bathys MG, they managed to improve upon the original Bathys, in every aspect! Truly impressive!

It’s very pleasant headphone, sound is very pleasant to listen to..

A.G. · July 3, 2025

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