Audiophiles are sometimes associated with a hatred of Bluetooth audio, but this technology has come a long way over the years. Not only that, but top-tier audio companies have been coming out with high-quality headphones that sound so much better than they’re supposed to. This is what happened when Focal launched the Bathys back in 2022. Well, the company is back with a new and better pair. Focal just announced the upcoming Bathys MG.
Focal has more than 45 years of experience in the audio industry, and it represents the best that French engineering can offer. The company has a pretty stacked portfolio of products, including hi-fi speakers, headphones, integrated systems, car radio systems, and more. Last year, the company launched its DIVA UTOPIA, a marvel of engineering and craftsmanship.
Focal announces the new Bathys MG
Even though the original Bathys were ahead of their time in terms of sheer quality, the company saw room for improvement. So, it set out to bring an even higher-quality version of these headphones. Coming in at $1,299, the Focal Bathys MG aren’t very expensive compared to most other headphones of this caliber.
“M”-shaped driver
One thing that sets these headphones apart from the competition is how the company makes its drivers. Focal uses a unique “M”-shaped dome for its drivers. These domes were crafted in France by Focal itself, so you know that they’re top-quality. The shape of the dome plays a role in the actual sound. This, coupled with the high-quality driver itself, ensures that you have powerful bass and crystal-clear treble.
Top-quality audio
If you’re a person who likes to listen to hi-fi music, then the Focal Bathys are the perfect headphones for you. They have a mode called USB-DAC mode, and this enables playback of 24-bit/192kHz audio. You’ll need to plug them in for that mode to work, but the result is an outstanding sound.
You’re still getting great overall audio with these headphones if you use them to listen to Bluetooth audio. The amazing drivers will make everything you listen to sound spectacular. They use Bluetooth 5.2, which is nothing to sneeze at.
Battery and charging
Since these are Bluetooth headphones, battery life is important. You don’t want poor battery life to get in between you and your music. Well, the Focal Bathys MG can last you up to 30 hours in wireless mode, 35 hours in jack mode (using the 3.5mm headphone jack), and 42 hours in USB-DAC mode. Those are some good numbers, and it means that you can expect a couple of days of casual listening.
Suppose your headphones do die. Well, they won’t be out of commission for long, as they support quick charging. A quick 15-minute charge can give you up to 5 hours of listening time. So, if you wake up one day and find that they’re dead, you can plug them in while you take a quick shower and be on your way.
Noise cancellation
No top-quality pair of Bluetooth headphones would be complete without some great noise cancellation. The Focal Bathys MG come with three ANC modes. These are Silent, Soft, and Transparent. All of these modes use the headphones’ high-quality microphones.
Specs
- Sound – Acoustics
- Product type: Bluetooth closed headphones with active noise reduction
- Loudspeakers :
40 mm Magnesium ‘M’ profile dome - Frequency response (+/- 3dB) :
10 Hz to 22 kHz - Harmonic distortion rate : <0.2% @1 kHz
- Design
- Weight: 350 g / 0.77 lb
- Battery
- Autonomy :
30h Bluetooth® Noise Cancelling
35h with Jack connection
42h in USB-DAC mode - Battery type: Lithium-ion 1060mAh
- Charging time: 1.5 h
- Quick charge: Yes
- Autonomy :
- Connectivity
- Bluetooh version : 5.2 Multipoint
- Bluetooth Codec : AAC, aptX™, aptX™ Adaptive, SBC
- Microphones: 8
- Carrying Case
- Carrying case included: Yes
- Carrying case depth: 7 cm / 2.75 in
- Carrying case height: 24 cm / 9.44 in
- Carrying case width: 21 cm / 8.26 in
- Cables provided :
2 cables: – 1.2 m jack cable – a 1.2 m USB-C® cable
The Focal Bathys MG represent a major step forward in Bluetooth headphones and for Focal as a brand. They bring a certain level of quality to every corner of the experience, and this is why you should look into getting a pair. They’ll officially hit the market in May. If you want to book a listening session, you can do so on the company’s website.
