New French-made tech is crystal clear

High-fidelity audio brand Focal has just launched Bathys, the Saint-Étienne-based company’s first wireless headphones with active noise cancellation.

The firm is known for high-end home and car speakers, and has transferred its rich expertise to the realm of wireless headphones.

Focal sent me a pair to try out and it is patently obvious that it is serious about delivering the gold standard (literally — the company famously made diamond and gold encrusted headphones).

The sound quality on the new Bathys headphones is crystal clear — absolute music to my ears. They deliver a deep bass, soft trebles and a clear mid-range.

The headphones are wireless through 5.1 Bluetooth, but can also be wired though the USB-DAC mode. There are two cables provided; a 1.2m 3.5mm jack and 1.2m USB-C, so you can plug in when needed. The integrated USB-DAC mode offers a resolution of up to 24 bit/192kHz — impressive!

The battery lasts for more than 30 hours and are fast-charging enabled, meaning you can get about five hours of listening from just 15 minutes of charging.

French style

The first thing that caught my eye was the distinctive earcup grilles. Focal used magnesium on the yokes, real leather on the headband and aluminium for a robust construction.

Focal’s flame symbol features at the centre of the earcup, which can incorporate a white backlight system that can be activated if desired — for a pretty cool visual effect.

The carrying case is also elegant and lightweight.

I used the headphones on my daily trip to the office in Sydney — from Parramatta to Central. The noise-cancelling headphones were great for the morning commute.

You can also use the headphones to make phone calls. I had a chat to my parents using the wireless headphones and they reported the “Clear Voice Capture” microphone picked up my voice well.

There are two noise-cancelling modes; a “silent” mode for high background noise (this came in handy on the train) and a “soft” mode designed for the home or office. I used the “soft” mode while studying to escape into Bach’s St. Matthew Passion, and it helped me to focus. The headphones also aided me in avoiding the noise of my two young daughters rampaging around. There’s also a “transparency” mode that allows you to hear sounds around you when needed.

The headphones were really easy to use and set up. When you press a button, a voice reads out the time and any notifications.

The headphones are also compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.

There’s an app for accessing more custom settings including the equaliser and sound controls.

Final thoughts

The headphones provide the winning combination of high-fidelity sound and French style.

The Bathys wireless headphones are a fantastic travelling companion.

The new Focal Bathys headphones are available via Addicted To Audio for RRP $1199.