The Focal Bathys MG: A Significant Upgrade or Just a Pricey Refinement? This in-depth review delves into the latest iteration of Focal's popular noise-canceling headphones, analyzing its design, sound quality, and features to determine whether the upgrades justify the increased cost. We explore the changes in comfort, examining the impact of the new, more compliant earpads and headband design on the overall listening experience. The review also meticulously evaluates the sonic improvements, comparing the Bathys MG's sound signature to its predecessor and assessing the performance of its active noise cancellation (ANC) technology.This comprehensive assessment covers both the strengths and weaknesses of the Focal Bathys MG. We examine the enhancements in the mid-range clarity, bass response, and treble detail, along with a critical evaluation of the updated ANC capabilities and Bluetooth connectivity. Ultimately, we aim to provide a balanced perspective, considering both the impressive advancements and the minor shortcomings, to help you determine if the Focal Bathys MG is the right high-end noise-canceling headphone for you.
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Design and Build Quality
The Focal Bathys MG boasts a refined aesthetic compared to its predecessor. The new color scheme, featuring bronze and brown accents on the earcups, yoke, and headband, is visually striking. While maintaining a similar mechanical design, the updated model offers notably improved pad compliance.
This enhanced compliance results in extremely soft and supple earpads that conform perfectly to the head. While this contributes to exceptional comfort, it also means the pads compress more easily, potentially causing the back of the ear to lightly touch the baffle for some users. This wasn't an issue with the original Bathys' firmer pads.
The headband, however, could benefit from slightly increased width for better weight distribution, especially for those with larger heads. Focal's Capra strap might be a suitable alternative for smaller heads but isn't a universal solution.
Despite the slightly more compliant pads, the larger pad openings contribute to a comfortable over-ear experience, making them feel less like on-ear headphones and avoiding that clamping feeling.
Sound Quality and Performance
The Focal Bathys MG delivers a significant sound quality improvement over its predecessor. The mid-range is smoother and more balanced, resolving issues present in the original Bathys. The sound signature is warm, rich, and euphonic, with high detail.
The bass response is full and rich, although not as sub-bass heavy as the original. The enhanced pad compliance likely contributes to a more consistent bass response across different users. The transition between bass and lower mids is slightly forward, sometimes bordering on boomy depending on the audio track, but it is dynamically intense.
The treble is clear, yet some users might find a slight sharpness or punctuation in the mid-treble region. However, this sharpness balances the warmth of the lower frequencies and overall adds a pleasing character to the sound profile.
The Bathys MG offers two sound profiles: the default and a 'Dynamic' mode. The Dynamic mode helps to mitigate the forward lower-midrange, resulting in a more neutral and harmonious profile for more refined listening experiences.
Noise Cancellation and Connectivity
The Bathys MG features improved active noise cancellation (ANC) compared to the original. While not class-leading, the ANC performance is notably better, particularly in the bass and treble frequencies. However, it still trails behind top-tier models like the Bose QC Ultra, especially in the mid-range.
Due to its weight, slight movement can occur during activities like walking, which can impact ANC consistency. While generally comfortable, this minor issue can cause some inconsistencies in the noise cancelling for some users.
The Bluetooth 5.2 connectivity supports multipoint, allowing simultaneous connection to multiple devices. However, there are some reported quirks in switching between devices, requiring a complete disconnection before reconnecting to another device. This could potentially be resolved through a firmware update.
Conclusion and Verdict
The Focal Bathys MG represents a significant upgrade over the original Bathys, offering superior sound quality, improved ANC, and enhanced comfort. The smoother mid-range and refined bass response deliver a more balanced and enjoyable listening experience.
However, the considerable price increase may not be fully justified for all users, considering the similarities in overall design. The minor issues with multipoint connectivity and ANC consistency during movement are points of consideration.
Despite these minor drawbacks, the Bathys MG ranks highly among high-end noise-cancelling headphones. Its exceptional sound quality and comfortable design make it a worthy contender, especially for those seeking a neutral or harmonically-balanced sound profile. The price remains a significant factor but doesn't entirely diminish the headphone's overall excellence.