At $799, the Focal Bathys are a bargain for audio purists desiring top-tier audio performance from a versatile ANC headphone that can be used with or without wires.

At $799, you would expect their performance to be tremendous, and the Bathys live up to every bit of the hype. They’re an audiophile’s Bluetooth headphone and won’t make sense to most people that aren’t already audio enthusiasts, or for pure gaming. But, if you want the best-sounding Bluetooth headphone with noise canceling available today, this is it. The Focal Bathys sound, look, and feel amazing to use. If you’re in the market for a top-tier pair of wireless headphones, look no further. You’ve found them.

The Focal Bathys are Focal's debut wireless over-ear headphone offering and sonically, they're a veritable delight – wirelessly yes, but especially if you listen in wired USB-C DAC mode for 24bit/192kHz decoding. The app is also intuitive and one of the more likeable companions we've tested. The 30-hour battery equals many of the class-leaders too, and frankly they're stunning to look at, but their overall score is marred just slightly by ANC that lacks potency and on-ear controls which feel a little naive.

The Focal Bathys is an excellent-sounding debut ANC wireless headphone and certainly a considerable upgrade on all the previous wireless closed-backs I have reviewed to date.

The active noise cancellation of the Focal Bathys won't blow you away; it's good-not-great. When ANC is turned on, it doesn't completely cut off the outside world when you're not playing music like many of today's more popular noise-canceling headphones (which are also significantly cheaper), such as the Sony WH-1000XM5 and the AirPods Max. In my experience it does a decent job, especially at cutting out high-frequencies and damping most everything else, but noise-cancellation shouldn't be the primary reason for getting the Bathys.

The Magnesium yokes and Aluminum cup grills look and feel great - pure Focal decadence. But the impact is lessened by the plastic bits on the underside of the band. Real leather band and pads - terrific. The included cables - a disappointment. I would take a few more grams and, if necessary, a few more dollars to have the Bathys feel a little more premium and more in step with the rest of the Focal lineup. It was likely inevitable that the Bathys would be the odd stepchild, but I hoped Focal could solve all the inherent compromises of wireless ANC. They sound good. The ANC works well. Balance achieved.

After spending a ton of time with the Bathys, I firmly believe it to be one of a kind. For now, there is no other headphone that blends the experience of premium headphones with Bluetooth. Its build is just as carefully constructed, and its sound is reminiscent of their headphones of the past, particularly the Celestee. If you are in the market for a new pair of Bluetooth headphones and aren’t concerned about price, then look no further.

I believe there is a band of audio enthusiasts out there who, out of peer pressure, may poo-poo wireless listening and music streaming in public forums, but secretly crave modern convenience and versatility just like everyone else. And for those folks, the Bathys are one of the hottest tickets in town.

These over-ears have a bass-rich sound profile, which is well-suited for genres like EDM and hip-hop. They have extra thump, punch, and warmth to their sound, but vocals and instruments sound dull and veiled. On the upside, you can customize their sound using their companion app's graphic EQ and presets. You can also switch to the USB-DAC mode if you're looking to stream audio in high resolution, or you can use aptX Adaptive via Bluetooth if your device supports it.

Focal blends Bluetooth into its high-end headphones recipe with great success

The Focal Bathys are a set of truly luxurious headphones that ooze quality and finesse. Yes, they are pricey, but no shortcuts are made with cheap plastic or other cheap materials either.