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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated April 10, 2024·
If you're on a budget and need earbuds for routine use with decent sound and good portability, go for the Creative Labs Zen Air. However, if sound quality, especially for music and TV/video, is a top priority, and you don't mind investing more, then the Focal Bathys is your choice. The Bathys also offer active noise cancelling, which is great for air travel and noise isolation, but they are less portable. Both have wireless capabilities, but the Zen Air is more suited for exercise being sweatproof. Keep in mind, the Focal Bathys will need to be charged even when using wired mode due to their internal amplifier. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Creative Labs Zen Air
- The Creative Labs Zen Air has no clear advantages over the Focal Bathys.
Advantages of the Focal Bathys
- Very good for music
- Excellent for gaming
- Best in class for TV and video
Key differences
Music
6.8
8.0
The Focal Bathys is very good for music, while the Creative Labs Zen Air is only fair.
Gaming
5.1
9.3
The Focal Bathys is excellent for gaming, while the Creative Labs Zen Air is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
5.4
6.2
The Focal Bathys is only fair for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Creative Labs Zen Air is poor.
TV and Video
5.6
10.0
The Focal Bathys is best in class for TV and video, while the Creative Labs Zen Air is poor.
Noise Reduction
7.0
8.3
The Focal Bathys is very good for noise reduction, while the Creative Labs Zen Air is good.
Battery
5.0 Hours
31.0 Hours
The Creative Labs Zen Air has 5 hours of battery life. The Focal Bathys has 31 hours of battery life.
Cost
$30
$699
$0
$100
$200
$300
$400
The Creative Labs Zen Air has a price of $30 and the Focal Bathys costs $699.
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Key similarities
Phone Calls
5.1
5.2
The Focal Bathys and Creative Labs Zen Air are both poor for phone calls.
Build Quality
9.0
9.0
The Creative Labs Zen Air and Focal Bathys both have excellent build quality.
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How the Creative Labs Zen Air and the Focal Bathys compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Creative Labs Zen Air | Focal Bathys |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$30 | $699 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Creative Labs | Focal | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | December 1, 2022 | October 1, 2022 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wireless | Wired + Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 6.9/10 | 8.1/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5.1/10 | 5.3/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 5.1/10 | 9.4/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 5.7/10 | 10/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 6.9/10 | 6.6/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 5 Hours | 31 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | Yes | No | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 2 Hours | 1.5 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5 | 5.1 | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | 12 | N/A | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | Yes | Yes | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 7/10 | 8.4/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | Yes | No | |
Android App | |||
Android App | Yes | Yes | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 7/10 | 6.5/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 9/10 | 9/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 7/10 | 8.4/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | Medium | N/A | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 5 Grams | 350 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | Integrated | |
Shopping
Creative Labs Zen Air
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Dig into reviews and images
Headphone Check
Maike Paeßens | February 2023
"The Creative Zen Air’s weak points are its low battery life and rather short Bluetooth range. On the other hand, the strengths of these weatherproof True Wireless in-Ears are the sound and the wide attenuation of the Active Noise Cancellation. Considering the price range, the speech intelligibility during calls is also exceptionally good."
Focal Bathys
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Dig into reviews and images
Soundguys
Christian Thomas | May 2023
"As much as I hesitate to recommend a headphone that sells for $800 USD, if you’re looking for the best sound quality you can find in the ANC space: it’s the Focal Bathys."
Get a great deal on the Creative Labs Zen Air or the Focal Bathys
About Creative Labs
Creative Labs is a Singaporean technology company specialized in the manufacture of multimedia products. They created the world-famous Soundblaster soundcard back in 1989 which was a staple of the gaming community for a long time. Nowadays, besides still marketing their discrete audio systems, they offer a wide array of headphones, gaming headsets and speakers that still preserve that same heritage.
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This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec earbuds & headphones team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest earbuds or headphones information and makes it digestible for you.
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About the Earbuds or Headphones team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Earbuds and Headphones Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
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Earbuds and Headphones Expert
Luis is a Mexico-based headphones expert. He’s been making headphone recommendations for five years and has close to 100 pairs in his personal collection.
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