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PC38X
Company ProductName Specs




Bathys
Company ProductName Specs




What we think

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The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·

Choosing between the EPOS PC38X and the Focal Bathys depends on your priorities. For gaming, the PC38X with a better microphone and excellent sound quality is ideal, while the Bathys' active noise cancelling and wireless option make them better for air travel and busy environments. If comfort is a major concern, both score highly but the PC38X is significantly lighter. The Bathys have an advantage with app equalizer features, and a long wireless battery life beneficial for extended sessions without the need for cables. Prioritize the PC38X for cost savings, gaming, and voice communication, or the Bathys for superior noise control and wireless convenience. 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 EPOS PC38X
  • Best in class for music
  • Best in class for phone calls
  • Best in class for gaming
  • Good for podcasts and audiobooks
Advantages of the Focal Bathys
  • Best in class for TV and video
  • Very good for air travel

Key differences

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Music

9.5
PC38X
Bathys
8.0
The EPOS PC38X is best in class for music, while the Focal Bathys is very good.

Gaming

10.0
PC38X
Bathys
9.3
The EPOS PC38X is best in class for gaming, while the Focal Bathys is excellent.

Phone Calls

10.0
PC38X
Bathys
5.2
The EPOS PC38X is best in class for phone calls, while the Focal Bathys is poor.

Podcasts and Audiobooks

7.9
PC38X
Bathys
6.2
The EPOS PC38X is good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Focal Bathys is only fair.

TV and Video

9.0
PC38X
Bathys
10.0
The Focal Bathys is best in class for TV and video, while the EPOS PC38X is excellent.

Noise Reduction

2.5
PC38X
Bathys
8.3
The Focal Bathys is very good for noise reduction, while the EPOS PC38X is poor.

Battery

N/A
PC38X
Bathys
31.0 Hours
The EPOS PC38X does not have a battery. The Focal Bathys has 31 hours of battery life.

Cost

$139
PC38X
Bathys
$699
Product image
Product image

$50

$100

$150

$200

$250

$300

$350

$400

The EPOS PC38X has a price of $139 and the Focal Bathys costs $699.

Build Quality

8.5
PC38X
Bathys
9.0
The Focal Bathys has excellent build quality, while the EPOS PC38X has very good build quality.
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How the EPOS PC38X and the Focal Bathys compare to other earbuds and headphones

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Spec Comparison

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EPOS PC38XFocal Bathys
EPOS PC38XFocal Bathys

GENERAL

Price
$139
$699
Brand
EPOSFocal
Release Date
September 1, 2020October 1, 2022
Form Factor
HeadphonesHeadphones
Connectivity
WiredWired + Wireless

SOUND

Music Score
9.6/108.1/10
Phone Calls Score
10/105.3/10
Gaming Score
10/109.4/10
TV and Video Score
9.1/1010/10
Exercise Score
4.5/106.6/10

PERFORMANCE

Battery life
N/A31 Hours
Wireless charging
N/ANo
Charging time
N/A1.5 Hours
Bluetooth version
N/A5.1

FEATURES

Active Noise Cancelling
NoYes
Noise Reduction Score
2.5/108.4/10
Virtual Surround
N/ANo
Android App
N/AYes
iOS App
N/AYes
Mic Quality
10/106.5/10

BUILD AND DESIGN

Build Quality
8.5/109/10
Comfort score
8.4/108.4/10
Weight (headset or single earbud)
249.4 Grams350 Grams
Microphone style
BoomIntegrated
Waterproof Rating
00

Shopping

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EPOS PC38X

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Dig into reviews and images

Everyday Listening

Ryan Soo | November 2021
"Lightweight and comfortable design, Mic arm with mute, Excellent tuning, Highly natural midrange voicing, Clean and separated bass, Solid soundstage dimensions. Combining all day comfort and integrated coms with a balanced and spacious sound from essentially any source, it is hard to deny the versatility and value provided by the PC38X."

Focal Bathys

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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 EPOS PC38X or the Focal Bathys

About EPOS

EPOS is a relatively new company with a very long heritage. Previously known as Sennheiser Communications, EPOS is the result of the joint venture between the German headphone manufacturer Sennheiser and the Danish Demant that sought to develop premium audio communication solutions. They specialize in two main product groups, enterprise communications and gaming communication headsets and processing devices.

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Why trust us

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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.

By the numbers

108
Earbuds and headphones evaluated
11,340
Earbuds and headphones stats compiled
15
Proprietary Earbuds and headphones ratings developed
122,900
Recommendations made
18,435
Consumer hours saved

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.

Jason Lew

Staff Expert & Software Engineer
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.

Luis Torres

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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