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Updated January 10, 2024·
If high-fidelity sound is a priority and you prefer over-ear comfort and features like active noise cancelling, the Focal Bathys would be a solid choice, even at a higher price point. Its superior sound quality makes it great for an immersive music experience, though it's heavier and less portable than earbuds. Alternatively, the Grado GT220 earbuds offer decent sound with added portability and a better fit for exercise, at a more affordable price, but you sacrifice some sound quality and features like noise cancelling. Neither is ideal for gaming due to latency, but the Grado has an edge for phone calls. 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 Focal Bathys
Very good for music
Excellent for gaming
Best in class for TV and video
Very good for air travel
Advantages of the Grado GT220
Very good for podcasts and audiobooks
Key differences
Music
8.0/10
6.3/10
The Focal Bathys is very good for music, while the Grado GT220 is only fair.
Gaming
9.3/10
5.1/10
The Focal Bathys is excellent for gaming, while the Grado GT220 is poor.
Phone Calls
5.2/10
6.9/10
The Grado GT220 is only fair for phone calls, while the Focal Bathys is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
6.2/10
8.8/10
The Grado GT220 is very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Focal Bathys is only fair.
TV and Video
10.0/10
5.5/10
The Focal Bathys is best in class for TV and video, while the Grado GT220 is poor.
Noise Reduction
8.3/10
5.3/10
The Focal Bathys is very good for noise reduction, while the Grado GT220 is poor.
Battery
31.0 Hours
5.5 Hours
The Focal Bathys has 31 hours of battery life. The Grado GT220 has 5.5 hours of battery life.
Cost
$699
$259
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
The Focal Bathys has a price of $699 and the Grado GT220 costs $259.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Focal Bathys to have excellent build quality, while the Grado GT220 has very good build quality.
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How the Focal Bathys and the Grado GT220 compare to other earbuds and headphones
"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."
"With its superb and functional interface and its highly satisfying imaging, Grado has shown a new talent for delivering a solid true wireless system, and with future improvements, has the potential to really be one of the best."
Get a great deal on the Focal Bathys or the Grado GT220
About Grado
Grado Labs is a small, family-owned, business based in Brooklyn New York that specializes in high-end, boutique, dynamic headphones and turntable cartridges. They boast a particular house sound, that is to say their products have a particular sound signature unique to Grado, that some audiophiles seem to really like and are unable to find anywhere else. Their high-end headphones are all hand made, completely in house, from a variety of exotic woods and materials going so far as to making one of their most popular products out of hemp.
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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
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