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Company ProductName Specs
What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you're prioritizing sound quality, particularly for music and TV, the Focal Bathys provide a superior listening experience, with excellent soundstage and noise isolation, suitable for air travel, and wireless capability with low latency for better sync. They also offer active noise cancelling, longer battery life, and a high build quality but at a high-end price. 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 JBL Quantum 100
- The JBL Quantum 100 has no clear advantages over the Focal Bathys.
Key differences
Music
8.0
7.0
The Focal Bathys is very good for music, while the JBL Quantum 100 is good.
Gaming
9.3
8.5
The Focal Bathys is excellent for gaming, while the JBL Quantum 100 is very good.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
6.2
4.5
The Focal Bathys is only fair for podcasts and audiobooks, while the JBL Quantum 100 is poor.
TV and Video
10.0
7.1
The Focal Bathys is best in class for TV and video, while the JBL Quantum 100 is good.
Noise Reduction
8.3
5.3
The Focal Bathys is very good for noise reduction, while the JBL Quantum 100 is poor.
Battery
31.0 Hours
N/A
The Focal Bathys has 31 hours of battery life. The JBL Quantum 100 does not have a battery.
Cost
$699
$20
$0
$100
$200
$300
$400
The Focal Bathys has a price of $699 and the JBL Quantum 100 costs $20.
Build Quality
9.0
6.5
The Focal Bathys has excellent build quality, while the JBL Quantum 100 has only fair build quality.
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Key similarities
Phone Calls
5.2
5.5
The JBL Quantum 100 and Focal Bathys are both poor for phone calls.
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How the Focal Bathys and the JBL Quantum 100 compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Focal Bathys | JBL Quantum 100 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$699 | $20 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Focal | JBL | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | October 1, 2022 | May 1, 2020 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired + Wireless | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 8.1/10 | 7/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5.3/10 | 5.5/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 9.4/10 | 8.6/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 10/10 | 7.2/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 6.6/10 | 4/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 31 Hours | N/A | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | No | N/A | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 1.5 Hours | N/A | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5.1 | N/A | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | Yes | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 8.4/10 | 5.3/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | No | No | |
Android App | |||
Android App | Yes | N/A | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | Yes | N/A | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 6.5/10 | 10/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 9/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 8.4/10 | 6/10 | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 350 Grams | 220 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | Boom | |
Waterproof Rating | |||
Waterproof Rating | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
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."
JBL Quantum 100
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Dig into reviews and images
CNN Underscored
Wes Davis | July 2023
"I appreciate a functional piece of tech as much as I do gear on the bleeding edge, and the JBL Quantum 100 certainly falls in the former category. The sound is reasonably good, the built-in microphone is surprisingly reliable and it has a thoughtful design for the price. It lacks the convenience of Bluetooth, sure, but sometimes it’s nice not to have to worry about the finicky nature of wireless communication and go with good old hard-wired tech."
Get a great deal on the Focal Bathys or the JBL Quantum 100
About JBL
JBL is an American audio equipment manufacturer. Owned by Harman International which is, itself, owned by Samsung Electronics. JBL markets a wide array of monitoring speakers, professional headphones and consumer market headphones and earbuds. It was founded in 1946 by James Bullough Lansing (whose initials give the company its name) and has become one of the most prolific audio companies ever. Their products were responsible for audio during the 1969 Woodstock Festival.
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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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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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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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