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Updated January 10, 2024·
If you prioritize high-quality sound for music and immersive audio experiences, and often engage in air travel where noise cancellation is a benefit, the Focal Bathys are likely your better choice despite the higher price point. They offer superior overall sound quality and active noise cancellation, which Koss KSC75 lacks. However, if you're looking for something more affordable for casual use, and active noise cancellation is not essential, the Koss KSC75 are much more cost-effective and still provide a good sound. The KSC75s also have a clip-on, open design which makes them convenient for light exercises and situations where you need some environmental awareness, although this design may be less immersive and offers minimal noise isolation compared to the closed design of the Bathys. Additionally, the Bathys provide wireless connectivity and app customization options, which are absent in the Koss KSC75. Remember that the Focal Bathys being more recent also have better features like ear/head detection and a significantly longer battery life, enhancing their usability in wireless mode. 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
Excellent for gaming
Best in class for TV and video
Very good for air travel
Advantages of the Koss KSC75
Good for podcasts and audiobooks
Key differences
Gaming
9.3/10
6.4/10
The Focal Bathys is excellent for gaming, while the Koss KSC75 is only fair.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
6.2/10
7.5/10
The Koss KSC75 is good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Focal Bathys is only fair.
TV and Video
10.0/10
7.7/10
The Focal Bathys is best in class for TV and video, while the Koss KSC75 is good.
Noise Reduction
8.3/10
2.5/10
The Focal Bathys is very good for noise reduction, while the Koss KSC75 is poor.
Battery
31.0 Hours
N/A
The Focal Bathys has 31 hours of battery life. The Koss KSC75 does not have a battery.
Cost
$699
$20
$0
$100
$200
$300
$400
The Focal Bathys has a price of $699 and the Koss KSC75 costs $20.
Build Quality
9.0/10
5.6/10
The Focal Bathys has excellent build quality, while the Koss KSC75 has poor build quality.
"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."
"Let’s not insult the KSC75 by saying that it’s simply good for the price… because it’s far more than that. It basically has a monopoly at its asking price, and could still give modern budget headphones a run for their money 15 years after its release. The KSC75 is the world’s best not-headphone."
Get a great deal on the Focal Bathys or the Koss KSC75
About Koss
Koss is an American headphone manufacturer established in 1953. In 1958, they created the first set of stereophones, that is headphones with stereo sound, and in 1984 they released the world-famous Porta Pro, a set of on-ear headphones that has remained essentially unchanged for more than 30 years and that is still made, sold and loved by many audio enthusiasts around the world today.
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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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