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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you're looking for top-tier sound quality and can afford a higher price, the Focal Bathys would be better with immersive audio and advanced features like aptX Adaptive codec for low latency, suitable for gaming and TV. However, they're heavy and not as portable. For budget-conscious consumers, the Sennheiser HD 400S provides good sound and is more comfortable for long sessions. The HD 400S lacks wireless capability and noise-canceling, making them less versatile than the Bathys. Both have a detachable cable, but if you need features like active noise cancelling or a built-in mic with higher quality, the Focal Bathys should be your choice. 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 Sennheiser HD 400S
- Very good for phone calls
- Good for podcasts and audiobooks
Key differences
Music
8.0
7.1
The Focal Bathys is very good for music, while the Sennheiser HD 400S is good.
Gaming
9.3
8.6
The Focal Bathys is excellent for gaming, while the Sennheiser HD 400S is very good.
Phone Calls
5.2
8.2
The Sennheiser HD 400S is very good for phone calls, while the Focal Bathys is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
6.2
7.6
The Sennheiser HD 400S is good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Focal Bathys is only fair.
TV and Video
10.0
7.6
The Focal Bathys is best in class for TV and video, while the Sennheiser HD 400S is good.
Noise Reduction
8.3
5.3
The Focal Bathys is very good for noise reduction, while the Sennheiser HD 400S is poor.
Battery
31.0 Hours
N/A
The Focal Bathys has 31 hours of battery life. The Sennheiser HD 400S does not have a battery.
Cost
$699
$50
$0
$100
$200
$300
$400
The Focal Bathys has a price of $699 and the Sennheiser HD 400S costs $50.
Build Quality
9.0
8.5
The Focal Bathys has excellent build quality, while the Sennheiser HD 400S has very good build quality.
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How the Focal Bathys and the Sennheiser HD 400S compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Focal Bathys | Sennheiser HD 400S |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$699 | $50 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Focal | Sennheiser | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | October 1, 2022 | January 1, 2019 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired + Wireless | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 8.1/10 | 7.2/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5.3/10 | 8.2/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 9.4/10 | 8.7/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 10/10 | 7.7/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 6.6/10 | 4.2/10 | |
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 | 8.5/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 9/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 8.4/10 | 8.4/10 | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 350 Grams | 213 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | Integrated | |
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."
Sennheiser HD 400S
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Dig into reviews and images
Headphone Dungeon
Jim | August 2022
"Sennheiser has done it again. The HD 400S performs well beyond its price range and is one of the better budget model headphones I’ve tried. It has very few bells and whistles and offers a simple means of listening that still delivers amazing clarity and quality. If you need a good first pair of headphones or need something that you can take out of the house, then the HD 400S is definitely for you."
Get a great deal on the Focal Bathys or the Sennheiser HD 400S
About Sennheiser
A family-owned company, Sennheiser is a German, high fidelity, audio equipment manufacturer founded in 1945. Their consumer audio division is now owned by the Swiss hearing aid and cochlear implant manufacturer Sonova. Sennheiser offers a wide variety of, very high quality, audio equipment solutions, from headphones to earbuds, full sets of monitoring speakers, amplifiers and microphones. They also make what is widely regarded as the best, and most expensive, headphones in existence, the HE-1 Orpheus, costing a whopping $59,000 dollars.
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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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