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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The Focal Bathys are a versatile option with active noise cancelling, making them well-suited for noisy environments like air travel. They are closed-back headphones, offering better noise isolation and are also capable of wireless connectivity, which enhances portability and convenience. Additionally, they have good sound quality for listening to music and a built-in microphone suitable for calls, albeit with moderate mic quality. The Sennheiser HD800S, on the other hand, provide an exceptional soundstage for a truly immersive audio experience, largely due to their open-back design. These are more comfortable but lack wireless functionality and active noise cancelling, making them best for quiet environments where you can appreciate their superior sound fidelity. However, they aren't the best choice for noisy settings or during exercise, and they don't have a microphone for calls. If you're looking for versatility and better functionality in various scenarios, including noise-prone locations or the need for wireless operation, the Focal Bathys could be more appropriate, especially when considering their lower price point. But for critical listening in a quiet space, the Sennheiser HD800S could be the superior 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
- Excellent for gaming
- Very good for air travel
Advantages of the Sennheiser HD800S
- Best in class for music
- Very good for podcasts and audiobooks
Key differences
Music
8.0
9.9
The Sennheiser HD800S is best in class for music, while the Focal Bathys is very good.
Gaming
9.3
7.5
The Focal Bathys is excellent for gaming, while the Sennheiser HD800S is good.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
6.2
8.1
The Sennheiser HD800S is very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Focal Bathys is only fair.
Noise Reduction
8.3
2.5
The Focal Bathys is very good for noise reduction, while the Sennheiser HD800S is poor.
Battery
31.0 Hours
N/A
The Focal Bathys has 31 hours of battery life. The Sennheiser HD800S does not have a battery.
Cost
$699
$1,600
$350
$360
$370
$380
$390
$400
The Focal Bathys has a price of $699 and the Sennheiser HD800S costs $1,600.
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Key similarities
Phone Calls
5.2
5.0
The Focal Bathys and Sennheiser HD800S are both poor for phone calls.
TV and Video
10.0
9.7
The Focal Bathys and Sennheiser HD800S are both best in class for TV and video.
Build Quality
9.0
9.0
The Focal Bathys and Sennheiser HD800S both have excellent build quality.
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How the Focal Bathys and the Sennheiser HD800S compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Focal Bathys | Sennheiser HD800S |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$699 | $1,600 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Focal | Sennheiser | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | October 1, 2022 | December 1, 2015 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired + Wireless | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 8.1/10 | 10/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5.3/10 | 5/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 9.4/10 | 7.6/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 10/10 | 9.7/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 6.6/10 | 4.5/10 | |
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 | 2.5/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | No | N/A | |
Android App | |||
Android App | Yes | N/A | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | Yes | N/A | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 6.5/10 | N/A | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 9/10 | 9/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 8.4/10 | 10/10 | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 350 Grams | 371.9 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | N/A | |
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 HD800S
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Dig into reviews and images
Sound Guys
Christian Thomas | March 2023
"The cans offer stellar sound quality, comfort, and good maintenance options—so they're an easy recommendation if you have the cash and the need for the last headphones you'll buy for years."
Get a great deal on the Focal Bathys or the Sennheiser HD800S
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
Joe Golden, Ph.D
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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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