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Focal Bathys
Lowest price for this product:
$699 at B&H Photo Video
Thieaudio Monarch Mk II
Lowest price for this product:
$999 at ThieAudio
What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024· Prices updated 24 hours ago
If you prioritize wireless convenience and active noise cancelling for use during travel or in noisy environments, the Focal Bathys are the better choice. However, if you value the absolute best sound quality and mostly listen in quiet environments where a wired connection isn't an inconvenience, then the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II earbuds would be suitable. Keep in mind that the Focal Bathys also perform very well in terms of sound and comfort, but the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II does not feature wireless connectivity or noise cancelling, making them less versatile for different settings. The Focal Bathys also have a longer battery life for extended listening sessions. Give Feedback
Advantages of the Focal Bathys
- Excellent for gaming
- Best in class for TV and video
- Very good for air travel
Advantages of the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II
- Best in class for music
- Good for podcasts and audiobooks
Key differences
Music
8.0
9.5
The Thieaudio Monarch Mk II is best in class for music, while the Focal Bathys is very good.
Gaming
9.3
6.7
The Focal Bathys is excellent for gaming, while the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II is only fair.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
6.2
7.9
The Thieaudio Monarch Mk II is good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Focal Bathys is only fair.
TV and Video
10.0
8.8
The Focal Bathys is best in class for TV and video, while the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II is very good.
Noise Reduction
8.3
6.0
The Focal Bathys is very good for noise reduction, while the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II is only fair.
Battery
31.0 Hours
N/A
The Focal Bathys has 31 hours of battery life. The Thieaudio Monarch Mk II does not have a battery.
Cost
$699
$999
$350
$360
$370
$380
$390
$400
The Focal Bathys has a price of $699 and the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II costs $999.
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Key similarities
Phone Calls
5.2
5.1
The Focal Bathys and Thieaudio Monarch Mk II are both poor for phone calls.
Build Quality
9.0
9.0
The Focal Bathys and Thieaudio Monarch Mk II both have excellent build quality.
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How the Focal Bathys and the Thieaudio Monarch Mk II compare to other earbuds and headphones
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Spec Comparison
| Focal Bathys | Thieaudio Monarch Mk II |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$699 | $999 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Focal | Thieaudio | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | October 1, 2022 | October 1, 2020 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired + Wireless | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 8.1/10 | 9.5/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5.3/10 | 5.1/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 9.4/10 | 6.8/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 10/10 | 8.9/10 | |
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 | 6/10 | |
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 | 7.6/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | N/A | Large | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 350 Grams | 9 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | N/A | |
Shopping
Focal Bathys
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Pricing last updated 24 hours ago |
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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."
Thieaudio Monarch Mk II
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Pricing last updated 24 hours ago |
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Dig into reviews and images
Audiophile On
Audiophile On | August 2021
"No other earphone I have listened to in the past 12 months has given me as much joy as the Thieaduio Monarch MKII. One of those IEMs will make you question where we can go from here. The sound is jaw-dropping, leaving you wanting more and more. It makes you want to run through your entire music library and reevaluate. It makes you not feel bad about paying full price for them, especially in a hobby where buyers' remorse is genuine. For me, it's top tier, rivaled by a few but not surpassed."
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About Thieaudio
Thieaudio is the in-house brand of Linsoul Audio, a Chinese earbud and headphone retailer specializing in what the community lovingly calls Chi-fi, that is high fidelity brands out of China. Thieaudio was established in 2019 as the creative engineering branch of Linsoul. As of today, they market three different lines of earbuds, Voyager, Legacy and the extremely well-received Monarch.
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Why trust us
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
CEO and Earbuds and Headphones Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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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.