Focal Bathys 6 months later (vs Sony XM4!)

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  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 24 ธ.ค. 2024

ความคิดเห็น • 137

  • @MarkEllisReviews
    @MarkEllisReviews  ปีที่แล้ว +28

    Who's got a pair of Bathys?

    • @joe_bidnass
      @joe_bidnass ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Not me

    • @orangedan5424
      @orangedan5424 ปีที่แล้ว

      Nah....they look sooo damn ugly like aliens boobs. I owned Focal wired siblings though. Bathys no where near the built quality and even sound as their wired siblings. How I wish Focal put more attention in their design team.

    • @arthurised
      @arthurised ปีที่แล้ว

      Good catch up and comparison Mark. I bought my Bathys about 6 weeks ago and they sound just as you describe. I didn’t buy them from your sponsor but another hifi specialist (sounds similar to a town in Kent and an English tree) and I received a very welcome discount without even asking. I’ve used them quite a lot recently and have only charged them once since purchase - I’ve even got 40% battery life charge left! Therefore, they were a perfect buy.

    • @kiseljak742530
      @kiseljak742530 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Got mine about 1 month ago for 599€ - some german shop updated the price and made a mistake. Luckily they still shipped them. The difference in Sound (via Bluetooth) just blows you away. And then there is the DAC mode … oh boy! Sold my Focal Elegia and Momentum 4 for them - no regrets!

    • @Omey75
      @Omey75 ปีที่แล้ว

      Have you tried out the Yamaha Yh e700a or L700a. They sound amazing too.

  • @lukeatkins9137
    @lukeatkins9137 10 หลายเดือนก่อน +5

    Just bought a pair of Bathys, did an a/b test in store with Px8 and Air Pod Max. It was such a clear defeat, Focals just had something special, PX8s sounded muddy in comparison. However when I got them home and did the sound test for my ears….. Even better again, such clarity

  • @MrHector011
    @MrHector011 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    I own the Bathy's and love every moment of listening to music with them. Night and Day listening when compared to my XM4, and PX7's.

    • @FormerlyknownasT
      @FormerlyknownasT 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Im thinking of getting these ..What genre of music do u listen to.. and do you use them for TV/ movies ..
      😎

  • @GreenMeanie76-jp8bp
    @GreenMeanie76-jp8bp ปีที่แล้ว +11

    I envy you being able to a/b test headphones. I’ve just spent a solid week reading/watching every headphone review (including all yours) and my head is about to explode. You really need to test drive them to know which one you’re gonna like.👍

  • @osogato1560
    @osogato1560 ปีที่แล้ว +12

    Bought a pair of Bathys about 2 months ago. Got them on sale at a Focal authorized dealer so I went ahead and took the plunge. They are amazing and love every minute I use them, whether I'm listening in Bluetooth or DAC mode.

    • @vjd222
      @vjd222 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Same.. got mine "used-like new" from an authorized dealer on amazon for 529. Showed up brand new in a sealed box. Mine ended up having an issue with the dac and Focal replaced them with another brand new set. Great customer service. Def recommend going that route for anyone wanting to save a little cash

    • @keith12311
      @keith12311 8 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      How do I use the Dac mode

    • @osogato1560
      @osogato1560 8 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

      @@keith12311 I plug them into my Mac with a USB-C to USB-C cable, then put the power switch into the center position, which puts them into DAC mode. They'll come up in the list of sound outputs and once I select them the computer's sound comes on.

  • @stephenwest673
    @stephenwest673 ปีที่แล้ว +9

    I got the Bathys straight after your 1st video..absolutely wonderful headphones in both bluetooth mode and especially in dac mode..money very, very well spent Mark…cheers 😀👍

  • @paulharvey7223
    @paulharvey7223 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    I recently bought a pair of Bathys and they are worth every Penny. They sound amazing - not the best anc but everything else is excellent 👌🏻 😃👍🏻

  • @bmmello
    @bmmello ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Will you do a 6-month video of the PX8 as well? B&W also (surprisingly) released an exciting firmware recently which fixed and improved many of the issues I had with it.
    Also, I’m one of the few who is NOT a fan of the XM4 sound, too muddy. However I was very pleased with the XM5.
    Have yet to try a Focal headphone. This video made me want to.

  • @PeterbFree
    @PeterbFree ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I would be very interested to hear if you found that the sound quality of the Focal improved with time. Focal themselves say that their headphones need to be ‘run-in’. I have found that B&W headphones improve considerably with use, this was true for the Px5, the Px7 and now for the Px7 s2. What have you found? Did I see the px8 in your video here? Long term feedback on them would also be much appreciated 👍

  • @michelplouffe7934
    @michelplouffe7934 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Forget Iphone for making a serious evaluation. Try with Ldac for Sony and Aptx for Bathys. I got the Bathys and they lack Ldac . I have other headphones with Ldac and the difference is audible.

  • @佐藤佐藤-w9w
    @佐藤佐藤-w9w ปีที่แล้ว +1

    is it possible to use chaging + DAC mode(connect to laptop) + ANC?

  • @josephalsept3701
    @josephalsept3701 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Has anyone tried the Shure Aonic 50s? I have a pair and I’m not sure how much better the sound quality is with the bathys because the Aonic sound really good and they’re 100s of dollars cheaper

  • @HarryKite
    @HarryKite ปีที่แล้ว +37

    Hi Mark, WH-1000XM5 owner here. Couldn't help but mention that before purchasing the XM5 I went through countless 'higher-end' or 'ultra-premium' brands in search of the best sound from ANC cans, but found that for the money, they had some 'quirks' that were complete dealbreakers and that I could not live with for such huge monetary sacrifice. For example, I found that with the Bowers & Wilkins PX8's ANC switched ON, listening to a track such as Megadeth's Symphony of Destruction, my 'headphone killer' track (as you call yours), the drivers seemed to rattle audibly like a speaker with high distortion. Not an issue with ANC off for some reason, but in my opinion, there's no use in using an ANC headphone when the ANC destroys the sound. With the Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H95, the headphone volume seemed to be generally extremely low. I understand that the H95 aim to please with clarity and precision, in which they do excel, but 100% volume on the H95 is equal to about 60% to 70% on any other headphone I've tried, which is frustrating when you want to get lost in your favourite tunes. As for the Bathys, I found that for some reason they had a completely different sound signature depending on which part of my ears they sat on, which isn't ideal when you just want to throw on some headphones and listen. Great when you finally find the same setup as the previous listening session, though. When I got my XM5s, I was very very impressed. They're light, comfortable, easy to use, have great ANC, have a fantastic app and EQ, have no deal-breaking quirks (as of yet) and can reach loud volumes at high sound quality with no distortion - not to mention they're half the price of the headphones I had previously tried. I knew immediately they were the ones I wanted to keep. I would recommend the XM5 to anyone who is struggling to make that purchase choice. I've now been using my XM5s since March with no issues. Had you noticed any of these things during testing any of these headphones? Cheers for always making informative reviews Mark!

    • @PowerrayX
      @PowerrayX ปีที่แล้ว +1

      can the bathys reach high volumes ? currently owning Bose qc35 II and they sometimes give distortion when listening to metal

    • @HarryKite
      @HarryKite ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@PowerrayX Yeah the Bathys have plenty of volume, way more than than the B&O H95

    • @putindead
      @putindead ปีที่แล้ว +3

      my dealbreaker for xm4, which I used for over a year, was a completely horrible control interface. Voice control likes to call random people when I wear the headphones on my neck, and if I turn it off, the touch panel will eventually turn it on once again randomly. Looking at the touch panel on xm5 I highly doubt they fixed all of these issues. This is not mentioning how much messed up the switching between two devices is.

    • @ketchupinpasta1392
      @ketchupinpasta1392 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      I’ve been struggling picking one from the high-end headphones you mentioned for these exact reasons but I’ve tried the XM5s and the sound is just not for the genres I listen to, it just sounds muddy and foggy to me. I’m glad you were able to find ome that fits you after the struggle

    • @patriotparkinglotservices-8881
      @patriotparkinglotservices-8881 ปีที่แล้ว

      ​@@ketchupinpasta1392what genre is that?

  • @JustLearning
    @JustLearning ปีที่แล้ว

    Enjoy your videos. I had the XM4s for about a week and then returned them. They were not as bright and clear as my AirPods Max and AirPods Pro 1. And my KZ VXS was best of all three. The VXS do not have noise cancelling but the answer to that is to turn the volume up until you cannot hear anything else.

    • @8000860
      @8000860 ปีที่แล้ว

      KZ are incredible. Got ZS6 and (girlfriend uses ZST)... still can't find any wireless headphones which could compete with them.
      Bought WH-1000XM3... those sound terrible! I just throw them away, since I can't listen to that 💩even at gym.
      GF has same opinion about her WF-1000XM3. No more Sony for me in any kind.

    • @samuelsong342
      @samuelsong342 ปีที่แล้ว

      ​@@8000860you guys talk about that hearphone 35 dollars onThewib?

    • @wyw201
      @wyw201 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@8000860For Sony, you want to go for their IEMs like M9 or Z1R

    • @JustLearning
      @JustLearning 6 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@samuelsong342 ?

  • @eduardwalter812
    @eduardwalter812 ปีที่แล้ว

    what would you recommend between Bathys, Mark Levinson 5909 and Solitaire T+A?
    I'll use them ( sometimes ) with the external amp dac Signature
    Thank you

  • @cesarisabel7204
    @cesarisabel7204 ปีที่แล้ว

    I got the bathys and im really debating what to dom they sound amazing but leave my ears sore after 2 hours. I really want to keep them but they numb my ear and are hot in the summer. I really want to keep them but theyre bot comfortable for me. I have 3 weeks to return. What do you think?

  • @DamianNocun
    @DamianNocun 10 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Is it possible to use EQ with USB-C in DAC mode connection ?

  • @infj2177
    @infj2177 ปีที่แล้ว

    How does Focal compare to BO H95? I have XM4 (returned the XM5) and AirPods Max, looking for an upgrade :)

  • @sturdyblock
    @sturdyblock ปีที่แล้ว

    Hmm. Any actual usable feedback on extended listening wear? e.g. 2.5 hours on head without physical adjustment / re-positioning. 20 mins with XM4's and your ears sweat. Sony have pushed frugality too far; lightweight doesn't mean good value for money or good quality (Sony MDR-MV1 etc).

  • @jeremytarter7557
    @jeremytarter7557 ปีที่แล้ว

    Which one is better for Hip Hop/ R&B? I want to feel the thump and strong punch of the bass with great detail.

  • @johnvaldez4044
    @johnvaldez4044 ปีที่แล้ว

    Apples and oranges but how does the bathys compare to your 560s in terms of sound quality?

  • @jessicareyes7255
    @jessicareyes7255 3 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Hello! Do they offer parts replacement in case? Are the pads replaceable?

  • @michaelmcclellanjr9831
    @michaelmcclellanjr9831 ปีที่แล้ว

    Do they Bathys have LDAC codec capability? I dont want to plug into my phone every time i want to listen to hi-res.

  • @SimplyMe-b3d
    @SimplyMe-b3d ปีที่แล้ว

    I'm listening to my Sony 720N sounds fantastic. have the settings to my liking at 0, 2, 3, 2, 1

  • @smaganas
    @smaganas 26 วันที่ผ่านมา

    great review!

  • @anncleverley4721
    @anncleverley4721 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Hi Mark would like to order a pair of headphones from this company but they dont ship to the UK

    • @FilipePratadeLima
      @FilipePratadeLima ปีที่แล้ว

      Seen that, disappointing really, how did you do it Mark?

  • @nicolasbouhier2924
    @nicolasbouhier2924 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Yes I basically agree the xm4 is really valuable that's just a matter of fact. But after the B&W I just can't go back to Sony or Bose sound signature.... I immediately notice the 700 has a weird thing which disappointed me, and the Sony feels so boxy and unbalanced as hell in the basses....

  • @brianmuir9059
    @brianmuir9059 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Done loads of research and you’ve swayed me, just tried to buy myself a set of open box Bathys but hifi shop had just sold out but they gave me the same £200 discount on a new set and also 5 years warranty. Looking forward to pairing them up with my new iPhone Pro 15 and its USB C slot.

    • @brianmuir9059
      @brianmuir9059 ปีที่แล้ว

      Just arrived today and after set up, wowser! Way better than they sounded in the store and a huge upgrade on my Sony’s and that is way before they are broken in. Delighted with them.

    • @natashakirkham4476
      @natashakirkham4476 11 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@brianmuir9059I have an iPhone 14 max, how are these for volume ? I have to have AirPods Max and xm4 nearly full volume to truly enjoy and would like to know if the focals at least match these headphones for volume and not less. Thanks

  • @beats-by-skrill8925
    @beats-by-skrill8925 ปีที่แล้ว

    Will these be good for mixing and mastering for audio engineers/producers???

    • @MarkEllisReviews
      @MarkEllisReviews  ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Oh god no! Please get yourself a pair of studio monitor headphones! You need a flat response.

    • @acescok
      @acescok 24 วันที่ผ่านมา

      Just go for a pair of Beyerdynamic 770 or 990 depending on your environment. Couldn’t possibly go wrong there. I used their “Custom Studio” but they don’t make them anymore

  • @Henry14arsenal2007
    @Henry14arsenal2007 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

    As a long-time owner and fan of the Sonys, I have to admit I was blown away by how much better and clearer even the similarly-priced Marshall Monitor 2s sounded compared to the XM4; much more detailed lows and low-mids, heavy distortion guitars sound much better and an overall wider soundstage. Now Ive yet to try the Bathys, but Id assume they would blow away the Marshalls easily, so thats most of what you should know about this comparison. The Sonys in general have a really ugly, dense and undetailed bass response, now Ive come to realize theres really not much to them except for ANC. I really cant stress enough how much more important audio quality is compared to any other feature when it comes to headphones, once you experience good sound, you can never go back. Ill definitely get the Bathys to replace my XM4s.

  • @LUIZS87
    @LUIZS87 ปีที่แล้ว

    How does it compare to the a800 technics?

  • @spzHades
    @spzHades ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I own XM3, and tested PX8, H95, Momentum 4 and Bathys. In terms of confort mom4 > xm3 > h95 > bathys > px8 but in terms of sound the bathys are just magical. I would say Bathys by miles away from everything else. I have focal audio on my car which i love, they are absolutely great. The problem i have with bathys is they are quite heavy and didn't find them that comfortable. The xm3 are really comfortable, i can stay all day with them, also momentum 4 but they sound the worst from all above. I find sony to beat everything else in terms of price per what they offer, but bathys in terms of sound are magical. I tested them only bluetooth , i wonder whay my fiio k11 will put into these if i manage to buy them as they are 3x price of xm4

  • @dennisodonnell9607
    @dennisodonnell9607 ปีที่แล้ว

    Hello Mark…enjoy your channel ! …
    I have the Beoplay H95 (Chestnut Version) which are comparable with the the Bathys and the PX8s….you’re welcome to borrow them for a review if you want…there’s no rush for them back. My main headphones are the Hifiman Arya V2, Fostex TH909 and the Senheisser HD800S. Cheers mate 👍

  • @Televisiontechnology
    @Televisiontechnology 5 วันที่ผ่านมา

    I returned these immediately - was suprised at the poor quality on offer that no one mentions - the headband is off a 50 euro pari of headphones compressed foam inside which always falls apart. A quick check on google found endless complaints of this and not one reviewer on the 10 ? videos i've seen picked up on this. The whole thing feels pretty cheap, the pivoting mechanism too. Perhaps the sonics are good (though out of the box seemed quite thin), even with the new dynamic setting. This is not a well resolved or finished product or not at the price being offered

  • @fluffylambut
    @fluffylambut ปีที่แล้ว

    Nice review. Compare to Mark Levinson 5909s??

  • @sandwaves5642
    @sandwaves5642 ปีที่แล้ว

    Well done. Good job ❗❗👍👍👍👍👍👍

  • @raymondtan892
    @raymondtan892 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    The xm5 is a straight up upgrade for the xm4, the cushioning are just better quality. But I do love the XM4 clamp force, they firmly sits exactly on my head without any sort of discomfort.

  • @keenesaulcrescini8687
    @keenesaulcrescini8687 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Thank you for your reviews, Mark! Got the XM5 for the #1 call quality + really good base EQ :)

    • @MarkEllisReviews
      @MarkEllisReviews  ปีที่แล้ว

      Pleasure! Glad you're enjoying the XM5!

    • @shto4782
      @shto4782 ปีที่แล้ว

      Don’t like the design and the case on xm5 so got xm4

  • @thejonathandoan
    @thejonathandoan ปีที่แล้ว

    Great video! Thanks for the great comparison to a much more well known headphone in the Sony.

  • @Yydoughnhn
    @Yydoughnhn ปีที่แล้ว

    Love my bathys , upgrade from my sony xm3 and bose qc35 as my travel companion :) money well spent

  • @murtazachaudhary3339
    @murtazachaudhary3339 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Nice video

  • @69Muscle
    @69Muscle ปีที่แล้ว +1

    As an owner of Focal loud speakers, and Clear’s, your review makes buying the Bathys’ an easy choice.

  • @FFF-hg8tr
    @FFF-hg8tr ปีที่แล้ว

    I have enjoyed the Bathys, the PX8 and the H95 for about a year, and overall the Bathys are my favourite though I love them all.

  • @kings7man
    @kings7man 3 หลายเดือนก่อน

    waiting for your review of Band O h100

  • @Murattarif
    @Murattarif ปีที่แล้ว

    Is Bathys much better than Bose Ultra headphones in sound quality?

    • @jaybeeboy505
      @jaybeeboy505 10 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      Yes

    • @joshuastefanick4806
      @joshuastefanick4806 23 วันที่ผ่านมา

      😅😅😅😅

    • @Murattarif
      @Murattarif 22 วันที่ผ่านมา

      @@joshuastefanick4806 what

  • @kevinmckenna2559
    @kevinmckenna2559 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    You stil prefer the XM 4 to the XM5? Why?

    • @davemeadows6688
      @davemeadows6688 ปีที่แล้ว

      Was about to ask the same thing. Mark?

    • @MarkEllisReviews
      @MarkEllisReviews  ปีที่แล้ว +5

      Sound quality, comfort, case.

    • @davemeadows6688
      @davemeadows6688 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@MarkEllisReviews I agree re case and that the XM4 fold up whereas the XM 5's don't.

    • @leewainwright3526
      @leewainwright3526 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Tried them both xm4 sound better got to agree with him

  • @orangedan5424
    @orangedan5424 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Forget all those...for $300 only just buy audeze maxwell. Yes it's a gaming headset and a bit bulky and heavy...but the sound they are damn good. It's a planar and because it has battery make it super easy to drive. I owned BW Px8 and tried bathys, but i think the maxwell easily match and better.

  • @erin7995
    @erin7995 ปีที่แล้ว

    Bathys are the best headphones I’ve ever heard and I’m not saying just Bluetooth

    • @mikeshinwa3398
      @mikeshinwa3398 ปีที่แล้ว

      Yeah they’re quite well tuned honestly. Not bad at all. Of course, they are surpassed by proper open back and closed back headphones like the Focal Radiance but damn they perform amazingly well for a wireless headphone.

  • @ant1kryst
    @ant1kryst ปีที่แล้ว +1

    XM4 is muddy as hell. still like them for the comfort and convenience though.

    • @leewainwright3526
      @leewainwright3526 ปีที่แล้ว

      I got mine running quite well with a little eq not perfect but acceptable

  • @HasanNiz
    @HasanNiz ปีที่แล้ว

    Hi Mark, I think your Patreon link in video descriptions has ellipsis at the end thus taking to a 404 page, you might want to update all videos to fix the link.

  • @sverreflem
    @sverreflem 2 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Sony's aren't that comfotable after a couple of hours. But maybe it't just my head. Bose QC are comfortable hour after hour.

    • @sverreflem
      @sverreflem 2 หลายเดือนก่อน

      But the review👍 Is the base alright? I have a pair of Focal Clear, and the base is a little weak.

  • @joshuvaantonio
    @joshuvaantonio ปีที่แล้ว

    You could try the newly released Audio Technica M50x-BT2 which is far cheaper..better treble accuracy, better mid accuracy, more soundstage at just 200 dollars
    Or you could get these for a “slight” more bass accuracy (which focal bathys beats audio techinca for 800 dollars )
    And if you are into V Shaped sound, Go for Sennheiser Momentum 4

  • @joshuastefanick4806
    @joshuastefanick4806 23 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Compare them to seinheissers

  • @junerdz
    @junerdz ปีที่แล้ว

    u are the hbomberguy of headphones 😊

  • @brothatwasepic
    @brothatwasepic ปีที่แล้ว +2

    If you like the bathys you will LOVE the Utopia 2022 😂😂

  • @yungwells6549
    @yungwells6549 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Bro used an iphone . Why reduce the audio output of the headphones, especially one as expensive as the bathys

  • @PatrickBarnaby
    @PatrickBarnaby 2 หลายเดือนก่อน

    The Sony WH-1000XM4 when using Mobile Phone is not very load or enough Base. When using WH-XM1000XM4 with FiiO M17 and DC Mode now that's what you call Base and Volume. My referenc point for Volume and Base is my US Version Beats Studio 2. Don't buy the UK Version Beats. When paired with FiiO M17 DC Mode the Sonys Base is as loud or even better. There's nobody that's done a review of this set up. Therefore I can say nobody really knows how good the Sony WH-1000XM4 are. Mark pllug the Sony WH-1000XM4 into FiiO M17 DC Mode or The KANN ULTRA and then I wouldl like to know how good the Bathys is via FiiO M17 DC Mode and the KANN ULTRA vs the Sony.

  • @agcouper
    @agcouper ปีที่แล้ว

    This guy managed to squeeze two advertisements into a single video: one for Bathys, and another for Sony.

  • @tom_loves_audio_tech_gaming
    @tom_loves_audio_tech_gaming ปีที่แล้ว

    normal headphone users dont by a Bathys :-) So yes you are going to attract audiophiles. But all explanation are good IMO.... sound is subjective beside the technical stuff.
    Great review. I like you camera work.

  • @ianpickering4020
    @ianpickering4020 ปีที่แล้ว

    Bar-tease??😂

  • @レオ-k6e
    @レオ-k6e ปีที่แล้ว

  • @EraseMEsolodo1o
    @EraseMEsolodo1o ปีที่แล้ว +1

    The fact your comparing the xm4’s to a much expensive and high caliber headphone says a lot

    • @EraseMEsolodo1o
      @EraseMEsolodo1o ปีที่แล้ว

      @@MarkEllisReviews you’re doing awesome on your comparison videos, really helps me narrow down my decisions on which option to navigate towards. Good job buddy 👍👍👍

    • @wm1573
      @wm1573 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      The real reason is that the xm4 is probably the most popular anc headphone. Not because they’re close to the bathys

  • @evilvirtuoso9408
    @evilvirtuoso9408 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Overrated, overhyped headphone. Not sure what reviews are talking about when they say this is among the best sounding BT headphones. The treble is too dull, almost hollow. The bass all the way to the lower midrange is great, but falls apart after that, at least within the context of a $800 BT headphones. Maybe reviewers are just Focal fans. Maybe confirmation bias from all the hype, I don't know really.

  • @barrygbemc
    @barrygbemc 10 หลายเดือนก่อน

    It's amazing that Sony makes high end headphones, their speakers and phones have always been cheap sh1t. I could never buy Sony phones.

  • @panda1412.
    @panda1412. ปีที่แล้ว +1

    The xm4 are over prices af... How can say they are the best for the money when you can literally buy soundcore heaphones that sound better and have better battery life for literally less than half the price..