I rarely comment, but you provided something that a lot of us needed, in a very clear format, and I want to further help the algorithm know that you're great and deserve more subs :)
My man. It is rare to find someone who can make such a trustworthy and detailed review. What makes your review stand out: + You didn't use EQ (manipulation = no longer the original sound). + You didn't use a Cord & DAC (also manipulation). + You listened to the same songs for a long period of several days. + You specify detail differences like: vocals, brass, guitars, bass, general mids, harshness etc. + You brought in people with great credentials to give their drop-in opinion, and who could express their opinion with a developed vocabulary. - The only thing i'm missing is what you thought of Ease Of Use, like buttons etc. Conclusion: Even though you label yourself as a "Focal guy" (biased) you gave your full summarized opinion of what you actually found during your test period. Which shows you are mature enough to take your feelings, opinions and factual experience into account when making a final judgement. It is obvious that you put in alot of time, effort, feeling and analyzing to make this review. Stellar job, 9/10. I rate most reviews between 1-6/10. I hope you make more reviews like this. I would love to see you make a comparison between SENNHEISER Momentum 4 and Bowers & Wilkings PX7 S2 the same way you did here. And between BW PX8 vs PX72s. If you do, take your time, quality is all that matters. Good work, hope to see more from you.
And more importantly he doesn't have industry affiliations and business motives. Focal Bathys thrives mostly on those types of "reviews", exaggerating their "superiority" and glossing over their measurable flaws (that even show up in their beloved FR charts and Harman curve). By their target curves, PX8 is flawed, too, but as this honest review mentioned, they are just musically superior.
@Balls-Deep-Inside-Your-Momyeah I think slight eq adjustments to the sound are good. Especially for the Bathys where there is a mid range dip, bumping that up along with a bit of the treble just elevated the sound. Also, adding a bit of the sound personalization definitely improves the high end perceived detail
Hats off to you sir, your the first audiophile that explains everything clearly to a non audiophile. No complicated graphs etc just explanations of how they sound. Excellent review
With PX8 costing 375€ at the moment, I believe I have found my winner🙂 Thank you for a detailed review, just what I needed to push me towards the PX8 👍
I have now owned the Bathys and PX8, The PX8 differs in sound quality with ANC on and off, with ANC on it sounds fuller and punchier, though I miss the details and space the Bathys had. If I were to choose one for general home use it would be the Bathys, if I were to travel outside the PX8.
Mate you deserve more subs. This review was spot on. Well structured and educating review without annoying filler content. I already have the PX8 on order so cannot wait to give it a go. Cheers
Zeb this review is fantastic it’s engaging analytical emotionally rich and qualitatively rich , your audio vocabulary is wonderfully rich . Because of the way you combined the qualitative subjective feeling with the technical analysis this is the best technicals comparative review I’ve ever seen looking forward to many more reviews
Excellent detailed review and comparison. One of the best headphone reviewers I’ve seen. Wireless headphones are the future imho, dac, amp and headphone in one with the benefit of ANC, great for smaller homes and shared living/working spaces.
This is undeniably the best review and most thought out/ in depth site (but not overly so) Ive found in years. This will be my go to site on audio matters from now on.
I do have quite a collection of headphones myself and never thought to hear an on point analysis like yours. While I absolutely love Focal in headphones jsut as much as in speakers, they do tend to sound "indirect". This, while in some instances is almost otherworldly in its spatial presentation, tends to give them kind of an "engrossed in thoughts presenting the music from another plane of existence" like feeling. I don't really know how to put it. Like distancing itself from the music in a very elegant way. Thank god there are people on YT who have a better way with words and explanations. So TLDR: thank you for this excellent review.
Thank you! I have been agonizing over which one to buy between these two! After reading and watching every review I could find, most raved about how good the Bathys are, and not a lot of info on the PX8. Although I was leaning towards the PX8, I was on the fence because of the Bathys' stellar reviews. Thanks to your detailed back-to-back review, I'm confident the PX8 is the right choice! Subscribed!
Thank you for such a detailed review! The way you describe the characteristic for these headphones give me clear image of how they present music. In my country, It is hard to find a store had all the ANC headphones I want to try. After watching your video, I bought px8 yesterday, may arrive recently. Really excited about it.
Thank you for this informative review. It feels like there is something “ extra “ that i rarely feel watching other ‘top/mainstream’ reviewers, maybe it’s called… honesty. You made it straight to the point. Not so many can describe the sound like you, and i think people buying headphones in this price range are more interested in sound than in other features.
Great review, I listen to a lot of electronic / house music with lots of bass. It seems like the B&W are the best for this. This review has changed my mind was pretty sold on the Bathys, but changed my mind now. The Bathys review actually reminds me of the AKG701 from a few years ago.
I tested them both at a store today and I agree with you , edm sounds the best on PX8. The focal made it sound very forced, However it had more sound staging to it. PX8 puts more emotion behind the instruments.
Thank you very much for this comparison between Focal Bathys and Bowers & Wilkins PX8. I also sold my Airpods Max and reserved the PX8. There are many nuances that you mention in your video that are in line with what I'm looking for and in terms of comfort and design, in my humble opinion, I think the B&W PX8 is better positioned than the Focal Bathys
I bought both and you are definitely spot on. Could not explain it better! BUT, at least for me, I get fatigue from the PX8's when listening for long. They're just too lively sometimes. Maybe I'm getting old lol! I listen to the Bathys 70% of the time.
Really really good and honest review of these 2 headphone pairs. It could be felt in the air that you really wanted Bathys to take advantage over PX8 but you've given honesty and justice. Much appreciated for that. I've been researching these 2 headphones for a while.
I really enjoyed this entire review! The way you fleshed out what you heard, and your deep comparisons left me with a good understanding of the character of each headphone. Thank you!
congrats for this great review! I believe you also published a great post on head-fi post. Super useful and timely. Love the detailed account, track examples and tidbits. Hope you will published more in the future. For instance, a comparison across your Focal headphones would be great! Cheers from France!
Thank you very much for the review! Just yesterday I managed to listen to these headphones and I devoted 2 hours to this. I listened to the British first and really liked them (had a lot of experience with the PX7 before). I would like to note the linearity of the sound and pleasant sensations from the tactile materials of the headphones. The French surprised no less and it is worth noting from the premium appearance. Until now, I have not decided which I liked more, because the sensations are divided exactly 50 to 50. I am sure that only a private test is necessary when buying. In my opinion, the British are more suitable for portable use on the road, and the French will be able to open themselves up more for thoughtful listening at home. I tested both without noise reduction turned on. My personal headphones: AKG 240 studio, Momentum, B&O H95.
I also have the Px8 and the Bathys. I'm finding that on some electronics songs, the Px8 are quite fun, but the Bathys do have a level of clarity, detail that I have not heard, and it therefore hits an emotional place. I have not heard that detail yet in an ANC headphone. But as stated, they are both great headphones.
Thx for this video. There are some nice discounts on the PX8 at the moment. I heard that there is a hudge quality difference using the Dac mode on the Focals, I also saw that using the Focal app you can make a personnalised sound adjustement called "Mimi". Anyway all very exciting. You personal experience is actually very interesting. Thx again. :)
Great way to start first video , you sound like a pro , well done and thanks a lot for a very spot on , straightforward and informative video, am sure you will have more subscribers soon .. you nailed it man
Thank you for this review. No one really reviews Bowers and Wilkins and I have 4 of their headphones. The PX7s being my work horse. However I love Focal, I have the clear MG and love them. So this is a review I needed man!! Thank you 🙏🏾 oh and I just subscribed
Only just found this review and I had wondered if I made the right choice with buying the PX8 over the Bathys and now I know I did, Great review and you really need more subs!
It's easier to convince yourself that you made the right choice if you actually bought the PX8. No saying you didn't make the right choice though but have you tried the Bathys ? These headphones sound absolutely phenomenal in my opinion but once again, sound is so subjective and at the end of the day, it's all about your own ears and not what the others have to say :)
@@paulthiebaut I agree totally that sound is subjective, I have tried the Bathys infact I bought them before I bought the PX8 and the sound from them at least to my ears was better so the Bathys were sold, The Bathys are excellent though
Just got the PX8 in and it feels premium all around. Been wearing it for like 7 hours straight now and it's still comfier than any other headset I've owned. Took about 5 to 6 hours for me to start noticing the warmth of the headset in a 20 degrees Celcius environment. The physical buttons are really nice. One complaint would be the feature that detects when you wearing your headset or not. It really does stop music when you are still wearing the headset. For me, it's fine to turn this off.
Wow, this is the best and most helpful headphone review I found here on TH-cam. Thank you very much!! Listening is always very subjective, but I think you have the best approach to compensate for that. The natural and intuitive way that you describe things makes it easy to imagine which model one would prefer. I really enjoyed your detailed information about different genres, especially on voices. I also find your girlfriend's impressions extremely valuable for me! Thank you very much to both of you! I would love to find more reviews and comparisons on your channel -> subscription made.
Great review. I auditioned both at K55 in Zurich on Tuesday for maybe an hour to an hour and a half so nowhere near as intensively as you but my opinion and conclusions were very similar to yours. I own Sony XM3s which I love but are clearly outclassed by these 2 headphones except for comfort where they are the best. Anyway I was struggling to decide between the 2 but your review is swaying me in favour of the B&Ws. They are definitely a more exciting and engaging listen. To me they are also more comfortable than the Bathys and very slightly more suited to travel as they are marginally less bulky and lighter than the Focals. Thanks again for helping me to reach a conclusion.
Been looking for a thorough sound review on B&W's. Comfort and build are a given if you scouted for reviews on it. Cheers! You are also easy to read, holding the specific headphone while talking about it. Happy to hear you prefer the B&W's, sound quality is something I need to experience but boy do they look stylish!
I just pulled the trigger on the B&W PX8, I've been enjoying the Focals also so I'm eager to see which one I prefer when I receive the B&Ws, my audio addiction 😂 is getting out of hand 😁, we all know this is a never ending struggle 😂
@@gpapa31 kept both as some genres sound better on the PX8, and some on the Bathys, I think the majority of folks would be extremely happy with the PX8 though.
@@jimmycychowski1142 gotcha. I know what you mean it’s exactly the same with speakers. Some speakers play certain type of music better than others and vice versa. I have found B&W to be more all rounders and most good with acoustic/jazz/classical snd EDM stuff.
@@gpapa31 The PX8 has a more exciting expressive engaging sound, while the Focal Bathys are more of a reference sound, I love both so both are keepers. They would be my top 2 currently, with the Amiron Wireless being 3rd, it's sound being more of a reference sound also 😉 to my ears anyway
Amazing review, thanks for your thoughts. I’m currently considering the PX8 since I can get a very good price for an open box model for $599 cad instead of $899.
EXCELLENT review. IMHO, without having listened to the PX8, the built-in DAC on the Focals is the clincher. Not having to deal with a cumbersome dongle-DAC setup is a big win. I have a new Dragonfly Cobalt that I’m sad & excited to return. 😂 Really like being able to get to the 192 material on Apple Music and not limited to 96 as with the Cobalt. Again, top-notch review. Hope you keep at it. 👏
Thank you for doing this comparison video. I found it very useful the way you’ve described both headphones. I have the Sony XM3 currently (and I really do like their bombastic sound. However I am looking for an upgrade for headphones that sound more open and that don’t make my ears hot.
Great review and greatly appreciated. Really torn now. You have confirmed as I suspected and agree to my tastes too swinging me to the PX8, however the Bathys DAC mode appeals to me. I’m waiting for notification when my local dealer will have both in stock to spend half day. Perhaps the PX8 in 3.5mm mode via my Chord Mojo will suffice for non-mobile listening? Damn I really torn, still haven’t ruled out a wired set and forgo the BT option for sound???? Asaaargh 🤣
@@darranmoore Hi mate! Yeah I have listened to both in wired a fair bit too. The Bathys DAC mode isn't world changing, my preferences by and large remain. All wireless headphones have an internal DAC anyway. Both sound really good wireless, and then there's a step up in clarity even with something like an Apple dongle when wired. As they have internal DACs I wonder what impact a Mojo will have? Do let us know if you try it!
hats off to you. you had me with the intro saying you would directly go to the sound. indeed who cares about that you need to swipe or push a button when you obviously are buying these headphones for the sound ! the only gripe I had is that its not usable in passive mode and I wonder how long the battery will go...
Great review thanks. I tried the PX5 or PX7 back few years ago in Dubai in the middle of the airport. The noise cancelling was uncanny, indescribably good compared to 'mid range' hifi headphones. I'm going to get the PX8 007s to replace my 18 year old IXOS DJ1002s and Senny HD450s (borrowed ;)) for daily use. If they get me another 10 years I'll be happy. Will use them in noisy factories, entertainment business, sleep, long route travel, etc.
I like the methodology. Very expressive comparison. After this it will be enough to have a short comparison to decide between them. Since I didn't like any of the Focals so far, and otherwise I prefer a fuller sound and more like a speaker sound stage rather than head stage, the decision seems to be clear. Thank you.
In a direct comparison, I liked the Bathys far more than the PX8 (which are too bass-masked), but not enough for a clear buying decision (a bit hard sounding still). Need to spend some time with the ML 5909 as well (which made a first impression of being too bright).
agree. I own both. px8 makes you feel and sounds like that the performer is performing only for you. - you are the center of the song or musical piece. I tried comparing using in wired and wireless and different music source and it still I prefer px8 most of the time.
Somehow you are the first reviewer to even discuss this issue. It is as I feared: the Focal seems a bit underwhelming. I wasn't impressed when they allowed the headphone retailers to get their reviews out near the day of the launch for the Bathys, like they had had them in hand for weeks already to try them out. This hobby is niche enough, and it just looks bad if they didn't bother sending out review units to actual reviewers in the industry but did so for the retailers who they know are going to say nothing negative about them, and throw in a sponsorship to sell you overpriced cables. Sheesh. Anyway thanks for the review!
A few minutes in and I know I would prefer the PX8 immensely. I prefer a warmer sound that isn't overly analytical. Though I do also like a wide sound stage, I'm willing to give that up for the tonality that suits me.
Love the review but what about burning in the PX8 when they have been used as long as your Bathys will they still have the same sound signature. or is burning in headphones a bit of a myth?
I pulled the trigger on buying the px8 because there was no shop with the bathys anywhere near me. Honestly, I would prefer a wider soundstage and more clarity because that's what I enjoy when listening to music, being able to pick out the details, so that would be a point for the bathys but I'm not a fan of how the bathys look and when you're spending this much on headphones that are designed to be used on the go the aesthetics do matter! I got to test the px8 in the shop and I enjoyed the sound even if it's not technically as neutral etc however it sounds brilliant all the same. The xm5s just sounded cheap in comparison, and I didn't like the h95s as much either although I only listened to 2 or 3 songs on each so it's hardly a fair comparison. This video really helped me feel reassured in just biting the bullet and spending so much. I've watched at least a dozen other videos and they didn't go into as much detail with as much passion and care. The way you go through it is a lot more helpful than just throwing up some charts showing the sound curves. I don't have the dosh to splash around trying all the different headphones at this price range and I have only ever had non ANC wired headphones + AirPods Pro, so that's where I'm coming from when looking at all of these premium anc headphones. I would still buy the bathys as well if I won the lotto just because that type of sound presentation sounds like it's right up my alley. After a short time with the Px8 I am really pleased with them. So, thank you for the video! These kind of thoughtful and honest videos seem rare nowadays.
I didnt even know focal had a competitor to the px8. Ive been a b&w fanboy forever but im conisdering the focals. I appreciate that you really took the time to compare these and make this video.
Have you tried EQ? To simply adjust Bathys' frequency response so that it matches PX8? Would you get the best of both then (detail & separation from Bathys + bass energy and fuller midrange of PX8) or not?
Tried it and couldn't find that kind of sound. Bass in the Bathys is good, but could not be compared to the bass in the PX8's. Also, the "surround" presentation in the Bathys, is imposible to replicate on the PX8's, doesn't matter the EQ.
Imo the “meatiness” is a tuning issue with the bathys. Resolve from headphone show posted the frequency response of the bathys. It follows the harman target but between 500-1k hz there is a 4-5 db dip. I would suggest you try the focal app eq and do a +3db boost for 1k. If that doesn’t fix it then try +6db boost. Leave all else equal.
I like a wider more spacial sound for headphones. I have the Focal Clear MG's and was seriously thinking about the Focals but I am thinking about the B&W and they are more engaging music seems more appealing I also have a feeling Focal will update these headphones in the next 5 years like they did with the Clears and other headphones. The PX8 has better quality buttons than the Focal's. They are also a little better with the ANC over the Focals. This maybe partially due to the way the leather which lacks the sewing around the foam of the Focal which may allow more sound to enter your ear. Also the clamp on the PX8 is a little firmer and they turn off the music if you remove the headphones from your ears which Focal does not do. The cans are also not as big as the Focal's and look better on your head. For these reasons I am leaning towards the PX8 over the bigger sound stage of the Focals. Focal has a built in DAC which the B&W does not have with a cable that allows you to play directly from your phone however. So if your home listening to music you can use the DAC which should sound a little better than Bluetooth.
On the DAC mode, every BT headphone has a DAC inside of it. I have played around with both of them wired, I didn't think the Bathys attains some kind of special upgrade, as far as I can tell it's what you'd expect wired in terms of improvements. But then again, they both improve wired. The only difference here I think is Focal are mentioning the fact a DAC is in place, for marketing purposes, where B&W are just not mentioning it. The DAC is still there.
@@engineeringart6345 I am glad you compared these headphones to the Focal Clear's. I have the Clear MG's and based on what you said about the difference with the Bathys, I think the B&W PX8 would be a better option for me.
I purchased the PX8 and are very happy with thr build quality and sound. They have a meater sound over the Bathys and they don't have the cheap plastic the Bathys have.
Excellent review!! Bought my pair last Friday and looking forward to hearing them. Previously owned the PX7. Also tried the Apple Max but they lacked a lot to me, felt cheap soundwize. There is only one thing that I am still struggling with upon this day. The PX8 internal DAC is capped at 24 bit/48 kHz. Would it really have mattered if the internal DAC would for example supported 96 kHz or higher? Or does this not have been that impactful. I understand from a Bluetooth perspective that it is 48 kHz but from a wired perspective, would it have mattered? Or is that more of a selling thingy?
Thanks for the very detailed review. I love rock but, I’m primarily a classical and jazz fan. Your commentator is right, the Bathys sound more like a concert and that what I like about them. I listened to the B&Ws albeit not for as long as you did but, frankly, it was the heavier bass that lessened my appreciation. I went for the Focals and I’m incredibly pleased with them. I pair with the Chord Mojo2/Poly rig for train commuting.
Sound and the most important is comfort. Very good review and thanks for including opinion of other person. It's hard to compare headphones. I have Grado SR80e, Sennheiser PXC550 and of course Koss Porta Pro. Koss sounds muffled, but it depends on source of the sound (i guess due to higher impedance). Grado has crystal clear sound revealing some details, i can basically guess the size of your room and i can hear low frequency sound when car passes (maybe microphone seems to capture a lot of bass, just like my boya mm1). On the other hand ... some songs or genres are almost impossible to listen on them for long (such as rock or metal with many instruments and constant loudness), while pxc550 have somewhat warmer sound without overemphasis in middle tones and are comfortable to listen for hours.
I rarely comment, but you provided something that a lot of us needed, in a very clear format, and I want to further help the algorithm know that you're great and deserve more subs :)
I agree with this wholeheartedly
I hope this is not going to be your only youtube test! Excellent review , great very clear sound descriptions impressions.
My man. It is rare to find someone who can make such a trustworthy and detailed review.
What makes your review stand out:
+ You didn't use EQ (manipulation = no longer the original sound).
+ You didn't use a Cord & DAC (also manipulation).
+ You listened to the same songs for a long period of several days.
+ You specify detail differences like: vocals, brass, guitars, bass, general mids, harshness etc.
+ You brought in people with great credentials to give their drop-in opinion, and who could express their opinion with a developed vocabulary.
- The only thing i'm missing is what you thought of Ease Of Use, like buttons etc.
Conclusion: Even though you label yourself as a "Focal guy" (biased) you gave your full summarized opinion of what you actually found during your test period. Which shows you are mature enough to take your feelings, opinions and factual experience into account when making a final judgement. It is obvious that you put in alot of time, effort, feeling and analyzing to make this review. Stellar job, 9/10. I rate most reviews between 1-6/10.
I hope you make more reviews like this. I would love to see you make a comparison between SENNHEISER Momentum 4 and Bowers & Wilkings PX7 S2 the same way you did here. And between BW PX8 vs PX72s. If you do, take your time, quality is all that matters.
Good work, hope to see more from you.
And more importantly he doesn't have industry affiliations and business motives. Focal Bathys thrives mostly on those types of "reviews", exaggerating their "superiority" and glossing over their measurable flaws (that even show up in their beloved FR charts and Harman curve). By their target curves, PX8 is flawed, too, but as this honest review mentioned, they are just musically superior.
Totally agree, love the approach of listening not just measuring.
@Balls-Deep-Inside-Your-Momyeah I think slight eq adjustments to the sound are good. Especially for the Bathys where there is a mid range dip, bumping that up along with a bit of the treble just elevated the sound. Also, adding a bit of the sound personalization definitely improves the high end perceived detail
Hats off to you sir, your the first audiophile that explains everything clearly to a non audiophile. No complicated graphs etc just explanations of how they sound. Excellent review
Now this is a proper review. Like what a review really means. I didn't know about this channel before, so it's a pleasant surprise.
Extraordinaryly detailed and accordingly complex review with great understanding of audiophile standards, superb💥
With PX8 costing 375€ at the moment, I believe I have found my winner🙂 Thank you for a detailed review, just what I needed to push me towards the PX8 👍
Where are they €375???
@chunkyfxdls1878 Amazon in Europe, Germany, Poland etc.
@@chunkyfxdls1878amazon!
I have now owned the Bathys and PX8, The PX8 differs in sound quality with ANC on and off, with ANC on it sounds fuller and punchier, though I miss the details and space the Bathys had. If I were to choose one for general home use it would be the Bathys, if I were to travel outside the PX8.
Wow. Useful review on TH-cam. Very rare nowadays and much appreciated.
Mate you deserve more subs. This review was spot on. Well structured and educating review without annoying filler content. I already have the PX8 on order so cannot wait to give it a go.
Cheers
Hey… what about me… I just Sub’s because his sight is so dam good! Awesome channel!
Zeb this review is fantastic it’s engaging analytical emotionally rich and qualitatively rich , your audio vocabulary is wonderfully rich . Because of the way you combined the qualitative subjective feeling with the technical analysis this is the best technicals comparative review I’ve ever seen looking forward to many more reviews
What an amazing review. You helped me a LOT!!! Thank you so much for such a good video
Great comparison mate, I was decided on the Bathys but now I'll need to check out the PX8s too
lol, same
PX8s are also cheaper
Super detailed review and honest, all that we need as viewer.. you deserve more subs.. keep up mate.. thank you
Thanks for the excellent honest, detailed comparison. I was considering the PX8's and this has given me a useful steer.
Excellent review! I am not in the market for either headphone, but found your review fascinating none the less.
Excellent detailed review and comparison. One of the best headphone reviewers I’ve seen. Wireless headphones are the future imho, dac, amp and headphone in one with the benefit of ANC, great for smaller homes and shared living/working spaces.
This is undeniably the best review and most thought out/ in depth site (but not overly so) Ive found in years. This will be my go to site on audio matters from now on.
I do have quite a collection of headphones myself and never thought to hear an on point analysis like yours. While I absolutely love Focal in headphones jsut as much as in speakers, they do tend to sound "indirect". This, while in some instances is almost otherworldly in its spatial presentation, tends to give them kind of an "engrossed in thoughts presenting the music from another plane of existence" like feeling. I don't really know how to put it. Like distancing itself from the music in a very elegant way. Thank god there are people on YT who have a better way with words and explanations. So TLDR: thank you for this excellent review.
Great review. The best review I found on B&W Px8. Subscribed for your future youtube.
Thank you for the review. I was waiting for someone to post something on the new PX8.
Thank you! I have been agonizing over which one to buy between these two! After reading and watching every review I could find, most raved about how good the Bathys are, and not a lot of info on the PX8. Although I was leaning towards the PX8, I was on the fence because of the Bathys' stellar reviews. Thanks to your detailed back-to-back review, I'm confident the PX8 is the right choice! Subscribed!
Thank you for such a detailed review! The way you describe the characteristic for these headphones give me clear image of how they present music. In my country, It is hard to find a store had all the ANC headphones I want to try. After watching your video, I bought px8 yesterday, may arrive recently. Really excited about it.
Excellent and thorough review. Thank you! This helps tremendously on my purchase decision.
A refreshingly authentic, sensitive and nuanced review that I, personally, can relate to.. I thank you kindly bro.
Best comparison of the two headphones. You have earned a subscriber , thank you so much .
Great review! Incredibly informative & helpful. I've been looking at both & really appreciate the honest comparison. Thanks!
Fantastic review comparing a multitude of different genres of music and having a second professional opinion. Great job!
Great review. Very useful to hear comparisons across a variety of genres!
I think you're spot on with the conclusion for what you need in a portable headphone vs. one you want at your desk/listening spot.
Thank you for this informative review. It feels like there is something “ extra “ that i rarely feel watching other ‘top/mainstream’ reviewers, maybe it’s called… honesty. You made it straight to the point. Not so many can describe the sound like you, and i think people buying headphones in this price range are more interested in sound than in other features.
Excellent review. Very detailed review on the sound quality of each. Thanks
Great review, I listen to a lot of electronic / house music with lots of bass. It seems like the B&W are the best for this. This review has changed my mind was pretty sold on the Bathys, but changed my mind now. The Bathys review actually reminds me of the AKG701 from a few years ago.
I tested them both at a store today and I agree with you , edm sounds the best on PX8. The focal made it sound very forced, However it had more sound staging to it. PX8 puts more emotion behind the instruments.
Much better review compared to most, not only thanks for doing a review that is needed but also doing it well.
Thank you very much for this comparison between Focal Bathys and Bowers & Wilkins PX8. I also sold my Airpods Max and reserved the PX8. There are many nuances that you mention in your video that are in line with what I'm looking for and in terms of comfort and design, in my humble opinion, I think the B&W PX8 is better positioned than the Focal Bathys
Great, hope they deliver!
Worth picking px8's instead of maxes?
I bought both and you are definitely spot on. Could not explain it better! BUT, at least for me, I get fatigue from the PX8's when listening for long. They're just too lively sometimes. Maybe I'm getting old lol! I listen to the Bathys 70% of the time.
PX8 fatigue is real. Bathys is to me not the only option at this range. Mark Levinson 5909.
your comment about fatigue makes a lot of sense.
Really really good and honest review of these 2 headphone pairs. It could be felt in the air that you really wanted Bathys to take advantage over PX8 but you've given honesty and justice. Much appreciated for that. I've been researching these 2 headphones for a while.
INCREDIBLE reviews on two cans I have been considering, VERY impressed! Thanks soooo much!
I really enjoyed this entire review! The way you fleshed out what you heard, and your deep comparisons left me with a good understanding of the character of each headphone. Thank you!
Best review on TH-cam well done mate
congrats for this great review! I believe you also published a great post on head-fi post. Super useful and timely. Love the detailed account, track examples and tidbits. Hope you will published more in the future. For instance, a comparison across your Focal headphones would be great! Cheers from France!
Thank you very much for the review! Just yesterday I managed to listen to these headphones and I devoted 2 hours to this. I listened to the British first and really liked them (had a lot of experience with the PX7 before). I would like to note the linearity of the sound and pleasant sensations from the tactile materials of the headphones. The French surprised no less and it is worth noting from the premium appearance. Until now, I have not decided which I liked more, because the sensations are divided exactly 50 to 50. I am sure that only a private test is necessary when buying. In my opinion, the British are more suitable for portable use on the road, and the French will be able to open themselves up more for thoughtful listening at home. I tested both without noise reduction turned on. My personal headphones: AKG 240 studio, Momentum, B&O H95.
I also have the Px8 and the Bathys. I'm finding that on some electronics songs, the Px8 are quite fun, but the Bathys do have a level of clarity, detail that I have not heard, and it therefore hits an emotional place. I have not heard that detail yet in an ANC headphone. But as stated, they are both great headphones.
Have you ever had a chance to try the Mark Levinson 5909? I'm really curious as to how those compare to the Bathys and the Px8.
I own both, this is the first review that fully expresses my opinions. Thank you for your unbiased comments.
Thanks for this. Some very clear explanations of the differencies and a clear conclusion. Good effort! 🙌
Wonderful review. Thank you, this was just what I was looking for.
Thx for this video. There are some nice discounts on the PX8 at the moment. I heard that there is a hudge quality difference using the Dac mode on the Focals, I also saw that using the Focal app you can make a personnalised sound adjustement called "Mimi". Anyway all very exciting. You personal experience is actually very interesting. Thx again. :)
Great way to start first video , you sound like a pro , well done and thanks a lot for a very spot on , straightforward and informative video, am sure you will have more subscribers soon .. you nailed it man
Thank you for this review. No one really reviews Bowers and Wilkins and I have 4 of their headphones. The PX7s being my work horse. However I love Focal, I have the clear MG and love them. So this is a review I needed man!! Thank you 🙏🏾 oh and I just subscribed
Well done, excellent review! Ordered px8!
Good review. Ordered my Px8 yesterday. I feel good now😊. Subscribed as well
Only just found this review and I had wondered if I made the right choice with buying the PX8 over the Bathys and now I know I did, Great review and you really need more subs!
It's easier to convince yourself that you made the right choice if you actually bought the PX8. No saying you didn't make the right choice though but have you tried the Bathys ?
These headphones sound absolutely phenomenal in my opinion but once again, sound is so subjective and at the end of the day, it's all about your own ears and not what the others have to say :)
@@paulthiebaut I agree totally that sound is subjective, I have tried the Bathys infact I bought them before I bought the PX8 and the sound from them at least to my ears was better so the Bathys were sold,
The Bathys are excellent though
Just got the PX8 in and it feels premium all around. Been wearing it for like 7 hours straight now and it's still comfier than any other headset I've owned. Took about 5 to 6 hours for me to start noticing the warmth of the headset in a 20 degrees Celcius environment. The physical buttons are really nice. One complaint would be the feature that detects when you wearing your headset or not. It really does stop music when you are still wearing the headset. For me, it's fine to turn this off.
keep your channel going man. you sold me on the Px8 and they are exactly how you described. Thanks!
Wow, this is the best and most helpful headphone review I found here on TH-cam. Thank you very much!!
Listening is always very subjective, but I think you have the best approach to compensate for that. The natural and intuitive way that you describe things makes it easy to imagine which model one would prefer. I really enjoyed your detailed information about different genres, especially on voices. I also find your girlfriend's impressions extremely valuable for me! Thank you very much to both of you! I would love to find more reviews and comparisons on your channel -> subscription made.
Great review. I auditioned both at K55 in Zurich on Tuesday for maybe an hour to an hour and a half so nowhere near as intensively as you but my opinion and conclusions were very similar to yours. I own Sony XM3s which I love but are clearly outclassed by these 2 headphones except for comfort where they are the best. Anyway I was struggling to decide between the 2 but your review is swaying me in favour of the B&Ws. They are definitely a more exciting and engaging listen. To me they are also more comfortable than the Bathys and very slightly more suited to travel as they are marginally less bulky and lighter than the Focals. Thanks again for helping me to reach a conclusion.
Been looking for a thorough sound review on B&W's. Comfort and build are a given if you scouted for reviews on it. Cheers! You are also easy to read, holding the specific headphone while talking about it. Happy to hear you prefer the B&W's, sound quality is something I need to experience but boy do they look stylish!
Viewed, liked and subscribed. Great review and comparison!!
What a great review. Subbed!!
Excellent review. Subscribed!
One of the best headphones reviews I've seen in awhile & would love to hear your thoughts on a range of HP equipment
I just pulled the trigger on the B&W PX8, I've been enjoying the Focals also so I'm eager to see which one I prefer when I receive the B&Ws, my audio addiction 😂 is getting out of hand 😁, we all know this is a never ending struggle 😂
Which one did you end up keeping?
@@gpapa31 kept both as some genres sound better on the PX8, and some on the Bathys, I think the majority of folks would be extremely happy with the PX8 though.
@@jimmycychowski1142 gotcha. I know what you mean it’s exactly the same with speakers. Some speakers play certain type of music better than others and vice versa. I have found B&W to be more all rounders and most good with acoustic/jazz/classical snd EDM stuff.
@@gpapa31 The PX8 has a more exciting expressive engaging sound, while the Focal Bathys are more of a reference sound, I love both so both are keepers.
They would be my top 2 currently, with the Amiron Wireless being 3rd, it's sound being more of a reference sound also 😉 to my ears anyway
Excellent insight and very useful to me right now. Many thanks.
Amazing review, thanks for your thoughts. I’m currently considering the PX8 since I can get a very good price for an open box model for $599 cad instead of $899.
i appreciate that you took very detailed notes!!! I am curious to hear what you left out of the video for times sake.
haha quite a lot! Went through maybe half of the tracks I took notes on.
I fell in love with the Bathys. I highly recommend testing them live. Fully agree on your opinion
EXCELLENT review. IMHO, without having listened to the PX8, the built-in DAC on the Focals is the clincher. Not having to deal with a cumbersome dongle-DAC setup is a big win. I have a new Dragonfly Cobalt that I’m sad & excited to return. 😂 Really like being able to get to the 192 material on Apple Music and not limited to 96 as with the Cobalt.
Again, top-notch review. Hope you keep at it. 👏
Can you hear the difference between 192 and 96, how does it sound different?
Thank you for the review. I've been looking at these exact sets.
Awesome KEF just released MU7
Would like to see it go head to head with PX8 though I think the B&W will probably win
Thank you for doing this comparison video. I found it very useful the way you’ve described both headphones. I have the Sony XM3 currently (and I really do like their bombastic sound. However I am looking for an upgrade for headphones that sound more open and that don’t make my ears hot.
Ah man what I’ve been waiting for. [settles back and relaxes…]
Great review and greatly appreciated. Really torn now. You have confirmed as I suspected and agree to my tastes too swinging me to the PX8, however the Bathys DAC mode appeals to me. I’m waiting for notification when my local dealer will have both in stock to spend half day. Perhaps the PX8 in 3.5mm mode via my Chord Mojo will suffice for non-mobile listening? Damn I really torn, still haven’t ruled out a wired set and forgo the BT option for sound???? Asaaargh 🤣
@@darranmoore Hi mate! Yeah I have listened to both in wired a fair bit too. The Bathys DAC mode isn't world changing, my preferences by and large remain. All wireless headphones have an internal DAC anyway. Both sound really good wireless, and then there's a step up in clarity even with something like an Apple dongle when wired. As they have internal DACs I wonder what impact a Mojo will have? Do let us know if you try it!
Px8 Will be delivered on coming Wed. Can’t wait
hats off to you. you had me with the intro saying you would directly go to the sound. indeed who cares about that you need to swipe or push a button when you obviously are buying these headphones for the sound ! the only gripe I had is that its not usable in passive mode and I wonder how long the battery will go...
Great review and comparison.
Great review thanks. I tried the PX5 or PX7 back few years ago in Dubai in the middle of the airport. The noise cancelling was uncanny, indescribably good compared to 'mid range' hifi headphones.
I'm going to get the PX8 007s to replace my 18 year old IXOS DJ1002s and Senny HD450s (borrowed ;)) for daily use. If they get me another 10 years I'll be happy.
Will use them in noisy factories, entertainment business, sleep, long route travel, etc.
I like the methodology. Very expressive comparison. After this it will be enough to have a short comparison to decide between them. Since I didn't like any of the Focals so far, and otherwise I prefer a fuller sound and more like a speaker sound stage rather than head stage, the decision seems to be clear. Thank you.
In a direct comparison, I liked the Bathys far more than the PX8 (which are too bass-masked), but not enough for a clear buying decision (a bit hard sounding still). Need to spend some time with the ML 5909 as well (which made a first impression of being too bright).
Now only the Mark Levinson No.5909 is missing for the ultimate test. Very good review.
This is a pretty good and informative video. Thanks!!
Refreshing to see a review that doesn't base everything on how it tracks the frickin Harman curve.
agree. I own both. px8 makes you feel and sounds like that the performer is performing only for you. - you are the center of the song or musical piece. I tried comparing using in wired and wireless and different music source and it still I prefer px8 most of the time.
What an amazing review!
Well done sir, nice review!
Somehow you are the first reviewer to even discuss this issue. It is as I feared: the Focal seems a bit underwhelming. I wasn't impressed when they allowed the headphone retailers to get their reviews out near the day of the launch for the Bathys, like they had had them in hand for weeks already to try them out. This hobby is niche enough, and it just looks bad if they didn't bother sending out review units to actual reviewers in the industry but did so for the retailers who they know are going to say nothing negative about them, and throw in a sponsorship to sell you overpriced cables. Sheesh. Anyway thanks for the review!
Awesome review, this is what I was looking for…I’m looking at getting the PX8 or H95…and I’m going with the Px8 ✊🏾✊🏾
Could you review h95 Vs px8 ?
A few minutes in and I know I would prefer the PX8 immensely. I prefer a warmer sound that isn't overly analytical. Though I do also like a wide sound stage, I'm willing to give that up for the tonality that suits me.
Love the review but what about burning in the PX8 when they have been used as long as your Bathys will they still have the same sound signature. or is burning in headphones a bit of a myth?
I got the Px8 - so great! I totally agree with your and your girlfriend's opinion. Thank you both!
Thanks for introducing me to these headphones. Peace.
great video man, please do more reviews on headphones and audio stuff
I pulled the trigger on buying the px8 because there was no shop with the bathys anywhere near me. Honestly, I would prefer a wider soundstage and more clarity because that's what I enjoy when listening to music, being able to pick out the details, so that would be a point for the bathys but I'm not a fan of how the bathys look and when you're spending this much on headphones that are designed to be used on the go the aesthetics do matter! I got to test the px8 in the shop and I enjoyed the sound even if it's not technically as neutral etc however it sounds brilliant all the same. The xm5s just sounded cheap in comparison, and I didn't like the h95s as much either although I only listened to 2 or 3 songs on each so it's hardly a fair comparison.
This video really helped me feel reassured in just biting the bullet and spending so much. I've watched at least a dozen other videos and they didn't go into as much detail with as much passion and care. The way you go through it is a lot more helpful than just throwing up some charts showing the sound curves. I don't have the dosh to splash around trying all the different headphones at this price range and I have only ever had non ANC wired headphones + AirPods Pro, so that's where I'm coming from when looking at all of these premium anc headphones. I would still buy the bathys as well if I won the lotto just because that type of sound presentation sounds like it's right up my alley. After a short time with the Px8 I am really pleased with them.
So, thank you for the video! These kind of thoughtful and honest videos seem rare nowadays.
I didnt even know focal had a competitor to the px8. Ive been a b&w fanboy forever but im conisdering the focals. I appreciate that you really took the time to compare these and make this video.
Mark Levinson 5909.
Just try-out focal bathys. You love it.
@@waiik76 did try. Didn’t love it at all.
Have you tried EQ? To simply adjust Bathys' frequency response so that it matches PX8?
Would you get the best of both then (detail & separation from Bathys + bass energy and fuller midrange of PX8) or not?
Tried it and couldn't find that kind of sound. Bass in the Bathys is good, but could not be compared to the bass in the PX8's. Also, the "surround" presentation in the Bathys, is imposible to replicate on the PX8's, doesn't matter the EQ.
Imo the “meatiness” is a tuning issue with the bathys. Resolve from headphone show posted the frequency response of the bathys. It follows the harman target but between 500-1k hz there is a 4-5 db dip. I would suggest you try the focal app eq and do a +3db boost for 1k. If that doesn’t fix it then try +6db boost. Leave all else equal.
I like a wider more spacial sound for headphones. I have the Focal Clear MG's and was seriously thinking about the Focals but I am thinking about the B&W and they are more engaging music seems more appealing I also have a feeling Focal will update these headphones in the next 5 years like they did with the Clears and other headphones.
The PX8 has better quality buttons than the Focal's. They are also a little better with the ANC over the Focals. This maybe partially due to the way the leather which lacks the sewing around the foam of the Focal which may allow more sound to enter your ear. Also the clamp on the PX8 is a little firmer and they turn off the music if you remove the headphones from your ears which Focal does not do. The cans are also not as big as the Focal's and look better on your head. For these reasons I am leaning towards the PX8 over the bigger sound stage of the Focals. Focal has a built in DAC which the B&W does not have with a cable that allows you to play directly from your phone however. So if your home listening to music you can use the DAC which should sound a little better than Bluetooth.
On the DAC mode, every BT headphone has a DAC inside of it. I have played around with both of them wired, I didn't think the Bathys attains some kind of special upgrade, as far as I can tell it's what you'd expect wired in terms of improvements. But then again, they both improve wired. The only difference here I think is Focal are mentioning the fact a DAC is in place, for marketing purposes, where B&W are just not mentioning it. The DAC is still there.
@@engineeringart6345 I am glad you compared these headphones to the Focal Clear's. I have the Clear MG's and based on what you said about the difference with the Bathys, I think the B&W PX8 would be a better option for me.
I purchased the PX8 and are very happy with thr build quality and sound. They have a meater sound over the Bathys and they don't have the cheap plastic the Bathys have.
Excellent review!! Bought my pair last Friday and looking forward to hearing them. Previously owned the PX7. Also tried the Apple Max but they lacked a lot to me, felt cheap soundwize. There is only one thing that I am still struggling with upon this day. The PX8 internal DAC is capped at 24 bit/48 kHz. Would it really have mattered if the internal DAC would for example supported 96 kHz or higher? Or does this not have been that impactful. I understand from a Bluetooth perspective that it is 48 kHz but from a wired perspective, would it have mattered? Or is that more of a selling thingy?
Thanks for the very detailed review. I love rock but, I’m primarily a classical and jazz fan. Your commentator is right, the Bathys sound more like a concert and that what I like about them. I listened to the B&Ws albeit not for as long as you did but, frankly, it was the heavier bass that lessened my appreciation. I went for the Focals and I’m incredibly pleased with them. I pair with the Chord Mojo2/Poly rig for train commuting.
Never understood the bass complaints, use a sound player that you can decrease the bass to the desired level then compare them
Sound and the most important is comfort. Very good review and thanks for including opinion of other person. It's hard to compare headphones. I have Grado SR80e, Sennheiser PXC550 and of course Koss Porta Pro. Koss sounds muffled, but it depends on source of the sound (i guess due to higher impedance). Grado has crystal clear sound revealing some details, i can basically guess the size of your room and i can hear low frequency sound when car passes (maybe microphone seems to capture a lot of bass, just like my boya mm1). On the other hand ... some songs or genres are almost impossible to listen on them for long (such as rock or metal with many instruments and constant loudness), while pxc550 have somewhat warmer sound without overemphasis in middle tones and are comfortable to listen for hours.
What I haven't seen that may be interesting to do is a px7s2 vs px8
Great stuff. I‘ll go for Bathys :)
Actuall made a review specifically for classical music. Check it out! My first one ☝🏼🫣
The color of PX8 looks great. Thanks for sharing.
Not after some use