I bought my HD 800 10 years ago for $1400, and it still looks like it was purchased yesterday. Sennheiser builds excellent products that lasts forever. When I first listened to it I immediately took it off because I thought the music was playing through my speakers lol. That's how insanely wide the soundstage is.
@@wagiqwq if you want a more analytical sound go with the 800 but if you want to actually wanna listen to music with it instead of just making music go with the 800s
Arya (I think mine is the V2) is the best headphone I've ever heard. I bought it almost two years ago and that's the last one I bought (I also have the Elex, HD600, HD650, ESP95X and a few others). I might as well get rid of the others as they don't outperform the Arya in anything (maybe the ESP95X is more detailed) I paid $1000 for it and don't see a need to spend more money on minimal improvement.
I also own Clear MG with better cable and Utopia Pads - it sounds very different than on stock pads. More detail, soundstage and balanced. Utopia pads ridiculous price but really worth buying.
@@wyx5854 I have mine with mojo2. I tried dragonfly black, Earman-TR amp, and an about 1000$ ampdac build by local producer. Mojo 2 sounds best. I tried mojo 1and couldn't tell the dfference between it and DF black. Mojo 2 was better right away.
Hi, was just wondering where you got that big scrunchie pad for your Sennheiser 800 series headphones from? Is this something I can purchase or was it DIY?
A review of the px8 would be great.And a comparison between px8,bathys and mark levison 5090,since many people are wanting one of these high end bluetooth headphones and dont know what to choose.
DMS, thank you for confirming my next purchase. You have been nailing your recommendations as I have purchased both the FIIO K9 Pro & Arya SE due mostly to your commentaries; and they delivered above and beyond my expectations. I love your explanations, very detailed, logical, and I'm starting to think I share your audio preference. I just remembered I bought the Sennheiser 560s last year when you made that super recommendation for beginners. That ABSOLUTELY started me on the path. As you can see, I wasted no time getting up there in high-end territory. I'm looking for a high-end headphone when I travel to visit family and was trying decide between the Elegia, Radiance, and Bathys. I was leaning towards Bathys but your statement sealed it for me. Thanks for all you do DMS!
The Bathys is amazing, I pulled the trigger and I was worried about the BT. But I am getting a two-for-one. With USB mode with internal DAC is truly like the Radiance, less exaggerated, and just excellent. And BT is very, very good.
Heard the Caldera and Atrium Cherry and Blackwoods at SoCal CanJam. Own the OG Auteur Blackwoods. I listened at ZMF for a few hours and kept going back and forth. Particularly like the Atrium Blackwoods with a more focused sound. Caldera is clear and present but maybe not as dynamic? Both great hp’s can’t go wrong. Verite has a bit more resolving ability.
I own Atriums und hd800s, they complement each other very well in my opinion. Plus they are both high impedance dynamics, so they work well on my otl :) My only complaint is that Atrium is too sharp around 3 kHz for me, but thats an easy fix with a bit of eq.
Hi there, do you by chance know how the Atriums compare to the Hifiman HE 1000 V2? I've got the RME and Feliks as well (but I've got the Feliks Elise MK2). I tried the Hifiman and loved their comfort, they are a tad too bright, though. I also tried the Utopia but that weight is a no-go.
@@TheMMadmaXX I can't really comment on the Hifimans (never heard them). The Atriums should theoretically sound more detailed on your system though: - OTLs perform better with high impedance dynamics - I feel like the RME sort of kneecaps the detail retrieval abilities of hyper expensive headphones anyway (I had the chance to test a Schiit Yggdrasil lim and the Atriums sounded more detailed while the jump in detail on hd800s was far lower).
Hi DMS! Great video comparison! I was wondering though, I'm thinking of picking up the Clear OG's, but would you recommend the OG's or the MG? What do you prefer?
6:10 This is such an underappreciated point you make here - and something I absolutely adore about Zach and his team. One of the few true artists in the industry. Zach, if you're reading this, u succ. 🙂
My home listening room Hps: 1266 Phi TC, OG Clear, LCDX, HP3 My work office Hps: Celestee (w ifi go blu) My home office Hps: LCD3F, HD800S I've got a Holo Spring KTE dac and a few SS tube amps for my listening room... A BF2 and a SS hp amp/pre and Tube amp on my home office. My work office is 100% ifi go blu via BT to Celestee. I may think about trying the Bathys but I didn't care for the Radiance tuning as much.
Cool video, thanks for the insights. I am curious where something like an LCD-XC 2021 might fit here, if at all? Might it be a good alternative to the Noir for example... Also in terms of open back dynamics, what the Atrium differs from the Clear in. I'm looking for a complement to my Atticus and these are some that intrigue me. Cheers for the great videos and insights.
Just got the Bathys and it has already replaced the Celestee among the headphones I keep out. Still have to compare it to BT heaphobes but it is a wired winner.
Tried both at the dealer store with my kann alpha and in the end, I took Celestee. To my ears, Bathys can't compete to Celestee in terms of detail and neutrality. (quite a large gap) I wish focal make a higher version of Bathys (with cables) and sound as good as Celestee though.
@@liujun050612 Celestee has a bit too much clamp force for me to wear it for a long while but if it sounds better and fits you well than you made a good choice.
Hoping to try the Bathys soon. My LG v60 quad dac, 3.5mm headphone socket will get android 13 as its last update. After that a headphone with a dac, and wireless option would be fantastic. Also, going to try with my A&K (love the ability to switch dacs in it).
@@Andyhandle good deal! I also just discovered, plugging Bathys into my computer in DAC mode that the headphones support all modes provided by Tidal. I am listening right now on MQA (controversial I know!). Sounds fantastic! There was a firmware update when I initially used the Bathys, the capability must have been added then. That bodes well for the future regarding improvements. Who knows, maybe incremental gains in fidelity and ANC. Much is in software on such devices these days.
@@DMS3TV I've never found Focal headphones to be comfortable at all. The way they sit on my head is a bit weird, and their ear pads openings are too small for my ears. The Noire is the most comfortable headphone I've tried by a mile.
I use the Focal Clear MG and the Meze Rai Penta and love them both although the Focal's are definitely my go to. Although now you have me drooling over the Bathys.
I'd like to ask about the ported pads on your Diana's. Did you do this yourself or did the guys at Abyss do that? Curious because I love my Diana TC, but I could use more airflow to help prevent some sweat build up.
Why there is no comparison of Arya Stealth and Aeon 2 Noire on the internet? I would definitely like to see the pros and cons of both... Can you share your ideas of that comparison at least in text?
Great video, glad to see the Arya and 800s on here! Good insights on the other headphones. Can you also do a Mid-Fi headphones video? Maybe $300-$600 headphones? Also please drop the name of the gameboy that was featured in the video 👀👀
I remember the Focal Elex used to be one of your favorites, but no one seems to talk about those anymore. Do you think they’re still worth it or have they been outclassed by other options in the price range?
A lot of people in my patron-chat still have them. Elex lost popularity after massdrop (now called drop), botched the system for replacement pads when they wore out. It’s still a great headphone imo. The rest of people I think graduated on to the Focal Clear.
The Clear is also much closer in price these days. It used to be that the Elex was $700 and the Clear was $1500, but the Elex is a lot tougher to recommend when you can get a Clear for $900.
Just ordered the Clears as my first ‘high end’ headphone after using the DT770s for a little while. Do you have any recommendations regarding some good Amp/DACs for the Clears? Currently only have an Fiio E10K which I was using with the 770s so definitely looking to upgrade.
@@lain2236ad yeah was thinking something like that since it’s not too expensive, but was maybe looking for something that outputs in XLR so I could use the balanced XLR cable the Clears come with. Don’t know if they’re are any Amp/DACs that output in XLR for an affordable price though.
The classic recommendation from HifiGuides is an RNHP/Bifrost 2 stack for the Clears. (I sold my Clears a while back, but I liked it with that stack back when I had it!)
I just got the the Arya Stealth a couple of days ago (so nowhere near Hifiman's recommended burn in yet) and find its imaging and separation to be simply phenomenal. I know you've heard a lot more headphones than I have, but I don't think the Arya is simply very good in this regard. I love my ZMF Aeolus (which you mention briefly) and like my Focal Elex, but in these regards the Arya Stealth is just easily better. Soundstage width is OK (only a little wider than the Aeolus, not as wide as my Sennheiser HD 700 and no doubt nowhere near as wide as the HD 800S, which I have never heard), but the image has tremendous height and some sense of depth (Aeolus has little or none of either). Separation is terrific also; Aeolus is good here but Arya is clearly better, especially when a track gets busy. While Arya's bass may extend even lower then Aeolus, the ZMF still has the clear edge here with very good punch and slam for an open back. Arya's relative lack here is about its only flaw, unless you count a recently $1600 headphone (with the recent price drop and a discount code, I only paid $1169) coming in a literal shoebox with no accessories beyond a crappy cable (already replaced) and a $2.99 headphone stand.
I have Aeolus and have been considering the Arya Stealth, so your comment is helpful! Good to know the stage width is about that same, I didn't expect that. Def thinking I will hold onto Aeolus and just add another headphone (whether it's Arya or something else) because it has that lovely warm ZMF house sound and honestly just makes for enjoyable listening sessions where I'm not trying to pick everything apart.
@@thisjustanother I have the HD650 (well, the HD 6XX, same thing) and, frankly, they are not in the same league. But then I am a heretic in this hobby--I never liked the 6XX very much. The intimate vocals can be nice on certain tracks, but the soundstage and imaging are not very good by modern standards--I have IEMs that have a wider soundstage than the 6XX, which is now a very old design. However, if you want a solid upgrade while retaining some of the warm, midrange forward flavor of the 650, but with better resolution and imaging and far better bass, the $1200 Aeolus (or maybe its new and twice as expensive big brother, the Atrium, which I have not heard) is probably a better bet. Although the Arya is better than the Aeolus technically (and way better than the 650), it doesn't sound much like the 650.
@@marlowe1537 I'm not looking at something that is like the 650. Just something that is in the same idea of 650 as in "the go to" headphone in that price range. But I guess as that price range goes up, the more choices that are impossible to call "go to"
@@thisjustanother I have HD650’s, and picked my upgrade a few years back as the zmf Auteur Blackwoods. Teaks are more ethereal signature. Heard the Atriums and Caldera recently,either of which are more resolving and mature than mine, though the Auteur OG still rocks for me. Go to a CanJam if you have the chance.
DMS - what do you think of the outgoing Utopia? Worth picking up at a discount with 5 years warranty? Only about 1500 USD more than the clear at this point.
Serious question, which of these has the most detail, or highest resolution - which is specifically the most resolving of the lot, ignoring all other factors please?
Has the sound profile of your Diana TCs changed? The treble on the pair I own seemed to have faded (have less sparkle) over the course of just a few weeks. I'm thinking perhaps the bass and the midrange opened up more (burn in effect) making it appear that the treble faded. What cable do you use with your DTC?
DMS, you made a great video a while back , with your very talented spouse as guest, where she talked about her thoughts on your headphones among other things. Any chance you can ask her back again since there are some new additions to your collections?
@DMS, what wood are you ordering your Atrium with? It’s definitely worth hearing an Atrium Blackwood for enhanced focus and clarity ✨✨✨ I have OG Auteur Blackwoods :) which I still really like.
Why is there no love for the E-MU Teak? Granted, with their stock pads they are a bit...off, but with proper pads they are amazing, the best in my meagre collection.
I currently own the Hifiman susvara, zmf VC, Abyss 1266 TC and Diana TC. How can I make myself or purchase a ported set of ear pads for the Diana TC, I’d love to have a higher bass shelf. ??
Focal Clear MG (OG) and Celestee will never leave my collection. I look forward to the review on the new Bathys to see if I can add a third Focal to my collection. :)
@@edenconnell4322 I considered it. The issue is I do not really need another pair of headphones. I rarely use my Clears or Celestee. I hardly use my AirPods Pro and I use them less frequently outside the house. Plus I have mainly transitioned to IEMs not just AirPods.
DMS's videos are always incredibly helpful. One minor mistake in the video description: the second "Focal Clear" entry should be the "Focal Bathys" instead. Its accompanying link is correct.
@@DMS3TV Any more detail on how you made those pads? I’d love to give it a try! (At the moment, I just have some material wedged between the pads and the frame to “port” my Diana V2.)
It was a surprise to see the Bathys on this list! Every Bluetooth + noise cancelling headphone, Bose, Sony, Apple, can't come close to my Arya or 6XX in terms of sound quality. I'd love to have an audiophile-quality headphone for work and bus/plane rides. Does the Bathys truly bring that audiophile sound on the go?
Hey Bradley, I was at my audio dealer last week and he said to me, look the Bathys and the PX8 arrived. Have you time to take a listening session? I want to hear your opinion on them and perhaps one is for you 😉 I have to admit I am a total Focal fanboy and prioritized the Bathys. I own Focal headphones and Focal loudspeakers and enjoy them as often as I can. I was also fueled up with information before this occurrence, because I read all I could get about the release of the Bathys and the PX8. I began with the Bathys and after a while of listening I was surprisingly not satisfied with them. In the upper area they were so sharp...too sharp for my ears. There were in sum I would say, very analytical. In the middle area I found them really good though, but in the lower area I missed the fundament of the other Focal headphones. I took them off and examined the build. The quality of them also left me clueless. In my view it breathes too much cheap looking plastic. On the other hand the leather ear pads are great and lovely made. Then I switched over to the PX8. It was an other world for me. In the lower end so much fundament, the middle area they were almost silky and pulling you into the track. In the upper area rather slim but for me absolutely comfortable. The build of the PX8 is in comparison again an other world. The overall design is much more slim then the Bathys and the used materials are spot on. It feels and look like a craftsman masterpiece. An other advantage for me was, that you can deactivate ANC complete. This is surprisingly NOT possible with Bathys. I am not an ANC user, thus this question was important for me. With those headphones the wireless aspect is the big deal. Don't get me wrong. I have the PX and the PX7. The Bathys are better than them. But the PX8 beats them all, at least for my ears. By the way I tested them with Rock/Metal and with Classic. Perhaps with other genres it is playing out different. Oh, one last remark. The wired DAC-Function is a Focal marketing gag for me. At the Bathys you have a switch to put the DAC into wired mode. The PX8 don't need any switch because the PX8 changes automatically in 24bit mode, when a source at the USB-C port is coupled. Perhaps there is a speciality with the Focal DAC I don't know, but at this point don't see any advantage of to put the DAC manually in the wired mode. I want to add that this is only for the field of wireless Bluetooth headphones. I own also the Focal Clear MG and this wipes the floor with the Bathys and the PX8. Really no chance. But in the wireless sector, for me it was the PX8 as my new office headphones. Compare the Bathys and the PX8 with your ears and choose for yourself. Perhaps I could help a bit with my individual impressions.
No to me. If you want a headphone sound as good as Arya on the go, you can't go wireless. Bathys sound good in terms of BT ANC headphones, but still quite far from audiophile headphones like Arya, Celestee, etc.
Thanks for all your thoughts guys! I thought it might be too good to be true, but I had hopes. Sounds like I shouldn't just order them up. I'd at least need to hear them myself first
I'm trying to decide between focal clear OG, Aeon 2 Noire and Meze 109. Currently using Sundara and Elegia. I listen to mostly metal. I haven't had a chance to listen to those three so curious as to what people think. I use a Mojo 2 with my headphones.
If you did mean Focal Clear MG (not "OG") I would say they are the best headphones under 3000 Euro. They even better the old Utopia being more lively and giving more listening fun.
Very interesting video, specially because you also talk about older models. Talking about which I would love to know if you ever tested Ultrasone's 2900 Pro. Their soundstage and deep bass make them the best headphones I ever tested for all kinds of music, from classic to techno, prog rock to metal, jazz, reggae, etc... I just like the presence and the warm bass feeling. And I was wondering how they compare with Hifiman Sundara for example, and most of all what would be your opinion on them. Thanks for another great video!
@DMS: am looking forward to adding LCD X and Focal Clear but Im debating should I get the A30 pro/D30 pro stacks or A50s/D50 stacks or I just save up and get the A90 Discrete/D90 LE stacks? Please suggest...
Just got a LCD-X 2021 creator with case and balanced Audeze cable open box on ebay for $800 and love it. I had a 789 [which can be had dirt cheap] and picked up a mint used Topping D70 also off eBay for $360. I run this balanced and its fantastic. So for less than the cost of a new creator LCD-X you can get a complete rig that sounds great [with an Audeze warranty]. Keep in mind that Audeze only has like 2 or 3 authorized ebay sellers, so if warranty is a concern you need to buy from 1 of these dealers. Audeze lists them on their website. You may have to shop a bit, but the savings is well worth it. Also getting a Topping A90D is almost imposible, because of the covid lockdown in China [I tried the delivery time kept getting extended so got a refund] Hope this helps.
@@chaoticorder532 not sure how 789 sounds but is it similar to topping sound signature because I enjoy Topping sound signature a lot.. and is also hard for me to get products from eBay at least from where I live so I will try to stick to product that easy for me to purchase
@@wyx5854 Its the same type of sound sig. Basically 0 noise and distortion. From what I gather the topping amps are a little smoother on top but the LCD-X has very smooth highs and is a bit warm so they complement clean detailed amps. The topping amps are probably a little better but getting anything from China is a loooong wait, so Im going to wait till I can order one and actually get it in a week or so. Until then the 789 is a fine place holder. Sorry to hear that about eBay cause if your a little patient you really can find some good deals.
@@wyx5854 Guess it really depends on you needs. Do you need preamp functionality for say speakers? Do you have hard to drive headphones.? Do you want a remote? Do you want a clean sound signature? Do you like a warn sound signature? Etc
Hello DMS & The Headphone Show, I own a set of Focal Clear Pro’s and I use a Luxman L-235 Integrated amp with a Schiit Modi 3+ dac. But I was thinking of upgrading the dac to keep with the the rest of system. Could give any suggestions? Budget around 800-1000. Cheers from Australia 🙂
@DMS I have Sennheiser HD-560s/Schiit Fulla e, fed from Samsung S10 with Qobuz going through USBAPP. Just curious how the law of diminishing returns appplies to this rig, in that would it take hundreds, or thousands of dollars to truly leave it in the dust?
C’mon guys! Even Focal pronounces that as BA-thys, with the stress on the first syllable. The pronunciation doesn’t need to be quirky just because it’s French. 😂
Seems not, never been clarified but Joe denied the DMS mod, which also got removed from the web site and we never heard from DMS affiliation with Abyss ever again. He might, or might not ....
I bought my HD 800 10 years ago for $1400, and it still looks like it was purchased yesterday. Sennheiser builds excellent products that lasts forever. When I first listened to it I immediately took it off because I thought the music was playing through my speakers lol. That's how insanely wide the soundstage is.
Do you recommend the 800 or 800s?
@@wagiqwqI would go with the s
@@wagiqwq if you want a more analytical sound go with the 800 but if you want to actually wanna listen to music with it instead of just making music go with the 800s
What amp are you using with the hd800 ?
I wish they would release v2 with decent bass / sub response
I think anyone would be well served with this collection. A nice palette of flavours and music delivery. Splendid.
bastard
🤣👌
Hey what are you using for padding on the HD800S?
Arya (I think mine is the V2) is the best headphone I've ever heard. I bought it almost two years ago and that's the last one I bought (I also have the Elex, HD600, HD650, ESP95X and a few others). I might as well get rid of the others as they don't outperform the Arya in anything (maybe the ESP95X is more detailed) I paid $1000 for it and don't see a need to spend more money on minimal improvement.
get rid of all the others and buy ZMF top end, best advise you will get
I agree with the Clear…except I prefer the Clear MG. Very technical, and great slam.
what amp and dac are you using with your Clear MG?
I also own Clear MG with better cable and Utopia Pads - it sounds very different than on stock pads. More detail, soundstage and balanced. Utopia pads ridiculous price but really worth buying.
@@wyx5854 I have mine with mojo2. I tried dragonfly black, Earman-TR amp, and an about 1000$ ampdac build by local producer. Mojo 2 sounds best. I tried mojo 1and couldn't tell the dfference between it and DF black. Mojo 2 was better right away.
Just ordered the Aeon 2 noirs. Couldn't be more excited
Looking forward to reviews of the upcoming ZMF Calderra.
Hi, was just wondering where you got that big scrunchie pad for your Sennheiser 800 series headphones from? Is this something I can purchase or was it DIY?
Hey DMS how many pairs of headphones do you personally own?
I have 11 now and my fiends think I'm a freak
Really good review , one of the best I’ve seen !!
A review of the px8 would be great.And a comparison between px8,bathys and mark levison 5090,since many people are wanting one of these high end bluetooth headphones and dont know what to choose.
px8 of course.
DMS, thank you for confirming my next purchase. You have been nailing your recommendations as I have purchased both the FIIO K9 Pro & Arya SE due mostly to your commentaries; and they delivered above and beyond my expectations. I love your explanations, very detailed, logical, and I'm starting to think I share your audio preference. I just remembered I bought the Sennheiser 560s last year when you made that super recommendation for beginners. That ABSOLUTELY started me on the path. As you can see, I wasted no time getting up there in high-end territory.
I'm looking for a high-end headphone when I travel to visit family and was trying decide between the Elegia, Radiance, and Bathys. I was leaning towards Bathys but your statement sealed it for me. Thanks for all you do DMS!
I've been searching and waiting for the perfect closed back dynamic's, and I'm now crazy intrigued about the Bathys...
The Bathys is amazing, I pulled the trigger and I was worried about the BT. But I am getting a two-for-one. With USB mode with internal DAC is truly like the Radiance, less exaggerated, and just excellent. And BT is very, very good.
Me too
@@stephendenagy3396 No. To my ears, the tuning is closed to radiance, but detail still miles from Radiance.
I was thinking about getting the Atrium till I heard about the Caldera. Patiently waiting for an official release date from ZMF on that one.
Heard the Caldera and Atrium Cherry and Blackwoods at SoCal CanJam. Own the OG Auteur Blackwoods. I listened at ZMF for a few hours and kept going back and forth. Particularly like the Atrium Blackwoods with a more focused sound. Caldera is clear and present but maybe not as dynamic? Both great hp’s can’t go wrong. Verite has a bit more resolving ability.
Perfect as always DMS
I own Atriums und hd800s, they complement each other very well in my opinion. Plus they are both high impedance dynamics, so they work well on my otl :)
My only complaint is that Atrium is too sharp around 3 kHz for me, but thats an easy fix with a bit of eq.
What OTL amplifier do you pair with them? Do you also use a separate DAC?
@@brendanliddell240 I use a Feliks Euforia and an Rme Adi-2 dac.
Hi there, do you by chance know how the Atriums compare to the Hifiman HE 1000 V2? I've got the RME and Feliks as well (but I've got the Feliks Elise MK2). I tried the Hifiman and loved their comfort, they are a tad too bright, though. I also tried the Utopia but that weight is a no-go.
@@TheMMadmaXX I can't really comment on the Hifimans (never heard them).
The Atriums should theoretically sound more detailed on your system though:
- OTLs perform better with high impedance dynamics
- I feel like the RME sort of kneecaps the detail retrieval abilities of hyper expensive headphones anyway (I had the chance to test a Schiit Yggdrasil lim and the Atriums sounded more detailed while the jump in detail on hd800s was far lower).
Hi DMS! Great video comparison! I was wondering though, I'm thinking of picking up the Clear OG's, but would you recommend the OG's or the MG? What do you prefer?
Hey dms, I was wondering what third party padding you’re using for the hd800s?
6:10 This is such an underappreciated point you make here - and something I absolutely adore about Zach and his team. One of the few true artists in the industry. Zach, if you're reading this, u succ. 🙂
My home listening room Hps: 1266 Phi TC, OG Clear, LCDX, HP3
My work office Hps: Celestee (w ifi go blu)
My home office Hps: LCD3F, HD800S
I've got a Holo Spring KTE dac and a few SS tube amps for my listening room... A BF2 and a SS hp amp/pre and Tube amp on my home office. My work office is 100% ifi go blu via BT to Celestee. I may think about trying the Bathys but I didn't care for the Radiance tuning as much.
"Cause i don't feel like it (the HD800s) it comes with enough padding by default"
Diana in the Background: 👀
At 4:59
Cool video, thanks for the insights. I am curious where something like an LCD-XC 2021 might fit here, if at all? Might it be a good alternative to the Noir for example...
Also in terms of open back dynamics, what the Atrium differs from the Clear in.
I'm looking for a complement to my Atticus and these are some that intrigue me.
Cheers for the great videos and insights.
Hello there DMS! I know you love the Arya Stealth, but wondering what do you think of them compared to the HE1000V2 or the HE1000SE?
Just got the Bathys and it has already replaced the Celestee among the headphones I keep out. Still have to compare it to BT heaphobes but it is a wired winner.
Totally agree, wired it is amazing!
Tried both at the dealer store with my kann alpha and in the end, I took Celestee. To my ears, Bathys can't compete to Celestee in terms of detail and neutrality. (quite a large gap) I wish focal make a higher version of Bathys (with cables) and sound as good as Celestee though.
@@liujun050612 Celestee has a bit too much clamp force for me to wear it for a long while but if it sounds better and fits you well than you made a good choice.
Hoping to try the Bathys soon. My LG v60 quad dac, 3.5mm headphone socket will get android 13 as its last update. After that a headphone with a dac, and wireless option would be fantastic.
Also, going to try with my A&K (love the ability to switch dacs in it).
@@Andyhandle good deal! I also just discovered, plugging Bathys into my computer in DAC mode that the headphones support all modes provided by Tidal. I am listening right now on MQA (controversial I know!). Sounds fantastic! There was a firmware update when I initially used the Bathys, the capability must have been added then. That bodes well for the future regarding improvements. Who knows, maybe incremental gains in fidelity and ANC. Much is in software on such devices these days.
I very, very often do peace back at the screen ☮
Great video! Curious if you could only have one between Arya SE, Clear or Aeon Noire which would you choose?
Probably Clear for its comfort
@@DMS3TV I've never found Focal headphones to be comfortable at all. The way they sit on my head is a bit weird, and their ear pads openings are too small for my ears. The Noire is the most comfortable headphone I've tried by a mile.
I use the Focal Clear MG and the Meze Rai Penta and love them both although the Focal's are definitely my go to. Although now you have me drooling over the Bathys.
I'd like to ask about the ported pads on your Diana's. Did you do this yourself or did the guys at Abyss do that? Curious because I love my Diana TC, but I could use more airflow to help prevent some sweat build up.
Why there is no comparison of Arya Stealth and Aeon 2 Noire on the internet? I would definitely like to see the pros and cons of both... Can you share your ideas of that comparison at least in text?
Great video! In a non audio related question. What is that cool lamp you have on your desk?
Great video, glad to see the Arya and 800s on here! Good insights on the other headphones.
Can you also do a Mid-Fi headphones video? Maybe $300-$600 headphones?
Also please drop the name of the gameboy that was featured in the video 👀👀
Little description error you have. You list the focal clear twice. But the 2nd focal clear links to the bathys.
Yooo, the old school skate games in the video
I remember the Focal Elex used to be one of your favorites, but no one seems to talk about those anymore. Do you think they’re still worth it or have they been outclassed by other options in the price range?
A lot of people in my patron-chat still have them. Elex lost popularity after massdrop (now called drop), botched the system for replacement pads when they wore out.
It’s still a great headphone imo. The rest of people I think graduated on to the Focal Clear.
The Clear is also much closer in price these days. It used to be that the Elex was $700 and the Clear was $1500, but the Elex is a lot tougher to recommend when you can get a Clear for $900.
@@RyanDeLaTorre the Elex goes on sale for $500 I believe
now would love to see other reviewers' collections
How do you rate the Arya Stealths compared to the Edition XS?
Just ordered the Clears as my first ‘high end’ headphone after using the DT770s for a little while. Do you have any recommendations regarding some good Amp/DACs for the Clears? Currently only have an Fiio E10K which I was using with the 770s so definitely looking to upgrade.
they don't really need one since they're pretty efficient, maybe something simple like a k5 pro?
@@lain2236ad yeah was thinking something like that since it’s not too expensive, but was maybe looking for something that outputs in XLR so I could use the balanced XLR cable the Clears come with. Don’t know if they’re are any Amp/DACs that output in XLR for an affordable price though.
The classic recommendation from HifiGuides is an RNHP/Bifrost 2 stack for the Clears. (I sold my Clears a while back, but I liked it with that stack back when I had it!)
E10k will be sufficient
Bro ho for the fiio k3 2021, very good specs, very neutral ans clean sound and its so cheap
Curious what your thoughts on the B&W px8 would be
I have 3/8 of those and I'm very happy. Would love an Atrium or an HD800 to add to that collection eventually...
I just got the the Arya Stealth a couple of days ago (so nowhere near Hifiman's recommended burn in yet) and find its imaging and separation to be simply phenomenal. I know you've heard a lot more headphones than I have, but I don't think the Arya is simply very good in this regard. I love my ZMF Aeolus (which you mention briefly) and like my Focal Elex, but in these regards the Arya Stealth is just easily better. Soundstage width is OK (only a little wider than the Aeolus, not as wide as my Sennheiser HD 700 and no doubt nowhere near as wide as the HD 800S, which I have never heard), but the image has tremendous height and some sense of depth (Aeolus has little or none of either). Separation is terrific also; Aeolus is good here but Arya is clearly better, especially when a track gets busy. While Arya's bass may extend even lower then Aeolus, the ZMF still has the clear edge here with very good punch and slam for an open back. Arya's relative lack here is about its only flaw, unless you count a recently $1600 headphone (with the recent price drop and a discount code, I only paid $1169) coming in a literal shoebox with no accessories beyond a crappy cable (already replaced) and a $2.99 headphone stand.
How would you compare it to the hd650. I'm trying to fund the next step up from the hd650s, but there are so many at the 800-1200 price range
I have Aeolus and have been considering the Arya Stealth, so your comment is helpful! Good to know the stage width is about that same, I didn't expect that. Def thinking I will hold onto Aeolus and just add another headphone (whether it's Arya or something else) because it has that lovely warm ZMF house sound and honestly just makes for enjoyable listening sessions where I'm not trying to pick everything apart.
@@thisjustanother I have the HD650 (well, the HD 6XX, same thing) and, frankly, they are not in the same league. But then I am a heretic in this hobby--I never liked the 6XX very much. The intimate vocals can be nice on certain tracks, but the soundstage and imaging are not very good by modern standards--I have IEMs that have a wider soundstage than the 6XX, which is now a very old design. However, if you want a solid upgrade while retaining some of the warm, midrange forward flavor of the 650, but with better resolution and imaging and far better bass, the $1200 Aeolus (or maybe its new and twice as expensive big brother, the Atrium, which I have not heard) is probably a better bet. Although the Arya is better than the Aeolus technically (and way better than the 650), it doesn't sound much like the 650.
@@marlowe1537 I'm not looking at something that is like the 650. Just something that is in the same idea of 650 as in "the go to" headphone in that price range. But I guess as that price range goes up, the more choices that are impossible to call "go to"
@@thisjustanother I have HD650’s, and picked my upgrade a few years back as the zmf Auteur Blackwoods. Teaks are more ethereal signature. Heard the Atriums and Caldera recently,either of which are more resolving and mature than mine, though the Auteur OG still rocks for me. Go to a CanJam if you have the chance.
How do you deal with the noise of the Road? Seems like it would be so close that you would hear it near the windows at least
DMS - what do you think of the outgoing Utopia? Worth picking up at a discount with 5 years warranty? Only about 1500 USD more than the clear at this point.
@DMS, where did you get those ported Diana ear pads?
I'd love to see a top 10 at different price points.
8:28
Unaffordable for those on a budget who want to save money. LOL.
Serious question, which of these has the most detail, or highest resolution - which is specifically the most resolving of the lot, ignoring all other factors please?
Has the sound profile of your Diana TCs changed? The treble on the pair I own seemed to have faded (have less sparkle) over the course of just a few weeks. I'm thinking perhaps the bass and the midrange opened up more (burn in effect) making it appear that the treble faded. What cable do you use with your DTC?
DMS, you made a great video a while back , with your very talented spouse as guest, where she talked about her thoughts on your headphones among other things. Any chance you can ask her back again since there are some new additions to your collections?
i agree so often (atrium, hd800s, 6xx, diana) with you but im questioning your sanity with noire > expanse, thats just crazy talk
@DMS, what wood are you ordering your Atrium with?
It’s definitely worth hearing an Atrium Blackwood for enhanced focus and clarity ✨✨✨
I have OG Auteur Blackwoods :) which I still really like.
Focal bathys vs focal's other closed back options.
I’m having a touch time deciding between the Aeon 2 Noire and the Focal Radiance. Which one would you choose?
Off topic question: what is that lamp or heater to your right (our left)? Looks right at home in a listening room!
would love a review of the B&W PX8 from DMS.
Are you planning on doing a full review of the Diana TC? There aren’t very many reviews of that one on TH-cam, and several of them are negative.
Why is there no love for the E-MU Teak? Granted, with their stock pads they are a bit...off, but with proper pads they are amazing, the best in my meagre collection.
Really curious about these as well. Seem like a great buy but not so much about them which is strange given the price ..
Which pads did you find proper for them?
DMS, The cables on the Focal Clear, who, what, where, and how much please?
I currently own the Hifiman susvara, zmf VC, Abyss 1266 TC and Diana TC. How can I make myself or purchase a ported set of ear pads for the Diana TC, I’d love to have a higher bass shelf. ??
Focal Clear MG (OG) and Celestee will never leave my collection. I look forward to the review on the new Bathys to see if I can add a third Focal to my collection. :)
Did you buy the Bathy's? I love mine
@@edenconnell4322 I considered it. The issue is I do not really need another pair of headphones. I rarely use my Clears or Celestee. I hardly use my AirPods Pro and I use them less frequently outside the house. Plus I have mainly transitioned to IEMs not just AirPods.
Have you tried the Caldera yet? And what do you think about it?
Fantastic headphones and where to find them.
DMS's videos are always incredibly helpful. One minor mistake in the video description: the second "Focal Clear" entry should be the "Focal Bathys" instead. Its accompanying link is correct.
May I ask which configuration did you choose for your Atrium?
Which has better bass: the Bathys or the Clear OG?
may know how you use the headphones for a long time over your head with glasses, Because I use them and I can't use them for long.
Are those ported pads for the Diana the 'quick solution' as stated by Abyss in Head-Fi? I might hold on to my Diana Phi if so.
I made it at home so I have no idea. I don’t keep up with head-fi much these days.
@@DMS3TV Any more detail on how you made those pads? I’d love to give it a try! (At the moment, I just have some material wedged between the pads and the frame to “port” my Diana V2.)
Beautiful collection n thanks for sharing DMS . What about a review for Edifier/Staxx Spirit s3 . It's a bt headphone . Thanx n Cheers .
It was a surprise to see the Bathys on this list! Every Bluetooth + noise cancelling headphone, Bose, Sony, Apple, can't come close to my Arya or 6XX in terms of sound quality. I'd love to have an audiophile-quality headphone for work and bus/plane rides. Does the Bathys truly bring that audiophile sound on the go?
Hey Bradley, I was at my audio dealer last week and he said to me, look the Bathys and the PX8 arrived. Have you time to take a listening session? I want to hear your opinion on them and perhaps one is for you 😉
I have to admit I am a total Focal fanboy and prioritized the Bathys. I own Focal headphones and Focal loudspeakers and enjoy them as often as I can.
I was also fueled up with information before this occurrence, because I read all I could get about the release of the Bathys and the PX8.
I began with the Bathys and after a while of listening I was surprisingly not satisfied with them. In the upper area they were so sharp...too sharp for my ears. There were in sum I would say, very analytical. In the middle area I found them really good though, but in the lower area I missed the fundament of the other Focal headphones.
I took them off and examined the build. The quality of them also left me clueless. In my view it breathes too much cheap looking plastic. On the other hand the leather ear pads are great and lovely made.
Then I switched over to the PX8. It was an other world for me. In the lower end so much fundament, the middle area they were almost silky and pulling you into the track. In the upper area rather slim but for me absolutely comfortable.
The build of the PX8 is in comparison again an other world. The overall design is much more slim then the Bathys and the used materials are spot on. It feels and look like a craftsman masterpiece. An other advantage for me was, that you can deactivate ANC complete. This is surprisingly NOT possible with Bathys. I am not an ANC user, thus this question was important for me. With those headphones the wireless aspect is the big deal.
Don't get me wrong. I have the PX and the PX7. The Bathys are better than them. But the PX8 beats them all, at least for my ears. By the way I tested them with Rock/Metal and with Classic. Perhaps with other genres it is playing out different.
Oh, one last remark. The wired DAC-Function is a Focal marketing gag for me. At the Bathys you have a switch to put the DAC into wired mode. The PX8 don't need any switch because the PX8 changes automatically in 24bit mode, when a source at the USB-C port is coupled. Perhaps there is a speciality with the Focal DAC I don't know, but at this point don't see any advantage of to put the DAC manually in the wired mode.
I want to add that this is only for the field of wireless Bluetooth headphones. I own also the Focal Clear MG and this wipes the floor with the Bathys and the PX8. Really no chance. But in the wireless sector, for me it was the PX8 as my new office headphones.
Compare the Bathys and the PX8 with your ears and choose for yourself. Perhaps I could help a bit with my individual impressions.
No to me. If you want a headphone sound as good as Arya on the go, you can't go wireless. Bathys sound good in terms of BT ANC headphones, but still quite far from audiophile headphones like Arya, Celestee, etc.
Thanks for all your thoughts guys! I thought it might be too good to be true, but I had hopes. Sounds like I shouldn't just order them up. I'd at least need to hear them myself first
Go for Sennheiser momentum 3 if you want a good sounding pair of ANC headphones.
I'm trying to decide between focal clear OG, Aeon 2 Noire and Meze 109. Currently using Sundara and Elegia. I listen to mostly metal. I haven't had a chance to listen to those three so curious as to what people think. I use a Mojo 2 with my headphones.
If you did mean Focal Clear MG (not "OG") I would say they are the best headphones under 3000 Euro.
They even better the old Utopia being more lively and giving more listening fun.
@@bjornwestberg2700 under 3000 there are so many headphones and many of them are better
Very interesting video, specially because you also talk about older models.
Talking about which I would love to know if you ever tested Ultrasone's 2900 Pro. Their soundstage and deep bass make them the best headphones I ever tested for all kinds of music, from classic to techno, prog rock to metal, jazz, reggae, etc... I just like the presence and the warm bass feeling. And I was wondering how they compare with Hifiman Sundara for example, and most of all what would be your opinion on them.
Thanks for another great video!
The 2900 pro are really not that good and suffer from alot of ailments
@DMS: am looking forward to adding LCD X and Focal Clear but Im debating should I get the A30 pro/D30 pro stacks or A50s/D50 stacks or I just save up and get the A90 Discrete/D90 LE stacks? Please suggest...
Just got a LCD-X 2021 creator with case and balanced Audeze cable open box on ebay for $800 and love it. I had a 789 [which can be had dirt cheap] and picked up a mint used Topping D70 also off eBay for $360. I run this balanced and its fantastic. So for less than the cost of a new creator LCD-X you can get a complete rig that sounds great [with an Audeze warranty]. Keep in mind that Audeze only has like 2 or 3 authorized ebay sellers, so if warranty is a concern you need to buy from 1 of these dealers. Audeze lists them on their website. You may have to shop a bit, but the savings is well worth it. Also getting a Topping A90D is almost imposible, because of the covid lockdown in China [I tried the delivery time kept getting extended so got a refund] Hope this helps.
@@chaoticorder532 not sure how 789 sounds but is it similar to topping sound signature because I enjoy Topping sound signature a lot..
and is also hard for me to get products from eBay at least from where I live so I will try to stick to product that easy for me to purchase
@@wyx5854 Its the same type of sound sig. Basically 0 noise and distortion. From what I gather the topping amps are a little smoother on top but the LCD-X has very smooth highs and is a bit warm so they complement clean detailed amps. The topping amps are probably a little better but getting anything from China is a loooong wait, so Im going to wait till I can order one and actually get it in a week or so. Until then the 789 is a fine place holder. Sorry to hear that about eBay cause if your a little patient you really can find some good deals.
@@chaoticorder532 should I go for A90 or the cheaper siblings like A30pro or A50?
@@wyx5854 Guess it really depends on you needs. Do you need preamp functionality for say speakers? Do you have hard to drive headphones.? Do you want a remote? Do you want a clean sound signature? Do you like a warn sound signature? Etc
Hello DMS & The Headphone Show, I own a set of Focal Clear Pro’s and I use a Luxman L-235 Integrated amp with a Schiit Modi 3+ dac. But I was thinking of upgrading the dac to keep with the the rest of system. Could give any suggestions? Budget around 800-1000. Cheers from Australia 🙂
Have you reviewed the Slate VSX yet? Definitely need your thoughts on those.
What padding is the used for the hd800 used in this video?
If you're going to do a Bathys review it would be great if you could do a little comaparison with the Bowers & Wilkins PX8 :D
Which one is the best in sound quality
@DMS What headband padding is on your HD800S?
How's the Arya Stealth for Metal?
What the next to buy if i hsve hd660s?
Playing lot ag games and can hear where players are do i hear even more with exempel of hd805?
@DMS I have Sennheiser HD-560s/Schiit Fulla e, fed from Samsung S10 with Qobuz going through USBAPP.
Just curious how the law of diminishing returns appplies to this rig, in that would it take hundreds, or thousands of dollars to truly leave it in the dust?
I went from the HF560s to the Sundara than to the Focal Clear. The hd560s still decent but definitely weakest of the bunch.
how do you distinguish between LCD 2.2, normal LCD 2 and the Fazor versions?
I love DMS. This whole video felt like a lost passage from Brett Easton Ellis being read, in character, by Christian Bale.
Loved this vid. Thank you.
What about the Dan Clark Open Back version?
What are your views on edition XS and its category competitors ?
But which one do you use for destiny 2?
if the Bathys had the LDAC codec they would be on the top of the Olympus (or Eiffel tower, to stay in France)
Can you review the Mark Levinsen 5909 ? Bluetooth and wired active/passive . this is the competitor for the focal bathys ! Thank you!
what DAC/amp do u drive them with? the FiiO K9 Pro?
heheh some of my favorites are the cheaper counterparts to yours. ZMF Aeolus, DCA Closed X, LCD 2C
DMS and what about the new Meze 109 Pro??
Would you choose Bathys over OG clears?
Is it possible to buy the Diana TC with that kind of tuning/mods?
Do you like / have you tried the LCD-X?
C’mon guys! Even Focal pronounces that as BA-thys, with the stress on the first syllable. The pronunciation doesn’t need to be quirky just because it’s French. 😂
Does DMS still work for Abyss?
Seems like disclosure would've been appropriate.
Seems not, never been clarified but Joe denied the DMS mod, which also got removed from the web site and we never heard from DMS affiliation with Abyss ever again. He might, or might not ....
Great content as always. Can't wait to see the part 2 :) P.S.: Would be very interested in your opinion on Mark Levinson No 5909.
the chapter names 💀
focal clear vs lcd x after eq in all sound aspects?
What are some of yoru favorite high end amps?
I'd love to spend a day with that collecting, being educated.