Comparison between Focal Bathys and Bowers & Wilkins Px8

Chances are, if you're going to spend $700 on a pair of headphones, you want to make sure you're getting a good deal. What extra features do they come with? Are they comfortable? Will I wear them all the time? These are questions you might be asking yourself when considering this type of purchase. Here's a question you might not have considered: what do you do when you have two similar products that are the same price?

Today, we're looking at two Bluetooth headsets that currently retail for $699. One is from French company Focal: The BathysThis is a high-end brand that people know for their audiophile headphones. The other is from Bowers & Wilkins: The Px8They are a reliable brand that focuses on providing good quality sound in each of their designs. How do they compare to each other?

What comes in the box

Aesthetics and Functionality

The look of these headphones is quite different. The Focal Bathys have a more metallic design, with magnesium and aluminum forming a fantastic design with small circles on the main body of the headphones. The design is sturdy and heavy in the hand, and speaks to the durability of the headphones. They are a bit big, but I don’t mind because they are easy to wear. They fit any head shape and have enough adjustment capabilities for comfort. The leather ear cushions and headband are very comfortable on the head and are great for long listening sessions. Turning them on and pairing them was a breeze, and the logo that lights up lets me easily tell when they are on or off.

On the other hand, the Bowers & Wilkins Px8s have a rather minimalist design. Instead of large ear cups that draw attention to your head, they are slim and sleek. They are large enough to fit most ear sizes. They are quite small, but pack a powerful sound. I don't like the thinner headband, as it seems to break easily when I put them on. They fit tightly over my head and feel very uncomfortable to handle. It was tiring to wear them because they were so tight around my head, and the fact that I wear glasses didn't make it any easier.

Personally, I much prefer the comfort offered by the Bathys over the Px8s. The larger size allows for a bit more flexibility around the head and is less restrictive to wear. With my glasses, the soft, plush ear cushions on the Bathys conformed to the temples over my ear a bit more. The stiffer ear cushion on the Px8s didn't offer the same. Everyone has their own comfort scale, so I can only speak to how they felt to me.

Technical specifications

There are a couple of elements in the technical department that set these two devices apart. The Px8 has a more up-to-date version of Bluetooth, which helps with connectivity between devices. Additionally, the Px8 has a wear detection sensor, so you won’t miss out on any music when you take them off. The Focal Bathys don’t have these features, which may be a deal breaker for some. Instead, the Bathys have two additional microphones built into the design, making calls and phone conversations easier and clearer.

Listening review

Soundstage and ANC

The soundstages of both headphones are quite impressive. Wide and immersive, detailed and clear, colorful and full of character – both pairs offer a lot in terms of sound quality. I really enjoyed the immersive nature of the Bathys. Putting them on, I was immediately immersed in my listening and all ambient noise around me faded away. The Px8s were also an immersive listen, but in a slightly opposite way. The music I listened to blended seamlessly with my surroundings, especially when the noise-cancelling feature was turned off. I liked how both had a fairly wide soundstage that enveloped my head and the frequency responses were detailed with height and depth. The Focal Bathys had a more bass-heavy response and the Px8s more treble-heavy.

As far as active noise cancellation goes, I have to say that I was disappointed with both of them. Yes, they both had the feature and were quite effective at blocking out ambient noise; however, I found it difficult to differentiate between when the feature was on or off. This goes for both the Bathys and the Px8s! I felt like the Bathys had more natural noise cancelling qualities due to the physical design. The Px8s fell short because they were already quite lightweight and there was too much ambient noise coming through. I was glad that the volume controls allowed the noise cancellation to really take effect. Still, I am concerned about my hearing in the long run if I have to crank the volume all the way up to get noise cancellation.

Low frequencies

The bass on each earbud is very powerful. With the addition of noise-cancelling technology, low frequencies are heard with impeccable detail and texture. In particular, on the Bathys, I could feel the low frequencies as they were heard on each track. The Px8s also had very detailed bass, but the smaller, thinner design didn’t allow for as much immersion in it. I was much more impressed with the bass sound on the Bathys, as it was a great foundation for the other frequencies. I was listening to a lot of rock music during my testing and liked the way kick drums and bass lines were accentuated with detail on both earbuds.

Midrange Frequencies

The midrange textures are definitely something to highlight on both headphones. There’s plenty of clarity across all the different timbres of the instruments, and nothing gets lost in the mix. The Bathys had a much more pronounced lower midrange, while the Px8s opted for a higher sound signature that was accentuated at the top of the range. I didn’t mind this difference between them, as it made it clear that these had different signatures. I listened to some indie music, particularly by Unknown Mortal Orchestra, to get a feel for the midranges on each headphone. I loved the detail I could hear on both, and how neither of them became muddy with increased elements in the range. It was interesting to hear how the low rhythm guitar was more present on the Bathys, and the high synth keyboard was a highlight on the Px8s.

High frequencies

At the high end is where I found the biggest difference between the two pairs of headphones. The Px8s had a brighter top end, with plenty of airiness and crisp detail. There was a lot of character in this range, with orchestral reverbs and guitar harmonics able to resonate and hold my attention quite well. The Bathys were certainly more focused on the low end, and it showed in the more conservative top end signature. It was as if the top end was held back a bit, and let the lows and mids have center stage. That’s not to say the sound was unbalanced; in fact, the top end was present enough to be noticeable and a great complement to the other frequencies. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to more acoustic instrumentals on both headphones, but I could tell the Px8s had a crisper, more tuned sound in this range.

Summary

To conclude, both headphones have a lot going for them. While they may be the same price, there are key differences between them that may make you decide to go with one or the other. The Focal Bathys offer plenty of comfort and extremely detailed listening, and you know you'll be able to use them for extended sessions if needed. Meanwhile, the Bowers & Wilkins Px8s offer you a taste of bright sound and sleek design for those who want a minimalist design.

I highly recommend trying out headphones before deciding which one suits you best. You might end up with a different opinion than you had at first! Everyone hears differently, so it's definitely worth trying them out for yourself to decide which one is best for you.

He Bathys focal and Bowers & Wilkins Px8 is available for demo and purchase at Audio46.