Today, high-end audio company Focal announced a new pair of headphones for hi-fi lovers who prioritize personalization, convenience, and portability and do not want to be tethered to the brand’s other wired-only options. The new Bathys MG build on the company’s first wireless headphones, the Focal Bathys from 2022, incorporating more sophisticated and premium features.
Focal is best known for its artisanally crafted loudspeakers and industry-leading audio technology, and the Focal Bathys MG fit snugly into the company’s high-end catalog. Like the 2022 Bathys, the Bathys MG include features valuable for the everyday listener, such as Bluetooth connectivity and active noise cancellation (ANC).
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The Bathys MG have Focal’s distinct custom-made speaker drivers, built in the company’s workshop in France. These full-range drivers sport a magnesium M-shaped dome that promotes balanced sound dispersion and reduced distortion for a more precise soundstage and instrument separation.
The first-generation Bathys had an M-shaped dome made of magnesium and aluminum. The Bathys MG promise enhanced sound quality based on the omission of aluminum in the speakers. Aluminum is cheaper, and magnesium is better at absorbing vibrations and promoting speaker rigidity and efficiency.
Building on the first-generation Bathys, the Bathys MG have Bluetooth 5.2, compared to their predecessor’s 5.1. Bluetooth 5.2 promises more efficient power consumption, the LC3 Bluetooth codec, and stable connectivity.
The Bathys MG include new digital microphones to aid noise cancellation, a pitfall in the first-gen Bathys. Focal isn’t best known for its noise-canceling technology; the first-gen Bathys were on par with the Sennheiser Momentum 4 in this department, which isn’t the best ANC you can find. However, improvements to the technology should be palpable.
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Focal’s MG moniker is reserved for headphones with magnesium-made speaker cones, a callout to the metal’s chemical symbol on the periodic table. Conveniently, the MG moniker also singles out the headphones at the top end of the brand’s catalog. Although the Bathys include high-end features, such as Focal’s proprietary audio technology, premium metals, and hi-fi listening modes, the Bathys MG take quality levels a step further.
The Bathys MG feature memory foam cushions on the earpads and headband, a magnesium yoke where the extenders meet the headband, and a genuine leather headband. The Focal flame logo on the ear cup is now backlit, and like its Focal Clear MG counterpart, the Bathys MG debuts in a Chestnut finish.
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The Bathys MG promise 30 hours of battery life in wireless listening mode, 35 hours of listening in wired mode, and 42 hours in USB-DAC mode. The Focal & Naim companion app also allows listeners to adjust EQ settings and toggle between noise-canceling modes. The companion app also includes a hearing test to create a personalized listening experience.
The Bathys MG are only available in one finish, Chestnut, and will be available in May for $1,299. A USB-C to USB-C cable and hardshell carrying case are included with the purchase.
