Over-Ear
Focal Bathys
86Outstanding
$799
Full review dataFocal Bathys vs Sony WH-1000X The ColleXion: which should you buy?
On aggregated review scores the Focal Bathys comes out ahead with an HearWiki score of 86. The full breakdown - sub-scores, specs and what reviewers actually said - is below.
Our pick: Focal Bathys - Outstanding overall at around $799.
Over-Ear
Sony WH-1000X The ColleXion
78Great
$650
Full review dataScore breakdown
Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.
Focal Bathys
Sound9.5
Noise cancelling7.5
Battery8.5
Value7.0
Sony WH-1000X The ColleXion
Sound8.0
Noise cancelling9.0
Battery7.0
Calls8.0
Value5.0
Specifications
| Spec | Focal Bathys | Sony WH-1000X The ColleXion |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Over-Ear | Over-Ear |
| Price (USD) | $799 | $650 |
| HearWiki score | 86 / 100 · Outstanding | 78 / 100 · Great |
| Released | 2022 | 2026 |
| Audio | ||
| Driver | 40mm Aluminium/Magnesium ‘M’-shaped dome | dynamic |
| Driver type | - | bespoke driver |
| Driver size | 40 mm | 30 mm |
| Drivers per side | 2 | 1 |
| Frequency response | 15Hz-22kHz | 4 Hz - 40,000 Hz |
| Impedance | - | 48 Ω |
| Sensitivity | - | 103 dB/mW |
| Wireless | ||
| Bluetooth | 5.1 | 6 |
| Bluetooth version | 5.1 | 6.0 |
| Codecs | AAC, aptX, aptX Adaptive, SBC | SBC, AAC, LDAC, LC3 |
| Multipoint pairing | Yes | Yes |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | 30 h | 32 h |
| Battery life (ANC on) | 30 h | 24 h |
| Full charge time | - | 210 min |
| Quick charge | 5 hours in 15 minutes | 5 min = ~90 min |
| Wireless charging | No | No |
| Features | ||
| Active noise cancelling | Yes | Yes |
| ANC type | hybrid | hybrid |
| Transparency mode | Yes | Yes |
| Companion app | - | Yes |
| Custom EQ | - | Yes |
| Wear detection | - | Yes |
| Controls | - | both |
| Voice assistant | Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa | built-in voice assistant support |
| Design | ||
| Weight | 350 g | 320 g |
| Water resistance | none | none |
| USB-C | Yes | Yes |
| Calls | ||
| Microphones | 8 | 12 |
| Microphone | - | Yes |
What reviewers said
Focal Bathys
The Focal Bathys are premium wireless over-ears that blend high-fidelity audio with everyday convenience. They feature adaptive ANC, a USB-C DAC mode for hi-res wired listening, and support for aptX Adaptive, making them a top pick for sound-focused users who also want wireless flexibility. While their noise cancellation is solid but not the absolute best in class, their impressive battery life and versatile connectivity options stand out in the premium segment.
- Pro:Excellent sound quality with detailed, dynamic drivers
- Pro:USB-C DAC mode enables high-resolution wired audio
- Pro:Strong battery life, often exceeding rated figures in tests
- Con:ANC is competent but not class-leading
- Con:High price point limits accessibility
- Con:Real-world wireless endurance may fall short of claims in some scenarios
Sony WH-1000X The ColleXion
The Sony WH-1000X The ColleXion is a premium over-ear headphone that combines strong adaptive noise cancellation with a rich feature set, including LDAC support and multipoint Bluetooth. Its sound is detailed and refined, though tuning leans toward a treble-forward character that may not suit everyone. While build quality and connectivity impress, the steep price and modest battery life with ANC active are notable drawbacks.
- Pro:Excellent adaptive noise cancellation
- Pro:Support for LDAC and Bluetooth 6.0
- Pro:Comfortable fit with multiple mic array for calls
- Con:High price for the feature set
- Con:Treble-heavy tuning may be fatiguing
- Con:Battery life with ANC is average at 24 hours
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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