Over-Ear
Focal Bathys
78Great
$800
Full review dataFocal Bathys vs Verum 2: which should you buy?
On aggregated review scores the Verum 2 comes out ahead with a HearWiki score of 85. The full breakdown - sub-scores, specs and what reviewers actually said - is below.
Our pick: Verum 2 - Outstanding overall at around $499.
Over-Ear
Verum 2
85Outstanding
$500
Full review dataScore breakdown
Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.
Focal Bathys leads on 4 of 7 measures.
- Focal Bathys
- Verum 2
HearWiki score
78
85
Sound
9.2
8.9
Noise cancelling
6.8
-
Battery
7.6
-
Calls
8.1
-
Value
7.4
9.0
Price (USD)
$800
$500
Generation & platform
The scores rank quality. This is the other question: is the newer one actually newer technology, or the same platform in a new shell?
Same generation
The Verum 2 is 3 years newer, but it is the same generation of hardware: nothing in the radio, the codecs or the noise cancelling separates them. The platform is level; the newer hardware shows up in convenience features instead - the Focal Bathys adds USB-C, Transparency mode, Custom EQ and Companion app. For 3 years between them, that is a thin return - treat this as a restyle rather than a new platform.
- Bathys2022
- 220253 yr newer
What differsBathys2
- USB-C
- Yes
- No
- Transparency mode
- Yes
- No
- Custom EQ
- Yes
- No
- Companion app
- Yes
- No
Everyday features
Specifications
Bathys2
- Type
- Over-Ear
- Over-Ear
- Price (USD)
- $800
- $500
- HearWiki score
- 78
- 85
- Released
- 2022
- 2025
- Availability
- Still sold new
- Sold new
- Driver
- 40 mm dynamic
- 105 mm planar magnetic
- Driver type
- dynamic
- planar
- Driver size
- 40 mm
- 105 mm
- Drivers per side
- 1
- 1
- Frequency response
- 15 Hz - 22 kHz
- -
- Impedance
- -
- 8 Ω
- Sensitivity
- -
- 96 dB/mW
- Bluetooth
- 5.1
- -
- Codecs
- SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX Adaptive
- -
- Multipoint pairing
- Yes
- -
- Wireless range
- 15 m
- -
- Battery life
- 30 h
- -
- Full charge time
- 90 min
- -
- Wireless charging
- No
- -
- Active noise cancelling
- Yes
- No
- ANC type
- -
- none
- Transparency mode
- Yes
- No
- Companion app
- Yes
- No
- Custom EQ
- Yes
- No
- Wear detection
- -
- No
- Voice assistant
- Alexa, Google Assistant
- No
- Weight
- 350 g
- 450 g
- Water resistance
- none
- -
- Detachable cable
- Yes
- Yes
- USB-C
- Yes
- No
- Pad material
- -
- fabric
- Connector
- 3.5 mm
- 3.5 mm
- Balanced connection
- -
- Yes
- Microphones
- 8
- -
- Call noise reduction
- -
- No
What reviewers said
Focal Bathys
The Focal Bathys are premium over-ear wireless headphones that combine high-fidelity sound with active noise cancellation and versatile connectivity, including a USB-C DAC mode for high-resolution wired listening. They offer strong battery life, multipoint Bluetooth, and a robust feature set, making them a top choice for audiophiles seeking wireless convenience without compromising on audio quality. While ANC is effective rather than best-in-class, the overall performance and build justify their premium price point.
- Pro:Excellent sound quality with detailed, dynamic drivers
- Pro:Versatile USB-C DAC mode for high-resolution wired audio
- Pro:Solid battery life, often exceeding rated figures in real-world use
- Con:ANC is competent but not class-leading
- Con:Premium price point may be prohibitive for some
- Con:No water resistance rating
Verum 2
No summary yet - we haven't aggregated enough reviews.
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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