Is the Focal Bathys worth the upgrade from the HiFiMAN Ananda?
Verdict
Meaningful upgrade
The Focal Bathys scores 8.0 points above the HiFiMAN Ananda. That's a real improvement, though not the kind you'd notice on every track. The gains are concentrated in sound (8.0 to 9.5). On paper: active noise cancelling, weight 399 g to 350 g and usb-c. That costs $459 more, or about $57 per point of score - steep unless the specific gains above are ones you care about. Worth doing if you're replacing anyway; harder to justify as a pure upgrade if what you have still works.
What actually changes
Sub-scores both products have, on the same 0-10 scale. Bars extend right for a gain, left for a loss.
- Sound8.09.5
- Value7.07.0
Spec differences
Only where the two genuinely differ - everything they share is omitted.
| Spec | Ananda | Bathys | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active noise cancelling | No | Yes | |
| Weight | 399 g | 350 g | |
| USB-C | No | Yes | |
| Driver | Planar | 40mm Aluminium/Magnesium ‘M’-shaped dome | |
| Frequency response | 8Hz-55kHz | 15Hz-22kHz |
About this verdict
Direction matters here: this page answers "Ananda to Bathys". The other direction is a separate question with a different answer. Scores blend published review verdicts across over-ear and shift as new reviews land, so a marginal call today may not be one next quarter.