Let’s talk luxury headphones—the kind that makes one group of people drool and another wonder if they are missing out on something magical. Focal Bathys MG has come right in the middle of this high-end wireless ANC headphone scene, and it’s definitely creating more than a little buzz. It’s not just a pretty face in the crowd with a wallet-shaking price tag ($1299, if you’re counting). But, is it really that great, or is it just a costly gadget that wealthy people buy?
Firstly, the Bathys MG is not a radically different one in terms of visual appeal. It takes a lot of cues from the original Bathys, featuring those signature magnesium yokes, a sleek headband, and cups perforated with small holes that might terrify people with trypophobia. The color scheme is a Bronze Age throwback—imagine earthy, classy, and slightly dramatic. But the biggest improvement is undoubtedly in the pads. They are softer, more breathable, and much more comfortable, especially if you are wearing glasses. The cups are large enough for big ears, and the clamp pressure has been reduced, so you can put these on for hours (even on a long-haul flight) without feeling like your head’s being crushed.
The connection options are great with Bluetooth 5.2 multipoint, USB-C, and a 3.5mm jack. Battery life is quite remarkable—30 hours on Bluetooth, 35 on jack mode, and a staggering 42 hours in USB-DAC mode. And, indeed, the charging is super fast. The integrated DAC allows you to go directly into a laptop for the best sound; thus, there is no interference from Bluetooth. Of course, it lacks LDAC or true lossless Bluetooth, which is slightly disappointing at this price; however, most people wouldn’t even realize the difference unless they are very particular about the specs.
Now, this is the part where Bathys MG really shines: sound quality. This is the point where the Bathys MG really put out its muscles. The magnesium driver upgrade is not just marketing jargon—it actually brings a substantial improvement to the original Bathys. The midrange is clearer, more consistent, and has a certain subtleness, which makes the piano and acoustic style sound more natural. There is a somewhat concentrated presence at around 1.3kHz and a good relationship with the 300Hz region; this combination gives the vocals and instruments a new level of transparency. The bass is good, though, at times it can be a little bloomy, and the treble is airy without being irritating. If you want a sound more neutral and balanced, then you should switch to Dynamic mode—this mode follows the Harman curve, thereby removing the imperfections and making it suitable for any kind of music.
With the app, you can change the EQ using some handy filters (although the number of filters might not be sufficient for some users), and the sound from the headphones is the same in ANC, soft ANC, and transparency modes. ANC-wise, the Bathys MG is very close to a top-level performer like the Bose QC Ultra. While it is better in bass and treble attenuation, the low-mid range is where Bose still leads, and this is also where most of the noise cancellation magic happens. Transparency mode is effective, and call quality is good—there are no weird sounds or muffled voices.
Comparison? In every aspect, the Bathys MG is far and away better than the T+A Solitaire T, especially in sound. Mark Levinson 5909 is a good alternative to Harmon tuning fans and also features passive mode, but Bathys MG triumphs in comfort and app functionality. B&O H100 may have good looks, but its audio quality is mediocre, especially in the treble. Dali IO-12 can be good for bass and treble lovers; however, it does not have Bathys MG’s clarity and versatility. Bose QC Ultra is a king in terms of comfort and ANC, but Bathys MG is just more captivating when it comes to music. AirPods Max? Perfect for Apple lovers and spatial audio, but the clamp force and strange treble tuning make it difficult for those outside the ecosystem. And if you’re considering the Audeze Maxwell purely for sound, then it’s a toss-up—Maxwell is excellent if you don’t require ANC, but Bathys MG is quieter and more elegant.
Then the question arises whether the Bathys MG is worth its price? If what you want is the best sound quality from a wireless ANC headphone and you do not mind spending a lot of money, then this is the one. It is not flawless—no LDAC, no passive mode—but it is a new standard for what top-tier ANC headphones should offer. The Bathys MG is the reference point that other brands should be aiming at for those who care more about music than marketing.