Short answer: the Focal Bathys. It ranks #103 of 216 over-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 3.7/5, at $799; the Fostex TH610 ranks #119, rated 3.6/5, and costs $799.99, which makes this an easy call rather than a real tradeoff.
Why pick the Focal Bathys: Bluetooth 5.1 with SBC, AAC, aptX and aptX Adaptive, active noise cancelling and a rated 30 hours of battery make it a full wireless travel headphone, and a wired connection is still available. Watch for: A 6.3 dB dip near 9.4 kHz and mild treble reduction soften cymbals and sibilance.
Why pick the Fostex TH610: Crinacle’s measurement gives it a preference score of 72 with a slightly warm overall tilt, a solid result for a closed-back headphone. The tradeoff: At 0.8 lbs (375 g) it is on the heavier side for a closed-back headphone.
Buy the Focal Bathys. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Fostex TH610 and costs less, so it is the default pick unless a specific strength of the other one matters more to you.
Still deciding? The full Headphones rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Focal Bathys | Fostex TH610 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $799.00 | $799.99 |
| Ranked | #103 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones | #119 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 76 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) | 72 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.04 dB standard deviation | 2.52 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.84 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.71 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-0.1 dB at 30 Hz) | - |
| Connection | Wireless and wired | Wired |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 40mm dynamic | 1 x 50mm dynamic |
| Impedance | 80 ohms | 25 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 104 dB SPL/mW | 98 dB/mW |
| Weight | 0.8 lbs (350 g) | 0.8 lbs (375 g) |
| Active Noise Cancelling | Yes | - |
| Battery Life | 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 | - |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX Adaptive | - |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | No |
| Frequency Response | - | 5Hz - 45kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
Related Headphone Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for Focal Bathys:
- HIFIMAN Mini Shangri-La vs Focal Bathys
- Meze 109 Pro vs Focal Bathys
- Denon AH-D5200 vs Focal Bathys
- Focal Bathys vs Neumann NDH30
- Denon AH-D5200 vs Fostex TH610
Prices on this page were last checked October 11, 2026 at 4:59 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Headphones In Full
Focal Bathys: $799.00 Wireless Amazon eBay
Pros: Bluetooth 5.1 with SBC, AAC, aptX and aptX Adaptive, active noise cancelling and a rated 30 hours of battery make it a full wireless travel headphone, and a wired connection is still available. Bass is slightly boosted, about 1 dB at sub-bass and 2 dB from 60 to 200 Hz, for a warm, punchy low end. The 2.0 dB deviation is smooth, and a 76 preference score is respectable for a wireless model.
Cons: A 6.3 dB dip near 9.4 kHz and mild treble reduction soften cymbals and sibilance. The tilt is on the warm side, so brightness and detail are subdued. The HIFIMAN Audivina holds a higher rating for a lower price, though the Bathys is the one with ANC and a battery.
Full Focal Bathys review and specifications →
| Released | Oct 2022 (4 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Active Noise Cancelling | Yes |
| Back | Closed |
| Battery Life | 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX Adaptive |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Connection | Wireless and wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.04 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 40mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 76 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 80 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 104 dB SPL/mW |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-0.1 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.84 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.8 lbs (350 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -3.9 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by AutoEQ from its measured frequency response.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | -0.3 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 642 Hz | -3.5 dB | 0.24 |
| Peak | 831 Hz | +7.1 dB | 1.99 |
| Peak | 4,157 Hz | +3.6 dB | 1.67 |
| Peak | 2,185 Hz | +4.3 dB | 3.03 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | +0.7 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 86 Hz | -0.3 dB | 0.96 |
| Peak | 199 Hz | +0.5 dB | 1.78 |
| Peak | 2,995 Hz | -0.6 dB | 4.09 |
| Peak | 381 Hz | -0.4 dB | 2.53 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Fostex TH610: $799.99 B&H Photo Video eBay
Pros: Crinacle’s measurement gives it a preference score of 72 with a slightly warm overall tilt, a solid result for a closed-back headphone. Its 25 ohm impedance and 98 dB/mW sensitivity let a phone or laptop drive the 50 mm dynamic driver without a dedicated amp, and the closed back keeps sound from leaking in shared spaces.
Cons: At 375 g it is on the heavier side for a closed-back headphone. The Denon AH-D5200 rates higher and costs less, and the Focal Bathys rates higher at the same price while adding wireless convenience.
Full Fostex TH610 review and specifications →
| Released | Jun 2016 (10 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Closed |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.52 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 50mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 5Hz - 45kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 72 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 25 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 98 dB/mW |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.71 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.8 lbs (375 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -5.4 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by AutoEQ from its measured frequency response.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | +3.2 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 159 Hz | -3.8 dB | 0.59 |
| Peak | 2,578 Hz | +5.5 dB | 1.80 |
| Peak | 9,500 Hz | +3.2 dB | 2.20 |
| Peak | 5,431 Hz | -5.5 dB | 4.68 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -3.4 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 52 Hz | -0.4 dB | 2.06 |
| Peak | 533 Hz | +0.4 dB | 1.54 |
| Peak | 232 Hz | -0.6 dB | 2.33 |
| Peak | 135 Hz | +0.4 dB | 1.79 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons