Short answer: the Focal Bathys. It ranks #179 of 481 over-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 3.7/5, at $799; the Koss ESP95X ranks #230, rated 3.6/5, and costs $799.99, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the Focal Bathys does well: 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.
The case for the Koss ESP95X: Measured response gives it a solid Harman preference score of 72 with a 3.06 dB spread, and its mids sit within about 0.7 dB of target, so vocals and instruments sound natural. The catch: Presence sits about 3.9 dB low with a 12.2 dB dip near 9.6 kHz, so vocals and instruments lose some bite.
Buy the Focal Bathys. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Koss ESP95X 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.
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.
Amazon $799.00 eBay
Measured response gives it a solid Harman preference score of 72 with a 3.06 dB spread, and its mids sit within about 0.7 dB of target, so vocals and instruments sound natural.
Amazon $799.99 eBayPrices on this page were last checked October 16, 2026 at 5:46 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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Specifications Side By Side
| Focal Bathys | Koss ESP95X | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $799.00 | $799.99 |
| Ranked | #179 of 481 in Over-Ear Headphones | #230 of 481 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 76 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) | 72 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.04 dB standard deviation | 3.06 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.84 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.26 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-0.1 dB at 30 Hz) | Falls 6 dB below target at 67 Hz (-7.6 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wireless and wired | Wired |
| Back | Closed | Open |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Electrostatic |
| Drivers | 1 x 40mm dynamic | - |
| Impedance | 80 ohms | 100,000 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 104 dB SPL/mW | - |
| Weight | 0.8 lbs (350 g) | 0.8 lbs (353g) |
| 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 | - |
| Frequency Response | - | 8Hz - 35kHz |
Frequency Response Compared
Both headphones’ measurements overlaid on the Harman target. Above the target sounds louder in that range, below it quieter. Each curve is the median of several independent measurements, shifted so its 500 Hz to 2 kHz average sits at 0 dB, so only the tuning is compared.
Measurement data: the Focal Bathys from boizoff, capraaudio, elrics, gadgetrytech, kuulokenurkka, superreview and vsg; the Koss ESP95X from capraaudio, sai, superreview and therollo9, all via squig.link.
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