Short answer: the HIFIMAN Mini Shangri-La. It ranks #87 of 216 over-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 3.9/5, at $859. The Focal Bathys ranks #103, rated 3.7/5, at $799, $60 cheaper, not enough of a saving to outweigh the sound-quality gap.
The case for 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. The catch: A 6.3 dB dip near 9.4 kHz and mild treble reduction soften cymbals and sibilance.
Buy the HIFIMAN Mini Shangri-La. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $60 you would save on the Focal Bathys does not close the gap.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Headphones rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| HIFIMAN Mini Shangri-La | Focal Bathys | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $859.00 | $799.00 |
| Ranked | #87 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones | #103 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 79 (median of 3 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) | 76 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.22 dB standard deviation | 2.04 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.39 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.84 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 53 Hz (-11.1 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-0.1 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wireless and wired |
| Back | Open | Closed |
| Driver Type | Electrostatic | Dynamic |
| Weight | 0.7 lbs (320 g) | 0.8 lbs (350 g) |
| Frequency Response | 7Hz - 90kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Built-in Microphone | No | Yes |
| Drivers | - | 1 x 40mm dynamic |
| Impedance | - | 80 ohms |
| Sensitivity | - | 104 dB SPL/mW |
| Active Noise Cancelling | - | Yes |
| Battery Life | - | 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Version | - | 5.1 |
| Bluetooth Codecs | - | SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX Adaptive |
Related Headphone Comparisons
How HIFIMAN Mini Shangri-La compares with other leading options:
- HIFIMAN HE6se V2 vs HIFIMAN Mini Shangri-La
- Cleer Next vs HIFIMAN Mini Shangri-La
- HIFIMAN Mini Shangri-La vs Meze 109 Pro
- Focal Bathys vs Fostex TH610
- Meze 109 Pro vs Focal Bathys
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
HIFIMAN Mini Shangri-La: $859.00 Amazon eBay
Full HIFIMAN Mini Shangri-La review and specifications →
| Released | Jun 2024 (2 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Open |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.22 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Electrostatic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 7Hz - 90kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 79 (median of 3 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 53 Hz (-11.1 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.39 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.7 lbs (320 g) |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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