Short answer: the Meze 109 Pro. It ranks #91 of 216 over-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 3.8/5, at $799; the Focal Bathys ranks #103, rated 3.7/5, at $799. With prices this close, go by the sound-quality ranking rather than the cost.
What the Meze 109 Pro does well: The open back has a warm, full tuning, with bass from 60 to 200 Hz about 2 dB above target and low mids 2.2 dB above, giving music weight and body. Watch for: A 6.3 dB dip near 9.5 kHz sits next to a 4.5 dB peak near 7.4 kHz, so cymbals and sibilants sound uneven.
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. Watch for: A 6.3 dB dip near 9.4 kHz and mild treble reduction soften cymbals and sibilance.
Buy the Meze 109 Pro. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Focal Bathys at the same price, which makes it the one to get unless you need something the other one does better.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Headphones rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Meze 109 Pro | Focal Bathys | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $799.00 | $799.00 |
| Ranked | #91 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones | #103 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 78 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) | 76 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.25 dB standard deviation | 2.04 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.50 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.84 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-4.6 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 | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 50mm dynamic | 1 x 40mm dynamic |
| Impedance | 40 ohms | 80 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 112 dB SPL/mW | 104 dB SPL/mW |
| Weight | 0.8 lbs (375 g) | 0.8 lbs (350 g) |
| Frequency Response | 5Hz - 30kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| 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 |
Related Headphone Comparisons
How Meze 109 Pro compares with other leading options:
- HIFIMAN Mini Shangri-La vs Meze 109 Pro
- Focal Spirit Classic vs Meze 109 Pro
- Meze 109 Pro vs Denon AH-D5200
- Denon AH-D5200 vs Focal Bathys
- Focal Bathys 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
Meze 109 Pro: $799.00 Amazon eBay
Pros: The open back has a warm, full tuning, with bass from 60 to 200 Hz about 2 dB above target and low mids 2.2 dB above, giving music weight and body. Treble and air are lifted, with the top octave about 4.7 dB above target, which adds some openness. It uses a single 50 mm dynamic driver, runs at 40 ohms and 112 dB SPL per milliwatt so a phone can drive it, and the preference score is 78.
Cons: A 6.3 dB dip near 9.5 kHz sits next to a 4.5 dB peak near 7.4 kHz, so cymbals and sibilants sound uneven. The upper mids are about 1.8 dB low, which pulls vocals back slightly. It costs well above the HIFIMAN Audivina yet rates lower, and at 375 g it is heavier than some alternatives.
Full Meze 109 Pro review and specifications →
| Back | Open |
|---|---|
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.25 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 50mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 5Hz - 30kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 78 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 40 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 112 dB SPL/mW |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-4.6 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.50 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.8 lbs (375 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -5.3 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 | +7.4 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 72 Hz | -4.2 dB | 0.25 |
| Peak | 2,028 Hz | +5.6 dB | 1.63 |
| Peak | 2,856 Hz | -1.9 dB | 4.04 |
| Peak | 83 Hz | -1.2 dB | 1.11 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -4.7 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 8,692 Hz | +1.6 dB | 2.63 |
| Peak | 825 Hz | -0.9 dB | 2.44 |
| Peak | 475 Hz | +0.4 dB | 1.32 |
| Peak | 4,705 Hz | +1.3 dB | 6.00 |
- 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