Focal Bathys vs Bowers & Wilkins Px8!

[@MarkEllisReviews]

Which would you buy out of these two... and why?

[@electrology]

I bought a B&O Beoplay H95 which is $100 more than the Focal Bathys and $200 more than B&W PX8 - Hahaha. No offense but most reviewers picked Focal Bathys over PX8 and almost everyone rated B&O H95 as the most classy and true to the source etc. DHRME literally do not like PX8.

[@JustXavier]

I bought both but I absolutely *LOVE* the Bathys. They make my music come _alive._ I pair them with Amazon Music. I find Amazon sounds better than Spotify and Tidal. But I’ve recently tried KZbin Music and they sound great with that as well.

[@JustXavier]

@@electrology Thanks for the recommendation. Do you have the Focal Bathys? Or have you heard them? I was testing them out last week, when they had just arrived and I was just going to do some music and I had planned to sit down and start reading or watching TV, I can't remember what but I literally listen to music for over an hour because the headphones made the music sound so good. I was just catapulted back in time to when I first heard the songs. It was literally just _that_ amazing.

[@JustXavier]

@@electrology Random comment (from me): I also have the Mark Levinson No. 5909 and I plan on sending those back because the sound on those is nowhere near as good as the Focal's. I prefer my Amiron Wireless to the No. 5909's.

[@electrology]

@@JustXavier actually I haven't heard them personally but based on various reviews I found the B&O H95 to be slightly better by various reviewers. Of course, all of them are extremely impressed with Focal Bathys too. I like somewhat of a simple muted design and chose B&O in the end. The focal's punch hole design is a bit too much for me but I do get thoughts to get them and try and then decide which one to keep.

[@vinnyconno]

I bought the PX8 two weeks ago. My first pair had a charging defect where they would only charge to 50% and then drain super fast. Amazon sent another pair out and they work fine. I love them. Best headphones I've ever owned.

[@maxmolenaar4466]

Mine had the same charging issue for the first week, but after 3 or so charges it all straightened out. Down to 44% after about 6 days

[@sergei-prokofiev]

Ohhww huh, wow mine also have a battery problem, so I shouldn't return them but just charge them a vew times

[@fenners1]

Yeah mine too. This issue is worryingly common.

[@samushiba1607]

Any news on the build after a year? e.g. headband & earcup tearing/separation?

[@shonen84]

I A/B tested the PX8 and Bathys. I prefer a mid/vocal focused sound signature - so I went for the Bathys. Two great headphones, you can’t lose by choosing either of them! Well, the only loser is your wallet 😅😅

[@falcodarkzz]

Vocals are a lot better on PX8 imo, more forward and rich. Bathys mids sound pushed back, and that seems like a fairly unanimous finding amongst reviews

[@robovirtuoso1354]

@@falcodarkzz Both have excellent midrange, just presented differently like you said (forward vs. pushed back).

[@scottdavidson5154]

I bought both. Broke-in the PX8s in for 100 plus hours. They sounded good, but not really my flavor (just like some speakers - very good, but not my flavor). Then I bought the Bathys. Straight out of the box they sounded better than the PX8s and after 50+ hours of break-in there was just no comparison. To me everything about the Bathys sounds better. I have the Focal Celestees + iBasso DX220 w/ tube amp + Cardas cables to compare these BT headphones to. I was expecting to like the PX8s more, but that turned out not to be the case. I'm even considering selling the Celestee / iBasso/ Cardas kit because my work situation doesn't allow me to use them very much and I really, really like the Bathys in DAC mode. The moral of this story is you have to listen to both and decide for yourself. I sent the PX8s back and am glad I made the effort to audition both. As far as the Celestee kit goes - at 3x the price of the Bathys - the Bathys are a bargain. That I can use them in BT mode most of the time and in DAC mode when I want to do some serious listening is just perfect for me. PS: The control buttons on the Bathys need to be upgraded, but that's my only real gripe.

[@quantumpoker2345]

Hi, thanks for the review. I am a fan of both brands, having owned P9’s and now the stellia. Both of these are really only suitable for home listening though. So, the point I’d like to make is that you didn’t mention the built in dac for wired usbc use on the Bathys. For me, this is the key differentiator between the two. They serve well for travel using Bluetooth, but then really shine when on the road in a quiet environment by having the upgrade to hi-res listening available. The performance really kicks up a notch, and I can enjoy something closer to the incredible stellia performance whilst travelling. It’s absolutely the biggest difference in my opinion, a big upgrade in quality using Qobuz on my iPad, making the bathys a no-brainer.

[@danabella6540]

I love my p9. It's the best.

[@falcodarkzz]

Haha we have the same headphones. P9 is a hidden gem. But the DAC exists on all BT headphones, PX8 included. Focal just used it as a marketing element. You have to have a DAC for the headphones to work wired if they are active.

[@gangzhou2163]

I think a comparison between the PX8s and the Bang and Olufsen Beoplay H95 would be very interesting...

[@333_triple3]

I used px8 and changed to h95, and I regret it... I'm buying px8 again😢

[@ivanatanasov5212]

I have them both

[@robovirtuoso1354]

Before I bought PX8, I borrowed a Bathys, H95, PX8 and a couple other (irrelevant) ones, and found PX8 better suits my music. H95 and PX8 are more similar to each other than Bathys in terms of tuning. The H95 is too boomy without EQ, and with EQ its bass is still quite more "loose" than PX8 also with EQ. Bathys bass is tuned to "audiophile neutral" and so it lacks any bit of excitement TBH. All of them got excellent midrange. H95 and PX8 have similar treble tuning, but PX8 is smoother. They are both better tuned in treble than Bathys, which admittedly has smoother highs, but there seems to be something missing like cymbals lack body.

[@khoocheepeng6030]

Just bought px8 two days ago.... should I but Focal b as well?

[@robovirtuoso1354]

@@khoocheepeng6030 Yes you should buy the Bathys and H95, too. Maybe also the 5909. Ofc I'm just a sarcastic person.

[@edwinramos4910]

It's good to see another well-made comparison review of these two top of the line ANC headphones . I agree with everything, except the comment about the soundstage, and the complaint about the PX8's buttons. I hear the Bathy's as having a wider, more typical headphone sounding presentation, where the left and right channels sound like they're directly to the left and right. The PX8's sound more like speakers, or like a live performance, where the left and right channels sound more like front left and front right. Regarding the buttons, I don't see why them not being labeled on the PX8 is a problem. It's not like it's complicated. You take a few seconds to learn what should already be a familiar layout for those that have owned other ANC headphones, and then you operate them by feel. More to the point, you typically use the buttons when you're wearing the headphones and can't see any labels, which means that labels end up being nothing more than redundant clutter.

[@robovirtuoso1354]

Yeah, who needs labels when you don't see them while operating the headphones on your head. LOL. They just make the design ugly. And in Bathys' case, ugliER and cheaper. Focal should have instead made better use of shape, texture and position of the buttons.

[@johnhaydock1577]

I bought both of these and love them both for different reasons. For real world travel commutes on trains and buses the PX*'s are great because their noise cancelling is a step above the Bathys and they sound wonderful. For home listening, I use the Bathys and they are amazing. They have a wider soundstage than the PX8's and have better detail retrieval and are more balanced. Noise cancelling is passable for when I'm walking the dog on the street. But if you want ANC that is just a little step below Sony and Bose, the PX8's are very respectable and sound amazing in a travel environment.

[@YeaNo.]

Which ones are more bass heavy?

[@johnhaydock1577]

@@YeaNo. px8 for sure.

[@YeaNo.]

@johnhaydock1577 thank you! I'll grab those.

[@DaiPad881]

Granted they’re not in this video but i found the B&W PX7 S2 to be a seriously good pair of headphones to the point that my Airpods Max went on ebay and there wasn’t that much of a difference between the S2’s, PX8’s or Bathys, Great review video once again

[@zaidgaibi]

I had the px8 McLaren edition for about 2 years and the headband came off twice in those 2 years. The store replaced it but I didn’t wanna replace it again so I traded it in for Focal Bathys. They’re kinda heavier than the px8 but the sound quality is at par with px8. That’s my personal opinion.

[@raulruizlara]

I just returned my Px8 due to seeing this kind of experience in several blogs, reviews and reviews: I hope B&W really fixes this quality-matter-defect for their future models, because the sound is just superb!

[@DIsmayedConfuse]

I sold my old B&W PX7 headphones and bought the Bathys, primarily because the Focal headphone is more comfortable with eyeglasses.

[@cybershui]

I just had a chance to A/B test both of these as well and to my ears, the Bathys is the clear winner. The bass hits a little harder on the PX8, but the resolving power of the Bathys to me is far superior to the PX8. Where the PX8 delivers good sound for rock music, the Bathys is far better with natural sounding instruments like piano or string instruments. It also allows for more more resolution of the layers of music vs the PX8. Both are amazing, but for me and the music I listen to, the Bathys wins hands down...not even a close photo finish..

[@stephenwest673]

I tested the Bathys in London a couple of weeks ago and loved them…having had the PX7 before i got Airpods Max, i’m a bit reluctant to test the 8’s because i found the 7’s quite boomy and bass heavy..i love bass but refined bass which i thought the Bathys had so will probably go for them in the new year or the Mark Levinsons but thats a whole different level 😩

[@marcrossen5595]

Thank you. Great video. I’ve had both. The Bathys need significantly longer break in time. Once they are properly “broken in” they open up and treble calms down. The sound stage in my experience and other is opposite of yours which is interesting re: soundstage. Bathys, for me, have wider sound stage. Also the Bathys in DAC mode changes the game compared to the PX8. When in the office plugging in takes the sound quality up a notch over the PX8, IMO. I’m keeping my Bathys over the PX8 but both great and Bluetooth headphones have come along way!

[@MarkEllisReviews]

Nice to know about the run-in period. I'll keep that in mind!

[@edwinramos4910]

I also found the comment about the soundstage to be odd. Mark is literally the only person that I know of that has described hearing the PX8 as having a wider soundstage than the Bathys. I find the PX8's soundstage to be on the intimate side, but also unique in the way that it's presented. Most headphones, including the Bathys, have a soundstage that surrounds you...with sounds in the left and right channels sounding like they're just that, to your left and right. The PX8's presentation is much more speaker like...as if the music is coming from a stage in front of you, as opposed to surrounding you. I find this front biased presentation to be more lifelike. I'm sleepy, so I'm not sure if I'm doing a good job of explaining this, but I liken it to listenining to a live music performance, where none of the instruments sound like they're directly to my left or right. The left and right "channels" are actually front left and front right.

[@marcrossen5595]

@@edwinramos4910 very much understand the PX8 “loudspeaker” sound! I appreciate what they were going for it just doesn’t do it for me. I feel like the depth is off and the narrow L/R soundstage kinda defeats the purpose. Speakers should disappear and when they do a sound field is created recreating the live or studio sound. I enjoy live music and the Bathys, for me, get closer to that effect. Either way both are great.

[@kopicha]

Exactly,, everyone else I seen and heard including myself do not feel the px8 having wider sound stage. In fact there are some out there who even feel the bathys has kne of the biggest sound stage for a close back

[@dbean5174]

@@kopichayeah and considering the PX8 have much more bass and less treble than the Bathys, it’s hard to see how it’s soundstage is bigger than the Bathys.

[@brothatwasepic]

I got the Bathys and realized that I needed to sell my world class fav Clears because the bathys were so so incredible.

[@robovirtuoso1354]

Oh no, I hope you did not. The Clear OG is light years better than Bathys in terms of sound.

[@brothatwasepic]

@robovirtuoso1354 I truly did but then splurged on the Utopia 2022's but agreed there is no comparison. The imaging on the bathys are excellent though for the price

[@KITFLETCH1]

It’s so subjective! Especially if they are so close in sound quality. I’m in the Sony camp due to price of these but so tempted by the design of the B&W.

[@anncleverley4721]

Hi Mark, nice review. I tried the PX8 and sent them back did not like the sound or design. I ordered the Bathys and absolutely love them. I love their sound. The dac mode I tried with my Hidiz AP80 pro which I had not used for over a year and it still had a 60% charge on it. The Bathys played my hi res files beautifully. The Bathys in Bluetooth mode is unbelievably astounding. I would still like to know how the B&O 95 compare to both headphones. I put my cables in the mesh of the Bathy case. Thank you again

[@MarkEllisReviews]

Glad you're happy!

[@GEFELICITEERD45]

BEOPLAY H95 sucks returned them

[@TheMMadmaXX]

I‘ve got the Sennheiser Momentum 4 wireless and tested the B&W PX8 a couple of days ago as I was thinking of buying them. I really wanted to like them but after switching back and forth in the shop for about an hour I didn‘t find the B&W better, at least soundwise. For more than twice the price I just expected more. Sennheiser are a little too bassy, but that can be corrected, otherwise, I preferred them over the B&W.

[@StephenPruitt]

I just spent a week comparing the Momentum 4s and the Bathys to some Bose 700s I'd picked up. The 700s got tossed almost right away. The other two are so close, it's like Mark says above, the only way I can pick one is by switching back and forth, listening to the same section of the same song. The sound on the Bathys might be 1% better, but I can't say for sure. I do think they sound fantastic when in DAC mode with a USB-C cable on lossless tracks, and they may well win a sound quality test in that way, but otherwise I prefer the Momentums - I find them more comfortable, better controls, and 60hrs of battery life. I also got them for $275, so roughly one third the price of the Bathys. I'll be keeping the Sennheisers.

[@TheMMadmaXX]

@@StephenPruitt That's interesting, I ended up buying the Bathys and selling the Sennheisers :-) The main reason for me was actually comfort since the Sennheiser got too hot on my ears (even in winter...), the Bathys have a little bit more clearance, that helped in my case. Soundwise I also was quite impressed with the Momentum 4 (apart from the above mentioned bass-topic, which can be corrected). Wile I prefer the Bathys' sound I think the Sennheiser's noise cancelling is better. If I'm being honest I don't think the Bathys are worth 3 times the price but I guess that's always the case when it comes to higher end audio equipment.

[@HumblebeeRules]

I had H95s and I was extremely disappointed. Also got Momentum 4s and I am happy.

[@ainajoe5874]

In the end of the day. Its all about personal preferences

[@zombieimpact2790]

​@@StephenPruittI bought both the Sennheiser momentum 4 denim and Bose QC ultra and the Bose QC Ultras sound a bit better to me. The Bose QC ultras have better instrument separation and suprisingly the bass can get deeper than on the Sennheiser momentum 4 with the in app equalizer. I found that mids on the Sennheiser momentum 4 are lacking somewhat. They sound slightly hollow to me. I couldn't get them to sound good for all genres of music.

[@yavuzkilic1223]

it would also be good to know if the Focal Bathys and B&W PX8 you tested were broken in prior to the test which might affect the results?

[@robovirtuoso1354]

Nothing magical about break-in that would skew the sound comparison.

[@sandwaves5642]

Well, I have no idea what "out of the box" maens for oyu, but when I connected the PX8 same way I connect all the others - they sounded WORSE than some 30-50£ 🎧🎧! It was surprising. Same verdict was given by 2 other people ( under 40 yrs old ) that I asked to give a try: The majority on youtube stamped these as VERY good, while a few, mean - these are terrible / price. My pair came out of a SEALED box, but maybe they were, somehow compromised 🤔🤔 Maybe the softwate of THESE sets them automagically to the lowest resolution via BlueTooth ?? I didn't play with any settings on the source tablet, but, again - all the others sounded far better, after just connecting. I also have the Bathys, and can confidently say - B&W Px8 are not even 1/2 way as good 🤷‍♂🤷‍♂

[@santiagoarandaa]

I don’t doubt that the bathys sound amazing but I just can’t get over the weird design, I do find them quite ugly imo

[@harryjohnson6255]

So true! They stick out like an elephant in the room!

[@TransPeterPan]

Same

[@legendarytony6418]

Tonality in PX8 is really terrible for me. Focal bathys everyday imo

[@dmitrijmarcinkevic7885]

how PX8 sounds with Apple music wirelessly? Is it worth to buy, or it's better to get Airpods max?

[@Namocer]

Hi You saying the bower PX8 got better Soundstage. Does it makes them better for movies? Which of them can play the highest? I like loud volume especially for that price. So my question is which one would you recommend for movies priority is loud volume and better "surround" Thanks in advance!

[@leagueofotters2774]

The light colored PX8 is $170 off now on amazon....that made the decision for me.

[@allancowieLM1]

I`ve just sent back the Bathys - if you haven`t done the Mimi software tweak on them you`re missing out but i found them sterile, lifeless and overcompressed even with tweaks. I'm keen to try the px8s however they sound like they are warmer with more presence.

[@ramalingam108]

Which will you choose for classical music ? Thanks

[@zdzisawduzy5935]

Sounstage wide on PX8? There's a bit of air there luckily, but lack of sounstage and subbass (it's there, but just barely) was the main reasons I went with the Bathys.

[@erkanvural3621]

Okay here is the question, I'm a bit old and big guy which means, I have big ears (not as much as Elfs) and big head. so i'm going to buy one of these headphone but my concern is sizes, i dont want any of them warm up my ears (with bose QC i have got this issue) and make pressure over ears as my head is big. so in some reviews i heard they say focal has very limited extension and may not be suitable much for big heads. is that true? cuz as i see in videous Focal looks much bigger than PX8 , even any others in market. so basically comfort and fit important for me while making choice between two. appreciated anyone or Mark's feedback here

[@AaronCabreroJr]

How close is the sound in your opinon is Sony Xm5 vs the bathys and the BW Px8? Is the difference that vast that merits the extra $400? If you had to compare ? Loved your review but my budget is definitely more in the Sony Xm5- air pod max budget , thank you

[@Regvic]

which is better suited for someone with a very large head? Headphones I can use include Sennheiser HD650, Denon AHD7000 cannot wear Meze 99, Beyer T1. Bose QC35 is marginal. I want a wireless headset suited for long listening sessions and sound quality is more important than isolation.

[@peterwood2633]

As a glasses wearer I am guess you found px8 more comfortable? That for me Is arguably more important than out and out sound, despite being an audiophile. I only really use them in flights

[@zombieimpact2790]

I heard the PX8 have more clamping force than the Bathy's so they are more uncomfortable if you wear glasses.

[@satanstherapist6401]

I’d like to know if the leather ear pads on these headphones prevents the wearers ears from getting hot. It’s the reason I am put off the PX7S2 headphones because they have pleather ( fake leather ) ear pads. After I wear my Sony XM3 or XM5 headphones for 2-3 hours my ears, are hot and itchy.

[@keenesaulcrescini8687]

Hi Mark, coming from a QC35s and looking for an upgrade really... saw your vid that Airpods Max is out of the question for 2023... but coming from Bose's sound profile and benchmark, which brand would you recommend? Thanks a bunch!

[@silasking6279]

Will you be doing reviews of the B&O H95s, and the ML No5909s?

[@PierreDybman]

Focal coming from the Pro sound area tend(ed) to be pretty flat in response. Some years ago i bought a pair of Focals, wired. But i sold them back quickly as i found the sound signature too clinical and not so enjoyable. I kind of regret it now as I’ve been doing more of music production and mixing with headphones and think they would have been perfect for that use case.

[@robovirtuoso1354]

For studio (mixing) use the Focal Clear (the OG one) is perfect. But of course not the Bathys (because it's wireless, and uses USB for wired) and its sound is way inferior to the Clear.

[@turalsuleymanov4529]

Hello Mark, thank you for your review which btw was quite clear and interesting. I am interested in their comparison with respect to Beoplay H95. Some reviewers agree on the fact that they sound better than these two. What is your take about it?

[@robovirtuoso1354]

No they don't.

[@travsformation1]

Interesting. I've read and watched dozens of comparisons between these two headphones and every single one of them except you concluded that the Bathys had a noticeably broader soundstage. The general consensus seems to be that the Bathys are more refined and slightly more detailed-perhaps the more analytical or "clinical"of the two- while the PX8 have a more fun and engaging sound signature. It's interesting how each person person sound differently

[@xicorescalante2854]

I live without a budget so money is no issue. I only want quality! Quality is the best way to go 🔥👌🏻

[@MrBlondino]

I do not understand why most/all bt headphones tests are without mentioning classical music. For me classical music defines sound quality of audio equipment more than anything.

[@Saturn-Matrix]

Good idea

[@travsformation1]

👆 THIS !!!

[@TigroGumi]

Good the hear a comparison of another brand to the focal's that is in the same price range

[@JustXavier]

How would you compare the B&O H95 to the Focal Bathys?

[@masamura]

I bought the px8 and gave it away. Didn’t like it. Gonna go buy a Focal now

[@asan1050]

Mark Ellis Reviews Thanks Much ! and Merry Christmas!

[@MarkEllisReviews]

Thank you - same to you!

[@michaeljohnston6527]

how many decibels can they get too

[@orangedan5424]

Hmm..impressive review, but you make me even more puzzle. You are the first to actually say the px8 sounding better than the focal?🤔 most reviews tend to say focal has the best sound. Some even claimed the Px8 even using the sound graph sounding really bad and not balanced. I'm actually thinking whether to get the px8, focal or the h95? My priorities are the anc, calls and sounds.

[@RajaYoga__]

I had both and the Bathys sounds much better (as everyone else says) The thing is that the PX8 has a more “consumer oriented” sound signature. With the bass and the highs raised. Some people that’s used to hear mainstream anc headphones could be more comfortable with the tuning of the PX8, but the Bathys is a far superior headphone in technical performance and overall sound quality. In fact, the Bathys sounds far more spacious (more soundstage) and more detailed. The anc is stronger in the PX8 though.

[@orangedan5424]

Wanted to pull the trigger on the bathys, it has the built-in dac as bonus, but personally I just hate the look which is substantially bulky and has the worst anc. I guess I will just go for the px8. They just look a lot nicer.

[@RajaYoga__]

@@orangedan5424 That’s a matter of preferences. It’s true that the PX8 is a more “practical” headphone.

[@orangedan5424]

@Carlos Joulins Moya best part is I can get the px8 $150 cheaper than the bathys 👍

[@zombieimpact2790]

​@@orangedan5424right now the PX8 are more expensive than the Bathy's on Amazon.

[@marcom.7995]

I just received my PX7S2E ... Only cause I wanted that Color. And OMG! they Sound better than the PX8 an Bathys (I have them all) They also seem Louder...

[@iMiky9304]

Compare the bathys with the H100 y B&O please.

[@NZtechfreak]

I got the Bathys, pretty sure the PX8 cups won't accommodate my ears, so they're a non-starter for me (soundwise I think I made the right call for my preferences from what I understand of their relative signatures). Waited so long for a high quality ANC can with SQ as the focus. Doesn't displace the Abyss from my head at my desktop, but ultimately will get more hours of head time.

[@mrbotucker]

Is it fair to say that’s it’s very difficult to evaluate any sets until the speakers have had some time on them playing music of all genres at varying low to mid volume levels? I have the Bathys for example and the difference in sound from when they were new to now is like night and day.

[@robertspieler4988]

Very pragmatic review! Two questions: I love the sound of my Open back Grados (225i); which of these two more closely align? Also, I wear glasses and have ~ larger ears…. Recommendations? Thank you!

[@robertspieler4988]

P.S. I typically use with a FiiO BTR 7….

[@harryjohnson6255]

I went with the review and purchased the PX8s, little tight on my ears at first. After a couple of days they broke in, sound quality improved with time.. definitely love them, I am wondering if I should purchase the Bathys and do my own individual comparison? I truly believe it’s our personal taste when you buy at this level.. you like Chevy, I like ford and everyone else loves Toyota.. being older it probywont make much of a difference, actually $100, but a $100 is nothing if you love what you hear. Thank you for the review

[@peterwood2633]

Thanks. Is clamp force ok now for you? Do you wear glasses?

[@harryjohnson6255]

@@peterwood2633 as time goes by they loosened a little, my head might be a little big for the PX8

[@robertgarvansnyder4665]

On a design level, I hate the Bathys. Strange, because Focal’s studio headphones are gorgeous.

[@scottscottsdale7868]

I am not in the market for this type of headphone. But I love your videos. Another fantastic job.

[@MarkEllisReviews]

Thank you!

[@heindaddel2531]

Why would you label the buttons on the PX8, useless if you are wearing them 😮 Wearing glasses, which ones are more comfortables? I tend to the PX8, especially the McLaren edition which looks stunning 🤩

[@germanrottweiler2811]

Which DAC should I buy

[@robertrachwa2582]

Mojo 2

[@nicolasbouhier2924]

PX8 VS AKG N90Q? 😅 Great review, If I had the money I would have choose the PX8 instead of the 7s2 but im a bit surprised that the focal and the px8 are so close on this round considering Clear MG or Utopia and other HIFI headphones they made before...

[@ShogunOfSweden]

Thanks Mark - another great video. I got a pair of PX8 for Xmas!

[@MarkEllisReviews]

Enjoy!

[@TheLivingTribunal]

I need a pair that will sound good on low frequency mid 20 - 30 hz , some headphones just " die" in that area. i found the airpod max sounding good there , any recommendations ?

[@Bruceneuman]

This is an easy one for me: I will not be purchasing either one. I foolishly pushed the limited when I spent $549 for the AirPod Max. I also own two pairs of Bose and Sonys and the Bang & Olufsen HX. So, you can see I know how to waste money. However, I can say that I often use all of those headphones depending on how I get up in the morning. However, like a Rolls Royce, I will not, cannot, spend another $700-$800 on another set of headphones. In fact, I am certain that I own enough headphones to last the remainder of my life. Not very much help to the potential buyers of the world, but that is why there are people like Mark Ellis.

[@MarkEllisReviews]

Haha - I guess that is indeed why us lot exist!

[@jimmatherly]

Mark, hello from Alaska! Love your vids. I never hear you mention your glasses. I wear them too (chunky RayBan frames), do you notice the seal of either of these being affected by your frames?

[@MarkEllisReviews]

Thanks, Jim! My glasses have never caused an issue with any over ear headphones :)

[@jimmatherly]

@@MarkEllisReviews thank you!

[@claytonmalanowich5970]

So - could the deciding difference be the DAC wired option with the Foacals ? Or does the BW also do the same thing when wired in ?

[@HyperOpticalSaint]

How can PX8 be better in both sound and noise cancelling if you can't get as good of a seal? Without proper seal you get nothing...

[@WorthlessDeadEnd]

Since they're wireless, I'm going to assume they don't have higher impedance, making a headphone amplifier absolutely necessary. Having said that, I do wonder how they would sound with a decent headphone amp.

[@TheFbiFilesRepeat]

Internal amp cannot be bypassed.

[@jamesge8087]

what about the clamping force ? returned the AirPods Max for that reason and is there a comparison with the new BO 95 H2 coming ? thanks in advance, and have a lovely holiday season

[@MarkEllisReviews]

Both are very comfortable - no probs in that area at all!

[@ymmp30]

What's the BO 95 H2?

[@ntemples1]

What about the B&O H95s?

[@ryankosowsky2189]

I second this, I’d love to see that comparison added to the mix.

[@nasnas9553]

I own the px8 & h95. I found the h95 to be superior

[@ntemples1]

I've got a pair of H95s coming day after boxing day!!! Got the momentum 4s to compare them to.

[@Patrickmathieu0482]

Can someone help me? I listen to metal, rock and alternative. I like good punchy bass and a clear sound. I hesitate between the px8 and the bathys. I will use them for the gym. I listen to metallica, avenged sevenfold, five fingers death punch and many others. Thank you all !!!

[@nino_kO1]

I never tried focals, so i went with the px8.. super happy with them, and they sound amazing

[@davyckwong7561]

How about B&O h95 compare to these two? Thank you

[@michaelwadge5999]

Nice review. I have had a number of Focal headphones and am thus very much into the brand. I have just bought on eBay a nearly new pair of the Bathys, which I expect to receive tomorrow, together with from the same seller a Moon Audio silver dragon 3.5mm to 3.5mm cable, which the seller described as being much superior to the one provided by Focal. However, I have since been advised that the best sound obtainable is via the USB-C cable with the DAC mode. This suggests I have wasted money buying the Moon Audio cable as well as the headphones. I confess I had not appreciated these headphones are always active and may thus be unsuitable for use with a high end amp. Perhaps I should have done my research better. Can I have your observations, please?

[@michaelwadge5999]

I am glad you liked my posting. I wonder whether you agree with the observation made to me that the Moon Audio cable, which cost the seller upwards of £200, will give me no added value to the reproduction capability of the Bathys.

[@GabrielMirandaV0878]

Great review as always mate. Quick question about the Focal & BW: when using Apple Music service (in case you do), can you tell the difference in sound quality/detail when switching from High quality to lossless/HiRes when using the BWPx8 or Bathys? or is this Apple Music feature dedicated only to wired headphones? Thank you

[@DamianNocun]

Does anyone experience issues with low volume while listening B&W PX8 via USB -c connected to smartphone?

[@yavuzkilic1223]

I thought B&W did other noise cancelling headphones prior to PX8, as you mentioned PX8 is the first noise cancelling headphones from B&W which might not be accurate!

[@MarkEllisReviews]

Nope, I didn’t say that at all, mate.

[@yavuzkilic1223]

@@MarkEllisReviews you might want to go back to what you say starting 0:51 :)

[@MarkEllisReviews]

@@yavuzkilic1223 granted I said it quickly, but that word you’re hearing is ‘aren’t’.

[@yavuzkilic1223]

@@MarkEllisReviews great review by the way before I forget, and as you can see for those who might not know the brand they might be hearing the tiniest quickest said bit of info! :) No harm done though and thanks once more for the great review... which one would you personally choose though Bathys or PX8, and why?

[@eforcemike]

Really enjoy your reviews. Just purchased the px8 and Sennheiser 4 momentum for myself for Christmas 😃

[@MarkEllisReviews]

Enjoy!

[@rayowen3528]

​@@MarkEllisReviewswhich one would you recommend for streaming movies on a Samsung Tablet , the Bathys or the Px8?

[@blackeagle3960]

great but both compared to the momentum 4 for sound?? 5:03

[@blackeagle3960]

I like sound to be very clear detailed and wide but with great deep bass..bass i can feel even with some jazz.

[@falcodarkzz]

have all 3, momentum 4 is much worse.

[@dominich.9745]

Which one plays louder? My issue with all of these BT headphones is that they don’t play as loud as I like.

[@LindaLooUK]

Hi Mark, thanks for the helpful review. Do you have a preference for when you're wearing glasses?

[@MarkEllisReviews]

No probs. And, nope - they're both just as comfortable with glasses.

[@wahuuuwahuu1245]

the bose 700 case has that magnet too

[@davemeadows6688]

Mark, I'm interested in the B&W's (loved my P9's) but am a little concerned about the size of the ear cups. Can you tell me if they are as large as the AirPods Max? I also have the Sony XM5's and find these slightly too small for me. Thanks.

[@MarkEllisReviews]

They're smaller than the APM.

[@dav]

I heard if you have a big head, the Bathys not might fit. Is this true?

[@RajaYoga__]

It’s true. I have an average head and I wear it at maximum size.

[@dav]

@@RajaYoga__ thanks Carlos, glad I waited, hope their next version will support a larger fit

[@thomas_loves_you]

I don’t know if my ears are ruined/spoiled from the last few years of listening to nothing but midtier to high tier IEM’s… but I recently purchased the Focal, and returned them the same day. It was very disappointed. I just received the PX8 and I’m not thrilled with their sound either

[@louiscyphre2555]

does airplay/bluetooth support Hi Res 24/192. its 16 bit, isn't it?

[@nicolasbouhier2924]

Bluetooth with every codecs is loosy even LDAC or APTX but if you have an Hi res source you'll notice the difference. That's why these headphones support USB C audio and then use their own Hi res DAC. For airplay i'm not sure because I don't own any apple device, but I'm affraid It will compress a lot. As apple devices including airpods max are not compatible vith any HD codecs it's probably a NO ...

[@sergei-prokofiev]

Just bought the px8 007 and then the McLaren's came out. But I am a bond fan so its that bad hahhaha

[@raymondtan892]

These cans are way too expensive for average people, especially the focals Bathys. I wonder how audiophiles think of these high end bluetooth anc headphones

[@zombieimpact2790]

@raymondtan892 The Focal Bathy's cost $629 on Amazon.

[@timgray950]

What material for the ear pads and headband? Leather, Pleather, fabric?

[@DuranInternational]

Leather

[@Mriamrody]

Great review. I love the comparisons. I'd be interested in what you think of the Edifier Stax Spirit S3, which are also in this price range. People seem to be impressed with these. I wish there were places where you could listen before you buy them.

[@MarkEllisReviews]

Thank you!

[@normanrhodes7609]

hi Mark, do you know of a high-end head set manufacturers who provide either a software or handheld control to adjust the headset? I have MND/ALS -- arms don’t work.

[@MarkEllisReviews]

I'm afraid not!

[@normanrhodes7609]

@@MarkEllisReviews thanks Mark, I appreciate it.

[@boromcom]

What is the song that you mentioned for testing? I would like to try. Thank you.

[@MarkEllisReviews]

Breathe Again - Pop Evil.

[@shawnamundson2262]

Focal also does car audio.

[@OldDolio312]

If the sound is same if not better on the b&w then that’s an easy decision. Focals are just too big for my small head.

[@biomed]

Thank you so much Mark for taking time to make this comparison. I do prefer the Px8 over the Bathys. Wishing you and family a very Merry Xmas and Happy New Year. 🎉🎄

[@MarkEllisReviews]

Thank you! And the same to you and yours!

[@sierra2497]

me toooo from Japan.

[@joscejrod]

Please, could you compare px8 with Beoplay H95?

[@FFF-hg8tr]

I have both PX8 and H95, after a couple of weeks I do prefer the sound of the H05, more detailed. The PX8 is great and fun, but not as good as the H95 for me. I will get to test the Focal too cant wait

[@nasnas9553]

@@FFF-hg8trI also own both and came to a similar conclusion. H95 is superior

[@RaySqw785]

a british subject tells you to buy B&W local product, so buy the Focal ;)

[@MarkEllisReviews]

Can you elaborate?

[@baba_boi2137]

I tried lots of headphones but to truely put them in test you should 1 tune them 2 put them on their best settings (DAC mode in bathys) and listed to 5 songs from different sound spectrums For me airpod max suck ass low battery life no option for turning them off and anc is not so good xm5 were my go to but they got kinda boring h95 it was something missing in them, their cheaper brother hx had this something but were overall worse, bathys i guess won *disclaimer spotify is the worst, no support for best kodecs and yt music have more songs, tidal on the other hand is hifi compatible so, iphone is not so good for listening to music too😘

[@etbadaboum]

France-England, the rematch

[@Oyvind88]

Love mine Bathys🔥😍🇳🇴

[@Aqil.Samedov]

Better get PX S2 and live happy and save money 😅

[@AMdvij]

Дизайнеры Focal молодцы, увеличили продажи PX8

[@VitiateTheImmortal]

Team Px8 for me ❤

[@deonellis8577]

One VERY important piece of information not shared: If you buy a €800 pair of headphones, after-sales is something to keep in mind. In that aspect, Focal blows the composition (completely) out of the water. Batteries only last x-amount of recharge cycles; then they reach EOL. What then? In THIS space, the Focals are the ONLY headsets where batteries can be replaced...either by Focal (for a €100 charge) or by yourself (if you know what you're doing). Not possible with the B&W, nor with the Mark Levinson No 5909s. Maybe something to keep in the back of your mind, before blowing €800 on a pair...