Looking for some advice - I want to buy some reasonable good closed back on ear headphones for travelling with (long haul flights, time in airports, hotel, etc). I’d be using them with either Roon Arc on my iPhone via Bluetooth, or wired with either saved files on a Chord Mojo and Poly or from the iPhone with Roon Arc via a Chord Hugo.
I have quite a lot of music files at DSD and 24/192 quality which I know will be downgraded on bluetooth (fine when running through airports and on the move), but I’d like to be able to listen to them at full resolution when in the hotels or at the desk. Focal Bathys seem to have a proper aux which I assume means no downscaling, but the B&W PX8’s seem to only offer a USB-C to aux input which I assume means they’re still using the dac on the headphones and won’t be at the full resolution.
With all of this in mind (and sorry for the long post) are the Focal’s the best option, or are there other options out there that offer good quality on-ear closed-back ANC with bluetooth and also proper aux line in, for around the same price point?
Thanks in advance for any help/advice/opinions. I listen to pretty much all genres of music.
Cheers,
Ewan
AceRimmer
(Smoke me a kipper, I'll be back for breakfast!)
2
Just my thoughts.
I have been using the PX7 for a good few years for traveling around the world and have felt no inclination to replace them ever.
The sq IMHO is superior to my Focal cans( sorry can’t remember model offhand and I’m not at home to check).
I seriously doubt you would be disappointed in the PX8 regardless of the resolution " limitations".
USB C can transmit analogue audio. This is what the PX8 does. This analogue signal is then amplified by the internal amp of the headphone.
I have a pair of PX8 headphones. I use them while working and on the train, and I think the sound quality is outstanding, although I have never used other headphones before so I can’t compare them to other headphones.
But I should warn you about one thing: the quality of the headband. This is awful. I had this problem mentioned on several Reddit posts twice.
First it happened after about three month. I had the headphones replaced by my dealer, but the new pair developed the same problems within a few weeks. I then decided to buy a new part via Alibaba, which I have now been using for months.
You wouldn’t expect this awful quality at this price point.
Thanks for this - my confusion re the aux to usb-c stemmed from this thread which indicates that regardless of the input it all goes through the internal dac in the headphones which is limited to 24/48 so anything higher is downgraded to that.
First be clear on the model, Focal Bathys and Focal Bathys Mg. Old version , probably phased out now, and new version launched around
the new Mg version is BT and Noise Cancelling and are not cheap $1300 I believe.
What they do have is a DAC mode which allows a USB C cable from a phone (say) which allows for wired connection. I auditioned them very briefly in the Naim Experience shop in Paris while on holiday .The BT to wire comparison was quite noticeable. I didn’t get a chance to compare but my guess is that the wired option will sound very like the Focal Clear Mg (which I listen regularly). They probably borrowed the Clear driver design
Recent reviews of the Sony WH1000 MX6 compared to the Bathys Mg tend towards the Sony
I have been using Sony WH 1000 MX4 for several years and love em , so the MX6 upgrade may be my next move but I Travel very infrequently these days and don’t really need the USB-DAC option.
We haven’t seen the new Bathys Mg yet in South Africa so the decision isn’t pressing !!
The Focal Bathys (original) sound great and I use them constantly, but I should flag that while they sound great in Bluetooth mode and in USB-C mode (particularly good in USB-C mode actually) their 3.5mm is a little bit lacking, comparatively. I think using a good DAC on them is wasted, but their on-board DAC is pretty great. Just the 3.5mm implementation is a bit weaker than the pure digital options.
I tried the px7 and preferred the Bathys sound signature, but that’s the extent of my experience with them.
Aesthetically, I feel a bit self conscious wearing the Bathys in public, they’re a bit ostentatious for me. But their sound trumped it for me, and the comfort.
Taking them on their first flight soon, but I’m not expecting world class noise cancelling.
Definitely in the Bathys camp. If you have the budget I would go for the MG. Had mine for a few months now, best travel headphones I have owned (past models T+A Solitaire, Levinson 5909, original Bathys, Sony’s). The SQ of the MG are a significant step up from the original Bathys and additional features such as hearing test EQ correction worked well for me. Have owned B&W in the past and was left somewhat underwhelmed, seemed to be an upmarket Beats, beautifully made but a bit too much bass for my liking, prefer a more neutral sound.
For travel the noise cancelling whilst not in the Sony or Bose class is good enough. SQ over wireless is good but they need the USB C cable to really shine, especially like the 24/192 capability over USB C
The Bathys MG are the first travel headphone that can reduce the homesickness for my Utopia’s during long trips.
