Focal Bathys vs AirPods Max: Best high-end wireless headphones?

When it comes to high-end wireless headphones with active noise cancelation, few options command as much attention as the Focal Bathys and Apple AirPods Max. Both represent their respective companies’ flagship over-ear offerings, combining premium build quality, advanced features, and audiophile aspirations. But with price tags that make most consumers think twice, which one deserves your investment? Let’s compare these premium contenders to see which might be right for you.

Editor’s note: this article was published on March 25, 2025, and is the first version of the article. Updates will follow as the market changes.

What’s it like to use the Focal Bathys compared to the AirPods Max?

The Focal Bathys exudes French luxury with its black resin body, magnesium yokes, and aluminum headband. At 350g, it’s substantial but not uncomfortable, thanks to plush leather ear pads and a well-padded headband that distributes weight effectively with a traditional padded leather headband. The distinctive grille pattern on the ear cups gives them an unmistakable look, while the illuminated Focal logos add a touch of flair (though perhaps too much for subtle public use).

The AirPods Max takes a different approach with its all-metal construction featuring a stainless steel headband and aluminum ear cups. This makes them even heavier at 385g, though Apple’s innovative mesh fabric headband does an impressive job distributing this weight with a mesh “canopy” suspension system. The AirPods Max’s ear cushions are particularly noteworthy, featuring a magnetically-attached memory foam design that’s easily replaceable.

For portability, the Bathys can fold flat but not inward, while the AirPods Max can only rotate their ear cups without folding. The Bathys comes with a semi-rigid carrying case that offers decent protection. In contrast, the AirPods Max’s “Smart Case” has been widely criticized for providing minimal protection while serving primarily as a power-saving trigger. While the Focal Bathys has a standard power switch, the AirPods Max has no power button at all, instead entering a low-power state when placed in its case or after hours of inactivity. This design choice has been controversial, leading to unnecessary battery drain.

Both headphones take different approaches to controls. The Focal Bathys uses physical buttons for all functions, while the AirPods Max combines a digital crown (inspired by the Apple Watch) with a single noise control button. The Bathys offers a more traditional control scheme with dedicated buttons, while Apple’s digital crown provides precise volume control but requires some adjustment for users unfamiliar with its operation.

Do the Focal Bathys or AirPods Max have more features?

While both headphones pack premium features, they prioritize different capabilities, with ecosystem integration being a critical difference.

The AirPods Max shines brightest for Apple device users. Features like instant pairing across iCloud devices, automatic switching between Apple devices, hands-free “Hey Siri” activation, and Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking create a seamless user experience within the Apple ecosystem. Many of these features are unavailable to Android or Windows users, limiting its appeal outside the Apple world.

The Focal Bathys takes a more platform-agnostic approach. The Focal Naim App brings significant enhancement, including EQ presets, a custom 5-band equalizer, lighting control, and ANC modes adjustment. The app also offers MIMI hearing test functionality that can customize sound to your hearing profile. Unlike the AirPods Max, these features work equally well across iOS and Android.

How do the Focal Bathys and AirPods Max connect?

The Focal Bathys offers exceptional connection versatility. It supports Bluetooth 5.1 with multiple codec options (SBC, AAC, aptX, and aptX Adaptive), ensuring compatibility across devices and higher quality on Android phones that support aptX. Beyond wireless connectivity, the Bathys provides a standard 3.5mm analog connection and, most impressively, direct USB-C digital audio. This USB-DAC mode bypasses Bluetooth compression entirely for the highest quality listening, eliminating the need for external DAC/amp equipment.

The AirPods Max is more limited in its connectivity options. It supports Bluetooth 5.0 with SBC and AAC codecs only, meaning Android users don’t benefit from higher-quality codec options. Notably missing is any form of standard headphone jack—users who want a wired connection must purchase Apple’s separate Lightning-to-3.5mm cable (for the original model) or use a USB-C to 3.5mm adapter (for the 2024 model). Either option requires additional purchases. However, Apple has recently announced an update to the 2024 AirPods Max that will enable wired listening via USB-C coming in April 2025.

While the AirPods Max provides automatic device switching between Apple devices, the Focal Bathys requires manual connections when switching between devices, though its broader codec support provides more flexibility across platforms.

Is battery life better on the Focal Bathys or AirPods Max?

In testing with ANC enabled, the Focal Bathys delivered 31 hours and 30 minutes of playback, exceeding its advertised 30-hour rating. The AirPods Max delivers about 21 hours with ANC enabled, which is still good but falls short of the Bathys by approximately 10 hours—a significant difference for heavy users or travelers.

Charging methods also differ. The newer AirPods Max (released September 2024) uses USB-C charging, while the original model uses Lightning. The Focal Bathys uses USB-C across all models. Both headphones support quick charging to provide several hours of playback after brief charging sessions.

The AirPods Max’s lack of a power button means it continues consuming battery even when not in use unless placed in its case, which some users find inconvenient. The Focal Bathys includes a traditional power switch, giving users more direct control over battery management.

Do the Focal Bathys or AirPods Max block noise better?

When it comes to active noise cancelation, there’s a clear winner.

The AirPods Max offers superior noise cancelation, particularly for low-frequency sounds like airplane engines, bus rumbles, or air conditioning systems. Apple’s computational audio approach uses eight microphones and advanced processing to deliver class-leading noise reduction, rivaling or exceeding competitors like Sony and Bose.

The Focal Bathys provides good but not exceptional noise cancelation. Its ANC performance is comparable to the Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless—effective but not class-leading. It handles low-frequency noise adequately but doesn’t match the AirPods Max’s ability to create a cocoon of silence in noisy environments.

Do the Focal Bathys sound better than the AirPods Max?

Multi-Dimensional Audio Quality Scores (MDAQS)

The Focal Bathys earned an Overall MDAQS score of 3.8, with individual scores of 4.1 for Timbre, 3.4 for Distortion, and 3.5 for Immersiveness. The AirPods Max achieved a higher Overall score of 4.6, with 4.7 for Timbre, 4.5 for Distortion, and 4.0 for Immersiveness.

These results suggest the average person on the street will enjoy the sound of the AirPods Max more across all measured categories, particularly in reproducing frequency spectrum and timing information (Timbre) and minimizing unwanted distortion. This is somewhat surprising given Focal’s audiophile heritage, but speaks to Apple’s engineering capabilities in creating a technically excellent audio product that will satisfy most people.

Objective Measurements

The Focal Bathys delivers audiophile-oriented sound with excellent detail and spatial presentation. Its frequency response closely follows the SoundGuys house curve, with some added emphasis in the highs (6-10kHz range) that enhances perceived detail. The bass is present without being overwhelming, and the midrange is well-balanced with a slight dip of around 850Hz. The Bathys excels at creating a sense of space and instrument separation, likely aided by its angled dynamic drivers and DSP processing.

The AirPods Max presents a more consumer-friendly sound signature that follows our house curve a little less closely. It offers slightly more sub-bass emphasis and a lower high-frequency response. Apple’s adaptive EQ constantly adjusts the sound based on fit and seal, potentially creating inconsistent listening experiences as the headphones adjust to movement or position changes.

Do the Focal Bathys or AirPods Max have a better microphone?

The Focal Bathys provides adequate microphone performance for calls in quiet environments but struggles more in noisy conditions. Its microphone system is serviceable for occasional calls but not exceptional.

The AirPods Max microphone quality varies significantly depending on the connected device. When paired with Apple devices, call quality is generally good, with effective background noise reduction. However, when connected to some Android or Windows devices, microphone quality can degrade substantially due to codec and implementation differences.

For consistent call quality across all devices, neither headphone stands out as exceptional. Users who prioritize call clarity might want to consider headphones specifically optimized for communication.

Apple AirPods Max microphone demo (Ideal conditions):

Focal Bathys microphone demo (Ideal conditions):

Apple AirPods Max microphone demo (Office conditions):

Focal Bathys microphone demo (Office conditions):

Focal Bathys vs AirPods Max: Price and availability

The Focal Bathys launched at $699 and has generally maintained this premium price point, though occasional sales may reduce it slightly. It’s available through audio specialty retailers and some electronics stores.

The AirPods Max launched in December 2020 at $549, with the USB-C version arriving in September 2024 for the same price. However, regular discounts have brought the price down to around $450-499 at many retailers. Apple products enjoy wide distribution through Apple Stores, major electronics retailers, and online channels.

Should you get the Focal Bathys or AirPods Max?

Your ideal choice between these premium headphones depends largely on your device ecosystem, listening preferences, and feature priorities.

For pure sound quality in a quiet environment, the Focal Bathys edges ahead with its more audiophile-oriented tuning and USB-DAC capability. For noisy environments and Apple ecosystem users, the AirPods Max offers superior noise cancelation and seamless integration.

What should you get instead of the Focal Bathys or AirPods Max?

If these premium options exceed your budget or don’t quite match your needs, consider these alternatives:

1. Sony WH-1000XM5 ($387 at Amazon) offers excellent ANC, good sound quality, and extensive app customization at a lower price point. It works well across platforms and supports multiple codecs.
2. Bose QuietComfort Ultra ($429 at Amazon) Provides top-tier noise cancelation comparable to AirPods Max, with strong sound quality and excellent comfort.
3. Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless ($289.23 at Amazon): These headphones have similar USB-C audio capability to the Bathys, excellent battery life (60+ hours), and good sound at almost half the price.

Both the Focal Bathys and AirPods Max represent the premium end of wireless headphones. While they command high prices, they deliver exceptional experiences for different user needs. Your choice ultimately depends on which ecosystem you’re invested in and whether sound quality or noise cancelation takes precedence in your listening life.