The Focal Bathys, imo, sound quality is superior to any other current BT Headphones. This is due to more delicate & accurate speaker drivers used by Focal in the Bathys that are able to produce a smooth broader range of frequencies . As you mentioned with the Airpod Max, they have more "boom boom" & "hiss hiss". This sound is typical of "stiff" speaker drivers. The lows are generally extended with less control, and the highs can be more harsh, this is when we hear the "sibilance" , which you mentioned about the Airpods Max. Uncontrolled Bass & Sililant Highs create a sense of deep power & bright highs whilst losing the "soul" of the "mids" I dont mind deep uncontrolled bass, it is fun, but "sibilance" gets mega annoying once you notice it, and once you hear sibilance, you cant unhear it , and it gets more harsh and worse the more you listen, aka, listening fatigue. The Focal Bathys come alive when you do the "Mimi Hearing Test". To do the Mimi Hearing Test accurately, you will need a very quiet space, no humming fridge noises or car traffic. Once the hearing test is completed, switch it on in "Sound Personalisation" in the Focal App. This is where the Focal Bathys do their magic. The delicate accurate drivers are sound tuned to your ears through the hearing test and there is a symphony of sound. If the volume level on Max is not loud enough, with the hearing test switched on, there is a slider option in the Focal App to increase the volume to higher levels. Keep in mind, the Bathys speaker drivers are delicate, if you increase the slider volume level in the Focal App and start to hear "clipping" in the Bass, turn down the volume slider level. I can go to about 70 on the volume slider level Once the Focal Bathys are set up properly, you can listen for hours without listener fatique. The sound becomes more engaging the more you listen, this is where you become to understand & appreciate a quality speaker driver.

Noise Cancellation : it works by creating a frequency through the headphone speaker drivers. The frequency created interferes & minimizes the external noise frequencies entering your ears. The Noise Cancellation frequencies created inside the Headphone cups enter your ears and can partially penetrate into your brain througn the skull. 1000's , if not millions of people are affected by the frequency generated by Noise Cancellation Headphones. Symptoms are Headaches, Sinus Issues, Blood Noses, swollen glands on the neck below the ears If your Airpods are worse on the plane, and Apple Noise Cancellation adjusts to different noise environments, the different Noise Cancellation frequencies generated on an Airplane are most likely affecting you I suffer from Noise Cancellation Headphones. I do own tbe Focal Bathys, and yes, as you mentioned, the Bathys Noise Cancellation is nothing special. Though in "soft" mode, the Noise Cancellation frequencies are very mild , which is great for me. Headphone manufacturers are well aware and know the Noise Cancellation frequencies generated cause mild to severe reactions. Many brands have the option to turn Noise Cancellation off. I dont know why the Focal Bathys do not have an option to turn of Noise Cancellation .

Bathys is a masterpiece

Thanks Norb! Don't think Apple should call them "pod" that's an image of in-ear.

Bathys any day, music is the top priority for me and over the years Ive come to find that none of the other benefits like ANC quality, voice clarity, etc can make up for the lack of actually good audio quality. And of course the Crapple Aircrap is tuned for EDM and pop, two of the most lowest common denominator types of music, they know their target audience well lmao. Check out comparison tests, the Airpods sound tinny as fuck next to the Bathys or really any other hphones in that price range.

"They give you a bra." 🤣🤣🤣So there's no point in upgrading my Bose QuietComfort 35 II to the Airpods Max yet.

I had severe Bluetooth connectivity issues with AirPods Max. I gave them away.

AirPod max are not worth it now. Apple has stopped supporting them with new firmware updates with new features like the AirPods Pro 2. Also the price is high and this thing is 4 years old. It’s ancient in the world of tech and the new one is coming soon. So it’s not a buy.

Не слушал те и другие, но делаю ставку на Focal. Кто такие Apple в облости производства наушников? На их ноутбуках и смартфонах плоский звук. А их вкладыши, не знаю - все вкладыши ущербные. Не могу дать оценку. Это должен быть колоссальный прорыв, что бы они удевили этими своими наушниками. Просто стильные наушники под массово слушателя. Беру сейчас себе планарные наушники (для улицы) от российского проиводителя. Уверен, они будут более чем хорошо звучать за ту цену. У меня есть от Focal студийки Shape 65.

Hello. Have you noticed that after the last focal update, the app doesn't open, doesn't recognise the headphones and you can't even register them? The app doesn't work and doesn't detect any headphones. Do you have any idea why? Thanks