The new Focal Bathys headphones are the first high-quality Bluetooth headphones from the iconic ... [+] audio brand.

In a landmark announcement, Focal has revealed its first-ever pair of Bluetooth ANC headphones. The Focal Bathys is the company’s first pair of wireless headphones featuring ANC (active noise cancellation).

Focal says the new Bathys headphones deliver a pure hi-fi sound over Bluetooth 5.1 with multipoint support. There is also a choice of two wired connections using either a 3.5mm jack plug or a USB-C DAC connection. The new headphones have drivers made by Focal in France, plus there’s high-performance ANC technology and battery life of more than 30 from a single charge.

The new headphones are made with high-grade materials and Focal says the sound is “detailed, precise and dynamic.” The ANC function includes two noise-canceling modes: Silent Mode is for when the listener wants total escape and is ideal for use when there’s a high background noise, such as on a plane or train. In addition, a Soft Mode helps the user focus at home or when working in the office. A Transparency Mode also enables the user to hear sounds around them.

The Bathys headphones have that unmistakable Focal styling.

Control buttons provide easy access to the main functions and support for Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant voice assistants. For those who like to tweak the sound of their wireless headphones, Focal has included adjustable EQ for customizing the sound. Access to the voice assistants and EQ is via the free Focal app, which is available for iOS and Android devices.

With support for SBC, AAC, Apt-X and Apt-X Adaptive audio codecs, the Bathys can work with almost any source and there’s also a choice of connections. The headphones can be connected to a smartphone or computer using Bluetooth. However, the headphones can also be connected to an audio source using an analog cable with a jack plug or in USB DAC mode, which is ideal for connecting to computers. The Bathys include Clear Voice Capture with eight microphones for clear telephone conversations.

Regarding battery life, Bathys can play for more than 30 hours on a single charge. However, a 15-minute burst charge can provide five hours of playtime if you forget to charge the headphones. Included with the headphones are two sets of 1.2m cables with a jack plug and a USB-C termination.

The Bathys headphones have controls on the right ear cup for selecting operation mode and adjusting ... [+] volume levels.

The speaker drivers inside the headphones are made at Focal’s workshop in Saint-Étienne, France. The aluminum/magnesium dome of the drivers has deep bass, soft trebles and a clear mid-range which Focal claims produce a precise sound. The integrated USB-DAC mode can handle digital sources up to 24-bit/192kHz.

The design of the Bathys headphones has been inspired by Focal’s range of premium headphones and are made with refined materials, such as magnesium for the yokes, genuine leather on the headband, plus aluminum for robust construction. The result, says Focal, is an outstandingly comfortable fit for any head shape.

The earcup grilles reflect Focal’s distinctive headphone design code with their aesthetic curves. The Focal flame symbol features at the center of the earcup, incorporating a white backlight system that can be activated if desired. Another standout feature is the elegant and timeless Black Silver colorway. Designed to be light and compact, the Focal Bathys would make an ideal travel companion.

Pricing & Availability: The Focal Bathys will ship in October 2022 for a suggested retail price of $799 / £699 / €799.

More info: www.focal.com and www.headphones.com

Focal has made wireless headphones before but never one with the newer Hi-Fi quality codec from ... [+] Qualcomm which offer much higher audio performance.