Head to head
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones vs Focal Bathys Hi-Fi Wireless
Focal Bathys Hi-Fi Wireless leads 3 to 2 on the 5 rankable specs, but Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones costs $270 less.
Catalog as of September 1, 2026
Why, in numbers
Swap
Compare a different headphone
AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation$179Anker Soundcore Space One Pro$199AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C)$249Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds$299Sony WF-1000XM5 Earbuds$299Sony WH-1000XM4$348Bose QuietComfort Headphones$349Beats Studio Pro$349Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless$379Sony WH-1000XM5$399Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e$399Sonos Ace$449Apple AirPods Max (USB-C)$549Swap
Compare a different headphone
AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation$179Anker Soundcore Space One Pro$199AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C)$249Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds$299Sony WF-1000XM5 Earbuds$299Sony WH-1000XM4$348Bose QuietComfort Headphones$349Beats Studio Pro$349Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless$379Sony WH-1000XM5$399Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e$399Sonos Ace$449Apple AirPods Max (USB-C)$549Buying for
Your devices
Straight answer
Overall: 2 to 3
Buy the Focal Bathys Hi-Fi Wireless.
- Leads 3 of 5 rankable overall specs; Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones takes 2.
- Battery life: 30 hours vs 24 hours
- Charging time: 1.5 hours vs 3 hours
- Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones is $270 cheaper. Pay the difference only if battery life matters to you.
Deal-breakers
tick what would make you walk away
- Clear:Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones · Yes (fully collapsible hinges)Trips:Focal Bathys Hi-Fi Wireless · No (swivels flat)
- Clear:Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones · 253 g (8.9 oz)Trips:Focal Bathys Hi-Fi Wireless · 350 g (12.3 oz)
- Trips:Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones · No official IP ratingTrips:Focal Bathys Hi-Fi Wireless · No official IP rating
At a glance
The handful of numbers that decide most purchases in this category.
Weight
Bose
253 g (8.9 oz)
Focal
350 g (12.3 oz)
Active Noise Cancelling≠
Bose
Yes (Quiet Mode with CustomTune audio calibration)
Focal
Yes (Silent, Soft, and Transparent modes with 8 microphones)
Battery life
Bose
24 hours (ANC on) / 18 hours (Immersive Audio on)
Focal
30 hours (Bluetooth ANC) / 35 hours (Jack) / 42 hours (USB-DAC)
Comfort, Clamp & Travel Fit Check
Ergonomic factors that affect daily comfort, glasses wearers, and luggage space.
Folding & Travel Packability
Folds flat & collapses into compact travel case
Standard folding earcups
Clamp Force & Glasses Comfort
Ultra-plush gentle clamp (~4.1 N, best-in-class glasses comfort)
Standard headphone clamp
Weight & Crown Pressure
253g (featherweight travel balance)
Standard headphone weight
The 90-Day Owner Regret Check
Documented ergonomic quirks, hardware annoyances, and maintenance realities reported by real owners.
Bose: What to watch for
- Hardware Quirk
Capacitive touch volume strip can be overly sensitive.
- Software / Apps
Occasional Bluetooth multi-point audio handover stutter.
Focal: What to watch for
- Maintenance
Requires ongoing care to maintain peak out-of-box performance.
Design
leads 2-0| Type | Over-ear, closed-back | Over-ear, closed-back |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 253 g (8.9 oz) (wins this row: lower) | 350 g (12.3 oz) |
| Foldable | Yes (fully collapsible hinges) (wins this row: has it) | No (swivels flat) |
| Carrying case | Reinforced zippered hard carry case included | Rigid black/silver carrying case included |
| IP rating | No official IP rating | No official IP rating |
Audio
5 differences| Driver | 35 mm dynamic biocellulose driver | 40 mm Aluminum/Magnesium 'M'-shaped dome (Made in France) |
|---|---|---|
| Active Noise Cancelling | Yes (Quiet Mode with CustomTune audio calibration) | Yes (Silent, Soft, and Transparent modes with 8 microphones) |
| Transparency mode | Yes (Aware Mode with ActiveSense technology) | Yes (Transparency Mode) |
| Supported codecs | Snapdragon Sound, aptX Adaptive, AAC, SBC | aptX Adaptive, aptX, AAC, SBC |
| Microphones | Advanced microphone array with voice isolation | 8 microphones with Clear Voice Capture technology |
Connectivity & Battery
leads 2-0| Multipoint Bluetooth | Yes (Bluetooth multipoint 2 devices) | Yes (Bluetooth 5.1 multipoint) |
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | 24 hours (ANC on) / 18 hours (Immersive Audio on) | 30 hours (Bluetooth ANC) / 35 hours (Jack) / 42 hours (USB-DAC) (wins this row: higher) |
| Charging time | 3 hours (15 min quick charge gives up to 2.5 hours) | 1.5 hours (15 min fast charge gives 5 hours) (wins this row: lower) |
Ownership
leads 1-0| Warranty | 1 year | 2 years (wins this row: higher) |
|---|
Which one should you buy
Pick this one if
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones
Bose's flagship wireless headphones featuring Bose Immersive Audio, CustomTune sound calibration, and world-class quiet.
- Exceptional noise cancellation in low-frequency rumble and vocal bands
- Folds completely compact into slim travel case
- Bose Immersive Audio provides wide virtual soundstage
What you give up
- Battery life drops to 18 hours with Immersive Audio on
- Custom EQ in app is limited to 3 bands
Pick this one if
Focal Bathys Hi-Fi Wireless
High-fidelity Bluetooth active noise-cancelling headphones with integrated 24-bit/192kHz USB-DAC mode.
- True high-fidelity audiophile sound with patented Aluminum/Magnesium M-dome drivers
- Built-in USB-DAC mode supports uncompressed 24-bit/192kHz playback
- Exquisite French design with backlit ear cup logos and genuine leather
What you give up
- High luxury price point
- Heavier build at 350 grams
Best for each use
Flights & commutes
For flights & commutes, buy the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones.
Calls & work
Too close to call on calls & work from the spec sheets. Only battery life is rankable here.
Sound quality
Too close to call on sound quality from the spec sheets. Only weight is rankable here.
Done deciding?
Open the full standalone spec sheet for either device.
Manufacturer pages: Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones ↗ · Focal Bathys Hi-Fi Wireless ↗
Common questions
Which is cheaper, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones or the Focal Bathys Hi-Fi Wireless?
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones costs $270 less at list price.
What is the biggest catch with the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones or Focal Bathys Hi-Fi Wireless?
Focal Bathys Hi-Fi Wireless has this deal-breaker: does not fold. Takes a bigger slot in a carry-on.
Which is better for flights & commutes, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones or the Focal Bathys Hi-Fi Wireless?
For flights & commutes, buy the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones. Leads 2 of 3 rankable flights & commutes specs; Focal Bathys Hi-Fi Wireless takes 1. Weight: 253 g vs 350 g
What cannot be compared from spec sheets?
Of the 14 specs tracked here, 9 are descriptive and cannot be ranked on numbers alone. Spec sheets also cannot measure subjective factors like build quality, real-world performance, or comfort.