Head to head
Focal Bathys Hi-Fi Wireless vs Bose QuietComfort Headphones
Focal Bathys Hi-Fi Wireless leads 3 to 2 on the 5 rankable specs, but Bose QuietComfort Headphones costs $350 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$348Beats Studio Pro$349Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless$379Sony WH-1000XM5$399Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e$399Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones$429Sonos 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$348Beats Studio Pro$349Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless$379Sony WH-1000XM5$399Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e$399Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones$429Sonos Ace$449Apple AirPods Max (USB-C)$549Buying for
Your devices
Straight answer
Overall: 3 to 2
Buy the Focal Bathys Hi-Fi Wireless.
- Leads 3 of 5 rankable overall specs; Bose QuietComfort Headphones takes 2.
- Battery life: 30 hours vs 24 hours on a single charge
- Charging time: 1.5 hours vs 2.5 hours full charge
- Bose QuietComfort Headphones is $350 cheaper. Pay the difference only if battery life matters to you.
Deal-breakers
tick what would make you walk away
- Trips:Focal Bathys Hi-Fi Wireless · No (swivels flat)Clear:Bose QuietComfort Headphones · Yes (collapses and folds inward into co…
- Clear:Focal Bathys Hi-Fi Wireless · aptX Adaptive, aptX, AAC, SBCTrips:Bose QuietComfort Headphones · AAC, SBC
- Trips:Focal Bathys Hi-Fi Wireless · 350 g (12.3 oz)Clear:Bose QuietComfort Headphones · 240 g (8.5 oz)
- Trips:Focal Bathys Hi-Fi Wireless · No official IP ratingTrips:Bose QuietComfort Headphones · No official IP rating
At a glance
The handful of numbers that decide most purchases in this category.
Weight
Focal
350 g (12.3 oz)
Bose
240 g (8.5 oz)
Active Noise Cancelling≠
Focal
Yes (Silent, Soft, and Transparent modes with 8 microphones)
Bose
Yes (Quiet Mode with adjustable noise cancellation levels)
Battery life
Focal
30 hours (Bluetooth ANC) / 35 hours (Jack) / 42 hours (USB-DAC)
Bose
24 hours on a single charge
Comfort, Clamp & Travel Fit Check
Ergonomic factors that affect daily comfort, glasses wearers, and luggage space.
Folding & Travel Packability
Standard folding earcups
Folds flat & inward into small zippered case
Clamp Force & Glasses Comfort
Standard headphone clamp
Signature light clamp (~3.9 N, zero crown pressure)
Weight & Crown Pressure
Standard headphone weight
240g (lightest in premium ANC class)
The 90-Day Owner Regret Check
Documented ergonomic quirks, hardware annoyances, and maintenance realities reported by real owners.
Focal: What to watch for
- Maintenance
Requires ongoing care to maintain peak out-of-box performance.
Bose: 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 | 350 g (12.3 oz) | 240 g (8.5 oz) (wins this row: lower) |
| Foldable | No (swivels flat) | Yes (collapses and folds inward into compact case) (wins this row: has it) |
| Carrying case | Rigid black/silver carrying case included | Hardshell zip travel case included |
| IP rating | No official IP rating | No official IP rating |
Audio
5 differences| Driver | 40 mm Aluminum/Magnesium 'M'-shaped dome (Made in France) | Custom 40 mm dynamic transducers |
|---|---|---|
| Active Noise Cancelling | Yes (Silent, Soft, and Transparent modes with 8 microphones) | Yes (Quiet Mode with adjustable noise cancellation levels) |
| Transparency mode | Yes (Transparency Mode) | Yes (Aware Mode with adjustable environment blend) |
| Supported codecs | aptX Adaptive, aptX, AAC, SBC | AAC, SBC |
| Microphones | 8 microphones with Clear Voice Capture technology | 4-mic beamforming voice pickup array |
Connectivity & Battery
leads 2-0| Multipoint Bluetooth | Yes (Bluetooth 5.1 multipoint) | Yes (Bluetooth 5.1 multipoint pairing) |
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | 30 hours (Bluetooth ANC) / 35 hours (Jack) / 42 hours (USB-DAC) (wins this row: higher) | 24 hours on a single charge |
| Charging time | 1.5 hours (15 min fast charge gives 5 hours) (wins this row: lower) | 2.5 hours full charge (15 min quick charge gives 2.5 hours) |
Ownership
leads 1-0| Warranty | 2 years (wins this row: higher) | 1 year |
|---|
Which one should you buy
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
Pick this one if
Bose QuietComfort Headphones
Ultra-comfortable folding ANC headphones with classic Bose noise cancellation and 24-hour battery life.
- Foldable design collapses neatly into an ultra-compact travel case
- Legendary lightweight 240g comfort ideal for long flights
- Tactile physical buttons and reliable multi-point Bluetooth switching
What you give up
- Lacks spatial audio head tracking found on QC Ultra
- No high-resolution LDAC or aptX codec support
Best for each use
Flights & commutes
For flights & commutes, buy the Bose QuietComfort 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: Focal Bathys Hi-Fi Wireless ↗ · Bose QuietComfort Headphones ↗
Common questions
Which is cheaper, the Focal Bathys Hi-Fi Wireless or the Bose QuietComfort Headphones?
Bose QuietComfort Headphones costs $350 less at list price.
What is the biggest catch with the Focal Bathys Hi-Fi Wireless or Bose QuietComfort Headphones?
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 Focal Bathys Hi-Fi Wireless or the Bose QuietComfort Headphones?
For flights & commutes, buy the Bose QuietComfort Headphones. Leads 2 of 3 rankable flights & commutes specs; Focal Bathys Hi-Fi Wireless takes 1. Weight: 240 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.