Focal Bathys vs Meze 105 AER

Focal Bathys

The Bathys is a closed-back wireless ANC over-ear built around a 40mm aluminium-magnesium M-shaped dome driver, and it is judged first on sound. The tuning follows a Harman-leaning philosophy: smooth and fairly dense, with a clean midrange called a standout in its class, vocals forward without shouting, and a top end that relaxes from about 4kHz so sparkle is limited while sibilance is effectively absent. Bass is where accounts split, between a lifted shelf peaking around 50Hz that reads as powerful and punchy, and a low end described as subdued, or as deep sub-bass rumble that reserves itself rather than dominating. Staging divides the same way, from among the best heard on a Bluetooth over-ear to a rounded, intimate space whose distance portrayal leaves something to be desired. Running the headphone over USB-DAC instead of Bluetooth tightens the low end, adds treble bite and enlarges the stage. Build draws less argument: magnesium yokes, an aluminium headband, leather and memory foam pads, 350g, and no creak in the articulation. Noise cancelling is strong below roughly 1-2kHz and lets more midrange and voice through, and it is placed behind the Sony, Bose and Apple flagships, with low-frequency attenuation measured close to 20dB. There is no LDAC and no passive mode, so a flat battery means silence. Price is the standing objection: it launched at $799, and one verdict is that less expensive alternatives cover most of the same ground.

Meze 105 AER

Meze's lightest open-back at a rated 336 g, the 105 AER pairs ABS-PC earcups and a metal frame with a self-adjusting suspension headband and breathable velour pads, and it is built to come apart so worn parts can be replaced. Comfort and drivability are the traits reviewers keep returning to: rated at 42 ohms and 112 dB, it reaches loud, clean levels from a MacBook headphone jack or a small dongle, while dynamics, imaging and clarity firm up when it is given a better source. The tuning reads warm-leaning and forgiving, and the midrange is picked out as the high point: a clean bass-to-mid handoff climbing to a 3 kHz hump, natural timbre on acoustic instruments, and vocals that are intimate and full without shouting. Bass carries a light emphasis weighted toward midbass punch and holds structure rather than bloating, though how much sub-bass rumble is really there is disputed. Treble is the contested region: it is described as smooth and rolled off with a recessed 6 kHz that softens note attack and costs bite, and also as sparkly, crisp and a favorite quality. Staging divides the same way, called wide with good left-to-right spread on one hand and surprisingly narrow in stereo width on the other, while imaging and layering are treated as a strength either way. Against the 109 Pro at twice the money it is warmer, smoother and clearly behind on resolution, extension and sparkle. The single-ended stock cable is the recurring packaging complaint.