Head to head · for music listening
Sony WH-1000XM5 vs Focal Bathys
More people recommend the Sony WH-1000XM5 overall (96 vs 19). None of the 12 comments that name both says outright which one to buy, so read the loves and complaints and decide by taste.
- Comments naming both
- 12
- Say they own both
- 2
- Choose the WH-1000XM5
- 0
- Choose the Bathys
- 0
Counted across 6 review videos, harvested Sep 2026. A comment counts as a choice only when it says so in plain words (prefer X over Y, upgraded from Y to X); questions never count. Quotes are whole sentences of 12 words or fewer, linked to where they were said. How we count.
 |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical price | $300cheaper | $699 |
| Overall rank | #6higher | #26 |
| People who recommend it | 96more | 19 |
| Say they own it | 149more | 29 |
| Mentions | 1,124more | 316 |
| Type | wireless ANC over-ear | wireless ANC over-ear |
| Known for | CommuteNoise cancellingBattery | WirelessSound firstTravel |
| Best for | The default noise-cancelling pick for planes and trains, if you can live with plastic hinges. | Wireless for people who care about sound first and noise cancelling second. |
| Buy | Amazon · $300Direct | Amazon · $699 |
#6 overall
Sony WH-1000XM5
3 of the 12 comments naming both come from people who say they own this one.
What owners love
- Noise cancelling that owners rank at or near the top of anything they have tried
- Comfortable, light, and the touch controls grow on people
- Several owners bought them on a deep sale and call them the best headphone they have used
The complaints
- The hinges and swivels: more than one owner had a pair break within a year
- No longer folds flat, which travellers miss from the XM4
- Bass is thick out of the box; audiophile commenters call it bloated and point at the Momentum 4
- Ear pads are not user-replaceable; not sweat resistant
In their words
“I own max & XM5…..I love them both for different reasons”
A commenter under THE DEFINITIVE Sony WH-1000XM5 Review & Comparison by an AUDIO ENGINEER (This is Tech Today) · May 2022
“I got the xm5s in stone white and love them”
A commenter under HONEST review of SONY vs Apple headphones!! #shorts (Miki Rai) · Mar 2023
“Now I have the XM5 and love them”
A commenter under Sony WH-1000XM5 Review: Two Steps Forward, One Step Back! (Marques Brownlee) · May 2022
#26 overall
Focal Bathys
3 of the 12 comments naming both come from people who say they own this one.
What owners love
- Owners of Utopias and Clears say it is the wireless pair they actually use
- Wired DAC mode that owners say beats Bluetooth by a wide margin
- 40-50 hours of battery; built to last
The complaints
- Price: three times a Sony
- Noise cancelling is behind Sony and Bose
- Bass depth is modest for some tastes
- Battery is not user-replaceable
In their words
“I bought the Focal Bathys MG, best choice I've made”
A commenter under The BEST (sounding) Premium Wireless Headphones (crinacle) · Feb 2026
“I got my Bathys last week and love it”
A commenter under FOCAL Bathys review -- BETTER than Apple AirPods Max? (& more) (Darko Audio) · Oct 2022
“i recommend you Focal Bathys or bower and wilkins px8 bluetooth headphones”
A commenter under Which Sony Headphones Are Actually Worth the Money? 🎧🤨💰 (Liz Espinoza) · Mar 2023