Focal Bathys
Over-ear · 2022
HiFiMan Susvara
Planar magnetic
HiFiMan Susvara takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, Focal Bathys lands at 92 and HiFiMan Susvara at 96. That puts HiFiMan Susvara ahead by 4 points — a narrow margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.
Pick Focal Bathys if…
- ✓Flagship comfort + ANC on modern models
- ✓Premium build
- ✓Active noise cancellation (most models)
Pick HiFiMan Susvara if…
- ✓Reference-level detail
- ✓Well-regarded in audiophile community
- ✓Long-term ownership appeal
Winner by scenario
Derived from the sub-score breakdown · not a separate testSound quality
HiFiMan SusvaraTuning, detail, and staging
HiFiMan Susvara leads on sound (96 vs 92).
Noise cancelling
Focal BathysANC strength for commute and travel
Focal Bathys leads on anc (90 vs 0).
Comfort
Focal BathysLong-session wearability
Focal Bathys leads on comfort (91 vs 88).
Value for money
Focal BathysSpecdex score per dollar at MSRP
Focal Bathys more score per dollar ($799 vs $5,999).
Score breakdown
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | Focal Bathys | HiFiMan Susvara |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Over-ear | Planar magnetic |
| Release year | 2022 | — |
Focal Bathys
- +Flagship comfort + ANC on modern models
- +Premium build
- +Active noise cancellation (most models)
- −Battery varies by codec
- −Some are Bluetooth-only
- −Price creep vs previous gen
HiFiMan Susvara
- +Reference-level detail
- +Well-regarded in audiophile community
- +Long-term ownership appeal
- −Requires amplifier (most)
- −No active noise cancellation
- −Impractical for commuting
FAQ: Focal Bathys vs HiFiMan Susvara
Which is better, Focal Bathys or HiFiMan Susvara? +
HiFiMan Susvara scores 96 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 4. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is Focal Bathys worth the price? +
At $799, Focal Bathys delivers a Specdex score of 92 — strongest in sound.
Is HiFiMan Susvara worth the price? +
At $5,999, HiFiMan Susvara delivers a Specdex score of 96 — strongest in battery.
Does Focal Bathys or HiFiMan Susvara last longer? +
Based on our long-term update and support ratings, both ship with multi-year support. Battery and reliability scores are visible in the breakdown above.
Which is better for sound quality, Focal Bathys or HiFiMan Susvara? +
HiFiMan Susvara — leads on sound (96 vs 92). Tuning, detail, and staging.
Which is better for noise cancelling, Focal Bathys or HiFiMan Susvara? +
Focal Bathys — leads on anc (90 vs 0). ANC strength for commute and travel.