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HiFiMan Susvara · Midnight Black — Planar magnetic
HiFiMan

HiFiMan Susvara · Midnight Black

Planar magnetic

96
/ 100
From $5,999
VS
HiFiMan Susvara · Midnight Black wins by 4
Focal Bathys — Over-ear · 2022
Focal

Focal Bathys

Over-ear · 2022

92
/ 100
From $799
Specdex verdict

HiFiMan Susvara · Midnight Black takes it — here’s why.

In our weighted Specdex score, HiFiMan Susvara · Midnight Black lands at 96 and Focal Bathys at 92. That puts HiFiMan Susvara · Midnight Black ahead by 4 points — a narrow margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.

Pick HiFiMan Susvara · Midnight Black if…

  • ✓Reference-level detail
  • ✓Well-regarded in audiophile community
  • ✓Long-term ownership appeal

Pick Focal Bathys if…

  • ✓Flagship comfort + ANC on modern models
  • ✓Premium build
  • ✓Active noise cancellation (most models)
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Winner by scenario

Derived from the sub-score breakdown · not a separate test

Sound quality

HiFiMan Susvara · Midnight Black

Tuning, detail, and staging

HiFiMan Susvara · Midnight Black leads on sound (96 vs 92).

Noise cancelling

Focal Bathys

ANC strength for commute and travel

Focal Bathys leads on anc (90 vs 0).

Comfort

Focal Bathys

Long-session wearability

Focal Bathys leads on comfort (91 vs 88).

Value for money

Focal Bathys

Specdex score per dollar at MSRP

Focal Bathys more score per dollar ($799 vs $5,999).

HiFiMan Susvara · Midnight Black 96
vs
92 Focal Bathys

Score breakdown

HiFiMan Susvara · Midnight Black
96
anc 0
sound 96
comfort 88
battery 100
features 50
Focal Bathys
92
anc 90
sound 92
comfort 91
battery 82
features 88

Specs side-by-side

HiFiMan Susvara · Midnight Black versus Focal Bathys — full spec comparison
Spec HiFiMan Susvara · Midnight Black Focal Bathys
Type
Planar magnetic
Over-ear
Release year
—
2022

HiFiMan Susvara · Midnight Black

Pros
  • +Reference-level detail
  • +Well-regarded in audiophile community
  • +Long-term ownership appeal
Cons
  • −Requires amplifier (most)
  • −No active noise cancellation
  • −Impractical for commuting

Focal Bathys

Pros
  • +Flagship comfort + ANC on modern models
  • +Premium build
  • +Active noise cancellation (most models)
Cons
  • −Battery varies by codec
  • −Some are Bluetooth-only
  • −Price creep vs previous gen

FAQ: HiFiMan Susvara · Midnight Black vs Focal Bathys

Which is better, HiFiMan Susvara · Midnight Black or Focal Bathys? +

HiFiMan Susvara · Midnight Black scores 96 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 4. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.

Is HiFiMan Susvara · Midnight Black worth the price? +

At $5,999, HiFiMan Susvara · Midnight Black delivers a Specdex score of 96 — strongest in battery.

Is Focal Bathys worth the price? +

At $799, Focal Bathys delivers a Specdex score of 92 — strongest in sound.

Does HiFiMan Susvara · Midnight Black or Focal Bathys 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, HiFiMan Susvara · Midnight Black or Focal Bathys? +

HiFiMan Susvara · Midnight Black — leads on sound (96 vs 92). Tuning, detail, and staging.

Which is better for noise cancelling, HiFiMan Susvara · Midnight Black or Focal Bathys? +

Focal Bathys — leads on anc (90 vs 0). ANC strength for commute and travel.