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Sennheiser HD 800 S · Arctic White — Open-back
Sennheiser

Sennheiser HD 800 S · Arctic White

Open-back

95
/ 100
From $1,699
VS
Sennheiser HD 800 S · Arctic White wins by 3
Focal Bathys — Over-ear · 2022
Focal

Focal Bathys

Over-ear · 2022

92
/ 100
From $799
Specdex verdict

Sennheiser HD 800 S · Arctic White takes it — here’s why.

In our weighted Specdex score, Sennheiser HD 800 S · Arctic White lands at 95 and Focal Bathys at 92. That puts Sennheiser HD 800 S · Arctic White ahead by 3 points — a narrow margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.

Pick Sennheiser HD 800 S · Arctic White 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

Sennheiser HD 800 S · Arctic White

Tuning, detail, and staging

Sennheiser HD 800 S · Arctic White leads on sound (95 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 $1,699).

Sennheiser HD 800 S · Arctic White 95
vs
92 Focal Bathys

Score breakdown

Sennheiser HD 800 S · Arctic White
95
anc 0
sound 95
comfort 88
battery 100
features 50
Focal Bathys
92
anc 90
sound 92
comfort 91
battery 82
features 88

Specs side-by-side

Sennheiser HD 800 S · Arctic White versus Focal Bathys — full spec comparison
Spec Sennheiser HD 800 S · Arctic White Focal Bathys
Type
Open-back
Over-ear
Release year
—
2022

Sennheiser HD 800 S · Arctic White

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: Sennheiser HD 800 S · Arctic White vs Focal Bathys

Which is better, Sennheiser HD 800 S · Arctic White or Focal Bathys? +

Sennheiser HD 800 S · Arctic White scores 95 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 3. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.

Is Sennheiser HD 800 S · Arctic White worth the price? +

At $1,699, Sennheiser HD 800 S · Arctic White delivers a Specdex score of 95 — strongest in battery.

Is Focal Bathys worth the price? +

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

Does Sennheiser HD 800 S · Arctic White 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, Sennheiser HD 800 S · Arctic White or Focal Bathys? +

Sennheiser HD 800 S · Arctic White — leads on sound (95 vs 92). Tuning, detail, and staging.

Which is better for noise cancelling, Sennheiser HD 800 S · Arctic White or Focal Bathys? +

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