Comparing Flagship Bluetooth: Focal Bathys MG vs Dali IO-12 vs T+A So

If you're looking for a flagship headphone that is Bluetooth enabled, likelihood is you have found some options from Focal, Dali, and T+A. These three companies offer some great models for top of the line Bluetooth listening. The Focal Bathys MG is the newest to this lineup, competing with the Dali IO-12 and the T+A Solitaire T which are right in the same price range. What is the difference between them all? How do you know which is best for you? This comparison review will take you through all the details and specifications of each so you can make an informed decision of what to spend your money on. 

The first place I start in any comparison is the physical look of the headphones. Between the Bathys MG, the IO-12, and the Solitaire T, you see very distinct styles that set them apart from each other. The Dali IO-12 is the largest of the three, with big square earpads that cover the ear completely. You don't normally see a square design on ear cups, but the design is quite comfortable and universal for many different head shapes. The next largest would be the Focal Bathys MG, which is rounder but protrudes outward to be a bit bulkier, like the Dali IO-12. The large earcup fits very comfortably over your ears, and the round shape is more universal and familiar. The Solitaire T is the smallest of the three, sporting earcups that are just large enough to fit over your ears. It is very slim and has the most compact design of the three presented here. For those looking for a more sleek and subtle design, the T+A Solitaire T beats out the Dali IO-12 and the Bathys MG. 

The Solitaire T offers a physical design feature that the other headphones do not: collapsibility. The Solitaire T folds up to be more compact than just lying flat, like the Bathys MG and the IO-12. All the headphones come with hardshell carrying cases that store the headphones and their accessory cables, but the T+A is the only one that offers that ultra-compact design that is easy to put in your bag and travel with. 

All the headphones are made of premium materials that feel luxurious before you even put them on your head. The Bathys MG is made of magnesium, as the 'MG' in the name suggests, and it makes the headphone very lightweight. The Dali IO-12 has two different color options, Mocha Grey and Dark Chocolate, and is made of premium leather around the headband and earcups. The aluminum build of the Solitaire T is easy to wear for hours, folding and adjusting to your head with ease. This is another headphone that comes in two different colors, either classic black or cognac white. 

For my personal comfort, I found I preferred the fit of the Bathys MG or the Dali IO-12 the best. It was comfortable over my glasses, and the clamping force was not as tight as some other headphones. While the Solitaire T had earcups perfectly sized to my head, I preferred the extra ear-room in the other two headphones instead. Depending on your comfort preferences, you may find you prefer one headphone over the others. 

For functionality, each of the headphones has a different way to operate. If there is a certain way you like to operate your headphones, you may find your choice amongst them in functionality alone. Like Sony or Sennheiser, the T+A Solitaire T has touch sensors on the right ear cup to navigate through different controls. Play, pause, volume, and track change can all be controlled with a swipe motion or a tap. There is a circle on the right side with a slightly different texture, and when that is tapped, you turn on and off transparency mode. Apart from the basic functions, you get some other buttons on each side that turn the Solitaire T on, off, switch modes, and set it to pairing mode. 

Similarly, the Dali IO-12 is programmed with right-ear cup controls. The main difference here is the right ear cups is one large tactile button, where you press on different places of the earcup as opposed to swiping. There are buttons on both earcups' perimeters with various controls, like ANC, power, and Bluetooth pairing. The Dali IO-12 doesn't come with an app to adjust the sound; instead, you are presenetd with two modes you can switch between via a button: hi-fi mode and bass mode. 

The Bathys MG give you the most customization options, with a separate app to control EQ and filters to tune the sound exactly how you like.  The controls are similar to the Dali IO-12, where there are button commands as opposed to sensors like the Solitaire T. The earcups themselves don't have any buttons or touch sensors, and instead have just a design with the flowing Focal logo. In terms of simplicity, Focal wins with its limited button selection and lack of touch sensors. T+A Solitaire T has the most versatile controls that make it so you never need to look at your phone. 

In terms of features, all of these headphones are equipped with different ways to listen so you get the most out of your sound. Each of these headphones is equipped with Active Noise Cancellation, allowing you to switch between having it on, off, or a third transparency mode to make you more aware of your surroundings. The microphones on each of these are sensitive and accurate, cancelling out the environment around you with ease and precision. The exact microphones also make these headphones great for phone calls, allowing you to talk on the go with clarity on both ends. 

Based on my listening, I believe the Dali IO-12 has the strongest noise cancellation, followed by the Bathys MG, and the Solitaire T in last place. This isn't to say they aren't all strong and effective in immersing you in your listening, but if I were to pull at hairs, the T+A lost the race for me. I appreciated how the T+A was effective in its loudness and overall detail, but the noise cancelling alone was not quite strong enough for my liking. If you are someone who doesn't care much for noise cancellation over regular sound quality, the T+A may prove to be a great choice for you. 

SOUNDSTAGE & IMAGING

So, the question we're all asking: how do all the sound signatures differ? All three headphones have distinct sounds that make them unique, though you can find a lot of similarities in their initial impressions. For starters, you know you'll be hearing high levels of detail across the frequency ranges. The soundstages are wide on all three, which is almost to be expected, but they do have presentation differences that make them easy to separate and define individually. 

The Focal Bathys MG offers some of the most balanced sound signatures of the three. It has a clean presentation from bass to treble, expanding outwards to create a good sense of depth and height. The soundstage is very wide and wraps around your head pretty easily, making you sit right at the center of your tracks. This is similar to the Dali IO-12, where the entire signature takes a step back and takes advantage of the depth of the soundstage. The Focal Bathys MG has a similar depth, but is punchier and more analytical in its detail. The IO-12 takes advantage of space a lot more in its sound signature and expands on its depth with more stark separation. In comparison, the T+A Solitaire T is a much more forward headphone, prioritizing punch and loudness above all. There is accurate imaging and instrumental placement in its sound signature, but the Solitaire T creates a wall of sound that envelopes you quite effectively. Depending on whether you appreciate the space or prefer to have your music very frontal, you may find you have an immediate preference. 

While their spatializations differ, the headphones can also be defined by their overall signatures and tonalities. The Bathys MG leans more analytical and balanced, while the IO-12 and Soliatire T have more dynamic flair. The bass comes out the most strongly on the Solitaire T and has the crispest treble. The Dali IO-12 is the most relaxed of the three, with the Bathys MG standing just in between the two as a good middleman. It is relaxed, but still has forward detail that makes it stand strong against the Solitaire T. 

BASS FREQUENCIES

The bass of a headphone can make or break a signature, as low frequencies have become such a driving factor in a lot of popular tracks. Hearing the kick drum's steady beat or the twang of bass guitars is sometimes people's favorite part of listening. Luckily, in Bluetooth headphones, the bass is favored in the sound just from design alone. The closed-back build and ANC aid to the strength of the bass, but each headphone does an excellent job of controlling the bass to make sure it doesn't take up the entire signature. Dali IO-12 has a more relaxed bass, expanding backwards and filling the lower range like a blanket. It is something on par with the Bathys MG, where you get a high amount of detail but still a solid body that takes up space. In spacious headphones, the bass could risk becoming thin, but that's not the case with these headphones. The bass in the IO-12 is a bit thicker than that of the Bathys Mg, but both are definitely more subdued in comparison to the Solitaire T. 

All three headphones excel in their detailed reproduction of instruments in this range. The Solitaire T does a great job of delivering the punch that makes tracks more energized. The body and warmth in more relaxed genres come through, but the highly detailed reproduction with a more forward presentation makes those low-end instruments hit twice as hard. This punchiness doesn't take away from detail, making it a close comparison to the Bathys MG. The Bathys MG, while being a more relaxed signature, definitely delivers an effective amount of detail that keeps it from being washed out. You have a very natural and honest sound reproduction in the bass, so the analytical nature of the Bathys MG comes out more. The Solitaire T probably has the most slamming bass out of the three, with the Dali IO-12 being the most laid-back and focused on textures rather than body.  

MIDRANGE FREQUENCIES

Midrange clarity is exceptional on all these headphones. The distinct separation with spacious soundstage makes the midrange a highlight in any of the three choices on the table. The T+A Solitaire and the Focal Bathys MG have the most V-shaped signatures, leading to a more forward midrange presentation. The Solitaire T has a more stark V-shape than the other choices, so you hear the midrange come more directly forward. For people who like the forwardness of the midrange, you will definitely find a sound you like in the Solitaire T. The forwardness makes timbres and textures stand out, with vocals pulled to the very front to stand out amongst everything else. The Bathys MG is similar in this way, where the timbres of instruments are clear and easy to recognize in the sound field. The midrange doesn't come as far forward, as it stays in line to make the Bathys MG a little flatter and even to create a natural reproduction. 

The Dali IO-12 takes a slightly different approach. These headphones maintain the same forwardness in the midrange, making vocals the forefront sound and having everything else filter around it. The midrange takes advantage of the space in the soundstage, letting elements filter backwards and use up the depth and horizontal space. The Solitaire T has more forwardness that could be seen as overwhelming, so the Dali IO-12 offers a nice alternative without sacrificing the midrange clarity you look for in a high-end headphone. It has a more fun tuning compared to that of the Bathys MG, though elements are still easy to recognize, and their timbres are distinguishable in the signature. If naturalness and forwardness are important as midrange characteristics, you'll likely find the T+A Solitaire T is a great choice. If you want more evenness across the board, the Focal Bathys MG and the Dali IO-12 may be better options. 

TREBLE FREQUENCIES

The treble is sometimes hard to get right in a Bluetooth headphone. As mentioned earlier, the closed-back design and active noise cancellation work against you to make the low end super strong, and could make the top end may be very synthetic and piercing. Luckily, this doesn't happen in any of the flagship Bluetooth headphones we have on the table here. Between the T+A Solitaire T, the Focal Bathys MG, and the Dali IO-12, there is a great amount of control in the treble end that makes the top range fun to listen to without issue. The top end in the IO-12 is perhaps the most relaxed, which stays in theme with the rest of the headphone's signature. This makes the entire signature less compressed, which can help when the closed-back design makes you feel a little more isolated. The Bathys MG has this lightness in the top end as well. It has a lot of bright detail that doesn't become too piercing, but instead highlights detail and crispness to all the elements throughout the signature. The T+A Solitaire T does this as well, but the airy quality falls a bit short and instead focuses on the detail. 

The punchy trait of the Solitaire T carries all the way from the bass to the treble. You have a lot of detail in the treble range to keep tracks sharp, and that carries throughout the signature. You don't get the same forward trait in the Focal Bathys MG, but it does have an effective airy quality that makes the top end more spacious and light. The Solitaire T, in comparison, can sound a bit narrower, where the Dali IO-12 opens up at the top and creates space for frequencies to ring out naturally. I liked how higher frequencies sounded in the IO-12, since they naturally dissipated and expanded outwards to make it seem like it was in the room with you. The Bathys MG was similar in this way, though it created more forwardness to almost serve as a combination of the Solitaire T and the IO-12.  

Flagship Bluetooth headphones are great pieces of technology, and choosing the right one can be a daunting task. Picking apart the differences between them can be tedious, but you want to make an informed decision before spending over $1.5k. After all the details and sonic analysis have been laid on the table, how do you know which one is right for you? If you're still having a tough time figuring out which you should purchase, let me sum it up quickly: 

Choose the Focal Bathys MG if you value analytical and highly detailed sound. With the internal DAC that is featured via the USB-C connection, you have the promise of an elevated listening experience both via Bluetooth and with a cable. The Bathys MG is a great choice for those looking for good imaging, detail, and natural sound reproduction all in one device. 

Choose the Dali IO-12 if you're looking for relaxation in your listening. The Dali IO-12 has large earcups that are comfortable for long listening sessions. The sound signature is highly detailed but utilizes space more than anything, so you get to immerse yourself in your listening with ease. For those wanting a comfortable and relaxing audio experience, the Dali IO-12 may be for you. 

Choose the T+A Solitaire T if you value portability and lightness. This headphone is made for the traveling audiophile, delivering strong noise cancelling and clear phone call quality for any environment. It is the most compact headphone on the table, so you can trust that this will fit in any carry-on you may have. If you want to travel light and still have the highest resolution in your sound, I would highly recommend going for the T+A Solitaire T. 

No matter which headphones you choose, you are sure t o have a great audio experience. Wireless convenience doesn't mean you sacrifice quality, and you can still get all the hi-res listening your heart desires at a great price. I highly recommend trying before buying, and you can try all these headphones (and more!) at Audio46. Check out our selection of Bluetooth headphones to see what may be the right fit for you. 

You can find the Focal Bathys MG, the Dali IO-12, and the T+A Solitaire T at Audio46.