"Audiophile" and "Bluetooth" rarely makes a crossover when it comes to headphones, but there are actually quite a few options that fall into this overlap. Coming from two very well known brands, Noble Audio and Focal have produced studio-quality headphones that aim to please the pickiest listeners. The FoKus Apollo and the Bathys fall into the same price point of $650-700. How do they compare against each other? Today we take a look and find out. 

What Comes In The Box

Aesthetics and Functionality

Each headphone has a classic design that is visually stunning. The Apollo has a  smooth, sleek grey face on the sides and cushiony headband and earpads. The logo for Noble Audio can be seen clearly on the sides, and there are control buttons along the edge of the earcup. Wearing them was very comfortable, though I found they sat further back on my head. If I leaned back, I knew I would risk them falling off. Meanwhile, The Bathys go for a more ergonomic shape, curving to the shape of your head and ear for a comfortable fit. These stayed secure on my head throughout listening with no fear of them falling off. 

Both the headphones are relatively easy to function as well. By holding down the middle power button on the Apollo and switching the power into the “ON” position on the Bathys, I was able to pair both headphones to my device seamlessly without issue. I liked that the Apollo has the app that you can use to customize the EQ and noise canceling features on. The Bathys falls short in that customization department. 

Tech Specs

Looking at the tech behind these headphones, you will see a lot of differences. The Apollo impresses with dual driver technology and 60 hours of uninterrupted battery life, with the ANC turned on. The Bathys share the same 40mm dynamic driver, but only has 30 hours of playback time on a full charge. The updated Bluetooth version on the Apollo and addition of a detachable microphone makes it seem to outshine its competitor.

Listening Review

Soundstage & ANC

Each headphone has a fairly wide soundstage. The Bathys' soundstage immediately feels wider and more immersive than the Apollo. There is a lot of clarity and detail in these headphones, most notably in the Bathys. While the clearness does come through on the Apollo, there was a touch of distortion when certain higher frequencies were hit. Over time, I noticed this distortion was lessened and realized that the headphones needed to be broken in a bit before reaching their full potential. This fact makes me more drawn to the Bathys, since they were ready to use at their full potential almost immediately.

Active noise cancelation (ANC) is a feature also presented on both of these headphones. Their over-ear design allows for natural sound isolation to take place, but they also ensure that you are completely immersed in your listening. Between the two, I felt the Apollo did a better job canceling out the noise, probably because of the fully closed-back design. The Bathys had good noise canceling, but it was more effective in the Apollo.  

Low Frequencies

The low end is easily one of the most impressive things about both these headphones. With 40mm dynamic drivers in each, the Apollo and Bathys pack a punch with each bass hit. It's warm and grounding, providing a solid foundation for each instrument and frequency that lay on top of it. I liked the power of the bass on the Apollo more than the Bathys, as the sound signature of the Bathys leaned towards the brighter side. The level of detail on each headphone was very clear and did not become muddy with the addition of more instruments. 

Mid-Range Frequencies

The mid range is exceptionally clear in both headphones. The low mids are a highlight on both of these headphones, offering a great segue from a very deep and impactful low end to some brighter, more colorful tones. I liked the detail given on the Bathys, and how the vocals shine and stand out a bit more. It gives the headphones a more dynamic and entertaining quality. The Apollo is still incredibly dynamic, though the unnatural and synthetic sounding reproduction of instruments makes it fall short of the audio from the Bathys. 

High Frequencies

When it comes to the high end, there are a few notable differences between the two headphones. Because of the planar driver in the Apollo, there is a certain brightness that gets accentuated when listening. To me, it sounds slightly synthetic, almost like you could tell it wasn’t quite naturally produced. You can hear how some high synths or guitar harmonics ring out and sound a bit off from how you would expect. Conversely, the Bathys do not have this issue. The high end is clear and bright, and an excellent balance to the strong low end. While both headphones performed relatively similarly for the other frequency ranges, this is one where they are starkly different. 

Summary

In conclusion, there are two great pairs of Bluetooth headphones here. The FoKus Apollo gives you an interesting technological upgrade, followed by great low end and the ability to customize your listening experience. The Bathys focus on precise, accurate, studio-quality sound, all without compromising comfort. With only $50 between them, neither would be a bad choice for someone looking to purchase an audiophile Bluetooth headphone. Personally, I believe the Bathys are more suited to my preferences, but I can certainly see the Apollo fitting the bill for someone else instead. 

The Apollo and the Bathys are both available for purchase at Audio46.