Sony XM5 v B&W PX8 v Focal Bathys v Focal Elegia (non-audiophile view)
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- Опубліковано 5 чер 2024
- A consumer and non-audiophile take on the Sony XM5, Bower & Wilkins PX8, Focal Bathys, and Focal Elegia + Fiio BTR7.
Time stamps:
00:00 - introduction
03:25 - questions and approach
05:55 - sound quality: general considerations
08:14 - sound quality: cable + high-res audio
11:52 - sound quality: bluetooth + high-res audio
13:08 - sound quality: bluetooth + low-res audio
15:48 - ease of use/versatility
28:22 - conclusion
Link to channels:
Darko Audio - / @darkoaudio - who actually preferred the PX8 over the Bathys
The Headphone Show - / @theheadphoneshow - these guys measure sound signatures and everything
Sorry for the long video! I could have made it shorter but was pressed on time due to starting a new job. If you just want a quick summary of the main takeaways and arguments for one or the other, here they are:
- Don't buy the PX8
- Arguments to buy the XM5 1) you only want to connect by bluetooth (never by cable) 2) you have low-fi sound source like Spotify and not willing to change 3) you want to use your headphone at the gym or while performing similarly fast and intensive activities
- Arguments to consider buying the Bathys 1) you are willing to sometimes connect by cable to benefit from the DAC mode 2) you have high-fi sound source like Qobuz/Tidal 3) you are willing to compromise some quality vs the Elegia to get the versatility provided by bluetooth
- Argument to consider buying something like the Elegia 1) you have high-fi sound source like Qobuz/Tidal 2) you expect to use the headphone at home and don't really need the bluetooth functionality 3) you already have a device that you can use to listen to music when outside 4) batteries grow old, the Elegia and other non-bluetooth headphones last for ever
- Also, using something like Qobuz or Tidal instead of Spotify and connecting by cable will noticeably improve sound quality on the XM5. It sounds obvious when I say it, but I did not expect the difference to be so big, so these are ways to get the most out of your XM5 if you don't want to pay the premium for more expensive options.
Great video and information!
Loved your video. Very interesting.😊.
Probably the most honest and down to earth review, of many, that i have seen. Thanks mate.
Thank you!
Thank you!! I was looking for an honest layman yet researched review. Also, that little insect friend ❤
Great review. I have the Sony's and Focal Elegia. Both are great. I recently bought a pair of Dali IO 12's and they are far superior to both. No app = perfection. They go loud, but without the aches other headphones create Worth checking out
Thank you!
Awesome video - I’m just wondering, how do you describe the elegia sound quality and signature? Is it THAT much better than Bathys/others? Thanks!!!
Hi! Thank you. I would say that it is clearly better than the Bathys, even if you are running the Bathys on DAC mode. Also, I was not using a great DAC for the Elegia. I suspect the Elegia would have been even better with a Mojo 2, instead of the Btr7. But when comparing it to other wired headphones, I would say it is quite detailed, but not the widest sound stage, if you get what I mean. So the sound is very clear and detailed, but you don't get that sense of the sound being "around you". However, you get what you pay for, and other more expensive wired headphones are probably better. I just got the Clear MG, which I like a lot and is even more detailed. I think the Elegia is a great entry-level hi-fi headphone which will blow your mind if you only used mainstream ANC headphones up until now. And you should be able to get the Elegia at a very nice price now since it was discontinued. Definitely worth the price.
I've been doing a lot of research on ANC headphones
And you are the first reviewer to point out the importance of the source of music (Spotify vs Tidal)
I only use Spotify with Bluetooth, so buying the Focals would be a waste.
Thanks for pointing this out!!
Very happy to hear that. That was indeed one of the main things I wanted to share with others since nobody else seems to mention it. Also, even if you can hear a difference between a XM5 and Bathys, it's not something that will change your life and I personally quickly forget the difference after wearing the XM5 for a while. Feel free to share which headset you choose in the end.
Hope you find one that you enjoy! :)
The focal are amazing . IMO are the best bt in the market right now with the updates with the new dune color
Great job! I have had the elegia for 1 year and a newly acquired pair of bathys and I agree with your assessments. I have owned the xm4 and the qc35ii as well which I no longer have but I liked them a lot as well mostly the qc35s, you might wanna try a pair of audeze open back for your next pair or similar planar style headphones especially for bass heavy music they will 100% impress you on that front with the massive sub bass texture probably as much as the elegia did with its detail retrieval and separation of instruments. If I ever find a pair that blends all elements I spoke on then I’d sell everything else except them and the bathys.
Many thanks for your kind comment and information. I will definitely look into the Audeze next based on what you wrote. I was indeed thinking to getting an open back next :) cheers!
Thanks for the review. It has helped me decide which headphone to buy. Your audio was low. I had to crank up my volume from the usual 23 to 100 to hear you clearly.
Thank for the feedback. Indeed the audio was pretty bad. Sorry about that.
This is super helpful. I was torn between the Bathys and either the Elegia or Celestee + a iFi go Blu. Got the Bathys on order but I’m still not convinced. I can exchange if I’m not satisfied
Cool! I had a very similar dilemma. Just my view but I think some important points for you to consider are where and how you expect to use your new headphones (the compromise of mobility vs sound quality) and if you already have an old functioning Bluetooth headphone that you can use when you are outside, meaning that you could get the Celestee to have that really nice sound quality at home.
I am really happy with the Bathys and the DAC mode (connected by USB-C) does make a big difference. But if I already had a XM4 or XM5 (the one in the video is my wife's), I would probably have gone for a Celestee to get that extra nice sound quality when at home.
@@kdiegodb I don’t. I have some Campfire Cascades and a Dragonfly Cobalt that is “portable” but I suspect a Go Blu and another wired can wouldn’t be much more portable and I would end up using it less than I think I’d want to. Elegias are $320 right now where I’m at, so if I want to pick one up in a few weeks I can and I won’t feel so bad about it. If I really don’t like the Bathys in a week or so I may exchange them for the Celestee. It’s hard when purchasing these types of items blind.
@@jdlc-df1ue Totally agree. Although these portable Bluetooth DACs increase mobility, they are still not portable enough for everyday life outside your home. The benefit of the portable bluetooth DAC is that you will more easily move around your home and not be stuck to your sound system. Also, with these portable Bluetooth DACs, quality is still better connected by cable versus Bluetooth, so now I always resort to connecting the BTR7 and Elegia by cable to the PC or phone depending on my situation. I have a feeling that the Bathys will be perfect for you. The only downside with it is the size and occasionally my beard gets stuck in the metal circles when I hang it around my neck - it forces you to keep your chin up haha! :D Funny enough, I have received friendly comments from stranger regarding the looks of the Bathys and that has generated some funny conversations.
Hello, what was your feelings about Bathys, I assume that you already tested those :) Asking because I just ordered. Was using B&W px7 S2, PX8 which I was not really happy with, and now trying Bathys.
How are the Bathys in flight? Is the ANC good enough? I’ve had the PX7 s2 and their anc was a joke. I am considering the Bathys but would want them to be used in flights as well
Hey! So I have actually used the Bathys quite a lot on flights now and I have not had any issues with them. My reference is the Bose 35II in the video. I think the Bathys do an equal good or better job. But I would not be surprised if the Sonys are even better.
@@kdiegodb thanks for the feedback
Ha ha, your video made me laugh and smile.
Ten years ago I wasn't even aware how much better headphones could sound and since then I've been on an upward-slope for sound quality.
I've had a B&O H9 for several years now for when listening when moving around the house and a cheaper Sennheiser for wired use at my desk.
I did buy some years ago a Radsone EarStudio 100 and used them a bit with those Sennheisers, and used them a bit as USB-C DAC, but my B&O sounded better than the ES100 + Sennheiser combo and for desktop, a dedicated head-amp was a better solution...
So how does that relate to your video, today?
Well my B&O H9s are starting to wear out and give up. So I started to look around for something new and wanted, of course, a sound-quality upgrade.
I started to look around for good bluetooth headphones, but I wanted a sound-upgrade for use with my head-amp as well and most bluetooth headphones don't sound so good when wired!
But good drivers should sound better when connected to a better DAC+AMP than what fits inside the headphone.
So what did I end up with?
Since doing workouts is not my use-case and travel and ANC is not so important to me either, what I ended up going for was a Focal Elegia (from a close-out sale, for half price) with that ES100 that I already had.
To me that sounded better than the Focal Bath's, with whom I compared it in a store.
The wire is short, making it not too cumbersome.
So it's not as convenient perhaps as a completely wireless headphone, but the ES100 clips on to the wire of the Elegia and the sound is better.
Great viddo , have you ever tried the airpods max ? I had one and it just died after 2 yrs of use , granted that i used it a lot. Every day almost all day in work. Im looking for a replacement, i had the sonys but i wasnt impressed with the software and the sound . The bathys for me is too big if i want to carry it on my had all day in work. I was looking at the bowers and wilkins but transparency mode is very important for me and they only have 4 outside microphones , dont know how good their transparency mode is compared to the airpods max.
Hi! Thanks for the comment and sorry to hear about your airpods max. I have never tried them, but hear that people are quite happy with them. Regarding the PX8's transparency mode, I can't recall in detail other than I didn't have an issue with it. The 4 microphones should be enough. However, small heads up, if you were not impressed by the XM5's software and sound, I feel you might get even more disappointed with the app and sound of the PX8. The app is horrible, only three parameters in the EQ. When listening to it connected by Bluetooth and streaming low-fi sound source like Spotify, the difference vs XM5 is barely noticeable. Is your job one that requires a lot of movement and physical activity? I carry my Bathys around to work, at work, and back everyday and have no issues. But I work in front of a desk, so not a lot of movement there. The Bathys is definitely a chunky thing though, but I think it is worth if you are going for something high end and the DAC mode is awesome for those times you can connect by cable.
@@kdiegodb oh , thanks for the heads up , ill try on the px 8 to double check before i buy it IF i buy it at all. Sadly my work does require physical activity, im an assistant director , always running from A to B in the set. Psi i was quite happy w the airpods max other than a few issues, sometimes the right earcup didnt function, sometimes it had connectivity issues and the worst is it had condensation water in the earcup because the whole headphone is made from metal and as the cold metal surface touches your head which is a lot more warm , condensation water will appear in the inside of the cups between the mesh and the headphone. It is not even a common issue it happens with every airpods max all the time. So aside from these connectivity issues and design flaws it had a great sound and so far the best transparency mode i have tried. I got the bathys and the px8 as a recommendation if i want to replace my airpods max since it is out of stock everywhere in my country and im not even sure that i want another because of these issues.
@@poti732 cool and thanks for the info! Sounds like a fun job though :) I think you might want to give the Bathys a chance then. In the end the activity/movement question comes down to the weight and the weights of the Bathys and PX8 are quite similar. The Bathys weights 350 g vs the airpods max at 385 g. So it might work for you. Just an idea :)
@@kdiegodb thanks for the insights , ill give both of them a try and a listen to their sound , compare them in the shop maybe so i can get a good grasp on which would work for me . Thanks again for the info , cheers :D
@@poti732 no problem! And when comparing them, I would recommend that you insist on trying them connected by Bluetooth and by USB-C because the Bathys is really good in the DAC mode. Also, you could download Qobuz and sign up for their free one month trial to see how it feels with high-fi sound source (in case you use Spotify today). That way you can get a sense of how they perform at their best. There are two links in my description to two channels that cover both headphones. One of them preferred the PX8 over Bathys. Good luck with your purchase!
What is your favorite overall sound quality in music/watching UA-cam and Netflix or any watching streaming app between Sony XM5 or Focal Bathys please?It comes comfort and build quailty/battery in use and charging what you will choose between Sony XM5 or Focal Bathys please?How much the Sony XM5 in USD and Where you bought the Sony XM5 please?
So... sound quality will always be better on the Bathys compared to the XM5. The question is whether the difference is enough to justify the 3x price. I don't know how UA-cam Music compares to Spotify and Qobuz. But from what I can read online, YTM is not HIFI. The higher quality of the sound source, the more difference you will hear between the XM5 and Bathys, and the stronger the argument to pay the premium for the Bathys. If you are just using headphones for watching videos on UA-cam and movies on Netflix and usually connect by Bluetooth rather than cable, I would probably go for the XM5 because the incremental improvement you will get from a Bathys is not worth the price difference. The XM5s are really good to begin with.
With regards to comfort, XM5 wins just because it weighs less and is not as chunky as the Bathys. The Bathys is such a big boy that even letting it hang around your neck feels awkward.
Build quality - they are both good, but the Bathys feels and look more premium due to the use of metal. Charging and battery, no difference worth mentioning.
I got my headphones in Norway, so unfortunately whatever price I paid and where I got them is probably irrelevant to you.
Hope that helps a bit...
@@kdiegodb ok thank you
Please Review and Comparing Bose NC 700 & QC45 /Sennheiser Momentum 4/Marshall Major 4 & Minor 2 ANC
Helpful review. Though the volume was very low. It was difficult to hear your speaking voice. Via my 2020 Ocyober Mac Book Aire. Thank you.
Thanks for the feedback. Agree. Unfortunately, I noticed this later and had a hart time boosting the sound without making it painful to listen to :)
Hello what if i just always use UA-cam music? And UA-cam app?
Hmm! Assuming it is not a high fi source, probably the Sony :)
Is Bathys(wireless mode) louder than xm5?
Just tested. Both are very loud when at max volume. I had to hold them far from my ear to compare. The Bathys is slightly louder and packs a bit more punch. But the Bathys also leaks more sound when playing at comparable levels.
@@kdiegodb Thank you.
Im getting bathys and only using it for bluetooth youtube music or spotify. I like the sound signature of focal more than sony.
what i do when listening to wired headphones while doing chores and such is tucking the cable inside of my shirt so that it doesn't feel as wired as it is
Haha! I have actually done the same
@@kdiegodb so a few months after the video do you still persist in your expressed thoughts?
@@wazza5175 Yeah, so I kept the Bathys and the Elegia and really like them. I use the Bathys on a daily basis but have used the Elegia a bit less than I hoped for due to the inconvenience of having to arrange the cables all the time.
Focal elegia doesn't fit in there because the other are noice canceling headphones / anc. 😅
The cable would definitely get in the way when Im doing motion activity on the wife. 😢
Lol!
Have you tried reducing the bass on the PX8 in the B&W app? I borrowed both PX8 and Bathys some months back, and ended up buying a PX8 due to its superior musicality. I agree the bass could be overwhelming, but reducing it like 3dB in the app did it for me. Focal Bathys sounds "neutral" but so much so that it's lifeless in comparison, even after EQ. I have a couple of Focal wired headphones, and Bathys is nowhere close to their rather lively presentation of music. PX8, on the other hand, when bass is adjusted is almost as "alive" as my Focals.
Also, isn't the Elegia now like $400 because it's been discontinued for a good amount of time now?
Hey! Thanks for your comment. Indeed a lot people would agree with you regarding the PX8 being more lively. I had friends who said just what you said. To me it just did not come across that way. I felt the details were muffled compared to the Bathys and that the difference versus the XM5 did not justify the premium. But this is my personal opinion of course :) Happy to hear that you got to test these great headphones and pick one you really enjoyed.
And you are right, in most places you can now get the Elegia at a historically low price due to the reasons mentioned. So it is quite affordable now. I use them when I am at home and really like them.
@@kdiegodb I'm a Focal fan myself. I have a Clear and Radiance, and both are awesome for their intended use. I think that's why I'm so disappointed with the Bathys, as I wanted it to sound as brilliant as the wired Focals, or at least come close. Also I'm sure you agree that the wired Focals have a much better build quality than Bathys. Something that I appreciate on B&W, which are much better built (and don't look weird on the head).
@@evilvirtuoso9408 hehe cool. I will probably upgrade the Elegia at some point to another Focal headphone. By the way, which DAC would you recommend?
I actually like the looks of the Bathys, but maybe I am just vested in it now that I paid for it hehe but I agree the PX8 looks a bit more normal ;) the Bathys also has the light on the side that sometimes decide to turn on even when I set the settings on off, so I am walking around with lights on my head without knowing...
@@kdiegodb Sci-fi look isn't too bad, lights and all. People would know you are wearing something special. ⭐
Brother, seriously, what do you do to be able to afford all these headphones!??
I am a corporate slave, for now, but even for me, it comes down to prioritization. These are indeed expensive. The good thing is that we don't really need to spend a lot to enjoy good sound. There is a really good channel called cheapaudioman dedicated to informing people on how to get great sound without spending a lot. There are probably other ones like it out there.
@Kddb nice ill check it out for sure?
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I don't think Sonny can fit in there.
Yeah... you mean the XM5 is just not good enough? I get your point. To me the question was really whether and when it is worth paying 2-3x for the premium options. As I mentioned in the video, it will depend on how you intend to use the headphones. I think we can agree that something like the Bathys will always produce better sound, but when is it worth paying 3x for it? Also, I was surprised by how many people would actually pick up the XM5 and prefer it over the Bathys when using Bluetooth and Spotify simply because they like the strong base and the quality difference is not as clear cut as when you connect by cable and stream music with Qobuz. Not everyone is an audiophile. Which one are you considering getting or have you bought one already?
I also own the elegias but still find use for a good pair of Bluetooth cans. Sound preference is subjective. Beats being as popular as they are is a testament to that.
@@shogun3025 awesome and totally agree. What kind of DAC and music device do you use with your Elegia? I found the BTR7 to be quite useful at home, but don't know how it compares to other DACs. I move between different PCs during the day and it makes it very easy to just connect my Elegia to whatever device I am working on or have closest.
@@kdiegodb Im super budget right now using the Schiit modi//magni stack but it sounds pretty amazing
@@shogun3025 cool! Will check those out of curiosity. Totally understand. Will probably be a while until I spend this much on sound again hehe all the best!
was interested in your video subject. Unfortunately, the audio volume is unsatisfactory.
Use a FiiO amp..