Head to head
Focal Bathys Hi-Fi Wireless vs Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds
Focal Bathys Hi-Fi Wireless leads 3 to 1 on the 4 rankable specs, but Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds costs $400 less. Most of the 14 attributes tracked here are descriptive rather than numeric.
Catalog as of September 1, 2026
Why, in numbers
Swap
Compare a different headphone
AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation$179Anker Soundcore Space One Pro$199AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C)$249Sony WF-1000XM5 Earbuds$299Sony WH-1000XM4$348Bose QuietComfort Headphones$349Beats Studio Pro$349Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless$379Sony WH-1000XM5$399Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e$399Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones$429Sonos Ace$449Apple AirPods Max (USB-C)$549Swap
Compare a different headphone
AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation$179Anker Soundcore Space One Pro$199AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C)$249Sony WF-1000XM5 Earbuds$299Sony WH-1000XM4$348Bose QuietComfort Headphones$349Beats Studio Pro$349Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless$379Sony WH-1000XM5$399Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e$399Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones$429Sonos Ace$449Apple AirPods Max (USB-C)$549Buying for
Your devices
Straight answer
Overall: 3 to 1
Buy the Focal Bathys Hi-Fi Wireless.
- Leads 3 of 4 rankable overall specs; Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds takes 1.
- Battery life: 30 hours vs 6 hours listening time on single charge
- Charging time: 1.5 hours vs 2 hours full charge
- Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds is $400 cheaper. Pay the difference only if battery life matters to you.
Deal-breakers
tick what would make you walk away
- Trips:Focal Bathys Hi-Fi Wireless · No (swivels flat)Trips:Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds · No (charging case)
- Trips:Focal Bathys Hi-Fi Wireless · 350 g (12.3 oz)Clear:Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds · 15.4 g
- Clear:Focal Bathys Hi-Fi Wireless · 30 hoursTrips:Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds · 6 hours listening time on single charge
- Trips:Focal Bathys Hi-Fi Wireless · No official IP ratingClear:Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds · IPX4 sweat and water resistant
At a glance
The handful of numbers that decide most purchases in this category.
Weight
Focal
350 g (12.3 oz)
Bose
15.4 g (0.54 oz) earbuds total (7.7 g each) / 60 g charging case
Active Noise Cancelling≠
Focal
Yes (Silent, Soft, and Transparent modes with 8 microphones)
Bose
Yes (World-class Active Noise Cancellation with CustomTune sound calibration)
Battery life
Focal
30 hours (Bluetooth ANC) / 35 hours (Jack) / 42 hours (USB-DAC)
Bose
6 hours listening time on single charge (4 hours with Immersive Audio) / up to 24 hours total with case
The 90-Day Owner Regret Check
Documented ergonomic quirks, hardware annoyances, and maintenance realities reported by real owners.
Focal: What to watch for
- Maintenance
Requires ongoing care to maintain peak out-of-box performance.
Bose: What to watch for
- Maintenance
Requires ongoing care to maintain peak out-of-box performance.
Design
leads 1-0| Type | Over-ear, closed-back | In-ear true wireless earbuds with silicone stability bands |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 350 g (12.3 oz) | 15.4 g (0.54 oz) earbuds total (7.7 g each) / 60 g charging case (wins this row: lower) |
| Foldable | No (swivels flat) | No (charging case) |
| Carrying case | Rigid black/silver carrying case included | Pocket-sized hard shell charging case (USB-C) |
| IP rating | No official IP rating | IPX4 sweat and water resistant |
Audio
5 differences| Driver | 40 mm Aluminum/Magnesium 'M'-shaped dome (Made in France) | High-performance proprietary dynamic transducers |
|---|---|---|
| Active Noise Cancelling | Yes (Silent, Soft, and Transparent modes with 8 microphones) | Yes (World-class Active Noise Cancellation with CustomTune sound calibration) |
| Transparency mode | Yes (Transparency Mode) | Yes (Aware Mode with ActiveSense technology) |
| Supported codecs | aptX Adaptive, aptX, AAC, SBC | Snapdragon Sound, aptX Adaptive, AAC, SBC |
| Microphones | 8 microphones with Clear Voice Capture technology | 4 microphones in each earbud (8 mics total for ANC and voice pickup) |
Connectivity & Battery
leads 2-0| Multipoint Bluetooth | Yes (Bluetooth 5.1 multipoint) | Yes (Bluetooth 5.3 multipoint connectivity) |
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | 30 hours (Bluetooth ANC) / 35 hours (Jack) / 42 hours (USB-DAC) (wins this row: higher) | 6 hours listening time on single charge (4 hours with Immersive Audio) / up to 24 hours total with case |
| Charging time | 1.5 hours (15 min fast charge gives 5 hours) (wins this row: lower) | 2 hours full charge (20 min quick charge gives 2 hours); USB-C wired |
Ownership
leads 1-0| Warranty | 2 years (wins this row: higher) | 1 year manufacturer warranty |
|---|
Which one should you buy
Pick this one if
Focal Bathys Hi-Fi Wireless
High-fidelity Bluetooth active noise-cancelling headphones with integrated 24-bit/192kHz USB-DAC mode.
- True high-fidelity audiophile sound with patented Aluminum/Magnesium M-dome drivers
- Built-in USB-DAC mode supports uncompressed 24-bit/192kHz playback
- Exquisite French design with backlit ear cup logos and genuine leather
What you give up
- High luxury price point
- Heavier build at 350 grams
Pick this one if
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds
Premium true wireless earbuds with world-class noise cancellation, CustomTune personalized sound, and Bose Immersive Audio spatialized sound.
- Benchmark active noise cancellation that silences low and mid-frequency ambient noise
- CustomTune technology calibrates sound and ANC to your ear canal shape on every insertion
- Bose Immersive Audio provides spatialized audio regardless of source or platform
What you give up
- Wireless charging case cover is sold as an optional accessory (USB-C wired standard)
- Battery life drops to 4 hours with Immersive Audio turned on (6 hours standard)
Best for each use
Flights & commutes
Tied on flights & commutes. Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds is cheaper.
Calls & work
Too close to call on calls & work from the spec sheets. Only battery life is rankable here.
Sound quality
Too close to call on sound quality from the spec sheets. Only weight is rankable here.
Done deciding?
Open the full standalone spec sheet for either device.
Manufacturer pages: Focal Bathys Hi-Fi Wireless ↗ · Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds ↗
Common questions
Which is cheaper, the Focal Bathys Hi-Fi Wireless or the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds?
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds costs $400 less at list price.
What is the biggest catch with the Focal Bathys Hi-Fi Wireless or Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds?
Both has this deal-breaker: does not fold. Takes a bigger slot in a carry-on.
Which is better for flights & commutes, the Focal Bathys Hi-Fi Wireless or the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds?
Tied on flights & commutes. Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds is cheaper. The 2 rankable flights & commutes specs split 1 to 1. Saves $400 at list price.
What cannot be compared from spec sheets?
Of the 14 specs tracked here, 10 are descriptive and cannot be ranked on numbers alone. Spec sheets also cannot measure subjective factors like build quality, real-world performance, or comfort.