Focal Bathys MG

• Weight: 350 g / 0.77 lb

• Autonomy:
  • 30h Bluetooth® Noise Cancelling
  • 35h with Jack connection
  • 42h in USB-DAC mode
• Battery type: Lithium-ion 1060 mAH
• Charging time: 1.5 h
• Quick charge: Yes

• Bluetooth version: 5.2 Multipoint
• Bluetooth Codec: AAC, aptX™, aptX™ Adaptive, SBC
• Microphones: 8

• Carrying case included: Yes
• Carrying case dimensions: 21 cm x 24 cm x 7 cm / 8.26 in x 9.44 in x 2.75 in
• Cables provided: 2 cables – 1.2 m jack cable – a 1.2 m USB-C® cable

• Bluetooth
• Mini-Jack (3.5mm)
• USB

Are there any limitations when using USB-DAC mode?

– No voice prompts
– No proximity sensor (i.e. auto pause/resume)
– On iOS, no possibility to take calls
– 176kHz sampling rate is not supported
– Not possible to connect to the Focal & Naim app to change settings (although settings made in Bluetooth® mode do apply in DAC mode)

What audio formats are supported on wired USB connection?

Audio formats supported:

• 44.1 kHz 16/24 bits: YES
• 48 kHz 16/24 bits: YES
• 88.2 kHz 16/24 bits: YES
• 96 kHz 16/24 bits: YES
• 176.4 kHz 16/24 bits: NO
• 192 kHz 16/24 bits: YES

How can I use USB-DAC mode with an iPhone?

You need to have an OTG adaptor USB-C to connect your iPhone to the USB cable. The call function will not work with iOS devices.

Why on MacBook I have different levels on the left and right channels?

Here is a known issue that in specific conditions MacBook is making the audio device out of balance.
In order to avoid this issue you can download a free software from Mac App Store: “Balance Lock”.
If you want to correct the balance manually you can access to channel levels in “Audio MIDI Settings”.

Why is the USB-DAC mode on my Bathys headphones not recognised by my device?

The Bathys headphones USB device is a USB 2.0. It is compatible with USB v1.0, v2.0 and USB HID (Human Interface Device) audio classes. It does not always connect automatically to your device, for various reasons:

• The device connected to Bathys is not configured in Host mode. A specific setting must be activated for USB-OTG connection on some devices/phones (note that OTG may automatically deactivate after 10 minutes of USB inactivity on some devices).
• The device connected to Bathys is not compatible with USB Audio and/or USB-HID. The settings for USB Audio routing and/or USB-HID control must be activated for optimum operation of Bathys. We also strongly recommend using Bathys with USB High Speed if possible.
• The device connected to Bathys goes into high-current protection mode. If you connect your Bathys to your device without DAC mode selected on the headphones, it will start charging with a high current, so your device will go into protection mode. The best solution is to set Bathys to DAC mode, then connect it to your device.
• The device connected to Bathys does not recognise the headphones as an audio device, so you may need to restart your phone for this to work.

Can I listen via Jack input when the battery is dead?

No – the battery is required to listen to the Jack input due it being an active amplification input.

What is ANC? How does it work?

The Active Noise Cancelling technology offers several listening possibilities without being disturbed by the environmental sounds. It is composed of microphones allowing to get and analyse the surrounding sounds, so that an inverse frequency is produced to reduce the undesirable background noises. This technology is ideal to enjoy your music, a podcast, a movie, to make a call…

What is the difference between the 3 ANC modes?

Transparent: To have a clear conversation without removing the headphones.
Soft: To have a light noise attenuation for less noisy environments with keeping a certain level of awareness (office, house).
Silent: To have an optimal noise attenuation for noisy environments like in the airplane.

Why does the noise cancelling not work well?

Make sure that:

• the earpads are well fixed and all the pins are fixed,
• the earpads are not damaged or have holes,
• the fabric and foam inside the earcup (in front of the driver) should not be removed or badly placed,
• the microphones are hidden around the logo and on the earcup, make sure that they are not blocked.

Is it possible to use the Active Noise Cancelling without listening to music?

Yes, if you want to use the Active Noise Cancelling only (without music), you need to either disable the Auto Standby feature or be on the DAC position.
If you are on ON mode without music, the headphones will by default go into sleep mode after 15 minutes. This can be changed by disabling Auto Standby in the headphones’ settings. If you are on DAC mode, no sleep mode will be activated, so you are able to have the active noise-cancelling only.

How long does it take to charge my Bathys?

The power output from chargers varies but using a good quality charger (which can deliver 2 ampers), the headphones can be charged in about 1.5 hours.

Can I charge my headphones from my smartphone?

Yes, but it depends on the smartphone you are using. Not all the smartphones support it. You need to verify the USB settings in your smartphone.

Why am I hearing a “click” noise with Bluetooth® music streaming, while I charge the headphones?

Make sure to use a high-quality charger, ideally capable to deliver on 5V DC, at least 2A of current.
If your battery is empty and the charger is limited on current delivery, it is possible that you hear few minutes of clicks before the battery level rise.

How can I know the remaining battery capacity of my Bathys headphones?

The remaining battery capacity is specified in the Focal & Naim Application.

What is the battery life of my headphones?

– 30h in Bluetooth® mode and Active Noise Cancelling
– 35h in Jack mode
– 40h in USB-DAC mode

Can my headphones work without battery?

No, the headphones need power for any type of operation.

Can I answer to a call with my headphones?

In Bluetooth®: Yes, to answer you need to press the multifunction button. To hang up, press again the multifunction button. You can also reject a call with your headphones, by pressing the multifunction button for 2 seconds.
We use the Clear Voice Capture technology: two microphones are dedicated to calls to have a clear conversation.

In USB-DAC: Yes, if the device supports standard USB protocol.

In Jack: No, it’s not possible in Jack mode because the microphones are not activated.

Is it possible to disable the light on Bathys MG earpads?

Yes, you can change the light settings in the Focal & Naim app. You can dim or switch off the light.

My USB or Jack cable has broken. Where can I find another certified Focal cable?

If you have a material issue, put you in touch with your dealer who can supply the Focal certified pieces you need.

Can I use my headphones while playing video games?

Yes, you can play video games while using your Bathys MG headphones thanks to the Bluetooth® aptX™ Adaptive codec, which is low latency.

Where can I find the serial number of my Bathys MG?

The serial number of your headphones is situated at the back of the packaging or inside the left slider of the headphones.

Will there be updates of my headphones?

Yes, updates will be proposed to you if it is the case. You can find them in the Focal & Naim app. As soon as an update will be available, the app will inform you.

What sets Bathys apart from Bathys MG?

While Bathys headphones deliver pure hi-fi sound, a signature of Focal, their main difference lies in their speaker driver technology. Bathys features exclusive aluminium/magnesium drivers, whereas Bathys MG is equipped with exclusive magnesium drivers—a material that allows for even greater precision and sound detail.
Their Bluetooth® technology also sets them apart: Bathys comes with version 5.1, while Bathys MG, launched two years later, integrates version 5.2 along with optimised microphones for enhanced active noise cancellation (ANC).

How does EQ work?

The EQ is consisting of a 5-band graphical equalizer, with 2 predefine modes:
– Home: this mode can be used in quiet environment and allows to lightly reduce the deeps and the hight-pitched sounds, to have a more neutral sound.
– Loudness: this mode can be used for low volume listening, to counterbalance the decrease level of low and high frequencies.
It’s also possible to customise and save your personal settings.
The EQ settings will be saved on the headphone and no matter if you use Bluetooth®, USB-C audio (DAC) or 3.5mm jack the same EQ will be applied to the sound until you change or turn off the EQ by mobile application (mobile application is accessible on Bluetooth® mode).

Why am I not able to connect the application to my Bathys MG?

If you are using multiple devices with the application, make sure that the Bathys is not already connected with the application on another device (only one device at the same time can be connected to the headphones with the Naim app).
If no other devices are connected to the headphones, try rebooting the headphones and cleaning the Bluetooth® devices list.
Check that the application is up to date.
The Focal & Naim app can only be used with the Bluetooth® mode.

I can’t pair with my android phone – I saw the fast pair message pop up, I dismissed it by accident and now I can’t pair.

If you accidentally dismiss the fast pair pop-up message, sometimes the phone thinks you want to ignore the headphones and the phone will prevent you from pairing with them for about 10 minutes.
– In the Bluetooth® settings of your phone, make sure you “forget” all Bathys MG
– Switch off your headphones
– Restart your phone
– Switch on your headphones
– Enter pairing mode (long press on the Bluetooth® button)
– Fast pair should now work.

Why does aptX™ Adaptive not work on my headphones?

Some old phones sometimes do not correctly respect the stream type requested from the headphones. So, if the aptX™ Adaptive doesn’t work, try updating Phone OS or contact your phone manufacturer.

Can I pair my headphones to multiple audio sources? If so, how many?

You can be connected to 2 devices at the same time, but only one playing at one time. You can pair up to 8 devices, if more, the oldest paired device will be automatically removed.

How can I go from one device to another with Bluetooth® mode?

We use the Multipoint technology which allows to automatically switch from one device to another when several devices are still pair to the headphones and Bluetooth® mode is activated on the devices. It is not necessary to go through the setting, for example: if you listen to music via your tablet and you receive a phone call, when you hang up, the headphones automatically connect to your smartphone.

What audio codecs are supported?

In Bluetooth®, the headphones support: SBC, AAC, aptX™ and aptX™ Adaptive. The headphones will automatically choose the best codec available on your device.
In USB, the headphones support: PCM up to 192kHz/24bits.

How do I get the best sound quality from my Bluetooth® headphones?

Best quality is achieved by playing lossless files on your playback device where possible, associated to the less compressed Bluetooth® codec: aptX™ Adaptive for the Android devices and AAC for the devices using iOS.
Thanks to the DAC mode, connected with the USB-C on your device, you can enjoy music without compression, with a resolution to go until 192kHz/24bits

What is the maximum reach of a Bluetooth® connection?

The maximum Bluetooth® reach is 15 meters in free rein, without obstacles between the playback device and the headphones.

How to connect to the voice assistant (Google assistant or Amazon Alexa)?

You can choose the voice assistant you want through the Focal & Naim app. You need to download the app, and then, when doing the set-up of your Bathys MG headphones, you can select Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa or Siri and connect to your account. After this, you have a dedicated button on the right earcup to start the voice assistant.

Why streaming on aptX™ Adaptive creates noise?

Unfortunately, some smartphone brands are not following the aptX™ Adaptive specifications correctly and could cause a noise on the Bathys MG, in this case please try other codecs.