High End ANC Headphones Tested - Focal Bathys, B&W PX8, Mark Levinson 5909

About this Video

• Video Title: High End ANC Headphones Tested - Focal Bathys, B&W PX8, Mark Levinson 5909
• Channel: The Headphone Show
• Speakers: Andrew, Taran (mentioned)
• Duration: 00:27:09

Introduction

This video compares three high-end noise-canceling headphones: Focal Bathys, Bowers & Wilkins PX8, and Mark Levinson 5909. The reviewer, Andrew, assesses their sound quality, features, noise-canceling performance, and build quality to determine how these expensive models compare to others in the market. The video notably omits sound demos due to concerns about inaccurate representation across different playback setups.

Key Takeaways

• Build, Design & Comfort: The Bowers & Wilkins PX8 is deemed the sturdiest, while the Focal Bathys offers the most comfortable fit. The Mark Levinson 5909 has a more striking design but may have a pressure point for some users.
• ANC Performance: The Bowers & Wilkins PX8 exhibits the best overall noise cancellation, followed by the Mark Levinson 5909 and then the Focal Bathys. However, none surpass the Sony WH-1000XM5 and Apple AirPods Max in ANC performance. Each headphone excels in attenuating different frequency ranges.
• Sound Quality (Objective): The frequency response analysis reveals variations. The Mark Levinson 5909 displays a treble peak at 10k Hz (more noticeable with ANC on), and a mid-range dip with ANC activated. The Focal Bathys shows a dip around 900 Hz, which the reviewer found less impactful than the graph suggests. The Bowers & Wilkins PX8 has inconsistencies in measurements, with one showing harmonic imbalances in the treble and excessive bass.
• Sound Quality (Subjective): The Focal Bathys provides the most pleasant sound overall, while the Mark Levinson 5909 has a "zingy" treble that may be fatiguing. The Bowers & Wilkins PX8 suffers from significant harmonic imbalances, making it sound compressed.
• Features & Dealbreakers: App functionality varies. Focal Bathys offers the most flexible EQ, while Mark Levinson's is limited. The Mark Levinson 5909 had pairing issues and noticeable background hiss. The Focal Bathys is always-on, even in wired mode. The Bowers & Wilkins PX8 required a separate, clunky music app.