Focal Bathys EQ settings for Mac
Measured EQ correction for the Focal Bathys, the specs that matter, and what changes when you use them with a Mac. Copy the settings and apply them in one click.
The short answer
- Adds about 7 dB around 831 Hz.
- Adds about 4 dB around 2.2 kHz.
- Adds about 4 dB around 4.2 kHz for presence.
- Cuts about 4 dB around 642 Hz.
Bathys at a glance
Wireless closed-back ANC headphone. Official specifications from Focal:
- Driver
- 40 mm aluminium/magnesium M-shaped dome
- Battery
- Up to 30 hours (ANC on)
- Weight
- 350 g
- Bluetooth
- 5.1
- USB-C
- Charging + wired DAC mode
Sources: AutoEQ (oratory1990).
Using the Bathys with a Mac
Codec: AAC, not aptX or aptX Adaptive. The Bathys support AAC, SBC, aptX and aptX Adaptive, but macOS doesn't support aptX or aptX Adaptive. On a Mac they play over AAC, which carries the full 20 Hz to 20 kHz range at standard sample rates (44.1 or 48 kHz).
Calls sound worse than music. As soon as an app uses the headphones' microphone (Zoom, FaceTime, a dictation shortcut), Bluetooth switches to hands-free mode, which has much lower audio quality. Pick your Mac's built-in microphone as the input to keep the Bathys in stereo music mode.
Noise control. TuningMac can't switch Focal's noise cancelling modes yet, so use the button on the headphones or Focal's app on your phone. The EQ, volume and output features all work.
What the measurements show
This correction comes from AutoEQ, based on oratory1990's measurements of the Bathys. It shows how much to boost or cut at each frequency to bring the headphones closer to AutoEQ's neutral target:
- Adds about 7 dB around 831 Hz.
- Adds about 4 dB around 2.2 kHz.
- Adds about 4 dB around 4.2 kHz for presence.
- Cuts about 4 dB around 642 Hz.
Fit, ear pads and your own ears all change what you hear, and neutral isn't everyone's favourite sound. Use this as a starting point, then adjust by ear.
Apply it in TuningMac (parametric EQ)
TuningMac's Advanced EQ imports this format directly. Copy the settings, then:
- Open TuningMac ▸ Settings ▸ Advanced EQ with your Bathys connected.
- Turn on Use Advanced EQ for Focal Bathys (or whatever you've named them on your Mac).
- Choose More ▸ Paste from Clipboard.
TuningMac saves it for your Bathys and loads it whenever they connect.
Preamp: -3.9 dB Filter 1: ON LSC Fc 105 Hz Gain -0.3 dB Q 0.70 Filter 2: ON PK Fc 642 Hz Gain -3.5 dB Q 0.24 Filter 3: ON PK Fc 831 Hz Gain 7.1 dB Q 1.99 Filter 4: ON PK Fc 4157 Hz Gain 3.6 dB Q 1.67 Filter 5: ON PK Fc 2185 Hz Gain 4.3 dB Q 3.03 Filter 6: ON HSC Fc 10000 Hz Gain 0.7 dB Q 0.70 Filter 7: ON PK Fc 86 Hz Gain -0.3 dB Q 0.96 Filter 8: ON PK Fc 199 Hz Gain 0.5 dB Q 1.78 Filter 9: ON PK Fc 2995 Hz Gain -0.6 dB Q 4.09 Filter 10: ON PK Fc 381 Hz Gain -0.4 dB Q 2.53
| # | Type | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Low Shelf | 105 Hz | −0.3 dB | 0.70 |
| 2 | Bell | 642 Hz | −3.5 dB | 0.24 |
| 3 | Bell | 831 Hz | +7.1 dB | 1.99 |
| 4 | Bell | 4.16 kHz | +3.6 dB | 1.67 |
| 5 | Bell | 2.19 kHz | +4.3 dB | 3.03 |
| 6 | High Shelf | 10 kHz | +0.7 dB | 0.70 |
| 7 | Bell | 86 Hz | −0.3 dB | 0.96 |
| 8 | Bell | 199 Hz | +0.5 dB | 1.78 |
| 9 | Bell | 3 kHz | −0.6 dB | 4.09 |
| 10 | Bell | 381 Hz | −0.4 dB | 2.53 |
Preamp: −3.9 dB. It lowers the overall level so the boosts don't clip.
Prefer simple sliders? The 10-band version
No Advanced EQ needed: AutoEQ also gives values for a standard 10-band equalizer, the same bands as TuningMac's main EQ. In the menu bar popover choose Custom, set each slider, and set the preamp to about −3.0 dB.
Values in dB, at 31 Hz to 16 kHz. The parametric version above is more precise.
Questions
Which codec do the Focal Bathys use on a Mac?+
AAC. The Bathys support AAC, SBC, aptX and aptX Adaptive, but macOS doesn't support aptX or aptX Adaptive, so on a Mac they play over AAC. That carries 20 Hz to 20 kHz audio at standard sample rates.
What are the best EQ settings for the Focal Bathys?+
AutoEQ's correction, based on oratory1990's measurements, adds about 7 dB around 831 Hz, adds about 4 dB around 2.2 kHz, adds about 4 dB around 4.2 kHz, with a preamp of -3.9 dB. The exact values are on this page, ready to copy. Treat it as a neutral starting point and adjust to taste.
Why do my Focal Bathys sound bad on calls on a Mac?+
When an app uses the headphones' microphone, Bluetooth switches from stereo music mode to a hands-free call mode with much lower audio quality. To keep music quality during calls, choose your Mac's built-in microphone as the input instead. TuningMac's Input list does this in one click, and its Device Info shows which mode you're in.
Can I control the Focal Bathys's noise cancelling from a Mac?+
Not yet. TuningMac can't switch Focal's noise cancelling modes yet, so use the button on the headphones or Focal's app on your phone. The EQ, volume and output features all work.
Should I turn off the EQ in Focal's app?+
For the most accurate result, yes. An equalizer set in Focal's app is applied inside the headphones, so it also affects your Mac and would add to this correction. TuningMac's EQ only changes sound from your Mac, so it won't affect your phone.
Tune your Bathys on your Mac
Parametric and 10-band EQ, noise control and battery in the menu bar.
EQ data from AutoEQ by Jaakko Pasanen (MIT licence), measurement by oratory1990. Specifications from Focal's published specifications. Focal Bathys is a trademark of Focal; TuningMac is not affiliated with Focal.