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You're in the right place if your Bathys headphones are making any of these sounds:

• A loud, high-pitched squeal or whine when you power them on
• A rhythmic beeping sound during use, even without music playing
• A persistent hiss or tonal noise from one ear cup (usually the left)
• A noise that fades slightly after a few seconds but never fully goes away
• Any loud, unwanted sound that isn't coming from your music source

Safety first: If your headphones feel hot to the touch, or if you notice any burning smell, power them off immediately and do not charge them. Contact us directly before attempting any of the steps below.

Before you begin

These steps work for most customers and take about 10 minutes. You'll need your Focal Bathys headphones charged to at least 30%, a phone or tablet with the Focal & Naim app installed (free on iOS and Android), and a quiet space to test the sound.

Good news: This is a known issue that Focal has addressed in firmware updates. Many customers resolve it completely in Step 1 without needing to contact us.

Step 1 — Update the firmware

A firmware update is the fastest fix and resolves the noise issue for most customers.

1. Make sure your headphones have at least 30% battery.
2. Open the Focal & Naim app on your phone. Download it free from the App Store or Google Play if needed.
3. Go to the device settings for your Bathys within the app.
4. If a firmware update is available, tap to install it.
5. Keep the headphones close to your phone and don't turn them off during the update (takes 2–5 minutes).
6. Once complete, power the headphones off, wait 10 seconds, then power back on.
7. Test for the noise.

If the noise is gone — you're all done! If it persists, move on to Step 2.

Step 2 — Factory reset

A factory reset clears corrupted settings that can cause the noise. It won't affect your phone or delete your music — it only resets the headphone's internal settings.

1. Make sure the headphones are powered on.
2. Hold the power button for 10 seconds until the LED flashes red three times.
3. The headphones will restart automatically.
4. Re-pair them with your phone from scratch via your phone's Bluetooth settings.
5. Test without the Focal & Naim app connected first.
6. Test for the noise.

If the noise is resolved — reconnect the app and restore your preferences. If it persists, move on to Step 3.

Step 3 — Check whether the noise is linked to ANC

The Bathys have Active Noise Cancellation (ANC). Some noise faults are caused by the ANC circuit, not the drivers — this test tells us which it is.

1. Power your Bathys on.
2. Slide the Off/DAC/On switch to the Off position — this disables ANC completely.
3. Wait 30 seconds and listen carefully.

If the noise stops with ANC off: this is an ANC circuit issue — note this when you contact us. If the noise continues with ANC off: this is a driver or internal fault — also note this when you contact us.

What happens next

If Steps 1–3 haven't resolved the issue, your headphones need to be assessed by our team. This is a known fault pattern with a clear repair process. When you contact us, please have ready:

• Your serial number (on a label inside the ear cup)
• Your proof of purchase
• Which steps you've tried
• Whether the noise stops when ANC is disabled

Contact Westan Support: Email focal.support@westan.com.au or submit a ticket at support.westan.com.au

Frequently asked questions

Is this covered under warranty?

Yes — if your Bathys are within 2 years of purchase and the fault is not caused by physical damage, this is covered under Focal's warranty at no cost to you.

Do I need to send the headphones in?

In most cases yes — if firmware update and reset don't resolve it, we'll provide a prepaid return label for warranty cases.

How long will the repair take?

Typically 2–4 weeks. We'll keep you updated throughout.

My warranty has expired — can you still help?

Absolutely. Contact us for a repair quote — we'll outline options and costs before you commit to anything.