Is this the right article for you?
You're in the right place if your Focal product:
- Will not power on at all, even after charging or checking the power supply
- Arrived brand new and has never worked
- Has stopped powering on after previously working normally
- Powers on but drains its battery very rapidly (Bathys ANC)
- Will not charge despite being connected to power
This article covers the Focal Bathys ANC (battery faults), Focal Arche (DAC and headphone amplifier), Focal Astral 16 (AV amplifier), Focal Sub Air, and Naim NDX2.
Step 1 — Check the basics first
Before assuming the product has a fault, work through these quick checks. They resolve a surprising number of cases.
For all electronics (Arche, Astral 16, Sub Air, NDX2):
- Try a completely different mains wall outlet — test that outlet with a phone charger or lamp to confirm it has power.
- Check the power cable is firmly seated at both ends — the product end and the wall end.
- If your product has a power switch on the rear or underside, confirm it is in the On position.
- Check the fuse in the mains plug (if your plug has one). A blown fuse is a common and easily fixed cause of no power.
- If you're using a power board or surge protector, try connecting directly to the wall outlet instead — some surge protectors can fail or have individual switch issues.
For the Focal Bathys ANC (battery issues):
- Connect the headphones to a charger using the supplied USB-C cable and a known-working charger (e.g. your phone charger).
- Look for a charging indicator light. If the LED does not respond at all, try a different USB-C cable.
- Leave the headphones on charge for at least 30 minutes before testing — a deeply discharged battery may take a few minutes before it shows any response.
- If the headphones charge normally but the battery drains within an hour of use, this is a battery degradation fault — note this when you contact us.
If these checks resolve the issue — great, no further steps needed. If not, move on to Step 2.
Step 2 — Try a hard reset
A hard reset can sometimes restore a unit that has become unresponsive due to a firmware or software lock-up rather than a hardware fault.
Focal Bathys ANC:
- Ensure the headphones are on charge.
- Hold the power button for 10 seconds until the LED flashes. Release and allow to restart.
- If no response, leave on charge for 1 hour and try again.
Focal Arche:
- Ensure the unit is connected to mains power.
- Hold the power button on the front panel for 10 seconds.
- If the unit remains unresponsive, disconnect from mains, wait 30 seconds, reconnect and try again.
Focal Astral 16 / Naim NDX2:
- Power the unit off at the mains and disconnect the power cable completely.
- Wait 60 seconds.
- Reconnect and power on.
- If the Astral 16 displays a warning message (e.g. fan malfunction error), note the exact message and contact us — do not repeatedly attempt to power on.
Focal Sub Air:
- Power the unit off and disconnect from mains.
- Wait 30 seconds, reconnect, and power on.
- If the unit powers on but produces no sound, this is a separate fault — see our Sub Air audio article.
Step 3 — If it still won't power on
If your product is still unresponsive after Steps 1 and 2, it needs to be assessed by our team. Please do not attempt to open the unit or inspect the internals — particularly for warranty products, any signs of internal access can affect your claim.
When you contact us, please have ready:
- Your product model and serial number
- Your proof of purchase
- A description of what happened — did it arrive like this, or did it stop working after a period of use?
- The steps you've already tried from this article
- For the Astral 16: the exact error message displayed, if any
- For the Bathys: whether the unit charges but drains quickly, or won't charge at all
Contact Westan Support: Email focal.support@westan.com.au or submit a ticket at support.westan.com.au
Frequently asked questions
My product arrived and has never worked. Is that covered?
Yes — a product that fails to work from the moment of purchase is classified as Dead on Arrival (DOA) and is covered under warranty at no cost to you, including return freight. You must report a DOA fault within 30 days of your purchase date.
My Bathys battery drains in under an hour. Is that a warranty issue?
Yes, if the headphones are within 2 years of purchase. Rapid battery drain that is clearly beyond normal degradation is treated as a manufacturing defect. Note how long the battery lasts and under what conditions when you contact us.
The Astral 16 showed a warning message and won't start. What does that mean?
Some error messages on the Astral 16 (such as fan malfunction warnings) indicate a specific internal component issue rather than a general power failure. Please note the exact message and contact us — this helps us identify the fault quickly and arrange the appropriate repair.
My product is out of warranty. Can it be repaired?
In most cases yes. Contact us for a repair assessment and quote. Electronics repairs vary in cost depending on the fault — we'll give you a clear estimate before any work begins.