Sonos Ace
our rating
4.5
(out of 5)
Specs
- Driver – 40 mm dynamic
- Frequency Range – 20 Hz – 20 kHz
- Cable – USB-C to USB-C cable (charging), USB-C to 3.5 mm cable (audio)
- Weight – 312 g
- Impedance – Not Specified
- IP Rating – The unit is not waterproof or IP-rated; avoid exposing to liquids.
- Battery Life – 30 hours with ANC or Aware Mode on
- Bluetooth Version – 5.4
- Codecs Supported – SBC, AAC, AptX Lossless, AptX Adaptive, AptX Low Latency, AptX HD
Pros
- Sound that matches some of the top competitors on the market
- Comfortable
- One-button, seamless integration with Sonos speakers
- Premium, elegant build
Cons
- Very basic app
- Pricey
Bottom Line:
Competitive ANC cans that hold their own with some of the top contenders. Ideal for Sonos users and home theater buffs.
Check Price:
Introducing the Sonos Ace
Sonos, known for premium home audio systems, has expanded into personal audio with the Ace headphones. These are the first Sonos headphones.
We tested these to see if they could deliver immersive, high-quality sound in line with their reputation. How do they hold up to the competition?
Check out our gear category page for more on ANC headphones and audio gear.
Who are the Sonos Ace for?
The Sonos Ace headphones are for people who are already fans of the Sonos ecosystem or want a set of headphones that blur the line between personal audio and home theater.
They shine for users who value features like Dolby Atmos spatial audio, head tracking, and seamless integration with Sonos soundbars.
That said, with competition from Sony and Apple, the Ace is most likely to appeal to users who want a home theater experience in headphones.
Alternatives to the Sonos Ace
AirPods Max
Apple’s elegant over-ear, ANC Cans. Tied for best noise-cancelling, very comfortable with very good stock tuning.
Check Price:
Focal Bathys
ANC headphones for audiophiles – dynamic punch, excellent resolution. (complete review of the Focal Bathys)
Check Price:
Sennheiser Momentum 4
Best value ANC headphones in our book. Very good sound, massive 60-hour battery life.
Check Price:
Who are the Sonos Ace NOT for?
The Sonos Ace headphones are not for budget-conscious buyers nor casual listeners.
What’s in the Box?
The Sonos Ace box arrived with the following:
- Sonos Ace Headphones
- Travel Case
- Removable Cable Pouch: A magnetically attached pouch within the travel case for cable storage.
- USB-C to USB-C Cable (0.75 m): For charging and wired listening.
- USB-C to 3.5 mm Cable (1.2 m): For connecting to devices with a 3.5 mm audio jack.
Build / Comfort
The Sonos Ace headphones sport attention to detail in their first foray into personal audio. The build combines sleek aesthetics with functionality, resulting in headphones that look and feel premium.
The ear cups are generously padded with memory foam wrapped in soft vegan leather, creating a plush feel against the ears. In our tests, the padding provided excellent cushioning for long listening sessions, though users with larger ears may find the ear cups slightly snug. The matte finish is resistant to smudges.
Sonos emphasizes sustainability by incorporating post-consumer recycled plastics into the headphones and travel case. Additionally, the ear cushions are designed for easy replacement, promoting longevity and reducing environmental impact.
The earcups are deep enough to not touch the pinnae of most ears. They rotate flat for storage but don’t fold, which might impact portability compared to competitors like Sony’s WH-1000XM5 or Bose’s QC Ultra. The seal of the earcups to the head creates an air-tight acoustic seal with excellent passive noise isolation.
Sonos opted for a stainless steel headband wrapped in matte-finish plastic for durability without adding unnecessary weight. The headband’s extendable arms adjust smoothly and stay in place, accommodating a wide range of head sizes comfortably.
A thoughtful detail is the innovative pressure equalization mechanism within the ear cups, ensuring a consistent acoustic seal without exerting excessive pressure. However, at 312 grams, the Sonos Ace is heavier than some competitors, which might be noticeable during extended wear.
Controls
Testing the Sonos Ace headphones, the controls felt intuitive and unique compared to other headphones I’ve tested. The combination of physical buttons and sliding gestures offered a more reliable and user-friendly experience overall.
A standout feature is the “Content Key,” a tactile button on the right earcup. This is a multi-function button similar to the dial on the AirPods Max.
Sliding up or down adjusts the volume, a single press plays or pauses, a double press skips tracks, and a triple press returns to the previous track.
This is also the magic button for switching seamlessly between TV audio and the headphones when paired with a Sonos soundbar.
There’s also a dedicated Noise Control button just below the Content Key, allowing me to toggle between Active Noise Canceling, Aware Mode, and Off. I found this setup much easier to manage than touch-sensitive controls, which can often lead to accidental inputs.
Overview of the Controls on the Sonos Ace
| Control | Function | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Content Key |
| Right ear cup |
| Noise Control Button |
| Right ear cup |
| Power/Bluetooth Button |
| Left ear cup |
| USB-C Port |
| Left ear cup |
Sound: Sonos Ace
Frequency Response Diagram Sonos Ace
On the whole, the frequency response of the Sonos Ace headphones felt almost right, but not perfectly balanced. Here’s how they performed:
Highs
High-pitched vocals, Ewok screams, and instruments like cymbals felt crisp with a bit too much zing in the 6 kHz range. However, the experience up here never caused listener fatigue.
Mids
The midrange of the Sonos Ace is slightly overshadowed by the bass bloat. Vocals and instruments in the midrange come through with warmth and natural timbre, but they are a little overpowered by the 60–200 Hz thump.
Bass
We liked the sub-bass lift on these but wished it would scoop around 50 Hz to help balance the mids. While we loved the fullness of the low end and overall quick transients, the bass felt slightly overpowering in certain tracks.
Soundstage
The Ace headphones surprised us with their expansive soundstage for a closed-back design.
Tracks felt spacious, with clear instrument placement and separation. This is one of the standout features, making the listening experience immersive and engaging. Of course, compared to open-back headphones, the width and freedom of the sound is constrained by the closed-back design.
Detail Resolution
In our tests, the detail retrieval was still good despite a less-than-perfect frequency response. Subtle nuances, like the faint hiss of a drumstick or breathy vocals, still came through in the mix.
Conclusions About the Sound
On the whole, these cans deliver better sound than most. With a few EQ tweaks (-6db @ 60-200 Hz, -5dB @ 5-9 kHz), I really came to enjoy these headphones. And, they respond very well to EQ adjustments for a pair of ANC cans.
Although these aren’t on the level of audiophile-level ANC headphones like the Focal Bathys, after EQ tweaks, the Sonos Ace deliver sound that matches some of the top ANC headphones on the market – namely, the AirPods Max and the Sennheiser Momentum 4.
Connectivity
Pairing the Sonos Ace with my devices—phone, laptop, and tablet—was very smooth thanks to Bluetooth 5.4. The connection was stable, and the support for codecs like SBC, AAC, and aptX Lossless ensured great audio quality, whether I was using iOS or Android.
The Bluetooth multipoint connectivity is an excellent feature to have. Being able to connect to both my laptop and phone simultaneously made life so much easier. Switching between a Zoom call on my laptop and a music stream from my phone was seamless—I didn’t have to fumble with disconnecting and reconnecting.
What really stood out, though, was how well these headphones integrated with the Sonos ecosystem. The TV Audio Swap function is a game-changer. With just a button press, you can instantly switch audio from a Sonos soundbar to the Ace headphones for private listening. It really is as simple as pressing the audio swap button.
For wired connections, the included USB-C to 3.5mm cable came in handy, especially on a flight when I needed to connect to the in-flight entertainment system. Overall, the Sonos Ace made connecting to any device feel effortless and versatile.
The Sonos app is okay. It provides basic functionality for managing device connections, adjusting basic EQ, and enabling features like multipoint connectivity and TV Audio Swap, but I always want more advanced customization and sound tuning options than most apps provide.
Noise Canceling
In our tests, the Sonos Ace headphones deliver solid Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), effectively cutting down on ambient sounds in a variety of settings.
Thanks to eight microphones—four on each earcup—they pinpoint and neutralize external noise with impressive precision. The addition of Aware Mode, which filters in environmental sounds, is similar to ambient mode in other headphones, allowing you to hear your environment when needed.
Compared to heavyweights like the Sony WH-1000XM5 or the AirPods Max (tied for best ANC in our book), the Ace falls slightly short. While the Ace has excellent low-end attenuation, the top end comes through a bit more than the reigning competitors.
Battery Life
Battery Life of Popular Over-ear, ANC Headphones Compared
Sonos states that the Ace can provide 30 hours of battery life with Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) enabled. This held up in our tests—at 70% volume, from full to empty with ANC turned on, the Ace lasted 31 hours and 4 minutes.
The Ace also sports rapid charging, which provides 3 hours of playback with just a 3-minute charge.
If the Sonos Ace’s battery is depleted, you can continue using the headphones in wired mode by connecting them via the included USB-C to 3.5mm cable. This connection does not require the headphones to be powered on, allowing for uninterrupted listening even without battery power.
As you can see in the comparison chart here, this battery life puts them in the middle of the pack among ANC rivals, with the Sennheiser Momentum 4 holding the crown at a whopping 60 hours of battery life.
Calls
For our call tests, we tested in normal and windy conditions.
Calls with the Sonos Ace are very stable due to their Bluetooth 5.4 connectivity. Under normal conditions, the mics pick up subtleties most headphone mics miss. That said, they don’t perform so well under windy conditions.
You can hear the results of our tests below.
Sonos Ace Mic Tests
Final Thoughts: Are the Sonos Ace Worth It?
After testing, I think it’s safe to say that these headphones should be in the mix if you’re considering premium ANC headphones. They are a great pick if you’re already in the Sonos ecosystem or love the idea of headphones that feel like a personal home theater.
Using them with Dolby Atmos spatial audio felt immersive. The seamless connection with Sonos soundbars is cool. And, the sound quality is impressive, though I had to tweak the EQ to balance out the bass and treble.
Although it depends on current sale prices, they sit around the same price as the AirPods Max. If this price falls, it’s a steal. Otherwise, the Sony WH-1000XM5 and Sennheiser Momentum 4 are serious competitors at about $100 less.
Sonos Ace
Check Price:
Questions or Comments?
Join the discussion here on Facebook.
FAQ
How does the Sonos Ace’s spatial audio performance compare when paired with different devices, such as iPhones versus Android phones?
The Sonos Ace provides impressive spatial audio across both iOS and Android devices, offering a rich and immersive listening experience. Dynamic head tracking integrates particularly well with iPhones, as they offer wider support for spatial audio technologies. While the overall sound quality is excellent on both platforms, users with iOS devices may notice slightly smoother performance due to tighter system-level integration.
How does the TV Audio Swap feature handle latency? Is there lag time when swapping?
In my experience, the TV Audio Swap feature on the Sonos Ace headphones worked impressively well. It smoothly transitions sound from a compatible Sonos soundbar to the headphones without any interruptions. Sonos has integrated a custom Wi-Fi chip to reduce latency, ensuring the audio stays in sync with the video. While testing, I didn’t notice any significant delay, making the experience feel natural and uninterrupted, even when quickly switching between devices.
