Sonos Ace Review
The Sonos Ace headphones make a stellar debut in the high-end market, blending style and substance effortlessly. They boast a sleek, minimalist design and top-notch build quality that screams premium. The sound profile is balanced and detailed, making every genre shine, though bass heads might find the low end a bit tame. The noise cancellation is solid, though not quite on par with the best in the biz like Sony’s WH-1000XM5.
Sonos has entered the high-end headphone market with the new Sonos Ace headphones, a bold debut that sets its sights on heavyweights like the Sony WH-1000XM5 (review) and Apple’s AirPods Max. Responding to overwhelming demand from Sonos enthusiasts, the company has carefully crafted the Ace headphones to embody the iconic Sonos design philosophy, delivering elegance in every detail.
As one would expect from Sonos products, the Sonos Ace headphones prioritise audio excellence, capturing the premium sound Sonos is known for, while seamlessly integrating with other Sonos devices for a unified listening experience. Yet, in a market already rich with premium choices, how do the Sonos Ace headphones truly measure up? Let’s explore their design, audio quality, noise cancellation, battery performance, and standout features that distinguish them in this competitive landscape.
The Sonos Ace is undoubtedly a premium product, and its price reflects that. While it’s priced slightly higher than competitors like Bose, Sony, and Sennheiser, it remains more affordable than Apple’s AirPods Max in India. The premium cost feels justified given the Ace’s superior build quality. From the mirror-finish metal under the headband to the high-grade plastic earcups, every material used exudes quality and elegance. The headband and earcups feature memory foam padding wrapped in high-end faux leather, adding to the luxurious feel.
The Ace has a solid heft, weighing 312 g, that suggests durability, capable of withstanding regular travel without compromising comfort. Despite the weight, it doesn’t feel heavy on the head, maintaining a comfortable fit during extended wear.
True to Sonos’ ethos of minimalistic, modern design, the Ace sports a sleek, streamlined look. The rounded earcups have no unnecessary trimmings, with just a single button on the left and two buttons on the right. Sonos has implemented magnetically attached, removable earcup paddings, which is a clever touch that makes pad replacements easy. The padding has a two-tone mesh in light and dark grey, however, the R and L indicators on the earbuds are too subtle and not easy to notice.
The Ace fits securely and exerts just enough pressure through the headband and earcups to stay in place. While it may not be the type of headphone that “disappears” on your head, it remains comfortable for prolonged use. However, I did notice my ears getting slightly toasty when wearing these in Mumbai’s sweltering October heat.
One standout feature of the Sonos Ace is its physical buttons, which are more intuitive than touch controls often found on other premium headphones. The left cup houses the power and pairing button, which requires a brief press-and-hold. The right cup has two buttons: one toggles between noise-cancellation and transparency mode, and the second is a versatile slider that adjusts volume and doubles as a play/pause button. These controls are slick, precise, and functional; something many users will appreciate.
The Ace comes with a well-designed case that complements its premium feel. Inside, a magnetically attached pouch holds both the charging and analogue cables, giving users the option for wired or wireless listening.
True to Sonos’ preferred audio signature, the Ace headphones are tuned for precision and clarity. The Sonos Ace headphones feature custom-designed 40 mm dynamic drivers. Rather than heavily boosting bass, Sonos has taken a more balanced approach, albeit it leans a bit towards the warmer side. You get a detailed sound profile that shines across genres. From complex classical compositions to vocal-heavy tracks, these headphones deliver a rich, dynamic sound.
They’re neither as neutral as the AirPods Max nor as bass-biased as the Sony WH-1000XM5. You get a warm, full-bodied sound signature that has enough punch without veiling the intricate details in the mid-range or the highs. Speaking of the highs, they’re high on detail and have a pleasant sparkle. Instrument separation is fantastic and the soundstage is pretty decent too.
For bass enthusiasts though, the more conservative low-end might feel a bit underwhelming, especially compared to competitors that cater to bass-driven genres like EDM and hip-hop. Yet, Sonos’s approach will appeal to those who appreciate a more natural sound that highlights mid-range details and subtle nuances.
The Sonos Ace delivers a consistent frequency response across Bluetooth, analogue, and USB connections, so you won’t notice any changes in sound quality regardless of how it’s connected. However, activating or deactivating ANC does introduce a slight variation. With ANC off, the bass is a bit more prominent, adding extra thump, rumble, and warmth to the audio.
If you’re planning to use the Sonos Ace for movie nights with TV Audio Swap, you’re in for a treat – these headphones bring sound effects, like explosions, to life but you need to have a Sonos soundbar to use this feature. Dialogue is pristine and clear. Unlike other high-end headphones that pack in tons of sound customisation options though, the Sonos Ace just allows you to tweak the bass and treble sliders, which is slightly disappointing.
As for the call quality, the Sonos Ace houses eight beam-forming microphones for calling and noise cancellation. During my testing period, the headphones did a good job reducing background chatter on a call when I was loitering around the noisy streets of Mumbai. It isn’t the best microphone I’ve tested on wireless headphones but it’s close. If you’re looking for a pair of headphones with fantastic microphones, it would be a toss-up between the Sony WH-1000XM5 and Bose QC Ultra.
The Sonos Ace headphones come packed with features, offering premium noise-cancelling performance and a transparency mode that feels surprisingly natural – nearly on par with the Sony WH-1000XM5.
When it comes to noise-cancelling, I tested the Ace walking around Mumbai and even riding the public train. The Ace blocks out around 60 to 70% of background noise, especially when it comes to lower frequencies. Even with music playing, I barely noticed the train arriving at my stop. Although higher-pitched sounds, like voices, still come through. So naturally, it still doesn’t match up to the sheer brilliance of the Sony Mark 5’s ANC performance, but it’s pretty competent and worthy of being mentioned in the big leagues.
The Ace also features automatic wear-detection sensors that pause your music when you remove the headphones and resume playback when you put them back on, however, this feature was a bit buggy and it didn’t work flawlessly during my testing. The Sonos app offers a basic equalizer for fine-tuning, though adjustments are limited to bass and treble.
The Ace has Bluetooth 5.4 and supports AAC and Qualcomm’s AptX Adaptive, along with AptX Lossless for compatible Android devices. However, I would have preferred LDAC for more widespread compatibility. For those who prefer wired listening, Sonos includes a USB-C cable for a digital lossless connection and a USB-C-to-3.5mm cable for connecting to devices like a computer or music player, so you’re covered whether you’re streaming or plugged in.
Sonos has even introduced spatial audio on the Ace, complete with Dolby Atmos and head-tracking. I tried it out with an iPhone 16 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, and it creates an immersive, 3D audio experience that’s easy to toggle on and off in the app.
For Sonos enthusiasts, the TV Audio Swap feature will be a major selling point. Initially compatible with the Sonos Arc soundbar, and soon expanding to the Beam and Ray, this feature is ideal for late-night TV sessions where you’d rather not disturb anyone. With a tap in the app or a press on the headphone button, the audio switches from your soundbar to the Ace headphones, allowing for a cinematic Dolby Atmos experience right in your ears. Dialogue stays centred on the screen, no matter where you turn your head. However, you need a Sonos soundbar for this and the setup for this feature was a bit tricky.
Battery life is impressive, with the Sonos Ace offering up to 30 hours on a single charge with noise cancelling turned on. This long battery life makes them ideal for extended use, like long flights or binge-watching sessions. However, when in “home theatre mode” with the Sonos Arc soundbar, battery life decreases to around 10 hours due to the power demands of head tracking and spatial audio processing.
As for connectivity, the Ace doesn’t have a 3.5mm audio jack, which may be missed by users who prefer traditional wired connections. It does support multipoint Bluetooth, which is nifty. This allows them to connect to multiple devices simultaneously and deliver high-quality audio, even over Bluetooth. This feature is especially useful for people who frequently switch between devices, like a phone and a laptop.
The Sonos Ace headphones make a stellar debut in the high-end market, blending style and substance effortlessly. They boast a sleek, minimalist design and top-notch build quality that screams premium. The sound profile is balanced and detailed, making every genre shine, though bass heads might find the low end a bit tame. The noise cancellation is solid, though not quite on par with the best in the biz like Sony’s WH-1000XM5.
What really sets the Ace apart are the thoughtful features like physical buttons, spatial audio, and the nifty TV Audio Swap for Sonos soundbar owners. Battery life is impressive, clocking in at up to 30 hours with ANC on, perfect for long hauls or binge sessions. In a nutshell, if you’re a Sonos fan or just someone who appreciates high-quality audio and comfort, the Sonos Ace headphones are definitely worth considering. They might not be the absolute best in every category, but they offer a well-rounded, premium experience that’s hard to beat.
