Sonos, renowned for its high-quality speakers, has a loyal customer base. Now, the American audio giant, often compared to Apple in the sound industry, has ventured into the headphone market with its first model, the Ace. These premium headphones promise top-notch sound and a unique feature not commonly found in competitors.
Sonos Ace: Design and TV Connectivity
The Ace headphones feature an over-ear design, enveloping the entire ear with a sleek matte finish. They use lightweight, durable materials for a comfortable fit. The ear cushions are made of soft memory foam with vegan leather, and both the headband and ear cups are adjustable. Weighing in at 312 grams, they are not the lightest, but the weight distribution is excellent, making them comfortable to wear. Available in black or white, the Ace headphones have a luxurious look and feel, though they do not fold for storage.
Control is via physical buttons, avoiding the touch controls favored by brands like Sony. The main toggle adjusts volume and skips tracks, while an additional button switches between active noise cancellation (ANC), normal mode, and transparency mode, which allows users to hear their surroundings and converse without removing the headphones.
The carrying case for the Ace headphones is compact, contrasting with Sony’s larger cases. It fits easily into a backpack, although the zipper can be frustratingly prone to snagging. Inside the case is a magnetic storage unit for cables.
A standout feature of the Ace headphones is their integration with Sonos soundbars (currently limited to the Arc model). By holding the volume button, users can connect the headphones to the soundbar and listen to TV audio privately—a quick solution for not disturbing others at night. Unfortunately, this feature is currently available only to iOS users but is expected to be rolled out to Android soon.
Sonos Ace: Sound Quality and Transparency Mode
The Ace headphones come with Bluetooth 5.4, support for simultaneous connection to two devices (multipoint), 40mm drivers, and high-resolution audio (Lossless Audio). They also support spatial audio with Dolby Atmos, offering immersive sound and dynamic head tracking.
Sound quality is impressive, with precise and detailed audio that captures every nuance. While the bass could be slightly more robust, especially compared to Sony’s WH-1000XM5, the soundstage of the Sonos Ace feels a bit broader.
For ANC, the Ace uses eight microphones to effectively cancel external noise, reducing ambient sounds significantly and even eliminating some entirely. Sonos’s first attempt at a transparency mode is also commendable, allowing users to remain aware of their surroundings without any muffling.
Phone call quality is clear, with clean transmission of the user’s voice, making conversations effortless even in office environments.
Sonos Ace: Battery Life
The battery life of the Ace headphones lasts up to 24 hours with ANC, and a quick 3-minute charge provides 3 hours of playback.
Price: NIS 2,000 (official importer: Bug Network)
In summary, the premium over-ear headphone market offers many quality options from various brands, but Sonos brings a compelling product with the Ace. With a loyal customer base and a history of delivering excellent sound, Sonos’s first headphones are a solid entry in this category. They offer great design, excellent sound, effective noise cancellation, and integration with some of Sonos’s soundbars, justifying their higher price tag compared to similar products.