SONOS ACE: A Harmonic Leap in High-Fidelity Listening and Home Theater Experience

Sonos Ace is the first headphone since the company pioneered sound technology more than 20 years ago. It means that, after all those decades of forging forward as a speaker-first audio company, Sonos is now stepping foot into a piece of technology that's so much more than just about music or podcasts – it's about cinematic audio that's married to the home theater, sleeked with the familiar ultrasound-inspired design and tuned to the signature of Sonos. This is Sonos Ace – luxury for the senses.

Unveiling the SONOS ACE: A First Glance

It was launch day for Sonos's newest product, Ace, at the middle of Manhattan, and the air was heavy with anticipation. Sonos Ace is the latest offering from the speaker company and a premium entry to the Bluetooth headphones market. While it has all the trappings of a regular set of expensive headphones, it also aims to be much more than just a companion for listening. At nearly half a grand ($449) for either the black or the white model, Sonos Ace competes with in-class peers such as Apple AirPods Max, and Sony’s WH-1000XM5.

The Specs That Sing

The Ace has custom 40mm drivers (the same as power the Sonos speakers) and weighs 11oz with 30 hours of battery life with ANC on, dropping to 40 hours off. it fast and conveniently charges via USB-C, with the latest Bluetooth 5.4. The spec list will be loved by the audiophiles and the tech heads.

Seamless Setup and Astonishing Connectivity

You only have to unbox the Sonos Ace headphones to connect to devices and hear the first song to understand what it means to live in a Sonos-friendly world. Designed for convenient pairing with smartphones and laptops (they include Snapdragon Sound AptX Lossless and Apple Lossless Audio Codec support), they’re also engineered to activate instantly when placed on or under the A5 TV soundbar and Arc soundbar – and in July, they will become a natural extension of Ray, Sonos’s augmented-reality sunglasses and glasses system for guiding people through unfamiliar outdoor spaces (more about that later). A user won’t need to reach into a pocket or remove a device: just fold the headphones and set them on a desk or coffee table, and they’ll blend into the page of an elaborate book, enveloping the reader in their own personalised soundstage.

Design and Comfort: Wearing the Future

Aesthetically Pleasing, Environmentally Conscious

With their soft-touch finish and smooth, minimalist lines, the Sonos Ace is a sleek piece of kit chestnut grey finished with a wipe-clean matte coating and weighty thanks to a ‘circular materials mix’ that doesn’t use virgin plastic, and the carrying case made from 75 per cent recycled plastic bottles adds a final green touch. Cushioned with memory foam and adjustable via metal rods, the headphones are comfortable as well as stylish.

The Cloud-like Experience

What made the Sonos Ace headphones so comfortable was their featherweight construction, plus a pressure-relieving build that made them feel as if they barely sat upon my head after several hours of wear. And then there’s the definitely-designed-for-all-day-every-day feel of detachable, replaceable ear cups.

Exceptional Control and Audio Quality

Intuitive Controls

Sonos has decided to opt for tactile buttons over touch controls, else the experience might not be as responsive or intuitive. Volume can be controlled, as can the toggling of active noise cancellation, and so can the novel soundbar audio swapping experience that Sonos is championing.

Unparalleled Sound

Never one to compromise on sound, Sonos lives up to its reputation with the Ace headphones, which reproduce minor details of spoken words in exquisite detail, and deliver ‘spatial’ audio with rich depth and believability. If you like music, the Sonos Ace makes songs sound better. A lot better.

The Brilliance of SONOS ACE and Sonos Soundbars Together

Perhaps the most significant unique selling point of Sonos Ace is that it can work in conjunction with the company’s flagship soundbars by swapping audio from the soundbar to the headphones – turning your living room, bedroom, kitchen or any other space into a personal cinema equipped with head tracking Dolby Atmos and a 3D soundspace.

Rethinking Battery Life and the Competition

With up to 30 hours of battery life, the Ace headphones can hold their own against the competition. Their longevity, combined with rapid recharging, means that users will rarely be silent for long. Sonos Ace sets themselves apart from competitors like Apple’s AirPods Max and Sony’s WH-1000XM5 not by leaning heavily on specs, but rather by combining breathtaking sound with features like the TV audio swap.

Conclusion: Are SONOS ACE Headphones the Right Choice for You?

The Sonos Ace headphones are an auditory experience that serves as a gateway to better-sounding, more-robust headphones, and a Sonos ecosystem that offers simplicity in home theatres through Sonos soundbars. In an age of value-driven purchases, the price tag still feels significant for an investment on headphones, especially without hands-free or water-resistant features. However, the multipurpose use, superior audio performance and propriety features are valuable for those whose living space prioritises sound fidelity and an audio ecosystem.

About Sonos

Sonos is the American-origin brand of the ‘intelligent, wireless home sound systems’ today, built on decades of experience in creating meticulously crafted audio products that deliver on their promise of enriching users’ lives and listening experiences. The brand (the name comes from the sonic elements and Os) has kept to this core motto, working constantly to innovate the way we experience sound at home, be it via multi-room speakers, home theatre listening, and now, headphones like the Sonos Ace, bringing the best of sonic technology in our lives, effortlessly.