Sonos Ace

The $449 Sonos Ace wireless headphones are a change of pace for a company famous for its high-end speakers. They mostly impress thanks to their dynamic, balanced sound, excellent active noise cancellation (ANC), and upscale design. Whereas other Sonos audio products offer both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity, the Sonos Ace headphones use Bluetooth only. Their support for high-quality Bluetooth codecs somewhat negates the need for Wi-Fi, though it does mean they don't get the full benefits of the Sonos companion app and connected ecosystem. They're still worth buying if you want at least some continuity across your Sonos setup, though the $429 Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones remain our Editors' Choice winners for their class-leading noise cancellation.

Design: Elegant Looks and a Snug Fit

Available in black or white with a monochromatic, semi-matte finish, the Ace headphones look undeniably classy. The headband connects to the earcups via a span of polished metal that allows for easy adjustments. The headphones fold down flat but don't fully collapse like the QuietComfort Ultra.

(Credit: Tim Gideon)

The circumaural (over-ear) earcups create a strong seal around your ears. I appreciate the generous cushioning of the memory foam and vegan-leather-lined earpads and headband, and find their snug fit comfortable. That said, some listeners might prefer a lighter feel, like you get with the $549 Apple AirPods Max. The Ace headphones make their presence known, so take care to adjust them so that they don't apply too much pressure to the top of your head or against your ears. The good news is that the earpads are replaceable.

Behind each labeled, color-coded cloth grille is a 40mm dynamic driver. Sonos doesn’t provide frequency range specs.

The on-ear controls are easy to operate. The left earcup houses a power/pairing button and a USB-C charging port. On the right earcup is a control button/switch that you can press in or push up or down. Sonos calls this the Content Key. Press once to control playback, twice to skip forward a track, or three times to navigate to the previous track. Slide the switch up to raise the volume or down to lower it. Next to this is a button for toggling between the Noise Cancellation and Aware Mode (transparency) settings. Holding this button down summons your mobile device’s voice assistant. 

Sonos includes a stylish and compact black zip-up hard-shell case—the headphones fold down flat to fit inside. The case includes a loose, oval compartment below where the headband rests to house the included USB-C-to-USB-C and USB-C-to-3.5mm cables. You can use either for audio playback, though only if the headphones are on. Connecting the cables to a wired audio source will disconnect an active wireless connection.

(Credit: Tim Gideon)

Sonos estimates that the Ace headphones can last roughly 30 hours per charge with either the Noise Cancellation or Aware Mode settings active, but your results will vary depending on your typical listening volume and codec choice. The company claims that just three minutes of charging will get you three hours of playback. To fully charge them from empty, set aside about two hours. The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones can keep going for a slightly less impressive 24 hours per charge.

Connectivity: Excellent Bluetooth Specs, But No Wi-Fi

The headphones are compatible with Bluetooth 5.4 and work with the AAC, AptX Lossless, and SBC codecs. Support for lossless Bluetooth audio via a Qualcomm Snapdragon Sound-enabled device wasn't available at the time of testing, but Sonos representatives claim it will be on June 5. I appreciate the inclusion of AptX Lossless, though only select Android phones, like the Asus Zenfone 11 Ultra, can take advantage of it. For more mainstream high-res streaming support on Android, check out the LDAC-capable Sony WH-1000XM5 for $399.99.

Multipoint connectivity is also supported. I was able to connect the headphones with my phone and computer simultaneously, though the app didn't allow me to smoothly switch between playback devices in testing.

(Credit: Tim Gideon)

As for compatibility with other Sonos products, the Ace headphones can currently only interact with the Arc or Arc SL soundbars by establishing a point-to-point Wi-Fi connection. In essence, you can enable a handoff function that allows you to switch playback between the headphones and those speakers. However, they do not support full Wi-Fi connectivity, and a Bluetooth connection is still necessary for this feature.

In testing, the handoff feature was clunky. There was often a delay between when the Sonos Arc stopped playing and the sound transferred to the headphones. However, this feature works just as well for music as it does for the audio from your TV (if connected to the Arc), so it's an easy way to listen to the TV through your headphones.

If you were hoping to stream your turntable’s output to the Ace via your Sonos Amp or Port, that’s not possible, which is both surprising and disappointing. On the plus side, Sonos says it plans to expand the handoff feature to more of its products, like the Beam and Ray.

Most other Sonos products support both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, so it's surprising not to see that here. This would have made the Ace headphones a truly unique offering. Instead, they join a crowded field of high-end Bluetooth headphones. The lack of Wi-Fi also means you can't listen to Sonos Radio stations via the app, a big draw for the platform.

App Experience: Mostly Straightforward

The Ace headphones use the Sonos app (available for Android and iOS), which underwent controversial changes earlier this year. I find the app relatively straightforward to use, though it could be better organized.

At first, the app was somewhat hesitant to connect with the Ace, but restarting it solved the problem. A required app update also didn't finish until after I restarted the software.

After you get through the setup, the app takes you to a screen with an image of the headphones, a battery life readout, and an icon that indicates which noise control mode is active. Tapping the latter lets you toggle between the Noise Cancellation and Aware Mode settings.

Press the image of the headphones to access a full list of features and rename them. The Noise Control section lets you choose between the Noise Canceling and Aware Mode settings, or turn both off. You can also add an off option to the on-ear button cycle, though you must head to the Noise Controls tile of the separate Hardware Controls section to do so.

(Credit: Sonos/PCMag)

Under the Sound header is an EQ tile with a Head Tracking toggle that enables “Sonos Intelligent Motion Processing with Dolby Head Tracking” for spatial audio content. The EQ is pretty basic—you get bass and treble faders, a left/right balance slider, and a loudness button that boosts the bass at low volumes. I would prefer at least five bands here or a graphic EQ like some competitors offer; the $349 Shure Aonic 50 Gen 2 headphones lead the pack in terms of audio adjustments.

The Home Theater section allows you to set up the aforementioned audio handoff function with a compatible soundbar. A Bluetooth multipoint switch presumably should let you manage simultaneous device connections, though this didn't work reliably in testing. If your sources are anything other than the supported Sonos speakers, switching between two devices requires hopping through your device's Bluetooth menu as often as not.

Scroll down to reach the Hardware Controls section, which has both Noise Controls and Wear Detection tiles. Tap the latter to toggle wear detection, automatic playback when you take the headphones off or put them back on, or the Wear to Answer feature that allows you to answer incoming calls by simply putting the headphones on.

Beyond this, the app provides some user tips and the ability to download software updates.

Noise Cancellation: A Strong First Showing

The Ace headphones delivered high-quality noise cancellation in testing. They dialed back powerful, low-frequency rumble to a barely detectable level, leaving behind just some deep lows. A recording of a busy restaurant proved more of a challenge, as it usually does. Here, the headphones considerably cut back the lows and mids but let through a thin band of higher frequencies that sounded slightly amplified at times. Higher frequencies can sometimes come across as louder in isolation, though the very best noise-cancelling headphones find a way to counteract it. On the same test, for instance, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones eliminated more low-mids and didn’t boost any of the highs as noticeably. Nonetheless, this is an impressive first effort for Sonos.

(Credit: Tim Gideon)

The Aware Mode works quite effectively. It sounds a bit brighter than most other ambient modes I've tested, but plenty of listeners will enjoy the emphasis on conversational clarity. That said, there’s no way to adjust the levels for this mode in the app. The QuietComfort Ultra Headphones let you change the balance of their ANC and transparency modes, for comparison.

Oddly, the off setting for the Noise Control section doesn't seem to turn off every effect. In a quiet room with the slight whir of a fan, I often heard slightly more low-frequency ambient noise while wearing the headphones than when I wasn't. I confirmed this psychoacoustic effect happens regardless of whether the headphones are on.

Sound Quality: Well Balanced

The Ace headphones support spatial audio content via streaming services including Amazon Music, Apple Music, Deezer, Dolby Atmos, Sony 360 Reality Audio, and Tidal. When you enable Head Tracking in the Sonos app, the vocals from Atmos tracks like Bjork’s “Atopos” move depending on the direction you face, while other mix elements remain stable. The degree to which other elements of the mix respond to head movements depends on the recording. Dolby Atmos mixes can sound impressively immersive on a proper surround speaker system, but headphones can’t properly replicate the experience. There’s no harm in trying these features, but I recommend leaving them off if you seek accuracy.

To evaluate the sound quality, I turned off the spatial audio effects and set the EQ to its default levels. The lack of a comprehensive EQ is disappointing, though Sonos tunes the headphones well enough that the simple bass and treble faders should be sufficient in most cases.

On tracks with intense sub-bass content, like The Knife’s “Silent Shout,” the drivers deliver powerful low-frequency response. The bass doesn’t distort or thin out at top volumes, and the lows still sound robust at moderate settings. Keep in mind that you can enable the Loudness setting in the app to accentuate the bass a bit if you tend to listen at low volumes. That setting has a subtle but appreciable effect on this track.

The headphones have no trouble reproducing the sub-bass at the 34-second mark of Kendrick Lamar’s “Loyalty.” Each of the deep bass synth notes comes across with a subwoofer-like rumble. The various vocals on the track sound crisp and fully present too, so the powerful bass depth doesn't upset the balance of the mix.

(Credit: Tim Gideon)

The drums on Bill Callahan’s “Drover,” a track with far less deep bass, sound natural and full. The drivers don't exaggerate the sub-bass notes at all, which is sometimes a problem. Callahan’s baritone vocals exhibit a low-mid richness and pleasant treble definition, while the acoustic strums and higher-register percussive hits are relatively bright. You can bring out a little more detail via the EQ, though again, the two-fader approach is somewhat limiting.

On orchestral tracks, like the opening scene from John Adams’ The Gospel According to the Other Mary, the headphones strike an excellent balance. They slightly push the lower-register instrumentation forward and deliver the naturally bright, higher-register brass, strings, and vocals with good detail.

The voice mic array works well, and I could easily understand every word from a test recording on my iPhone. The signal receives less treatment than that of the QuietComfort Ultra or the AirPods Max but is still plenty clear.

Verdict: A First-Rate First Effort From Sonos

The Sonos Ace headphones are a welcome entry into the category thanks to their detailed audio with high-res codec support, capable noise cancellation, and fashionable design. They're a somewhat confusing product in the Sonos lineup, though, since they don't support the Wi-Fi features that make the platform so enticing. Streaming Sonos Radio or even simply connecting fully with other Sonos components isn't possible. The audio handoff feature is the main reason for existing Sonos users to consider them, though their high-end performance certainly helps justify the cost. Overall, however, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones remain our Editors' Choice winners thanks to their unbeatable noise cancellation and slightly lower price.