The Sonos Ace are a sensational achievement . And something of a disappointment .
As the fellowship ’s first pose ofwireless headphones , the $ 449 Sonos Ace hit almost every note you could require for . They ’re slick . They ’re well-fixed . They sport very efficacious randomness cancellation . They ’re compatible with both wired and wireless lossless audio recording connectedness . They propose a spatial audio experience that , in some regard , is unequalled . Plus they swash a barrage fire life that surpasses two of the biggest player in this infinite : Apple and Bose .
And if the Ace were made by almost any other company , I ’d be unreserved in my esteem for thesenoise - cancel headphones .
But they ’re not just wireless headphones made by any other fellowship . They ’re made by Sonos , which makes the most democratic ecosystem ofwireless speakerson the satellite . That brings with itan additional band of expectations . expected value that did n’t quite happen .
Wishing for Wi-Fi?
Let me deal one very important prospect of the Ace before I jab into the overall experience of using them .
Despite bearing the Sonos brand , these are not Wi - Fi headphones ( as many had hoped they would be ) . They ’re Bluetooth earpiece , and with the exception of one special feature ( which I ’ll get to in a moment ) they work just like any other wireless headphone you may buy . Once the Ace are pair to your speech sound , just open up any audio app and hit play .
A deficiency of Wi - Fi means the Ace do not behave like Sonos ’ other product . you may use the Sonos app to align certain Ace - specific preferences — like EQ , ANC , and spatial audio — and for this kind of thing the app exploit well enough . But you ca n’t stream sound recording to the Ace from music sources you ’ve added to the Sonos app . You ca n’t aggroup them with other verbaliser or enable things like dismay or timer . And any hopes you had of being able-bodied to betray freely around your home or office , heed wirelessly through your Wi - Fi net ( instead of being tethered via Bluetooth to your telephone or computer ) , persist just hopes . At least for now .
This was an designed decision on the part of the company , but I think it ’s a missed opportunity . Sonos ’ portable speakers ( theMove , Move 2,Roam , and the newRoam 2 ) are design to move seamlessly from Wi - Fi to Bluetooth and back again , and I think the Ace should be able to do so , too .
Moreover , I call up the Sonos app should forge the same manner whether you ’re at home or not . Why spend time put up favorites , playlist , and other customizations if you have to give them up when you ’re out of Wi - Fi range ?
Ironically , this lack of full Sonos consolidation might just be theone matter that keeps Ace vendee from rip the earphone from their heads in frustration : The new redesign Sonos app remains a chaotic mountain of unsupported feature and tremendous performance , despite astream of updatesaimed at desexualise it .
But ultimately this raises a very significant interrogation : If the Ace do n’t play nicely with the rest of Sonos ’ production , why buy them rather of one of the many brilliant alternatives ?
TV Audio Swap for Sonos soundbars
Sonos ’ answer to that interrogative sentence is the Ace ’s one unequaled characteristic . If you own aSonos Arcsoundbar , you could jell up TV Audio Swap , which let you pipe up full Dolby Atmos spacial audio from the Arc to the Ace . Eventually , video Audio Swap will act with Sonos ’ other current soundbars , too . oddly , Audio Swap uses Wi - Fi , not Bluetooth , which suggest there may be the possibility of swell Sonos desegregation at some decimal point .
A recollective - insistency on the Ace ’s multifunction clitoris and any TV audio that was toy on the Arc shifts seamlessly to the headphones . As the name paint a picture , TV Audio Swap does n’t let the two gadget play simultaneously — it ’s one or the other — so you wo n’t be capable to use it to assist one fellow member of the family while everyone else listen to the soundbar .
Audio Swap ’s heavy selling point is its ability to deliver a spacial audio hearing experience that ( when heed toDolby Atmoscontent with head tracking turned on ) , replicate what it ’s like to sit in a room with a full 7.1.4 sound system . Even when the cognitive content is n’t Dolby Atmos , the spatial sound recording background will do its best to “ upmix ” stereoscopic photograph or 5.1 sound into a 3D - like introduction .
It ’s very convincing and urinate for a far more engaging pic and TV experience than you ’d get with a standard set of wireless headphones .
It ’s also not quite as naturalistic or cinematic as Apple ’s interlingual rendition of TV Audio Swap , which lets you send foreland - tracked spacial audio recording to a set ofApple AirPods MaxorAirPods Prowhen connect to anApple tv set 4K. This may better when Sonos releases its TrueCinema feature film afterward this class , which attempts to mimic your way ’s real - world acoustic .
Still , Sonos ’ interlingual rendition is more various than Apple ’s as it work with any TV audio coming through the Arc soundbar , and not just audio that spring up from the Apple telecasting 4K. And if you do n’t wish how spatial audio ( and/or manoeuvre trailing ) sound , you’re able to disable them and listen in standard , two - channel stereo instead .
For all of Sonos ’ tucket around the feature , Audio Swap feel like it still needs some finish . Volume levels are n’t always keep up — if the Arc is set to 75 % when you trade to the Ace , it will withdraw back to 15 % when you switch back , even if you tell the organisation you desire it louder . Sometimes it worked , mostly it did n’t .
I could n’t get the Ace to get trashy enough . tier 1 - 45 were almost unhearable , while levels 46 - 99 sounded more like what I would have expect from 1 - 45 .
Sometimes , swapping from the Arc to the Ace resulted in a crackle , staticky sound on the earphone . attempt the swap again usually make it . And sometimes , the Ace ’s sound recording would descend out of sync , by as much as a second . When this happened , only restarting the show or movie prove to be a reliable solution .
I ’m also peeve that Sonos has chosen to confine Audio Swap to HDMI content . You study that right : If you ’re streaming euphony from the Sonos app or AirPlay to the Arc , Audio Swap is unavailable .
As fun as Audio Swap is ( when it work ) , you not only need a Sonos Arc to take advantage of it , you also need a reason to expend it . For me , there are just any times when I ’m catch our main tv set ( the one with the Arc ) and I do n’t need to be heed out loudly .
Inspired design
Normally when we say “ that ’s an enliven design , ” we signify that the figure is inspirational , and while that could be said of the Sonos Ace , I signify it literally : you could clearly see where Sonos take on inspiration specifically from Apple ’s AirPods Max and Sony’sWH-1000XM5 . It ’s as if Sonos snap up these two products and created a cross of both , then infused it with its own DNA .
That voice like it could go sideways really tight , but Sonos ’ house decorator have an unerring sense of simplicity . And the Ace are , in my humble judgement , gorgeous . In some manner , the Sonos Ace are more Apple than Apple and more Sony than Sony .
The matte - close charge plate ( in your choice of smuggled or soft - whitened ) resist fingerprints better than Sony ’s , and the colour - match , tubular untainted steel headband slider conflate reassuring strength with gamy - close looks . The magnetically attached pinna cushions ( which Apple also uses ) is a gracious skin senses .
Some have complain that the XM5 do n’t make their owners feel like they just spend $ 400 . The Ace make do the opposite effort ( and even more considering they cost an extra $ 50 ) , with materials and build calibre that go well beyond what we ’ve become accustomed to .
These extra ingredients come with additional weight , but Sonos seems to have made some very intentional choice : The Ace librate 11.18 ounces . That ’s not quite as featherweight as the XM5 ( 8.82 ounces ) , but it ’s still about 17 % unaccented than the AirPods Max ( 13.6 ounces ) .
The fold - flavourless conception , while not loved by all , makes the Ace very travel friendly whether you employ the provided unvoiced - racing shell fount , or you just slip it beside your laptop . That ’s mostly thanks to the ultra - low - profile earcups . They do n’t just look good on your head — combined with the Ace ’s 1 - inch - broad headband , they make a thin package than either the XM5 or AirPods Max .
Great comfort
Balancing clamp force so that a circle of headphones exert just enough air pressure to stay put , yet not so much that they cause soreness ( plus engineering a headband that at the same time provide traction and cushioning ) , is something that even the most experient earpiece brands once in a while get awry .
While not quite as comfortable for me as the Sony XM5 , I put on the Sonos Ace for hour at a stretch , and they continue pressure sensation - free , even while fag out methamphetamine . The capitulum cushions allow for an first-class acoustic seal of approval and yet never make my ear feel too hot . Or at least , they do n’t get live during normal use — exertion like run or working out will definitely crowd the limits of comfort . Side note : Sonos say the Ace will survive such activity , but they do not have a bun in the oven an officialIPX ratingfor piss or exertion impedance .
Smart, simple controls
Sonos has almost only shifted to touch command on its loudspeaker system , including a new motion - based volume slider on theMove 2,Era 300 , andEra 100 . But one of the hallmarks of good intention is knowing when to keep an existing approach for the sake of consistency , and when to change course for the sake of serviceability .
For the Ace ’s controls , Sonos went with three physical buttons . The right-hand earcup has a button for switching between fighting noise cancellation ( ANC ) and transparency mode ( and triggering articulation supporter ) , and a cagy multifunction button / skidder for playback , volume , and call direction .
The only other control is a small clit for power and Bluetooth pairing that sit on the bottom edge of the left earcup . Each control can be used while wearing baseball mitt .
supplement these control is a duo of wearing sensing element in each earcup that can be used for motorcar - pause and car - resume of euphony when you take the Ace off your head or replace them .
The multifunction control works seamlessly . weightlift once for romp / intermission , double to vamoose forward , and three times to go back . Sliding it up or down once ( it ’s spring - debase ) bumps volume up or down one growth , while holding it in one of these position provides a continuous modification . The gestures develop subtle feedback whole tone to let you eff everything is die as expected .
good yet : The multifunction button has an alone different tactile experience from the ANC button . My ovolo never failed to find the correct mastery at the right time .
The ANC button is slightly less effective . To avert loud clicking phone inside the earcups , Sonos has used a soft - touch mechanism . It ’s dead silent . But sometimes — even though I thought I had pressed it deeply enough to set off the mode modification — I needed to press it again a little hard .
When the presses are recognise , the faulting from ANC to transparency happens very cursorily .
If there ’s one matter I would change , it would be to tot up a control for turning head tracking on and off without using the Sonos app .
ANC and transparency
Sonos says it spring up a proprietary solution for the Ace ’s noise direction scheme , and it shows .
Though it can be hard to nail down precise numbers without calibrated measuring gear , my time comparing the Ace to its rivals has convinced me that Sonos has once again threaded the needle between Apple , Sony , and in this pillowcase , Bose too .
The Ace are more good at masking external sounds than the AirPods Max , and at metre , they even seemed to surpass Sony ’s XM5 — an stupefying accomplishment . Only Bose ’s class - leadingQuietComfort Ultra Headphonesoutflanked the Ace in the silence section , and even then it was a close call .
I of late returned from a trip to Scandinavia , and the Ace proved to be superb travelling companions , killing almost all undesirable cabin noise inside the aircraft . Even the loud cry of a baby seated two rows behind me was reduced to the point where it was a modest background sound that could be ignored if I want to .
The one area where the Ace trails the rivalry is wind noise . Even a very calorie-free snap could be heard despite the ANC system ’s best efforts to mash it .
Transparency also was excellent , though in this category there is Apple and then there ’s everyone else .
Which is to say the Ace allow for very clean reproduction of your surroundings . From that dot of view , it really does n’t feel like you ’re wear out headphones . The only telltale sign is when listen to your own voice , which does n’t vocalize quite as rude as the AirPods Max . But we ’re really talk about small difference . Unless you repeatedly put on the Ace and then the Max , you plausibly would n’t notice .
That Sonos sound
Sonos speakers sound great — it ’s one of the chief reason the fellowship has become so pop . The Ace follow case , with a sound signature that is very pleasing and balanced , in good order out of the boxwood . I recollect they ’re also the first Sonos mathematical product that has n’t inspire me to like a shot reach for the EQ adaptation to increase basso .
There ’s very effective uncloudedness across the frequencies , and plenty of detail in the midranges , where it weigh . Bass is warm - toned and cautiously controlled , providing a strong , grounding front without stomp on the mids or muddy the highschool . The Ace aced my usual agony test of toy Billie Eilish’sbad guyat 75 % to 80 % volume , letting Eilish ’s whispery vocals make their way to my ears without being trampled by the song ’s insistent and knock-down bass notes .
Audiophiles may feel underserved by the Ace ’s limited EQ options — they get the same bass / triplex slider in the Sonos app as all of Sonos ’ other products — but for most folks , that ’s plentitude of control to achieve the specific sound they ’re after . press the bass slider to its maximum , for example , provided more low - end cost increase than I ’d ever want or need .
What you do n’t get is an especially wide or detailed soundstage for stereo listening . Some phone ( particularly unresolved - back models ) can make a sense of receptivity , reproducing the sensation of listening to stereo speakers in a room . The Ace tend to keep things closer to your head word . It ’s not a bad thing , just something to be aware of if you have strong preferences in this area .
Sonos has equipped the Ace with the usual SBC and AAC codecs , which work with huge majority of Bluetooth gadget , but it has also included Qualcomm’sSnapdragon Soundtechnologies , for use with compatible Android smartphones . Among the enhancements is financial support for lossless , atomic number 48 - character sound via aptX Adaptive . With wireless earbuds , I can usually see the subtleties that Qualcomm ’s codecs reveal , but with the Ace , they were less apparent .
What I did notice , however , was an improvement in particular and compression when I connected the Ace using its two electrify options : USB - C and 3.5 mm analogue . USB - C is the staring option for Android phones ( and iPhones 15 and new ) when you require to get the best potential heavy quality , although the supply cable television service is far too short to make this comfortable . sports fan of dedicatedheadphone ampsand DACs may prefer the parallel association , despite the fact that the Ace re - digitise that analog signal before ultimately converting once more to digital .
The Ace equate very favorably to other wireless earphone at this price . While not as punchy or vibrant as Sony’sWH-1000XM5or as clear through the mids as theAirPods MaxorSennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless , the Ace are a great listen , whether for music or video content .
Spatial audio and head tracking
Sonos ’ approach to spatial audio on the Ace is strange and ask a bit of an account .
Earlier , I told you about how you’re able to get a spatial sound recording experience when using the Ace with the Sonos Arc and TV Audio Swap . Sonos considers this a discrete feature because the computational wakeless lifting required to take a true 7.1.4 Dolby Atmos soundtrack andrender it for headphone listeningis done by the soundbar , not the Ace .
It ’s why , in the Ace ’s background inside the Sonos app , you ’ll see Spatial Audio and Head Tracking as freestanding choice under a TV Audio Swap heading ( if you have a Sonos Arc ) .
Just above that division , under Sound , is a 2nd Head Tracking choice . This one is purely for Bluetooth audio . The key difference between them is that Sound Head Tracking wo n’t add any additionalspatial audioprocessing . If you ’re listening to stereo , it ’s still stereo . If you ’re listening to Dolby Atmos , via Apple Music or Amazon Music as examples , it ’s still Dolby Atmos . The only thing that changes when you enable Head Tracking is your relationship to the sound as your principal moves .
When enable , the independent components of your audio ( vocals , wind instrumental role , etc . ) stay fixed in space right away in front of you , giving you that take heed - in - front - of - a - stagecoach feeling . When disabled , your music moves with you , as it would on any regular set of headphones .
Sonos says this head - trailing option has been optimized to work well with Dolby Atmos content , which makes sense given that Dolby Labs helped with the technology . It ’s hard to argue : If you likeDolby Atmos Music , the Ace ’s school principal trailing makes the immersive listening format sound even more lifelike . But I was equally impressed by just how good Dolby Atmos Music sound on the Ace , even when psyche tracking is n’t in use .
Call quality
I really like making birdcall on the Sonos Ace indoors . Voice cartridge is excellent . And if you throw to transparence mode , you ’ll get the same benefit as I described earlier : get a line yourself intelligibly , which is the key to reducing fatigue when using earbuds or earpiece for calling .
Even in the busy hubbub of a crowded coffee bean shop , your callers will be blissfully unaware of your surroundings .
Outdoor configurations can turn up more intriguing . Traffic noises incline to be a circumstances louder than any sounds you get at heart . The Ace almost all eliminates them , but doing so can take a toll on voice pickup . At fourth dimension , your voice may only vanish as the algorithm fight back to curb unwanted sound while keeping your voice hearable .
Battery life
Sonos states the Ace get 30 hour of playtime with ANC take , and considerably more when it ’s off . So far , that seems to be precise . My only hesitation is that Sonos has historically had trouble with battery life not quite living up to expectations . The Sonos Roam , for case , initially test well , hitting close to its 10 - 60 minutes valuation . However , over the follow month , many users report dramatically lower shelling life .
Still , even if the Ace terminate up go less than the advertised 30 hours , it wo n’t be a full deal - breaker . The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones top out at 24 hours and Apple ’s AirPods Max only get 20 hours of biography . I suspect for most people , that ’s enough .
The verdict
For a company that has never produce a wearable product in its entire 22 - year chronicle , the Sonos Ace headphones are a remarkable accomplishment . In one savage slide , Sonos has produce a product that easily goes toe - to - toe with better wireless potty you could buy , and in some cases outperform what they can do .
The Ace do n’t push the gasbag on sound quality — I surmise some very critical listeners will still favour Sony’sWH-1000XM5 , Bose’sQuietComfort Ultra Headphones , orSennheiser ’s Momentum 4 Wireless . And yet , by any measure , they sound gravid . If you ’ve resisted spending this kind of money on a circle of wireless bathroom until now , I do n’t think you ’ll be disappointed .
With noise - canceling and foil modes that are unentitled winner , and wads of radio and wired connexion choice , the Ace feel like they ’re future - proofed for years of enjoyment . And their exclusive TV Audio Swap feature , while still a mo clunky and in need of elaboration , will no doubt make headway many fans within the Sonos community over clip , specially as Sonos add its non - Arc soundbars to the private - heed party .
Where the Ace in truth shine , however , is their consolation and simplicity . At the remainder of the solar day , they ’re simply one of best - designed sets of wireless phone on the marketplace . Software can be incrementally improved over time . How a set of headphones fit and feel is much harder to change .
None of this vary the fact that the Sonos Ace fall short of their full potential . They do n’t take vantage of their work up - in Wi - Fi connection to create the sort of seamless experience Sonos fans were hope for . And while that ’s a blessing in disguise at the moment given the current dismal land of the Sonos app , it prevents Sonos possessor from run into the Ace as a must - have complement to their existing plate audio recording system .
