The long-awaited Sonos Ace headphones are revolutionary with their Dolby Atmos compatibility and dynamic head tracking. They can be associated with a Sonos soundbar to benefit from 3D sound that adapts to the user’s movements without disturbing those around them. Their Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and wired compatibility ensures great versatility. Enough to dethrone the market leaders, such as the Apple AirPods Max?
Presentation
Dolby Atmos sound
A multi-room pioneer with its connected speakers who has also conquered the soundbar and wireless home theater market, the American manufacturer is now taking in the wireless headphone sector, where it plans to carve out a place for itself amongst the leading manufacturers. To do this, it has released the revolutionary Sonos Ace model, which works with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and a cable. Its uniqueness lies in its ability to work in tandem with a Sonos Arc or Sonos Beam Gen 2 soundbar, from which it can take over for movie nights. Once paired, you simply put the headphones on and press the dedicated control to automatically send the TV sound to the headphones. Note that several pairs of headphones can be connected to the same soundbar for cinema sessions with family and friends.
Importantly, the program is transmitted in Dolby Atmos when it is available in this format. Furthermore, dynamic tracking via a gyroscopic sensor adjusts the placement of sound effects according to the user’s head movements. The promise: to provide the same immersion as a true home theater system. A promise that is kept, as these headphones provide a much more realistic reproduction than a classic model, as detailed below in this review.
The Sonos Ace’s Dolby Atmos compatibility can also be used for music playback. However, to benefit from a three-dimensional reproduction, it is imperative to use tracks mixed in this format, as the headphones don’t feature a virtualization system. Therefore, only Apple Music, Amazon Music and Tidal users will be able to enjoy this feature. Note that Dolby Atmos transmission is functional via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and wired (USB-C and mini-jack).
Active noise cancelling
Like all headphones in this price range, the Sonos Arc benefit from active noise cancellation. It can be activated using the multifunctional button on the right earpiece or through the Sonos mobile app. The system was incredibly effective at blocking out ambient noise and immersing the listener in their music or program. In the city, traffic noise was completely eliminated, and only a few conversations on public transport remained slightly audible. In home theater use, the noise reduction proved very useful for isolating ourselves by minimizing surrounding sounds: an oven fan, a busy street or discussions. We even managed to drastically reduce the perceived volume of a speaker playing music in the same room, allowing each member of the household to enjoy their passion without disturbing each other. However, it’s a shame that the ANC can’t be set to various levels, as is the case with many other headphones.
Conversely, the Aware mode allows you to hear your surroundings. It bypasses the headphones’ passive isolation, so you can enjoy your music while paying attention to important announcements in a train station or to cross the road safely, for example. Last but not least, the “Off” mode allows you to use only the headphones’ passive isolation. Surprisingly, the sound lacks coherence and balance with this mode, even after adjusting the equalizer. Consequently, it is recommended to use the ANC or Aware mode to enjoy a more natural reproduction.
A comfortable, modern design
The Sonos Ace have a modern, minimalist design that is similar to the Apple AirPods Max headphones as well as Sony’s flagship models. Their stainless steel headband is enveloped in a memory foam core covered in vegan leather. It distributes the headphones’ weight very evenly, making it seem like they’re floating above your head. The ear cups are mounted on telescopic metal rods to provide a perfect fit for all user and to allow you to lay the headphones flat when they’re worn around your neck. Unfortunately, they can’t be folded for easier transport, forcing you to use the bulky case included with the Sonos Ace.
The pads are connected to the ear cups magnetically, making them easy to clean and replace if necessary. Their oval shape follows the natural curves of the ear, while the generous padding ensures soft contact without excessive pressure. The leatherette has a pleasant feel and allows your skin to breathe. The headphones seem to disappear, leaving only the music. They can be worn for many hours without discomfort or making your ears warm. They do tend to heat up when used with Wi-Fi for home theater, although this remains moderate and in no way detracts from their comfort.
Controls and app
The left ear cup of the Sonos Ace features a control to turn the headphones on and off and activate Bluetooth pairing. For its part, the right ear cup has a control to switch between the active noise cancelling and Ambient modes, or activate the voice assistant on the associated smartphone. A second multifunction control lets you play and pause music playback, skip to the next track by pressing twice, return to the previous track by pressing three times, or adjust the volume by sliding the button up or down.
For greater control, the Ace headphones use the Sonos mobile app, which provides access to bass, treble and balance equalization, as well as a Loudness mode. It is also possible to select head tracking so that the sound adapts to your movements. However, it is best to keep this mode for home theater and gaming sessions, or when you’re sitting in an armchair. When you’re out and about, the frequent movements can make the listening experience unpleasant. Finally, the app is also used when paring the headphones with a soundbar for the first time.
However, unlike the brand’s wireless speakers, it isn’t possible to directly access streaming services, music shared over the local network or web radios from the Sonos app. Furthermore, the headphones will not be able to be used in a multi-room system with other elements from the brand, except a Sonos soundbar. Even then, they can only take over from the latter and not play simultaneously.
Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and wired connectivity
The Sonos Ace headphones are equipped with a Bluetooth 5.4 chip from Qualcomm. In addition to the usual SBC and AAC codecs, it supports aptX HD Bluetooth for lossless playback with compatible services. To get the most out of these formats, the Sonos Ace headphones feature 40mm dynamic transducers mounted in a ported bass-reflex architecture to optimize the power of the lows. It is possible to listen to music using one of the two included cables: a USB-C to USB-C model and a USB-C to mini-jack model. As a result, they can be connected to a smartphone, computer or any other source equipped with a headphone or audio USB output. Lastly, a Wi-Fi connection is used to connect the headphones to a Sonos soundbar.
Key specifications
- Wi-Fi, aptX HD Bluetooth and wired headphones
- Dolby Atmos compatible
- Can be paired with Sonos Arc and Beam Gen 2 soundbars
- 30-hour battery life
- Fast charge mode: 3h of autonomy after 3 minutes
- Weight: 312g
Configuration
Pairing the Sonos Ace headphones is as easy as with any other device. Once switched on, simply go to the source’s Bluetooth settings to establish the connection. The headphones are then fully functional and ready for playback. If necessary, you can continue the configuration via the Sonos app to take advantage of the equalizer, or to pair the headphones with a soundbar. After this initial pairing, simply press the dedicated control on the Sonos Ace and the audio from the TV will be automatically transmitted to the headphones.
Listening impressions
Home theater
Paired with a Sonos Arc soundbar, the Sonos Ace headphones effectively took over, allowing us to continue enjoying the film without disturbing those around us. TV audio was instantly broadcast to the Ace as soon as we pressed the dedicated control. With Avatar 2 and Spatial Audio mode activated, the sound experience was far more realistic and immersive than with conventional headphones. Without really achieving a three-dimensional result, the soundstage was wider, extending mainly vertically while leaving the voices well centered. The latter were clearer and deeper, becoming easier to understand, even when the soundtrack was more complex with many effects.
With the first Iron Man movie in Atmos, the Sonos Ace effectively plunged us into the heart of the action and battle scenes, which were reproduced with great intensity. Explosions were surprisingly powerful, and all that’s missing was a home theater shaker attached to the sofa (read our review of the ButtKicker Wireless Couch Kit) to make the experience truly physical. Lateral effects were very well spatialized and very clear. The dynamic tracking system enhanced the experience, making us forget we were wearing headphones by adapting the perception of sound to our movements, just as a real speaker would. This system can also be used in video games to identify enemy positions with greater precision.
Music
Out of the box, the Sonos Ace headphones have strong bass. The pre-activated Loudness mode enhances its presence, which is perfect for fans of pop, electronic music or R&B with powerful, energetic bass. Lovers of more neutral sounds will prefer to deactivate this Loudness mode to enjoy a more balanced and natural listening experience. The soundstage becomes clearer and more transparent, with the lower midrange unfolding with greater conviction.
Sonos Ace vs Apple AirPods Max
Priced at €579, the Apple AirPods Max headphones weigh in at a slightly less comfortable 384g. It’s hard to forget that you’re wearing them, unlike the Sonos Ace (312g) which you’ll hardly feel after just a few minutes. In terms of sound quality, the Apple AirPods Max offer a more precise and detailed sound, despite the absence of the aptX HD Bluetooth codec. Their Atmos effects are also better spatialized for music. However, the Sonos Ace remain unbeatable for movies and video games when paired with a compatible soundbar.
Who are the Sonos Ace designed for?
The Sonos Ace are the perfect complement to a Sonos Arc or Sonos Beam (Gen 2) soundbar, allowing you to continue enjoying movies, TV series or video games late at night or when the kids are asleep. These headphones are also an ideal companion for daily commutes, thanks to their excellent ANC, and comfort that few other models can rival.
Conclusion
For its first pair of headphones, the American manufacturer has produced a highly successful model that revolutionizes the way we enjoy entertainment. These headphones reveal their full home theater potential when used with a Sonos soundbar, providing an immersive experience without disturbing others. Although Atmos effects are more subtle than with the soundbar, the Sonos Ace still deliver a far more immersive and realistic experience than conventional headphones. They are also exceptionally comfortable to wear for hours on end. Their musicality, with full-bodied bass, will appeal to fans of modern music, while music lovers who prefer a more neutral sound will appreciate the possibilities offered by the built-in equalizer.
We liked:
- The comfort
- Pairing them with Sonos soundbars
- The Atmos compatibility
- The build quality
We would have liked:
- A foldable design
- Better musicality with the ANC deactivated
- Stronger Atmos effects
- Multi-level adjustable ANC
