Sonos, known for its high-quality multi-room speakers, is taking its first step into the headphone market with the Ace.
In this review, you can find out whether the Sonos Ace can actually keep up with established competitors such as the Sony WH-1000XM5 or the AirPods Max and what makes it special.
Workmanship: High quality and well thought out
As soon as you unpack the Ace, you notice that Sonos has attached great importance to a stylish and practical design. Of course, the packaging only plays a subordinate role, but Sonos is now putting at least as much effort into this as Apple.
The ear cups are magnetically attached and can be replaced if necessary – a function that ensures long-term comfort, especially with headphones that are used intensively.
The battery is also replaceable, which is unfortunately rare these days. The design itself is minimalist and follows the typical Sonos line: simple, elegant and tidy.
Another plus point: instead of touch controls, Sonos uses physical buttons with haptic feedback.
The so-called “content slider” is particularly noticeable here, as it enables precise control without you accidentally triggering the wrong commands – a common problem with touch surfaces.
Sound quality: A real treat for Sonos fans?
Let’s get to the crucial point: how does the Sonos Ace sound? We test new speakers and headphones with, among other things, a playlist of songs that have a particularly broad spectrum, which shows that Sonos also makes full use of its expertise in the field of audio quality with headphones.
The sound signature is clear and balanced, with a precise bass response and detailed mids. The treble is also well defined without being overdriven.
The noise canceling (ANC) works reliably and effectively blocks out disturbing ambient noise.
Seamless integration into the Sonos system
For Sonos fans, the seamless integration into the existing Sonos ecosystem is particularly interesting. The Ace can be easily integrated into multi-room setups, allowing direct control via the Sonos app.
This has recently been redesigned, making it much more intuitive to use – even if there are still some minor bumps here and there.
TV swap still limited
The “TV Swap” function on the Sonos Ace allows the sound from a compatible Sonos soundbar to be redirected directly to the headphones, which is particularly useful when watching movies at night or during loud action scenes so as not to disturb others.
This requires a Sonos Arc, while support for the Sonos Beam and Sonos Ray will follow later via a software update.
Operation and features: Practical, but with limitations
As already mentioned, Sonos relies on a combination of physical buttons and the Sonos app for the Ace.
The controls via the content key and the other buttons are pleasantly intuitive and precise, especially for users who are quickly annoyed by touch controls.
However, those who value advanced gesture control like Apple and smart functions might miss something here.
Price-performance ratio
With a price of 499 euros, the Sonos Ace is positioned in the premium segment. This inevitably raises the question: is the price justified?
The workmanship, sound quality and integration into the Sonos universe clearly speak in favor of the Ace.
However, given the strong competition and the fact that the headphones are primarily optimized for Sonos users, they may seem less attractive to those who are not already deeply entrenched in the Sonos ecosystem.
For whom is the Sonos Ace worthwhile?
The Sonos Ace is without doubt a successful headphone that impresses above all with its sound quality, high-quality workmanship and clever operation.
Sonos fans in particular will enjoy the seamless integration and sophisticated features.
However, if you are looking for a flexible all-rounder that can also play to its strengths outside the Sonos ecosystem, you should not ignore alternatives such as the Sony WH-1000XM5 or the Apple AirPods Max.
Overall, the Sonos Ace is a strong debut for the company in the headphone market, but one that should mainly appeal to those who have already invested in the Sonos universe.
Lars Grudzinski has been working as a sound and lighting technician since the 90s, was a DJ for electronic music, has a large collection of vintage speakers, and has been working for various radio stations in Germany for 20 years. At home, he enjoys high-quality home theater products such as soundbars and projectors and has installed an extensive Sonos system in his own home.