Sonos Releases Headphones, With Noise Cancellation

Sonos unveils its first headphones, featuring noise cancellation and Dolby Atmos, but missing the most anticipated feature

Remarkably, Sonos Ace does not support compatibility with the Wi-Fi music system manufactured by Sonos.

Sonos has introduced its initial headphones, known as Sonos Ace.

Supporting Snapdragon Sound and aptX Lossless, Dolby Atmos spatial audio, active noise cancellation, and USB-C lossless audio are Bluetooth over-ear headphones… and not with multi-room system support from Sonos.

We had anticipated that Sonos headphones would have a feature similar to Sonos Roam, in which music automatically transfers to Sonos Ace when you leave and back to Sonos speakers when you return, and that the Sonos app would allow you to select them as a Wi-Fi music source.

However, this feature is not available. Bluetooth-wise, they function similarly to the majority of the finest noise-canceling headphones, albeit at a higher price point.

Nevertheless, they employ a significant Sonos stratagem.

They have built-in Wi-Fi, and Sonos headphones can connect to a Sonos soundbar and play head-tracked spatial audio of the entire TV’s audio.

This feature can be activated instantaneously by pressing a button on the back, allowing you to watch television in a virtual home theater without disturbing others in the house.

Initially exclusive to the Sonos Arc, this functionality will eventually be added to the Sonos Beam, Sonos Beam Gen 2, and Sonos Ray.

They are offered for $449 (UK$449; AU$599) on June 5th, 2024.

This is a significantly higher price point, but it brings them on par with the likes of the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones or AirPods Max – and, considering their complete specifications and features, these are the competitors of the Sonos Ace. Therefore, let us clarify what those are.

What is the Sonos Ace capable of?

As stated previously, these are over-ear Bluetooth headphones featuring 40mm dynamic drivers housed in remarkably slender earcups (mounted at an angle to ensure they are parallel to the ear canals).

This driver is identical in size to that of the Sony WH-1000XM4 from the previous generation, but it differs in that the Sony WH-1000XM5 features a more minor 30mm driver in each earpiece. 

When worn, the Sonos Ace protrudes considerably less than most of the competition and has an exceptionally well-constructed feel.

Upon testing them, I found them to be generally comfortable; however, after a listening session, the area around my ears began to feel heated; therefore, we’ll have to await a comprehensive review to determine whether or not this is a common occurrence.

Although not as lightweight as the Sony XM5 (which weighs 250g) at 11oz/312g, they are considerably lighter than most well-equipped headphones.

If the earpads undergo wear and tear over time, they are replaceable.

They feature a hard casing constructed primarily of recycled materials and are remarkably slim; they could make excellent travel headphones. Additionally, it has a small pocket for your cables.

Bluetooth 5.4 with multi-point pairing for two devices, Snapdragon Sound supporting aptX Lossless, and USB-C for lossless audio (including support for Apple Lossless files from an iPhone, iPad, or Mac when cabled) round out the connectivity options.

Although the device lacks a 3.5mm connector, it does include a USB-C-to-3.5mm cable. In addition, Wi-Fi is available, but it serves only as a connection for the soundbar.

Dolby Atmos spatial audio is supported, and not just when connected to a Sonos soundbar; any Bluetooth device that supports it, including iPhones, can output it.

In addition, head-tracked Dolby Atmos spatial audio will be produced from those devices via a tracking system developed by Dolby.

With ANC enabled, they guarantee thirty hours of operation time and three hours of use from a single three-minute charge. With active noise cancellation engaged, over-ear headphones would have an impressive battery life.

We’ve evaluated if the claim is accurate. 

A ‘Content Key’ button/slider combination is located on the right earcup; to adjust the volume, slide it up and down; to play, pause, or skip recordings, click it.

A button beneath it toggles between Bluetooth and TV audio.

The Sonos app is not required for setup or operation; however, the companion app is required for head-tracked spatial audio configuration and EQ adjustments.

Furthermore, Sonos assures us that a ‘TrueCinema’ mode will be forthcoming.

According to Sonos, this will modify the spatial audio sound in TV mode to more realistically resemble a home theater system in the confines of your living room, thereby increasing its convincingness to the brain, as opposed to sounding like it emanates from a generalized, enormous room. However, that will not be offered during the launch.

Although the headphones possess an auto-pause function upon removal, no Find My Support option is provided, which is a bit unfortunate for a pair of headphones that one would be reluctant to misplace. 

Although their feature sets are strikingly similar to those of the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones and the AirPods Max, the Sonos Ace supports the critical functions that neither of those headphones do.

We wish the Bose had their extended battery life, extensive aptX support, lossless USB-C connectivity, and authentic Dolby Atmos spatial audio.

They feature Android support, a more comfortable fit, and lossless Bluetooth and USB-C connectivity, all of which we wish the AirPods Max had.

The sound quality and noise cancellation were commensurate with the price from the moment I first used them, so they may be able to displace the Bose Ultra as my favorite among the best wireless headphones.

Nonetheless, a few things could be improved, particularly for Apple users or those who have delved extremely profoundly into the Sonos ecosystem.

Wireless lossless audio is not supported on the iPhone; aptX has not been implemented. If Sonos had connected the headphones to its Wi-Fi streaming, Apple Music could have been streamed to them in lossless quality.

Furthermore, suppose you have invested in connecting a high-quality turntable to your Sonos system (e.g., the Victrola Stream Carbon, a Sonos Amp or Sonos Port, a Sonos Era 100 plug-in, or a Sonos-ready turntable itself).

In that case, you may anticipate the ability to play it through your Sonos headphones… However, this is only the case with support for the standard Sonos multi-room Wi-Fi system.

Sonos stated that it would be receptive to customer feedback regarding this (although it has already received a substantial amount of customer feedback regarding its most recent app update) and that while the ability to use the Sonos Ace with its multi-room system is not currently planned, it is a possibility that it will be implemented in the future.

However, beyond the Sonos purview, the Sonos Ace may have considerable allure for those unfazed by the hefty price tag; we will provide a comprehensive review as soon as possible.