Sonos Ace
VERDICT
Sonos' debut headphones are a triumph of design and comfort. While they compete with Sony and Bose on noise cancellation, their superpower is the "TV Audio Swap." If you own a Sonos soundbar, these are the only headphones you should consider. They allow you to enjoy Dolby Atmos movies privately with incredible immersion.
The Big Picture
For a decade, Sonos users asked for headphones. The Sonos Ace delivers. They feature a sleek, minimalist design that feels lighter than the AirPods Max. Unlike many competitors that use frustrating touch controls, the Ace uses a tactile "Content Key" slider that is a joy to use. They connect via Bluetooth 5.4 to your phone and via Wi-Fi (indirectly) to your soundbar.
📺 TV Audio Swap
The Killer Feature: Long press the button on the right cup.
The Magic: The audio from your Sonos Arc instantly jumps to your headphones. It keeps the Dolby Atmos spatial audio intact. With dynamic head tracking, if you turn your head to look at the kitchen, the sound stays anchored to the TV screen. It’s mind-blowing.
🎧 Lossless Audio over USB-C
For the purists.
Wired Quality: Bluetooth always compresses sound. But if you plug the Ace into your phone or PC using the included USB-C cable, it supports full lossless audio. It’s perfect for listening to high-res tracks on Apple Music or Tidal.
✅ The Pros
- TV Swap: The best seamless movie watching experience available.
- Comfort: Memory foam ear pads are replaceable and extremely comfortable for long flights.
- Physical Controls: Reliable buttons instead of accidental touch swipes.
- 30-hour battery life with rapid charging (3 mins = 3 hours).
❌ The Cons
- Sonos Only: TV Swap only works with Sonos soundbars (Arc, Beam, Ray).
- No Wi-Fi Streaming: Surprisingly, they don't stream music directly over Wi-Fi like other Sonos speakers (they use Bluetooth).
- Expensive ($449).
🤔 Should you buy it?
YES if you already own a Sonos Soundbar. The integration is worth the price alone.
NO if you don't use Sonos at home; get the Sony WH-1000XM5 for better noise cancellation at a lower price.
See the showdown: Sonos Ace vs. Apple AirPods Max Comparison