When you buy through affiliate links in our content, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Learn 
Sonos released its Ace headphones in May, but the raft of complaints about the company’s redesigned app overshadowed the company’s debut in wearable audio. Did you really want to spend $449 on over-ears with questionable software? Many didn’t, and that left Sonos scrambling to improve its code while potential customers drifted toward more established alternatives from Apple, Bose, and Sony.
Six months later, and it’s a different story. Sonos has added and restored app functionality, and the headphones themselves have received updates and discounts to make them more useful. We’ve had the opportunity to review the Sonos Ace now that they’ve had a chance to mature, and they’re definitely a better proposition than they were this spring — but you might want to look for deals or cross-shop the competition.
- Show Full Guide
Sonos Ace Design: How Headphones Should Be, Mostly
Sonos might have been late to headphones, but it was clearly paying attention to most of what worked with the competition.
My Sonos Ace review unit in white (classic black is also an option) is a good blend of practicality and style. There are premium elements like the stainless steel arms as well as a headband and ear cushions made from comfy vegan leather. However, you’ll also find lightweight recycled plastic earcups and faux chrome on the elements you’re most likely to touch, like the control key (more on that later).
The result is a set of headphones that looks good but is genuinely comfortable for long stretches of time — unlike Apple’s aluminum-clad AirPods Max, there’s no real risk these will weigh you down over time. While I’ve heard some aren’t fans of the earcup size, I found them comfortable even on my large ears. There weren’t issues with pressure or warmth. The headband shouldn’t destroy most hairstyles, either.
The controls are clever as well. Sonos uses a “control key” that covers most playback features. You can press it like a button to pause, skip tracks, answer calls, or use the TV Audio Swap feature, but you can also slide it up and down to adjust the volume. I quickly found that last part handy when I wanted to immerse myself in a favorite song or turn it down to hear more of the outside world. A separate button both toggles noise cancellation modes and activates your connected device’s voice assistant.
With that said, it takes some practice to learn to use those buttons. The placement isn’t quite as intuitive as you might think, and it’ll be a little while before you can use the control key without double-checking first. This is true of physical controls on many headphones, to be clear, but you might find yourself using software controls at times.
It’s harder to complain about the included accessories and repairability, at least. As with Apple, Sonos’ ear cushions are magnetic and easily replaced — they’re not cheap at $49 for a new pair, but you might prefer that over the sometimes-delicate replacement process elsewhere. It’s also nice to see an included USB-C to 3.5mm adapter for wired listening, although you’ll still have to turn on the headphones to use them. And don’t expect a power adapter in the box.
The included case is mostly beneficial. It, too, uses magnets and has a helpful pod to hold your cables. As the Ace doesn’t fold like some headphones, though, the case is rather large — this is something for a backpack rather than a small messenger bag. And while I’ve had no problems with the zipper, it’s delicate enough that I’d resist opening the case too quickly.
Sonos Ace Sound Quality Review: Great Noise Cancellation, Good-Enough Audio
With a $449 asking price, you’d expect Sonos to thrive. It does, but not necessarily in the way you’d expect.
During my review period, the Sonos Ace was enjoyable to listen to between the thumping bass, bright highs, and clear vocals. I’d find myself instinctively bobbing to the airtight beats in Nicky Elisabeth’s The Way of Love, feeling the joy of Sir Simon Rattle’s take on Ravel’s Daphnis et Chloé, or discovering nuances in Kamasi Washington’s jazz epic Fearless Movement. They’re great for videos, too, with little to no discernible lag. The overall sound is accurate in ideal conditions, and there’s head-tracking spatial audio support for Apple Music, Amazon Music Unlimited, and other platforms that use Dolby Atmos or Sony 360 Reality Audio.
As with many headphones in this price category, though, bass tends to overshadow the lower end of the mid-range. It’s not as overwhelming as it is with some headphones (particularly some Beats models), but this is primarily for dance, pop, and rap fans who are willing to lose a bit of detail in favor of tooth-rattling impact. That’s a bit surprising when Sonos speakers often have a warm-yet-rich quality that still brings out mids and highs.
You might be willing to forgive some of this once you experience Sonos’ excellent approach to active noise cancellation (ANC). With ANC off, the cups still do a reasonable job of muffling louder noises at typical volume levels. With ANC turned on, nearly every external sound goes away — like Bose’s legendary QuietComfort line. This is ideal if you’re a frequent traveler who wants to tune out subway chatter or thrumming jet engines. It can similarly help at home if you have a loud keyboard or a barking dog.
I also appreciated Sonos’ Aware Mode (aka transparency mode), which uses microphones to let external sounds through. While you won’t forget that you have headphones on, the outside noises seem entirely natural. I left Aware active most of the time so that I wouldn’t miss out on an important conversation or a ringing doorbell.
Phone calls are average, but that’s not surprising when few companies beyond Apple seem to have nailed this aspect. I’d happily use the Ace to take a call, but I’d use the AirPods Pro if given the choice.
Sonos Ace Software and TV Audio Swap: The App is Better, But Still Needs Work
You can pair the Sonos Ace like any set of Bluetooth headphones, and it has two-device multipoint support (not enabled by default) so you can connect to, say, your computer and phone without having to use any special software or revisit the pairing process.
To make the most of the Ace, however, you’ll need to use the official Sonos app for Android or iOS. And that’s where some of the loudest complaints come from. Most of the issues with the software have revolved around missing speaker features, but the Ace wasn’t immune. You could only use TV Audio Swap (which shifts sound from a Sonos soundbar to the headphones) using the Arc, and a TrueCinema feature that created a virtual surround sound setup wasn’t going to arrive until near the end of 2024.
Sonos has fixed some of them. You can use TV Audio Swap with more soundbars, including first- and second-generation Beam models as well as the entry-level Ray. There have also been improvements to general polish, both in the app interface and the code quality. The Sonos Ace and the app were reliable throughout my review stint.
I still wasn’t impressed with Ace’s support in the app. Most notably, the EQ remains limited to simple bass, treble, and balance sliders. There’s also a “loudness” option to make the audio sound better at low volume (and potentially protect your ears), but you simply won’t be happy if you’re expecting precise control or even presets. In contrast, the $149 Nothing Ear Open earbuds have an optional eight-band EQ as well as presets and custom profiles. I don’t expect Sonos to match Nothing’s exact feature set, but for $449 I’d like more than what’s on offer now.
TV Audio Swap is a clear reason to choose the Ace over the competition, at least. A long press of the content key brings your soundbar’s audio to your headphones and back. As the father of a toddler, this is a very useful feature — I don’t have to worry about waking my child if I want to watch something (or a game) while they’re asleep. It’s also handy if you have a partner or roommate who works unusual hours and may be asleep long before you.
However, the TrueCinema feature still isn’t ready at the time I’m writing my Ace review — and Sonos hasn’t yet narrowed down the release date. For now, you’ll have to deal with ‘just’ a conventional TV listening experience. This isn’t a dealbreaker, but it’s worth noting.
Battery Life and Charging for the Sonos Ace: Plenty for Long Listening Sessions
Over-ear headphones in this class tend to last a long time on battery, and that’s definitely true here. Sonos claims 30 hours of playback on the Ace with ANC or Aware Mode turned on, and my review experience shows it’s not exaggerating. It was easy to go more than three days without charging up. That tops both the Apple AirPods Max (20 hours) and Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (24 hours), and matches Sony’s WH-1000XM5. While I wouldn’t call those competitors slouches, this does mean you can bring Sonos cans on a weekend trip and expect them to last.
The fast charging is also better than you might think. If you have a USB-C charger capable of Power Delivery (15W or above), the Ace will add three hours of listening in just three minutes if the battery has less than a 10% charge. To put it another way, you could charge just before boarding an aircraft and potentially have enough playback for the entire flight.
The absence of a power adapter is annoying, as it means you’ll either have to borrow an existing brick (such as the one from your phone) or a port on a sufficiently powerful device, like your computer or car. That’s nothing unique when many companies are dropping bundled adapters in the name of the environment or cost-cutting, but it’s worth remembering.
Final Verdict: Should You Buy the Sonos Ace Headphones?
Six months on, the decision to buy a Sonos Ace has evolved from a fairly solid “no” to “it depends.” It’s no longer just an option for Arc soundbar owners who want to help their partners sleep.
If you’re searching for the best audio quality in the mid-price over-ear segment, this isn’t it. I’d instead point you to the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones. And in terms of value for money, Sony’s WH-1000XM5 (or even XM4) is hard to top when it’s frequently on sale. The $449 official price of the Ace is also steep when you can readily find the competition below $400.
But the Sonos Ace now goes on sale, too — as I write this, it’s down to $349 for a Black Friday sale. And that makes it a considerably more compelling choice, especially if you like the advantages Sonos has.
The ANC and comfort are some of the best you’ll find on any headphones in this category. These headphones are great for commutes, flights, and simply concentrating on work. The battery life is above average, and thoughtful design touches like the magnetic earcups might prove persuasive.
And if you’re wondering, I’m not worried that Sonos hasn’t included Wi-Fi in the Ace. The hit to battery life would be too severe for a relatively modest gain; I don’t need a constant connection to the Era 300 speaker across the house in case I want to move sound.
To be clear, the Sonos app is still a problem as 2024 winds to a close. Soundbar compatibility has improved, but a too-simple EQ and the missing TrueCinema make the Ace harder to recommend if you’re particular about your audio profile or will listen to your TV through headphones most of the time. I understand that Sonos mainly needs to fix its speaker features — I’d just like it to shift some attention.
There are also rumors Sonos might introduce a higher-quality set of headphones that occupy the $449 slot while permanently dropping the Ace’s price. It could be worth the wait if you want headphones that sound just as good as the company’s better products.
If those aren’t issues, though, you’ll be content. Sonos made a good first attempt at headphones, and you might appreciate them when the ANC introduces blissful background silence in an airline cabin or your office.
