Sonos Ace Review: Great Headphones Overshadowed by App Issues | The Verge

The Sonos Ace headphones, a surprisingly strong entry into the personal audio market despite a rocky launch overshadowed by a company-wide app issue in 2024, are currently available at a 25% discount through Amazon’s Big Spring Sale. Dropping the price from $449 to $337, this deal offers a significant opportunity to experience Sonos’s take on premium noise-canceling headphones.

Beyond the App: A Latecomer That Impressed

When Sonos finally unveiled the Ace headphones in May 2024, it marked the culmination of years of anticipation. The launch was met with considerable excitement, promising to deliver the company’s renowned audio expertise to a new form factor. Yet, the rollout coincided with widespread problems with the Sonos app, which impacted the entire ecosystem and unfortunately diminished some of the initial buzz. Despite this, reviews consistently highlighted the Ace’s strengths: impressive sound quality, effective noise cancellation, and a comfortable design.

Sound Quality and Key Features

The Sonos Ace headphones distinguish themselves through a focus on audio fidelity. Optimized for Dolby Atmos, they aim to deliver a “hyperrealistic sound from every direction,” according to Sonos. Town & Country’s review places the sound quality on par with established competitors like Bose and Apple, praising a natural-sounding transparency mode that approaches the quality of the original AirPods Max. This transparency mode, also known as Aware Mode, allows users to hear their surroundings while still enjoying their audio, a crucial feature for safety and situational awareness.

Beyond sound quality, the Ace incorporates Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) designed to effectively neutralize external sounds, and a comfortable design featuring plush memory foam ear pads covered in faux leather. The headphones also support USB-C wired audio, offering an alternative connection method.

The Sonos Ecosystem Advantage: TV Audio Swap and TrueCinema

While the Sonos Ace headphones function perfectly well as standalone audio devices, their true potential is unlocked when integrated into the Sonos ecosystem. A standout feature is the “TV Audio Swap” functionality, which allows users to seamlessly transfer audio from a Sonos soundbar – including the Arc, Beam (both generations), and Ray – to the headphones with a single button press. This is particularly useful for late-night viewing or gaming, allowing users to enjoy immersive audio without disturbing others.

Sonos’s TrueCinema mode further enhances the experience, enabling fine-tuning of virtual surround sound to match the acoustics of the listening space, similar to the TruePlay feature available on Sonos speakers.

Limitations and Trade-offs

Despite their strengths, the Sonos Ace headphones aren’t without limitations. Notably, they lack the ability to play music directly over Wi-Fi or to be grouped with other Sonos speakers for multi-room audio. This is a significant omission for users deeply invested in the Sonos ecosystem who expect seamless integration across all devices. The lack of Wi-Fi playback means users are reliant on Bluetooth for wireless connectivity, which, while convenient, doesn’t offer the same level of stability or range as a dedicated Wi-Fi connection.

A Considered Entry, Still Maturing

The Sonos Ace headphones represent a considered, if somewhat late, entry into the competitive headphone market. While the initial launch was hampered by external factors, the headphones themselves have garnered positive reviews for their sound quality, comfort, and unique features like TV Audio Swap. The current Amazon sale provides an attractive opportunity to experience these features at a reduced price. However, potential buyers should be aware of the limitations, particularly the lack of Wi-Fi playback and integration with other Sonos speakers.

What’s on the Horizon for Sonos Audio?

Sonos continues to refine the Ace experience through software updates. The introduction of TrueCinema mode demonstrates a commitment to enhancing the headphones’ capabilities and integrating them more fully into the Sonos ecosystem. Future developments may focus on expanding the compatibility of TV Audio Swap to additional Sonos soundbar models, as initially planned, and potentially addressing the lack of Wi-Fi playback. The company’s long-term strategy will likely involve leveraging the Ace headphones as a gateway to the broader Sonos ecosystem, encouraging users to invest in a complete home audio solution.

For those already invested in Sonos, the Ace headphones offer a compelling proposition, particularly with the current discount. For newcomers, it’s a strong contender in the premium headphone space, but the ecosystem lock-in should be carefully considered.