Sonos has defined the whole-house audio space for a long time now, and now they've developed their first set of headphones: the Sonos Ace. They're noise-canceling Bluetooth headphones with Sonos audio wizardry built in, so how do they sound, and how do they work in real life? Our Headphone Guy put them through their paces for this video review.
Sonos Ace (White): www.crutchfield.com/i-rYTVc30...
Sonos Ace (Black): www.crutchfield.com/i-rYTVc30...
Read our Headphone Guy's review here: www.crutchfield.com/i-rYTVc30...
Look & feel
The Sonos Ace look and feel premium, just like you'd expect from Sonos. They're built tough, but manage to be fairly lightweight, with just enough pressure to stay on your head without clamping too much. The fit and feel are great for wearing them for long stretches, and we think they're right up there with other premium favorites like the B&W PX7 and the Apple Airpods Max with how they feel in-hand and on your head.
Noise cancelling
Noise cancelation is excellent, and on par with established headphone lines from Sony and Bose. This was surprising, just because it's Sonos' first crack at canceling noise, but we probably shouldn't have been, given how Sonos has many years of developing audio software under their belt.
How do they connect?
These don't connect to your Sonos system the same way a speaker would, but you can use the Sonos app to fine-tune your sound and get the headphones sounding just they way you like. If you have a Sonos Arc sound bar, the Ace can connect to them and let you switch to listening to your movie or show on the headphones with just a push of a button.
Physical controls
Physical controls on the Sonos Ace earcups let you make quick adjustments to noise cancellation, take calls, turn your music up and down, etc. more easily than the touch controls found on many headphones like this.
Spatial sound
The Dolby Atmos and spatial sound integration are top-notch in the Sonos Ace, giving you a real three-dimensional listening experience. It's great for movies and games, and also for music. You might feel as though you are sitting in the room with the band!
Our impressions
We came away from our time with the Sonos Ace headphones impressed. They're a first-generation product that compete very well with established rivals like Sony XM5 and Bose QuietComfort, the Apple AirPods Max, and other premium wireless headphones. They definitely live up to what you'd expect from a Sonos headphone: premium quality, great sound, comfortable, stylish, and features that'll put a smile on your face.
Chapters
0:00 Intro - Sonos' first headphones
0:25 Long Sonos history
0:40 Meet the Sonos Ace
0:58 How do you connect to them?
1:15 Bluetooth 5.4 and great battery life
1:38 Premium design
1:56 Great build and fit
2:30 Physical controls on earcup
3:05 Excellent noise cancellation
3:49 Not another Sonos zone
4:14 Dial in your sound through the Sonos app
4:21 TV Swap feature with Sonos Arc sound bar
4:45 How do they sound?
5:15 Dolby Atmos and spatial sound
5:52 How do they stack up with their competition?