The Sonos Ace are so impressive - but so unfinished
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Күн бұрынThe Sonos Ace have a stylish design and are among the most comfortable headphones we've tried. Their sound quality doesn't disappoint, and the TV Audio Swap feature lets you privately listen to movies, shows, and games. But the Ace feel finished - with several features still "coming soon."#Technology
00:00 Introduction - State of Sonos
00:50 Hardware, comfort, ear cushions, headband
03:12 Audio fidelity
03:41 Sonos ecosystem
04:17 Sound quality
05:05 Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) and transparency mode
05:51 TV Audio Swap
07:08 Gaming
08:18 Conclusion
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@TheVerge 2 ай бұрын
Would you buy this for the TV Audio Swap feature?
@azyrael96 2 ай бұрын
If it wasnt restricted to use exclusively with other sonos products, maybe
@specialtramp 2 ай бұрын
How is this feature different from connecting my wireless headphones to my Roku TV audio via the Roku app on my phone, which doesn't require a soundbar?
@somethingbl 2 ай бұрын
Since it requires an iPhone anyway and Apple TV + Airpods already does this, I don't see why anyone would? And if you don't want to use Airpods just pair your bluetooth headphones to the TV or receiver.
@MitchJT 2 ай бұрын
If you have an Apple TV you can use airpods to listen to TV audio. So no, this feature is not unique and I would not buy the Aces for it. I have a Sonos Beam and the Aces are incompatible. My initial interest in this product has flatlined.
@matthiasneumann4394 2 ай бұрын
I always struggled to find a solution to find good headphones for PS5, Xbox and watching KZfaq/Movies on the TV. I think this is the closest to perfection solution we will get. Even for playing multiplayer games I can simultaneously connect to the Discord or Xbox/PS App on the Smartphone via Bluetooth, while listening to the ingame sound.
@thomas23brown 2 ай бұрын
very good review. thanks Chris!
@BitsBytesBobs 2 ай бұрын
Received mine yesterday on launch day. I am an audiophile and had the apple AirPods Max before, but sent them back, as they were super heavy over the time and found the headband uncomfortable. Sonos have the comfort spot on, super spot on. Sound is where it's at! These sound great and I use them to watch my Apple TV also, and they work great, with spacial audio turned on, work perfectly well and as good, if not a bit better, than the AP Max. Overall, yes, expensive, but super comfy and sound great. Just wish the Sonos app was a mess right now.
@youngdoan3465 2 ай бұрын
which one is the best between Apple AirPod max or Sonos when you watch movies from Apple tv 4k? 🙏
@erselsiderov3796 2 ай бұрын
Lossless audio doesn’t support Sonos ace with iOS ? How come you get lossless audio
@Alex-tu5vu 2 ай бұрын
Any particular reason why you didn't choose the Bose QC Ultra?
@BitsBytesBobs 2 ай бұрын
@@youngdoan3465 I thought the AP Max would be a clear winner here, but actually, how Sonos have used Spatial Audio and the tracking (when you move your head) is almost identical how it works, but the Sonos is more punchy and the fit is better.
@BitsBytesBobs 2 ай бұрын
@@erselsiderov3796 Lossless is only with a wired connection, which you receive in the box.
@Geekosification 2 ай бұрын
Soon soon soon soon. This generation of products has a lot of that, so at least Sonos is very modern in terms of shipping products that isn't ready yet.
@chrispineo1979 2 ай бұрын
Coming soon is a maybe for me. I think they’ll deliver on most of the “coming soons” but until they show up they aren’t there yet. Purchase based on what the product does now, not what’s coming soon. I tried them out at BB (my iPhone, my music). Objectively I hear how good they sound but too much mid bass and not enough upper shine for my taste. Vocals were not as prominent as I prefer. I enjoy my QC Ultras. (Albeit slightly EQed which I didn’t try at BB with the Ace). The Ace are impressive though. Great looking, great ANC and like magnetic detachable earcups. Very comfy too.
@trevozneoma 2 ай бұрын
Good to see Chris got out of the air ducts at Sonos HQ for a little fresh air! Also great review!
@marciplan 2 ай бұрын
A lot better than MKBHD with his weird ad placement in the middle
@Rocksteady72a 2 ай бұрын
Maybe because this is a journalism source, rather than a content creator? Very different spaces with different points of income.
@DexyG87 2 ай бұрын
Yeah, there’s been a lot of weird reviews of this product in general - Marques’ was less than glowing, What HiFi gave it 3 stars etc. Then The Verge and a few other reviews I’ve seen are very positive. Just shows how subjective this kind of thing is.
@exempli646 2 ай бұрын
His headphones reviews are far from the benchmark but an ad ruined his review for you?
@KD-_- 2 ай бұрын
@@DexyG87journalist reviews are less critical overall to preserve brand relationships
@renardfields2975 2 ай бұрын
Totally disagree. These aren’t good headphones.
@John-vh1fk 2 ай бұрын
Mine arrived today and I can’t get the Arc tv swap to work at all. It tries then I hear a thunk and it reverts back. Pathetic to not work on launch. Everything’s up to date and on the same WiFi network.
@uppudoggu 2 ай бұрын
Not sure a microphone that poor can be forgiven considering the price tag.
@TheOfficialOriginalChad 2 ай бұрын
That’s okay, you aren’t shopping. Microphone quality doesn’t drive this market. The only around ear headphones with decent microphones are AirPods Max.
@Mrappbrain966 2 ай бұрын
@@TheOfficialOriginalChadnot really, the microphones on the XM5 run circles around the APM. They're pretty close to the best mics on consumer headphones, if not the best.
@divinium33 2 ай бұрын
Pretty much goes for 99% of headphones and earphones honestly
@TheOfficialOriginalChad 2 ай бұрын
@@divinium33 no kidding. RTINGS doesn’t even cover mic quality in their extensive testing. Why, you ask? Because everyone serious about mic quality knows it should be IN FRONT OF YOUR MOUTH
@aavnpn 2 ай бұрын
@@TheOfficialOriginalChadi love my airpods max but i feel bad for anyone i talk to on a phone call with them. microphone is dog water
@MrWelin-we7rn 2 ай бұрын
i do not understand why sonos does not allow swap for music also, and only tv. it would be half way there if i could swap and let my speakers drive my headphones
@zhuzai86 Ай бұрын
Samsung not support aptx audio? Going to developer option the option is there .
@evoniics9572 Ай бұрын
I also want to use them for gaming. What is better DTS:X or Atmos for the Sonos Headphones?
@PepeonidasSupremo 13 күн бұрын
Atmos !!
@ymi_yugy3133 2 ай бұрын
I feel like we are in need of a protocol different from Bluetooth or Wifi. Energy and bandwidth limitations aside my biggest gripe with these protocols is the connection/pairing handshake. I can't count the number of times I had to toggle bluetooth because my device just wouldn't show up in the list of available devices, or the connection would time out only to work find if I click the connect button again. Or how it sometimes works in a matter of seconds after turning on my headphones and other times it takes 30 seconds until it connects. Similar things hold for wifi, which is why I'm not that enthusiastic about the prospect of wifi headphones. Maybe I have just really bad luck, but I've had these connection problems with multiple computers from multiple vendors, multiple headphones, and all kinds of wifi networks, private, corporate, it doesn't really matter connecting is always a gamble. Now I might conclude that this is just what wireless technology is like and there is nothing that can be done. But the cheapest gaming headset with a 2.4GHz usb dongle works flawlessly.
@youngdoan3465 2 ай бұрын
is it good for Dolby atmos from Apple TV 4k? 🙏
@411hippieCO 2 ай бұрын
Loving mine so far. Music sounds great! Can't to try movies like Dune out.
@n1ck1216 2 ай бұрын
My xm4 finally broke after 4 years constantly throwing around in my bag. I might have to wait on these for the beam gen2 update. Otherwise I’ll wait on the xm6
@sydive130 Ай бұрын
Loving my Ace, hate the case! I’m sure 3rd party cases will be out soon, in fact I’m pretty sure that some 3rd party AirPod max cases will fit
@sjrosenberg 2 ай бұрын
if you use this for PS5 or Xbox audio, is there a mic so you can talk in party chat?
@renatocastelo48 2 ай бұрын
Excited about these but staying with my QC45 for now. Nothing impressive to make me want to buy them, even though my audio set up at home is all Sonos.
@darkjorgelink 2 ай бұрын
How does it work for gaming with the audio jack on the ps5 control, and how is the mic quality for phone calls
@thomas.8 2 ай бұрын
Smart Home Sounds review tests using the jack to play PS5, said it works fine
@sddrx6000 2 ай бұрын
I just hope the app gets better I constantly get unpaired from my Sonos one on wifi
@TomFoolery9001 2 ай бұрын
The reason I'm worried they won't fix the app is because it hasn't worked well for a while. It's not just the latest update. I really think they should just go back to the OG app as it worked way better and was way more consistent and less laggy.
@brandonfrost9801 2 ай бұрын
Will wait for Max 2
@dlhdbs9285 2 ай бұрын
If I plug my Ace into my macbook am I too assume I'm getting lossless audio? I see no indicators to say one way or the other
@davidb9531 2 ай бұрын
Yes you are if you’re using lossless content via tidal or any other provider
@Beer_Dad1975 2 ай бұрын
If you can't tell by listening, what does it matter? Lossless audio is a bunch of nonsense when 99% of listeners literally can't hear any difference between lossless and high bitrate compressed.
@davidb9531 2 ай бұрын
@@Beer_Dad1975 for people that likely use better headphones than this with a dac - eg audiophiles
@Beer_Dad1975 2 ай бұрын
@@davidb9531 Yeah but most audiophiles are irrational and only pretend they can hear the difference.
@iwouldpayattention 2 ай бұрын
Does TV audio swap stream over WiFi or just make the connection and then stream Bluetooth?
@davidb9531 2 ай бұрын
He did actually answer that q if you watch again
@iwouldpayattention 2 ай бұрын
@@davidb9531 He mentioned they use WiFi to connect but didn’t mention how they stream from the bar after the connection is made if I’m not mistaken
@davidb9531 2 ай бұрын
@@iwouldpayattention I think it’s a given in order to transfer this amount of information atmos wise it’s WiFi - if they connect through WiFi they stream through WiFi
@iwouldpayattention 2 ай бұрын
@@davidb9531I’m skeptical since they haven’t given us separate battery life stats for when using Swap. You’d expect it to be much lower on WiFi than Bluetooth so the fact they haven’t mentioned a battery hit in that use case makes me think it’s Bluetooth. Plus Apple Music’s spatial is Dolby and that’s sent over Bluetooth
@davidb9531 2 ай бұрын
@@iwouldpayattention much of the feedback is yes the battery does drain quicker using swap which suggests again it’s WiFi - I think you’re over thinking this one as everything everyone has said is it’s sending the data through WiFi, to use WiFi as a connect and the stream through Bluetooth then why on earth put WiFi in the headphones duh
@pipgoesthepossum 2 ай бұрын
I thonk the description js supposed to say "unfinished," not finished? Edit: lmao. "Thonk." I'm not even going to fix that. It's too good. 🤣
@ThatGuyyyyy Ай бұрын
I like the style. Price is a bit too high though. Maybe when it comes down to $349 or so.
@bluejay9846 Ай бұрын
Careful with these. Apparently certain power adapters can't charge the Ace or can even brick them. Lots of repoets circulating on reeddit
@jacobtorres2521 2 ай бұрын
I love how every is flipping about swap feature it works also on AirPods Max with Spotify as I know of using the Sonos speakers thru Spotify not Sonos app seamless transition I put my AirPods Max on and the music automatically starts playing Yall are missing out
@cuerex8580 2 ай бұрын
THIS HEADPHONE SHOULD GET A PROPER EQUALIZER!
@Reflection_Wave 2 ай бұрын
I am Sonos user and very disappointed about their app and equaliser is a joke.
@NENathaniel 2 ай бұрын
Be nice to see proper Frequency Response measurements
@MLHunt 2 ай бұрын
Seems like a very good effort but the Sonys' wired/wireless convertibility is a major differentiator for my use cases. Sony's transparency mode is pretty mediocre, so that's +1 for Sonos, though I personally don't wear over ear headphones walking around where transparency would be useful. Then again though, not being in either the Sonos or Apple ecosystems I suppose I'm not really in the target market segment for these.
@davidb9531 2 ай бұрын
These are also wired wireless
@MLHunt Ай бұрын
@@davidb9531Thanks. That's good to know. Interesting that none of the reviews I've seen so far have mentioned it.
@erselsiderov3796 2 ай бұрын
Lossless audio doesn’t support ace with iOS . What the hell guys , And sound it’s too low , When I connect to arc 1second it’s coming behind , no fear for this price . I have Sonos system at home but I am thinking should I return them .
@davidb9531 2 ай бұрын
Lossless through iOS needs the cable connection
@coyotestardust 2 ай бұрын
As davidb9531 points out, this is an iOS limitation over Bluetooth -- no headphones do it over wireless.
@davidb9531 2 ай бұрын
@@coyotestardust not quite true the Sonos do offer lossless through Bluetooth but only with a phone that supports Qualcomm lossless aptx - and there’s like 10 of those not including the big players like Samsung Apple or Google
@marchogeboom65 2 ай бұрын
How is it possible that so many people are complaint about electrostatic noises from the right earcup and that no reviewer is talking about that? I bought mine yesterday in a store and swapped them already 2 times. This is my third pair and also this one is faulty. Look at the Sonos forums how many people are complaining about this issue.
@knightbear49 2 ай бұрын
Cause they didn’t experience that?
@BitsBytesBobs 2 ай бұрын
My pair seem fine. Not experienced that at all. I assume the reviewer is the same.
@castiglioni987 2 ай бұрын
I thought I was the only one. Not good first impression.
@rmsanchez77 2 ай бұрын
Just updated the SW and have the same issue. In aware mode electrostatic noise from right ear cup. Very frustrating? Can it be fixed via SW, or is it a HW issue?
@DannyDanger64 Ай бұрын
Good to know
@evanbrooks4403 2 ай бұрын
How can this be nearly perfect and still justify a 7 on the written review?
@MitchJT 2 ай бұрын
Cost maybe? I just speculating.
@TheOfficialOriginalChad 2 ай бұрын
The written review explains that…
@JR-hd4qn 2 ай бұрын
When you turn the bass to 10 on EQ, these headphones make a popping noise. For 450$ this shouldn't happen!!
@tamaskiss6379 Ай бұрын
No, not a best. Not bad, but (for me) the Airpod Max is better. I bought the Ace for audio swap. It’s working. That’s it.
@CubiReviews 2 ай бұрын
The AppleTV supports eARC, so you can get "everything" using AirPods as well. That's how I use a pair of HomePods as my home theatre setup.
@Why_Usernames 2 ай бұрын
Found it strange how he said "everything" when it requires the purchase of a Sonos sound bar which cost a bit more than an Apple TV...
@user-xf6ib8ir6l 2 ай бұрын
The same homepod plus Apple TV plus airpods max it’s prefect for me
@Darkk_Sage Ай бұрын
But then you’re stuck with an inferior home theater setup. No offense, I love Apple, but a couple of homepods aren’t holding a candle to an arc, era 300s and a sub. Maybe Apple will give us full HT one day.
@CubiReviews Ай бұрын
@@Darkk_Sage Did you consider the price difference if the setup Sonos you‘ve just mentioned compared to the HomePods? The Arc alone is more expensive than two HomePods plus an AppleTV
@fakename5015 Ай бұрын
Makes no sense that you can only get music via Bluetooth and outside of the Sonos app since it uses wifi to connect to the Arc. I can even use my TV’s Spotify app to have the Arc send music to my Ace. I can only conclude that Sonos doesn’t have the legal right to stream to headphones through the Sonos app. Because tv sound and music are both just data.
@ourhouseuk Ай бұрын
The fact they stuck with their basic sound balancing is INSANE. Give us a #%^*ing eq
@antnrvv 2 ай бұрын
Way better review than mkbhd
@DannyDanger64 Ай бұрын
Wait no tv audio swap for Android? Fail
@KingKikikoi 2 ай бұрын
Best looking headphones in the market. I wish they had other option for ear cups than only this vegan leather because they can run a bit hot
@rcvillapando 2 ай бұрын
Correct. Tried them on and 5 minutes into listening it was getting noticeably warm. Maybe it’s just me though
@KingKikikoi 2 ай бұрын
@@rcvillapando nah you’re right they do run warm, I haven’t even taken them to gym yet which I am not looking forward to honestly but on the bright side these ear cups can be removed easily so if they bring out like a breathable fabric type cups that would be … Ace.
@UntakenNick 2 ай бұрын
Better than, say, an HE1000SE?
@football_prediction 2 ай бұрын
Mics are robotic Overpriced Good product though bad software support
@JusticeJanitor 2 ай бұрын
"Good product though bad software support" That's Sonos in a nutshell. I love my Sonos speakers I have around the house but I mostly use them through the Spotify app and try to avoid using the Sonos app as much as possible.
@satekhi2349 2 ай бұрын
I didn't know that Airpod Max and XM5 got married and had a child
@clintpoonae Ай бұрын
I’ll wait another five years for it to upgrade to hi res lossless
@DMonZ1988 2 ай бұрын
Who gives a damn about audio swap? You can connect them directly to your TV right?? And they'll play formats like dolby atmos? Or not?
@davidb9531 2 ай бұрын
Dolby atmos through Bluetooth 😂
@hkad6252 2 ай бұрын
The microphone sounds awful. The mic is so important.
@OfficialJuan 2 ай бұрын
fix the app...
@joshuvaantonio 2 ай бұрын
Apple, Bose and Sony? Where did Sennheiser Go? They are the best in sound quality by every single reviewers. Or am I missing something here?
@DeeDeeDanone 2 ай бұрын
They can’t play lossless with Apple. That’s MASSIVE.
@ziiiim 2 ай бұрын
Everything looks good except for the price 😂
@prisol 2 ай бұрын
I wont be touching these until Sonos roll out the feature to directly integrate into the Sonos eco system / app. i.e. Sonos Radio direct into the headphones... Surely, this feature should have been there straight out of the box ??!
@utube-zb4vi 2 ай бұрын
Still not better than 2 years old Sony and Sony has some offers now so can't compare
@likhan.ghosh. 2 ай бұрын
Given how they’ve handled the app craziness and still not fixed it, I have zero faith in Sonos
@chrominox Ай бұрын
that price is *insane*
@jtjdt 2 ай бұрын
NO AUTO EQ LIKE AIRPODS MAX THOUGH!
@mpatton997 2 ай бұрын
I’m seeing VERY mixed reviews.
@AwkwardFX 2 ай бұрын
Because Sonos paid for the reviews after the debacle with their app.
@mpatton997 2 ай бұрын
@@AwkwardFXahhh okay. That makes sense then.
@stevenchrobnik2221 2 ай бұрын
Bet they not as loud as apple
@votdfak 2 ай бұрын
Perfect compared to what?
@deykno87 2 ай бұрын
😑🙄
@isviewer 2 ай бұрын
yo mama
@kennylowrie 2 ай бұрын
The broken app has pushed me towards the apple airpox max with what we think new ones being released soon......sonos has lost there way I recon in a desasterous good s2 app now giving out major issues
@noelmartin2686 2 ай бұрын
Like
@HRM2010 2 ай бұрын
Pleather has an outer layer that will crack inevitably... releasing this product is like sending a pile of e-waste straight to the dump
@CooperJackToys 2 ай бұрын
Same as leather then. You can replace the cups without throwing the entire headphones in the dump! 😂
@HRM2010 2 ай бұрын
@@CooperJackToys pleather (fabric with plastic lining) is used on the headband too, which doesn’t seem replaceable
@acraven123 2 ай бұрын
😂
@NicolaiNNielsen 2 ай бұрын
You cannot compare a 70% product to a 100% Apple AirPods Max. For this price range, there should not be any “coming soon” or software mistakes
@KD-_- 2 ай бұрын
Especially when the list of coming soon for Android is twice as long. These should be the non apple apm
@r3d3vil54 2 ай бұрын
How much did they pay you for this review Verge?
@Raynosaurus 2 ай бұрын
This price feels suuuuper inflated for what you say it does.
@nachot6592 Ай бұрын
No. Sound quality isn't subjective. Tonality might be, but clipping is clipping, roll off is roll off, and muddiness is muddiness.
@born2eat 2 ай бұрын
Why anyone using Android would support Sonos is beyond me. The company hates Google, which is probably why they didn't bother adding Fast Pair to these.
@Pixel2323Steal 2 ай бұрын
I'd argue the opposite, people buy it because they have an andriod looking for a competitor to the air pods max
@MrAndyisReal 2 ай бұрын
Pretty good but everyone knows Super Mario 2 are still the champs of the wireless headphone game.
@victuringan1429 2 ай бұрын
Why would anyone buy this over the AirPods Max?
@fredericmelancon4472 2 ай бұрын
Can't believe u need an iPhone for setting it... GOD thats stupid.
@Kdkjdjewerdnxa Ай бұрын
Why would anyone buy Sonos products when they were caught trying to brick older devices via firmware? One of the most anti consumer audio companies there is. They design e-waste, products that are meant to expire ideally in as little time as possible so you buy the next one.
@kidcal 2 ай бұрын
So when will Apple be suing SONOS for ripping off their Air pod Max design
2 ай бұрын
Too heavy. Probably the heaviest in the market in its segment.
@Reflection_Wave 2 ай бұрын
Why Sonos copy design from apple? I don’t like apple or Sonos headphones anyway 👀
@drafman1 2 ай бұрын
Lmao were you paid for this video? these are not worth the pricetag.....
@MetalRush666 2 ай бұрын
Sennheiser hd600 and a tube amp. Sonos and the midfi market defeated.
@Moshington 2 ай бұрын
Cap
@newfnshow031 Ай бұрын
the verge only makes apple videos. Sad downfall of this bias company
@thomasheidstra1268 Ай бұрын
I can’t still switch between Apple Music and Spotify on my system. After a month. No way Sonos is getting my money for the time being until my anger over this sh@te jon has subdued…
@simonrockstream Ай бұрын
Ive heard NOTHING but complaints from people who own anything Sonos. Pathetic products.
@ilovedrums1000 2 ай бұрын
Just get a fuckn decent surround system
@KD-_- 2 ай бұрын
You taking that on the train?
@davidb9531 2 ай бұрын
Or get rid of your sleeping kids huh?
@ilovedrums1000 2 ай бұрын
@@davidb9531 or close the door?
@robertmitzenheim 2 ай бұрын
tittishows?!
@Shoord 2 ай бұрын
Stopped watching after part about pleather. The sweaty feel it can have against your face is not what I want, after having used the Bose Quietcomfort for years. I'll be waiting on the Airpods Max update still. 🥲
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