If you are a brand like Sonos, which has almost perfected the soundbar space, you have only two options: either continue to ride this wave and stay in the soundbar segment or branch out into different areas. Well, Sonos has chosen the latter and announced its new Sonos Ace headphones for $450 or Rs. 39,999.

This puts the Sonos Ace in direct competition with industry leaders like the Sony XM5 and even the Airpod Pro Max. While it’s fair to say that dethroning Sony or Apple on their first attempt might be tough, after testing the Ace headphones for a week, I believe Sonos has come really close. Stick around and find out why in my review of the Sonos Ace headphones.

Sonos Ace Review: Design & Comfort

If you own a Sonos soundbar, you know the company tends to keep its design simple. The same can be said for the Sonos Ace headphones, which nail that minimalist, sleek aesthetic. The hinge is neatly hidden inside the earcup, and the adjusting mechanism doesn’t move in steps. Instead, it’s free-moving, and you can keep it at any length you want.

Whether you love or hate the design, most would agree these headphones wouldn’t look out of place in an office or a trendy café. The metal earcups come with an anti-fingerprint coating, preventing smudges and keeping them clean.

Let’s be real: headphones can have the best design in the world, but nobody will wear them if they aren’t comfortable. As someone who wears glasses, I struggle with headphones that don’t have breathable earcups and make my ears warm. Therefore, I had doubts about comfort. However, at 312 gm, the Ace headphones strike an almost perfect balance between style and comfort. The memory foam earcups, padded with vegan leather, deliver excellent comfort. Plus, the earcups are magnetically attached, so you can easily replace them if you damage your pre-installed ones.

After wearing them for a few hours straight, I didn’t experience the usual ear fatigue, and the clamping force didn’t bother my glasses at all. This instantly made the Sonos Ace my go-to travel headphones. However, I wish Sonos had gone with the fabric air cushions like Apple since I did feel my ears getting warm after long listening sessions.

The Case

Sonos has always been big on sustainability. The case’s quality is impressive, and there’s a smaller magnetic pouch inside that stores both the USB-C to USB-C and USB-C to headphone jack cables. However, the best part about the case is definitely its sleekness. Since the headphones don’t fold but lay flat, the case remains incredibly thin, making it super easy to slip into a backpack.

Sonos Ace Review: Controls

Almost every headphone in the segment includes touch controls, which I am not the biggest fan of. Sonos has surprisingly not included touch controls. Instead, the Ace uses physical buttons for all its functions. On the left, you get the standard power on and pairing button.

On the right, however, you get a button to switch between different ANC modes and a “Content Key,” which combines a button and a slider. You can adjust the volume by sliding the slider up or down, pressing it to play/pause, and holding it to activate the sound swap feature.

Companion App

If there’s one area where the Sonos Ace gave me some trouble, it was the companion app. Many users have criticized Sonos for rushing to release the new Android app to match the Ace’s launch. However, it is important to note that while Sonos has significantly improved the app, the pairing process still took me a couple of tries. I have communicated this issue to Sonos, who are working on a fix.

Once connected, the app looks pretty minimalistic. You get all the standard features, such as the equalizer, ANC controls, toggles to turn on/off Spatial Audio, and wear detection.

Sonos Ace Review: Sound Quality

Let’s talk sound. After all, this is what makes or breaks a headphone. I’ll cut to the chase—the Sonos Ace headphones deliver excellent audio performance. I’ve used a fair share of premium headphones like the Airpod Max and the Sony WF-1000XM4, and the Ace is right up there.

I started by listening to Billie Eilish’s bass-heavy track “Oxytocin,” and the bass was punchy without being overwhelming. Transitioning to tracks like “Not Like Us,” “Sweet Caroline,” and “Bad Habits,” the mids were crystal clear, and I could make out all the instruments without missing a beat. The sound stage felt wide and immersive. The Sonos Ace headphones are well-balanced, which is the best thing. No single aspect overshadows the others, creating a smooth experience.

When comparing the Sonos Ace with the Sonys and the AirPod Max, the sound quality was pretty comparable. The Sonys were a bit clearer and bass-heavy, while the AirPods offered a similar sound profile. But since sound is subjective, you can pick up any of these headphones, and you won’t miss a beat.

ANC

The ANC on the Sonos Ace headphones is excellent. I’ve worn them during flights and daily commutes, and they work amazingly. The eight mics block out all the sounds, meaning you can sit back, relax, and not worry about anything interrupting your listening session. While high-pitched noises can sometimes sneak through, this is the case with almost every other headphone.

What blew me away was the transparency mode. After the AirPods Max set the standard for transparency mode, no other headphones came close to it. However, in my testing, the transparency mode on the Sonos Ace was amazing, almost as good as the AirPods. I could hear everything the other person said, and the best part was that it sounded natural.

TV Audio Swap

Besides the sound quality, the headline feature of the Sonos Ace is the TV Audio Swap. This feature allows existing Sonos soundbar owners to switch their TV’s audio output to their Ace headphones with just the press of a button. Sonos says you can binge your favorite shows late at night without disturbing others.

I tested the feature with the Sonos Arc sound bar, and the experience was phenomenal. The switch took only a few seconds, and the transition was seamless since the headphones connected via private Wi-Fi to the soundbar. I was able to enjoy my movie in silence without the hassle of Bluetooth pairing or using an app.

But that’s not all. Sonos has gone a step further to make the headphone experience feel more like a home theater by introducing a new TrueCinema calibration system. The feature analyzes the acoustics of your room—considering things like sound-dampening curtains or hard floors—and tailors the sound profile of the headphones accordingly.

Sonos Ace Review: Battery Life & Charging

Battery life is another major aspect, especially if you are like me and always forget to charge your headphones. Sonos claims up to 30 hours of battery life, and in my experience, it comes quite close to that. When you do need to recharge, the USB-C quick-charge feature is a lifesaver. You get about three hours of listening time with just three minutes of charging.

Should you buy the Sonos Ace?

At Rs. 39,999 or $450, the Sonos Ace headphones represent a unique proposition. They are arguably one of the best first attempts a company has made in the premium headphone segment. And if you already own a compatible Sonos soundbar, the TV audio swap feature is something you won’t find anywhere else. Combine that with excellent sound quality, ANC, and one of the best transparency modes, and the Sonos Ace headphones are definitely worth considering if you’re shopping in this price range.