Sonos Ace Review: My Favorite Headphones for Movies and More

Experience the unique Sonos Ace headphones, blending powerful sound and innovative spatial audio for movie lovers, yet with mixed feelings on music playback.

A New Chapter for Sonos in Headphones

When I first heard about the Sonos Ace headphones, I was instantly intrigued. Sonos, a name synonymous with premium wireless audio, finally ventured into headphones—a realm they've contemplated since the company's early days. Their strength has always been in crafting a seamless ecosystem paired with top-tier sound quality, so expectations were sky-high.

But here’s the catch: Sonos Ace doesn’t quite play by the usual Sonos rules. Unlike what many hoped, these headphones don’t fully integrate with Sonos’s Wi-Fi system or connect seamlessly to the company’s stellar speakers as you might imagine. Instead, you mostly use them like any other high-end noise-cancelling headphones.

For those who’ve hooked up a turntable like the Victrola Steam Carbon or plugged premium players into their Sonos setup via line-in, the Ace might feel a bit of a letdown. However, for folks with a Sonos soundbar, especially the Sonos Arc, the Ace reveals some genuinely exciting perks.

A Spatial Sound Experience Like No Other

Here’s where the Sonos Ace really shines: it connects effortlessly with the Sonos Arc (with support for other soundbars coming in a 2024 update) to deliver 3D spatial sound complete with head-tracking. Imagine watching late-night TV without disturbing anyone else in the house—yes, it’s that good.

This feature offers Dolby Atmos sound that’s both immersive and crystal clear. I genuinely think these might be my favorite headphones for movie watching right now.

That said, when it comes to music, my enthusiasm dims a bit. They do sound good, but the character is surprisingly restrained and sometimes oddly aggressive. This combo can mute their rich bass and fine detail, creating a warm, even “hot” sound that isn't exactly natural.

Specs and Features: A Solid Foundation

• 40mm dynamic drivers delivering the core sound.
• Active noise cancellation (ANC) that’s highly effective.
• A hefty 30 hours of battery life with ANC on via Bluetooth.
• Connectivity through Bluetooth 5.3 with aptX Adaptive, USB-C, and Wi-Fi.
• Powerful Dolby Atmos spatial audio with head tracking.
• Intelligent wear detection to pause playback when you take them off.

The noise cancellation stands out for suppressing both lows and highs, though competitors like Bose QuietComfort Ultra edge out a bit better in voice suppression. The transparency mode, called “Aware mode” here, lets in a lot of ambient noise—perhaps too much, as I found myself hearing every shuffle on the floor. It’s a bit less refined than some rivals that balance environmental sounds more thoughtfully.

Sadly, you can’t fine-tune these modes like you can with Bose, Sony, or Sennheiser headphones. Sonos sticks to simple on/off or an ambient-aware setting, with limited EQ options in their app.

Connectivity and Battery Life

The Ace offers ample connectivity options:

• Bluetooth audio with aptX Adaptive and Snapdragon Sound.
• USB-C port for high-res wired listening and charging.
• 3.5mm jack via included USB-C adapter.
• Wi-Fi connectivity is present but doesn’t currently enable multi-room Sonos system integration for headphones.

There was some hope that Sonos would allow seamless Hi-Res music streaming across Wi-Fi like with the Sonos Roam speaker, automatically switching between Bluetooth and Wi-Fi depending on location. That’s sadly not in the cards yet.

However, the Ace does shine in one key wireless feature: quick switching between the Sonos Arc soundbar and Bluetooth. Just press a button on the headphones, and the TV sound jumps to your ears, complete with Dolby Atmos and 3D head-tracking sound.

Battery life is solid—30 hours typical with ANC—but using the headphones linked to the Arc for home theater drops battery life to roughly 10 hours. A handy auto-off feature kicks in after 30 minutes of inactivity to save power.

Sound Quality: A Love-Hate Relationship

Here’s the juicy part—sound quality. Sonos Ace’s audio is powerful yet surprisingly compact compared to Bose QuietComfort Ultra or Apple AirPods Max. Think of them as a muscular bulldog rather than a graceful greyhound—bold and intense rather than smooth and elegant.

The bass hits deep and dynamic but sometimes feels like it’s crammed into a tight soundstage, causing elements to blur together. By contrast, AirPods Max deliver a more natural, spacious experience where every synth, string, and vocal breathes distinctly, even in complex mixes like Moloko’s I Want You.

Bose Ultra creates the widest, most detailed soundscape, while Sonos Ace’s detail can feel dulled or "smooshed," especially evident in songs like Allie X’s Black Eye or Sonny Rollins’ St Thomas. The percussion, for example, lacks the crispness you’d expect.

On a brighter note, switching to Hi-Res Audio sources over USB-C or aptX improves clarity and soundstage, though volume drops noticeably, which might be inconvenient on public transport.

However, when watching movies, the Sonos Ace transforms the experience.

When Movies Take Center Stage

Now, here’s the twist: watching movies with the Sonos Ace is a completely different, delightful story. The spatial audio mode transforms the experience—every sound element feels alive and independently calibrated, even surpassing Bose Ultra’s spatial audio in some ways.

Dialogues are crisp yet natural, bass is robust but balanced, and the overall soundscape feels immersive without overwhelming. To me, Sonos’ mid-frequency focus works beautifully for cinematic content.

The 3D audio effect is palpable: in Blade Runner 2049, a spinner swooshes past you; in BlacKkKlansman, crowd reactions layer distinctly around you; and in Top Gun Maverick, rockets zip by with thrilling realism.

This experience held steady whether using an iPhone supporting Dolby Atmos or through the Sonos Arc via TV Audio Swap. Compared to AirPods Max, which excel at spatializing 5.1 audio, Sonos Ace offers a warmer and more balanced soundscape that I personally preferred.

Gaming on a PS5 was also fantastic—the spatial sound and head tracking worked flawlessly, and latency was negligible.

Design and Comfort: Premium Yet Polarizing

Sonos Ace nails the stylish, modern look—available in classic black or white. The vegan leather on headband and ear cushions feels soft and premium. Stainless steel accents and an internal hinge design prevent hair tangling, a thoughtful touch.

They don’t fold, and at 312 grams (about 0.69 pounds), they’re heavier than Sony WH-1000XM5 but lighter than AirPods Max. The cups swivel upward when resting on your neck, a neat ergonomic feature.

Controls are smartly placed on the right earcup: a play/pause slider with volume control and Bluetooth/Sonos Arc toggle, plus a button for ANC modes or voice assistant activation. I appreciated the tactile slider—it’s a refreshing change from fiddly touch controls found on other brands.

However, comfort is a mixed bag. While many find them cozy, I struggled with pressure on my glasses’ arms, leading to discomfort within an hour. A colleague with a smaller head shared similar woes. If you wear thinner or no glasses at all, your mileage may vary.

The included hard case is stylish and practical, featuring a sleek hidden zipper and magnetic pocket for cables—perfect for travel or daily carry.

Value for Money

At roughly $530 MSRP, Sonos Ace competes with Bose QuietComfort Ultra and Apple AirPods Max, sitting above Sony WH-1000XM5 and Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless in price.

They bring unique features—especially the seamless TV Audio Swap and 3D spatial audio integration with Sonos soundbars—that Bose and Apple don’t offer. Battery life is also a strong suit.

That said, the imperfect sound for music and comfort concerns temper my enthusiasm. For pure music listening, Bose QuietComfort Ultra offers better noise cancellation, sound quality, and comfort at a similar price point.

Hopefully, Sonos will enrich their ecosystem support in the future, making the Ace even more appealing for those deeply invested in Sonos hardware.

Sonos Ace Ratings Summary

Alternative Headphones to Consider

“The Sonos Ace is a powerful but compact sound beast – bold and intense rather than smooth and elegant.”

Conclusion: Are Sonos Ace Your Next Headphones?

If you’re a movie buff with a Sonos Arc soundbar, the Sonos Ace might just be your dream ticket to immersive headphone cinema. Their spatial audio and TV integration are downright revolutionary.

But if your main passion is music, and you want the best noise cancellation and comfort for long listening sessions, Bose QuietComfort Ultra edges ahead.

Still, the Sonos Ace is a strong contender in the premium headphone realm, with a unique ecosystem twist that could evolve into something truly special.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What makes Sonos Ace special for movie watching?
  They deliver 3D Dolby Atmos spatial audio with head tracking when paired with Sonos Arc, creating a highly immersive sound experience.
• Do Sonos Ace headphones work well for music?
  While they sound good with warm, bass-rich tones, they aren’t the most natural or detailed for music compared to some competitors.
• Can I connect Sonos Ace to my Sonos multi-room Wi-Fi system?
  Not currently. They don’t support multi-room Wi-Fi streaming like other Sonos speakers.
• How comfortable are the Sonos Ace for long wear, especially for glasses users?
  Comfort varies; some find them excellent, but glasses wearers may experience pressure and discomfort over time.
• What are some close alternatives to Sonos Ace?
  Bose QuietComfort Ultra and Apple AirPods Max offer strong competition, especially for music lovers.

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