Sonos Ace assessment: was it value it?

Sonos goes by way of a tumultuous interval. Its redesigned app has gotten blended critiques, to place it flippantly, and there’s a widespread notion that Sonos launched it in an undercooked state as a result of the corporate was hell-bent on transport its first-ever headphones on time. The $449 Sonos Ace headphones are hitting their June fifth launch goal. Was it value it?

In my first take a look at the Ace, I applauded their {hardware} design and premium really feel. And I’ve remained impressed over the course of reviewing them. Sonos has nailed model, match, and luxury to such an extent that I hold forgetting these are a debut product in a brand new class for the corporate. Additionally they largely ship on sound high quality, noise cancellation, and a transparency mode that’s second solely to Apple’s in how lifelike and pure it sounds.

That’s all earlier than you get to the signature trick of those headphones: TV Audio Swap. When it really works, you possibly can immediately switch any sound coming from a Sonos Arc soundbar to the headphones with the press of a button. This personal listening mode helps spatial audio and head monitoring to ramp up the immersion when watching films, and it really works with any enter machine operating by way of your TV — be it an Apple TV, Roku, or gaming console. 

However true to the state of Sonos in mid-2024, the Ace headphones might be buggy. TV Audio Swap doesn’t all the time work flawlessly. And for now, this marquee function is simply accessible to Ace patrons who additionally personal an $800 soundbar and an iPhone or iPad; Android compatibility gained’t arrive till later this 12 months. For everybody within the Android crowd, these are merely a pleasant pair of noise-canceling headphones — however they’re fully indifferent from the Sonos ecosystem. That leaves little incentive to decide on the Ace over Sony’s WH-1000XM5 or Sennheiser’s Momentum 4 headphones till Sonos follows by way of on including TV Audio Swap. And it doesn’t matter what telephone you have got, the Ace can’t be grouped with different Sonos audio system. Which means no listening to vinyl information by way of them; it really works with any enter going into your TV, not any enter going into your Sonos system.

Nonetheless, the {hardware} makes an ideal first impression. The Ace headphones are available a felt-covered case that’s comprised of recycled plastics. I’m all the time involved about how a lot bag house non-folding headphones will take up, however the Ace’s case is properly flat, which helps make it simpler to tackle the go. Inside is a pouch that attaches to the case magnetically: that is the place you’ll retailer the included USB-C and USB-C-to-3.5mm cables. (Wired listening is feasible with both cable.)

The Ace appear to be a mix of the 1000XM5 and Apple’s AirPods Max. They’re understated but trendy. The embossed Sonos emblem on the appropriate ear cup calls little consideration and is simple to overlook in most lighting. The chrome steel slider arms enable for exact match changes — although, as common, my big head requires full extension. And the magnetic reminiscence foam ear cushions simply pull proper off in the event you ever want to switch them. The insides are totally different colours that can assist you orient the headphones, however I’ve discovered it simpler to only keep in mind that the metallic Content material Key slider all the time goes on the appropriate facet. I’m curious how the pleather headband will maintain up over time, however in most respects, the Ace are a fantastically made set of headphones that stability sophistication and subtlety.

And rattling, are they snug. The headphones are 0.69 kilos, which doesn’t match the ethereal really feel of Bose’s QuietComfort Headphones (0.52 kilos) however is noticeably lighter than the AirPods Max (0.85 kilos), particularly the longer you put on them. For my fellow glasses individuals, the clamping power by no means put an excessive amount of strain on my frames. Nonetheless, the Ace lack any water resistance score, so work out with them at your personal danger. 

The headphones have bodily controls, which I favor over touchpads and swipe gestures. On the appropriate ear cup is the Content material Key, which might slide up or down to regulate quantity. You press it as soon as to play / pause, twice to skip ahead a observe, or thrice to return. Holding down the Content material Key engages TV Audio Swap. Under the slider is a spherical button that toggles between energetic noise cancellation and the “conscious” transparency mode. On the left ear cup is the USB-C port together with an influence / Bluetooth pairing button. The Ace help multipoint Bluetooth, to allow them to be paired with two units on the identical time. They’ve additionally obtained on-head detection and routinely pause your music in the event you take away them. Battery life stretches to a prolonged 30 hours.

For on a regular basis music listening, these headphones don’t introduce any groundbreaking Wi-Fi capabilities; every part occurs over Bluetooth. iPhone homeowners get the usual AAC codec, whereas some Android telephones can reap the benefits of Qualcomm’s AptX Adaptive to wirelessly stream music at as much as lossless high quality. (My Galaxy S24 Extremely isn’t able to this, so your mileage might range.) I want Sony’s extra common LDAC Bluetooth codec had been included for individuals who actually care. It’s straightforward to get hung up on these things, and a headphone’s tuning is in the end extra necessary. Nevertheless it’s honest to need all of the issues if you’re paying $450.

As for the way Sonos’ first headphones truly sound, the reply is kind of good. They’re firmly in the identical ballpark as top-tier wi-fi headphones from manufacturers which were on this recreation for ages. The Ace favor stability and total constancy over boomy bass, in order that they’re not as in-your-face as Sony’s 1000XM5. However the expansive soundstage offers loads of life and breadth to Billie Eilish’s Hit Me Onerous and Mushy. They’re additionally sturdy at rock, offering ample punch all through The Black Keys’ newest album, Ohio Gamers. Beyoncé’s “16 Carriages” is one other instance of the Ace’s vary and give attention to element, separation, crisp highs, and crystal-clear vocals. I’ll go away the frequency response charts to others, however I’ve been more than happy with the audio signature of the Ace thus far. You’ll be able to alter treble and bass EQ within the Sonos app, and the headphones have the identical “loudness” function as Sonos audio system that may increase highs and lows at lowered quantity ranges. 

The corporate has promised “world-class” high quality from Ace’s energetic noise cancellation and transparency modes, and it made good on at the very least a type of fronts — but it surely isn’t ANC. Don’t get me incorrect: the Ace ship noise-canceling powers which are past sufficient. However Bose doesn’t want to fret about shedding its crown. Each it and Sony nonetheless do higher at silencing the surface world. The place Sonos has genuinely impressed me is with its conscious mode, which pipes in your environment in a strikingly pure high quality. It’s the closest any firm in addition to Apple has come to that “feels such as you’re not sporting headphones” sensation. This passthrough mode will make the Ace all of the extra helpful when touring (to listen to bulletins) or if you should have a fast interplay with somebody.

Then we come to the headlining function — for half the smartphone inhabitants, that’s. TV Audio Swap allows you to immediately switch the sound from a Sonos Arc soundbar to the Ace headphones with an extended press of the Content material Key. (A number of Ace headphones can be utilized with a single Arc if individuals choose listening at totally different volumes). It takes a couple of second, you’ll hear a brief tone, and the audio out of your TV begins coming by way of the headphones. Do the identical motion once more, and the audio is beamed again over to the soundbar (at a safely low quantity to keep away from sudden loud bursts). Not like with music playback, this house theater mode does kind a direct Wi-Fi connection between the Ace and Arc, although the ensuing audio continues to be a lossy 345Kbps. Sonos says each generations of its Beam and the entry-level Ray soundbar will acquire help for TV Audio Swap “quickly.” 

It’s also possible to set off TV Audio Swap from throughout the Sonos app, and that’s the place you’ll allow spatial audio and head monitoring. Spatial audio offers you a extra cinematic expertise when watching content material that features a 5.1 or Atmos encompass combine. Even for stereo content material, Sonos will virtualize a spatial audio combine. You’ll be able to all the time flip the function off to listen to common stereo by way of the headphones. Which mode sounds the perfect will largely come all the way down to what it’s that you just’re watching. Spatial audio labored wonders throughout High Gun: Maverick and infrequently makes motion sequences extra charming, however I not often felt compelled to trouble for normal TV viewing.

The headphones can play any audio that may usually come by way of your soundbar — and that features video games. The latency is impressively low: it was imperceptible to me when enjoying a number of video games of MLB The Present on PS5, the place the crack of the bat appeared proper on track. I’m not a shooter man, however the gunplay audio in Ratchet & Clank: Rift Aside, and GTA V stored up with what I used to be seeing on-screen. Aggressive players would possibly really feel in another way, however for informal pass-the-time gaming, the Ace are greater than up for the job.

Proper now, I can take or go away the dynamic head monitoring. That may change when Sonos provides one other upcoming function, TrueCinema, which is able to calibrate the encompass impact primarily based in your particular viewing surroundings to trick your mind into pondering there’s actually an array of audio system round you. However like a lot about TV Audio Swap — Android help, wider soundbar compatibility, and many others. — TrueCinema can be within the “coming later” column.

When TV Audio Swap works as marketed, it’s tremendous spectacular and helps differentiate the Ace headphones in a giant approach. I can come house, activate my TV, maintain down the Content material Key, and privately take heed to a variety of leisure sources. You’ll be able to pair AirPods with an Apple TV field, positive, however you can’t use Apple’s earbuds because the default audio supply for every part plugged into your TV; solely HomePods can try this. The flexibility of TV Audio Swap is a big promoting level and what units the Sonos Ace headphones aside.

Sadly, it has confirmed inconsistent for me. Just a few occasions when holding down the content material key, I’ve heard a “thunk” sound and nothing occurs. When this happens, tapping the TV Audio Swap button within the app additionally does nothing — regardless of the headphones exhibiting as linked. Turning them on and off once more is often sufficient to get the function working easily once more. Typically, I’ve had extra luck activating TV Audio Swap with the Content material Key as a substitute of the app. Ought to I chalk this as much as the brand new Sonos app’s common bugginess? In all probability, but it surely’s value mentioning and one thing I’ll regulate. Sonos spokesperson Julia Fasano described it as “a uncommon bug that our crew is presently conscious of and dealing to handle in a future launch.”

The Sonos Ace will arrive to early clients as a pair of noise-canceling headphones that belong in the identical dialog as the perfect from Apple, Bose, Sennheiser, and Sony. For a primary effort, the corporate obtained extra proper than incorrect and nailed the basics. The Ace are splendidly snug, they sound good, and so they maintain their very own in regard to ANC. 

However the plain fact is that these headphones really feel rushed. Sonos clearly had a launch timeframe in thoughts that it was unwilling to budge on. With shopper demand for soundbars and audio system persevering with to shrink, it is a firm in want of diversifying its enterprise — and doing it quick. However the Ace headphones desperately might’ve used some further months of polish earlier than this launch. As is, Android telephone homeowners can’t get pleasure from their most unusual function, and everybody will want Sonos’ priciest soundbar to expertise TV Audio Swap, till an unspecified time sooner or later.

Sonos CEO Patrick Spence advised me headphones are its most requested product ever, which probably contributed to this hurried launch. However I want the corporate had proven extra endurance. An alternate universe the place the Ace arrived a number of months later — with all options prepared for everybody out of the gate — would have made them land with larger affect. It additionally would’ve given Sonos valuable time to additional refine the brand new app, sparing each the corporate and its clients main complications and an avalanche of frustration throughout social media and Reddit. Sonos appears assured that the gamble will nonetheless repay. We’ll all discover out quickly sufficient.

Pictures by Chris Welch / The Verge