Similar to AirPods Max: condensation can also collect in Sonos Ace
The look and design of the first ANC over-ears from Sonos are strongly inspired by Apple. Apparently, not only features were adopted, but also bugs.
Users with Sonos Ace: You shouldn't get too warm.
(Image: Sonos)
Shortly after the release of Apple's AirPods Max in December 2020, there were reports of a very specific problem: condensation can form under the removable ear cushions (ear cups), which sometimes leads to hardware malfunctions. The behavior still occurs today with the USB-C model released in September 2024, so Apple has not been able to solve it. Interestingly, not only the AirPods Max are affected: Sonos' first own ANC over-ear headphones, the Ace, show the same behavior, as Mac & i discovered in a short test. In contrast to the AirPods Max, the area where the moisture occurs is made of plastic rather than aluminum in the Ace. Whether this affects the hardware itself is still unclear.
Warm body generates liquid
Condensation forms under the ear cups, especially in regions with high humidity. But not only there: if you wear the Ace (or AirPods Max) for a particularly long time, for example for an hour and a half, this can also be observed in Germany. If the body is a little warmer, for example if you have taken a warm shower before putting them on, the problem occurs even more quickly. Whether it is exacerbated by the fact that the ear cups of the Ace are covered with a finer mesh than the AirPods Max, remained unclear at first.
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The design of the Sonos Ace and the AirPods Max is surprisingly similar: there are removable ear pads on the outside (which can also be replaced at a later date for 49 euros). However, they are made of "vegan leather" instead of fabric like Apple's. The ear cups contain the aforementioned thin mesh, which lets the sound through and is presumably also intended to prevent the penetration of skin flakes and the like. As with the AirPods Max, the ear pads are magnetically secured and can be replaced quickly.
Ear pad control displayed
As with the AirPods Max, condensation now forms under the ear pads, which is why you should check regularly to see if it occurs. The area is made of plastic (AirPods Max: aluminum) and contains numerous holes to let the sound through. The amount of liquid can range from a few drops to a small trickle. It can be soaked up with a cloth. The problem, however, is what happens when the liquid penetrates deeper into the drivers of the Ace. In our tests, there were initially no technical problems, for example with the sound, when condensation was detected. However, it is unlikely to be good for the devices – although it is unclear whether there may be a protective membrane under the holes.
Sonos did not initially respond to an inquiry about condensation. The company has also not yet answered another question about the Ace – regarding the reasons for forcing location sharing in the official app –. The Sonos Ace are offered by the manufacturer for 500 euros and are therefore priced similarly to the AirPods Max. However, the retail (starting from 289 €) prices are lower.
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