Sonos Ace: €500 Bluetooth headphones want to dance around Apple's nose

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Network speaker specialist Sonos is now also making headphones. After sporadic information and images of the first Sonos Ace headphones were leaked in advance, the manufacturer has now presented all the details and a sound sample to selected media.

The newcomer plays Bluetooth from smartphones or other streaming players, can be paired with Sonos TV speakers via Wi-Fi, and then reproduces home theater sound with spatial audio and head tracking. Given the integration with the manufacturer's system, the Ace should be an obvious alternative to the AirPods Max, which offer extra talents in combination with Apple hardware. The first impression gained during the demo of the wearing comfort, sound, ANC and interaction and a TV sound bar is positive.

Eye-catcher in vegan leather

The Sonos Ace are circumaural headphones with a stylish, minimalist design. They weigh 312 grams. During the 30-minute sound test, it was comfortable to wear and worked well with glasses. The Ace is available in black or white. The outer sides of the ear cups and headband are made of matt plastic, while the insides are padded with vegan leather. An internal metal bracket holds the components together. The ear cups are flexibly suspended from it and can be turned sideways so that they can be stowed flat in the carrying bag.

The right ear cup can be recognized by the shiny Sonos lettering engraved by laser on the outside instead of an R label. If you press along it, you will find a chrome rocker switch that can be used to pause and resume tracks and turn the volume up and down. Pressing the button underneath briefly switches between electronic noise cancellation (ANC) and a transparency mode ("Aware"). A longer press activates Siri on Apple devices. An update is expected to deliver interaction with Sonos Voice Control.

The left ear cup houses a switch for on and off, as well as Bluetooth pairing. Next to it is a USB-C socket. This is where the headphone battery recharges or receives wired audio signals. Two cables, which connect to the USB-C and 3.5 mm jack at the other end, are included in the scope of delivery.

Bluetooth streaming without the need for an app

In addition to the cable, the Sonos Ace streams audio signals wirelessly. It can be paired with any playback device via Bluetooth 5.4. It supports aptX Lossless and Dolby Atmos. Pairing is possible anytime and anywhere, while Sonos speakers have to be set up within a WLAN. During the demo, we were able to pair the headphones with three devices without any problems. You don't need the Sonos S2 app to set them up, but it does offer additional functions such as sound settings. With the updated software, the headphones can also be operated outside the home network; this is not possible with speakers. A wear detection function is automatically activated at the factory, which pauses songs when the headphones are hung around the neck or put away.

The headphones also support Wi-Fi, but do not use it for normal audio streaming. This rules out interaction with Apple's AirPlay, which connects Sonos speakers to Apple hardware outside the Sonos app. This is also not necessary due to the usual Bluetooth pairing.

Head tracking in the home theater

Instead, a Wi-Fi connection is intended for communication with a Sonos TV speaker. Either via the Sonos app or by pressing a button on the headphones, the Sonos Ace takes over the sound output and mutes the speaker. This can be practical if you want to stay awake longer than the rest of the household and don't want to wake up people who are already asleep with the bombastic sound of a blockbuster. At market launch, Sonos' flagship Arc soundbar should be able to take over the sound. The manufacturer wants other soundbars to follow.

In addition to stereo, multi-channel sound up to 7.1 channels and Dolby Atmos, the Sonos Ace reproduces home theater sound with two extra sound tricks. "Spatial Audio" can be added as an option. The headphones then offer a sound image that takes the reflections of the room into account and should sound as if you weren't even wearing them. Head tracking can also be activated. The technology then simulates a fixation of the sound source in the room, even if you move your head to grab snacks from the side table. Both features are intended to contribute to a more natural sound.

For the feature duo, the eight microphones included in the Sonos Ace are measured once via the app. The process is called "TrueCinema" and is similar to the "TruePlay" counterpart for Sonos speakers. During the demo, we were able to switch the features on and off at will. A detailed test will have to show how convenient they are to set up. However, these functions will not be available at market launch and will only be available with an update later this year.

How the Sonos Ace sounds

The Sonos Ace has a 40-millimeter driver on both sides for sound reproduction. The musical sound test left the positive impression that you would expect from a 500 euro device. The Ace impresses with high dynamics and a very spatial sound. The bass offers plenty of punch, instruments, vocals and speaking voices are clearly defined in the mid-frequency range and the treble is rich in detail. However, the latter sounded a little muffled depending on the track.

For a taste of Active Noise Canceling, Sonos simulated the background noise on an airline flight during the demo. The noise level was not inaudible when ANC was activated, but it was drastically reduced. If you have music on, you shouldn't be able to hear any of it. We did not notice any inherent noise from the ANC.

During the home theater sound test, the natural sound in spatial audio mode and the head tracking, which works without any noticeable delay, were impressive. A more detailed test is required for a complete impression.

Battery with quick-charging function

The energy storage (1,060 mAh) contained in the Sonos Ace should be able to stream music for 30 hours with ANC or Aware mode activated; when paired with the TV sound including head tracking, the runtime is reduced to ten hours. A three-minute charge should provide enough power for three hours of playtime. According to the manufacturer, the Sonos Ace is fully charged after two hours. You have to provide the mains adapter for the charging process yourself.

At market launch on June 5, 2024, the Sonos Ace will cost 499 euros, regardless of the black or white color option. You can change the ear cups yourself. A pair costs 49 euros. The ear pads cannot be changed. A worn battery can only be replaced by the service department. Sonos has not yet specified the costs for this.

(vbr)