The Sonos Ace Wireless are the first-ever headphones from this manufacturer. Their past products include home audio products like soundbars and speakers, which can all seamlessly connect to one another via the Sonos app. These ambitious cans seek to challenge competitors like the Apple AirPods Max Wireless and Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless in the premium category. They're also equipped with high-end standards like noise cancelling (ANC), head tracking, and companion app support. An especially unique addition is the TV Audio Swap function, which allows you to connect your headphones to a compatible Sonos soundbar and receive its audio, provided you're also an iOS user. In an ever-crowded market, do these headphones stand out from the pack?
Our Verdict
The Sonos Ace are good for sports and fitness, though this isn't their intended usage. The manufacturer also notes that they're not water-resistant, so it's best to err on the side of caution if you want to use them for this purpose. They're also stable enough to stay in place if you're lifting weights, but they'll fall off with more rigorous movements like push-ups. That said, they have a pretty comfortable fit.
- Fantastic noise isolation performance.
- Very comfortable and premium build.
- Long-lasting battery life.
- Audio-only via analog.
- Not stable enough for intense activity.
The Sonos Ace are great for travel. These premium headphones offer a very comfortable fit and are well-suited for long days on the go. Their battery will easily get you from point A to B without needing a recharge. They're also equipped with a top-notch noise cancelling system, so you won't be bothered by the rumbles of plane engines or talkative passengers. That said, the headphones, as well as their carrying case, are somewhat bulky, so you'll need to reserve dedicated space in your bag for them. They don't support passive audio either, so they need to be powered on, even if you're using them wired for in-flight entertainment.
- Fantastic noise isolation performance.
- Very comfortable and premium build.
- Long-lasting battery life.
- Audio-only via analog.
- Must be powered on, even when wired.
The Sonos Ace are great for office use. They're very comfortable, so you may not even notice them during long listening sessions. They also feature a 30-hour continuous battery life, allowing you to use them for multiple days without worrying about draining the battery. If that's not enough, their ANC system can easily block out chatty coworkers and clattering keyboards near your desk. You can even pair them with two devices at a time, and their overall leakage is low enough that you won't disturb others around you if you want to crank up the tunes.
- Fantastic noise isolation performance.
- Very comfortable and premium build.
- Multi-device pairing.
- Mic's noise handling leaves something to be desired.
- Audio-only via analog.
The Sonos Ace are passable for wireless gaming. Since they only support Bluetooth, you'll need to use it to connect to your PC. If you're already a Sonos user, have a compatible Sonos soundbar, and use an iOS device, you can use the companion app's TV Audio Swap feature to receive audio from your soundbar. In other words, you can daisy chain your console to your soundbar and then receive audio from your soundbar that way. That said, audio delay can result in lip sync mismatch, which can be especially frustrating in competitive gaming. Some users have also had issues connecting to the app and soundbar.
The Sonos Ace are decent for wired gaming. Their analog cable only allows you to receive audio, and their USB cable, while offering full audio and mic compatibility on PCs, is pretty short. Even if you don't need a microphone or have a standalone microphone, you'll want to keep in mind that these headphones must be powered on, even when used wired. Their battery life is long enough to last through long gaming marathons, though. They're also very comfortable, and their sound has enough warmth to emphasize sound effects like footsteps.
- Very comfortable and premium build.
- Bass and treble sliders available.
- Audio-only via analog.
- Must be powered on, even when wired.
The Sonos Ace are very good for audio reproduction accuracy. Their frequency response mostly follows the warm sound profile, with a few deviations in the treble range. Their L/R drivers exhibit excellent matching in terms of amplitude, phase, and frequency, plus there's no audible coloration of the sound through harmonic distortion. That said, their pinna interaction doesn't resemble angled stereo speakers, so spatial cues won't sound particularly natural.
- Audio-only via analog.
The Sonos Ace have an outstanding noise isolation performance. They're capable of isolating you against a range of background noises but excel at cutting out louder, more intrusive sounds, like honking car horns and jet engines. Their Adaptive ANC mode doesn't always adapt to quieter sounds, such as the clack of keys in an office, so it's advisable to switch to a different ANC mode if this bothers you. They also leak very little audio, so you can crank up the volume without disturbing cubicle mates.
- Audio-only via analog.
The Sonos Ace have an okay microphone performance. They use an array of eight microphones to capture your voice, ensuring it's understandable to whoever's on the other end. While your voice lacks some depth and low-end, the mic does an okay job of separating it from busy backgrounds. Some background noise can introduce fuzziness to your call quality, and louder sounds can often drown out your voice completely.
- Audio-only via analog.
The Sonos Ace have a decent frequency response consistency. Those with thick hair or who wear glasses may experience a drop in bass, as these can affect the headphones' seal on your head. However, as long as you take the time to properly adjust the fit between listening sessions, you should be rewarded with consistent audio delivery.
- Audio-only via analog.
Performance Usages
Changelog
- Updated Apr 20, 2026: This review has been updated to Test Bench 2.2, which removes the Cumulative Spectral Decay (CSD) test, retiring its waterfall plot visualization from our reviews. You can read more about this change in the changelog.
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Updated Apr 15, 2026:
This review has been updated to Test Bench 2.1, which removes the Group Delay test and rebalances scoring for the Harmonic Distortion test and Audio Reproduction Accuracy performance usage. For more details, consult our full changelog.
- Updated Apr 09, 2026: We've converted this review to Test Bench 2.1, which features minor updates to our sound tests.
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Updated Dec 16, 2025:
This review has been updated to Test Bench 2.0, which adds the following tests: Stereo Mismatch, Group Delay, Cumulative Spectral Decay, PRTF, Harmonic Distortion, and Electrical Aspects. In addition, we've added updated results for Isolation, including Noise Isolation - Full Range and Noise Isolation - Common Scenarios to reflect performance with firmware update 3.9.9-01c251022. We've also added a mention of the True Cinema function and modified some side-by-sides.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Sonos Ace come in two color variants: 'Soft White' and 'Black'. We tested the 'Soft White' variant, and you can see our model's label here. If you come across another variant of these headphones, please let us know in the comments, and we'll update our review.
Popular Headphones Comparisons
Although Sonos has been around for a couple of decades, they've been largely known for their home products like soundbars and speakers. The Sonos Ace represents their first foray into the headphones world. With a premium price tag and Sonos-centric features like TV Swap, they've taken aim at industry titans like the Apple AirPods Max Wireless and Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless. They stack up well when it comes to a sleek and durable design that's comfortable as well as good-looking. Even their noise cancelling is up to par with some of the best to date. However, they falter when it comes to sound. They aren't quite as flat-sounding as the Apple, nor do they have the customizability of the Sony. While using them with your soundbar is a great addition if you're already in the Sonos ecosystem, these cans fall short of their competitors.
If you're shopping around for more headphones, check out our recommendations for the best headphones, the best noise cancelling headphones, and the best headphones for music.
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones Wireless and the Sonos Ace are both premium models, and deciding between them comes down to the details. They're equally comfortable and well-built, with outstanding ANC systems. However, the Bose headphones have better overall microphone performance, and their app offers slightly more customization options. You can adjust their sound using the graphic EQ or presets. Their virtual soundstage feature is also more nuanced than simply on/off, as you can select whether you want the virtual speakers to remain stationary or follow your head movements. If you're already a Sonos user, you'll get the most out of the Sonos headphones, especially if you have a compatible soundbar. You can use the TV Swap Audio feature to receive audio from your soundbar, although some audio delay is present. However, there have been reports from users regarding issues with the app's functionality.
The Apple AirPods Max and the Sonos Ace are both premium headphones with different strengths. While both are well-built and have swappable ear cup padding, the Apple headphones offer flatter bass and mids, which may be preferred by some people. They also feature an H1 chip, allowing you to seamlessly pair your headphones with your iOS device. However, the Sonos are much more comfortable, come with a carrying case that protects the headphones, and offer a comparable noise isolation performance. They also have a TV Audio Swap feature that allows you to receive audio from your compatible Sonos soundbar, albeit with some audio delay. Some users have reported issues with the connection between their soundbar and headphones.
The Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless and Sonos Ace are at the top of their respective lineups, so choosing between them comes down to the details. The Sennheiser have a more full-featured EQ to fine-tune their sound, and their continuous battery life is longer. They can also be used passively. Conversely, the Sonos are significantly more comfortable. They also offer superior noise isolation performance, which is particularly handy for commuting, and the TV Audio Swap feature enables you to hear audio from compatible Sonos soundbars. Users have reported issues with the app, including bugs and reduced functionality compared to the previous iteration.
The Sonos Ace and Sony WH-1000XM6 both sit at the premium end of the consumer headphone market. While their performance is comparable in areas like noise isolation and battery life, the Sony benefit from years of refinement in this space, whereas the Ace, Sonos's first foray into headphones, misses the mark in a few areas. Notably, the lack of a graphic EQ is surprising at this price point. The Sonos' microphone performance also trails behind the Sony's, with voices rendered thinner and less intelligible in noisy environments. On the other hand, the Sonos offer a more comfortable fit and integrate neatly into the Sonos ecosystem. You can link them to a compatible soundbar for TV audio, though the feature requires an iOS device and is not without its quirks.
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You can also discover how we produce recommendations like this one so that you can find the best headphones (or earbuds!) for your needs.
Test Results
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