Greetings fellow music lovers, and welcome to another article from Audio T Southampton. I’m once again delving into the world of headphones and this time taking a look at the brand new Sonos Ace.

As I'm sure many of you will be aware, Sonos is one of the leading brands when it comes to consumer level multi-room wireless systems, wherein you can do anything from creating a fully wireless surround sound system in your living room, multiroom playback via multiple devices or kitting out your garden with the aid of simple-yet-elegant weatherproof speakers. Sonos offer a range of solutions from soundbars to ceiling speakers. And with the inclusion of their first ever pair of headphones, you can now take your night-time listening to a whole new (and more personal) level.

Out of the box…

When I first saw these headphones announced, quite frankly I didn't know what to expect. Knowing who Sonos are, it was intriguing to me as to how they would incorporate such a personal listening experience into their portfolio of multi-room systems. At a reasonable £449*, they have simply blown me away both with their quality and comfort.

Fitting quite snugly on my head and never threatening to fall off when I walk around, thanks to the stainless steel headband which smoothly extends and stays securely in place. Inside the ear cup is an innovative mechanism which allows for precise adjustment to equalise pressure and create an exceptional acoustic seal.

Features

After perusing the included user guide and getting a better understanding of how these headphones work, I discovered that they have a feature called “Aware Mode” - An intelligent form of ANC that lets certain sound frequencies through the noise cancelling element, so you can keep an ear out for oncoming traffic or emergency service sirens. Making them the perfect option for listening to your music on the move.

Something else that the Ace incorporate is the “Wear Detection” feature. This is becoming more of a commonplace attribute with most ANC Bluetooth headphones - Everytime you take the headphones off perhaps to make conversation with someone or to complete a transaction at a store, your music will stop instantly, and will start again as soon as the headphones sit comfortably on your ears. Meaning you won't miss a single second of your favourite tracks whilst on your day-to-day business.

I don’t know about you, but one of my biggest gripes with wireless headphones is going to use them and realising that you haven’t put them on charge and the battery is completely flat! Well, with the Sonos Ace Rapid Charging, you can go from 0% to 3 hours of playback with just 3 minutes on charge. That being said, Sonos boasts a staggering 30 hour playback on one full charge (3 hours), so it might be a while before you need to worry.

Performance

Now onto the sound of the headphones themselves…

I have to say I was very pleased their performance. With a modern design that is sleek and minimalistic, the audio playback offers a clean and full bodied low-end, with a crisp and clear mid-range that allows vocals to be beautifully presented through the music.

They are truly amazing to listen to and wear. The Sonos Ace were more than capable in reproducing everything I listened to. From the softest of acoustic tracks, through to electronic and heavy rock music, not once did I wince at any dissonance!

Now, to discuss a key feature of these headphones that I thought I’d save until now; Dolby Atmos mode. I have to say this feature felt quite unique and perfect for television and film viewers who want the cinema experience without disturbing anyone else in the home.

Adding the Ace headphones to your Sonos ecosystem via the dedicated app allows you to connect to the Sonos Arc soundbar and seamlessly takeover the audio in the push of a button. However, recreating that surround sound experience isn’t easy. Especially when you factor in that your head doesn’t stay perfectly still when you’re watching the latest blockbuster.

Sonos have created a uniquely interactive system which immerses you in a three-dimensional soundstage using dynamic head tracking. This innovative feature traces the smallest movement in your head and adapts the sound to keep you centred in every scene.

Hearing the audio seamlessly shift from one side to the other made me feel like I was at the cinema, all the while without disturbing any sleeping house guests. It is worth noting that this feature requires a compatible Sonos soundbar to create the spatial audio possible.

Conclusion

As a stand-alone set of headphones, the Sonos Ace perform above and beyond their price point. Offering exceptional comfort and practical features that are perfect for the music lover on the go. I can imagine that these would be a commuters dream!

Whilst I think everyone could take enjoyment from the Sonos Ace, I think it’s safe to say that these headphones really shine as part of a Sonos ecosystem. So if you’re a Sonos user, this might very well be the next purchase for you.

And with that, I can safely say that this review on the Sonos Ace headphones is complete! If you’re interested in demonstrating these for yourself, be sure to contact your local Audio T.

Thank you for reading,

Tiago - Audio T Southampton.

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