Why I still recommend these Sonos headphones over competing models – including AirPods

Editor’s note: This article was first published on June 6, 2025, and updated on June 10, 2025, when Sonos announced the Ace’s latest software updates.

It’s been one year since Sonos released its first pair of consumer headphones, and although they made waves when they first dropped, how have they fared after the hype has died down? You can often find the Ace discounted for up to $120 off their original price, and if you’re interested in them, that’s the best time to buy them.

Also: The best headphones of 2025

I’ve worn the Sonos Ace often since their June 2024 release, and there are a few things I’ve grown to love more about them since then, along with a few things I’ve become more annoyed by. Sonos gifted the Ace a major software update for their first birthday, addressing the biggest complaints I had with the headphones. With the new updates in mind, here’s the best advice I can give you to help you make a buying decision.

Aesthetics and thoughtful design choices

The Ace are a good-looking pair of consumer headphones; they’re more elegant than the Sony XM6 and Bose QuietComfort Ultra, defined by clean lines and slimmer earcups. Upon looking at them, they abide by Sonos’ design ethos of modern and simple, and there are subtle but meaningful choices that make them easier to wear and listen to.

Also: Sony XM6 vs. Bose QuietComfort Ultra: How to choose the best noise-canceling headphone

One of my favorite design elements is fitting the Ace with the new Content Key, a multifunction button that you can press or slide to complete a series of commands. I prefer it to Apple’s Digital Crown because it’s placed in the middle of the back of the right earcup, making it easier to reach. 

Also, it’s textured differently from the power button, making it easy to identify by touch, compared to other headphones with multiple multifunction buttons that feel the same.

Dynamic and vibrant sound

The Sonos Ace have a vibrant, lively, and dynamic sound characterized by a prominent bass and treble response. They have a wider soundstage than the Bose QuietComfort Ultra, and the Dolby Atmos compatibility allows for better object imaging when watching TV shows and movies or playing video games.

The Ace don’t sound as detailed as the Sony XM6, but their bold sound profile has a cinematic feel primed for enjoying media other than music. If you want headphones that are tuned to have more chemistry with an array of genres, you should look elsewhere. The Sonos app has a limited equalizer, so if you want more liberty to customize your headphones’ sound, the Ace might disappoint.

TV Audio Swap: gimmick or pure genius?

TV Audio Swap was the Ace’s standout feature, allowing users to easily connect their Ace headphones to a compatible Sonos soundbar. During my initial testing, I didn’t see a huge demand for it, but now I use it all the time. My partner works overnight, and on a lazy Sunday, I can watch TV in full clarity without disturbing him while he sleeps.

Also: Why these Bose headphones are still the best I’ve listened to – even though they’re a year old

I have to be fair; Bose did the “connect your headphones to your soundbar” thing first, but Sonos did it better. How so? Wi-Fi. Bose’s technology uses a specialized connection via Bluetooth, while the Ace communicates with your soundbar via your home Wi-Fi network. Using Wi-Fi rather than Bluetooth allows for more stable connections, lower latency, and more freedom to move about your house. 

However, the Ace are often buggy, especially when trying to use TV Audio Swap. I’m hopeful the software updates improve TV Audio Swap’s performance. The Ace’s software update now allows two Ace headphones to connect to one compatible Sonos soundbar, giving two users the ability to watch TV together privately. This feature is similar to Apple’s, which allows two pairs of AirPods or Beats headphones to connect to one Apple TV. 

Sonos marketed TrueCinema, a technology that measures the acoustics of the room your soundbar is in and applies them to the spatial audio coming from the headphones. It’s been an entire year since the Ace’s release, and TrueCinema is just now available to consumers. 

What I’d like to see in the next model

There’s a critical area Sonos needs to improve with the next generation of the Ace headphones: microphones. The Ace’s noise-canceling and voice pickup abilities are subpar for $450 headphones, two jobs that high-performing microphones and noise-canceling algorithms are responsible for. 

However, Sonos’ software overhaul features a new adaptive noise cancellation feature that Sonos says will improve the Ace’s noise-canceling abilities. According to Sonos, the adaptive noise cancellation feature can account for your hair, glasses, and hats in real time to compensate for sound leakage, making the technology smarter and more intuitive.

Also: Sonos’ cheapest smart speaker is still the one I recommend most. Here’s why

Sonos says the software update also enhances voice clarity during phone calls, including higher audio resolution and a SideTone feature that allows you to better hear yourself talk while wearing the headphones. The Ace struggle with voice pickup in windy or noisy environments, so I’m hopeful this new feature improves the experience.

If their noise-canceling abilities were better, their $450 price tag would be more justified. For the same amount of money, you can get industry-leading noise cancellation from the Sony XM6 or Bose QuietComfort Ultra.

ZDNET’s buying advice

The Sonos Ace are a great option for Sonos fans and those new to the company. They excel in quiet to moderately noisy environments, and get even better when watching YouTube, TV shows, movies, or casually gaming. The Ace are highly comfortable, fun to listen to, and nice to look at. 

Within their first year, they were unpolished and had plenty of room for improvement. Although it took longer than expected, the Ace’s new features are highly impactful in making them a more versatile pair of headphones for your daily activities. 

However, the Ace’s noise-canceling capabilities are behind some of its competitors. If you want to pay $450 for top-notch noise cancellation, consider the Sony XM6 or the Bose QuietComfort Ultra. 

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