It's true that “before the pandemic” is a hazy time, an era in which it is difficult to pin down the chronology with certainty. So while the rumors about Sonos Headphones definitely started before the pandemic, who knows exactly how long we've been waiting for them? Four years? Ten?
That's all academic now: they're here. Sonos isn't the first company to promise to disrupt a particular sector of the consumer electronics market, and it won't be the last, but for once this highly devalued word might still be appropriate. The Sonos Ace wireless over-ear active noise cancellation headphones are intended to take on the established market leaders from the likes of Apple and Bose, and they're priced to match at $449 (£449/€499/AU$699).
So what does that price tag actually get you?
Quiet luxury
Visually, you get elegant and strikingly sleek over-ear headphones in a black or “soft” white matte finish. Thanks to a light weight of 312 grams, and with a very well-rated clamping force and a clever suspension that hides the hinged yoke within the housing of the earcups, this means all-day comfort.
Photo: Sonos
The combination of memory foam, vegan leather, and stainless steel is equally beneficial when it comes to comfort and aesthetics. The branding is limited to one ear cup and it is laser etched so it is understated yet eye-catching. Value Apple AirPods Max Say “look at ME!”, and the Sonos Ace will say it calmly and accurately.
The Ace comes in a sleek, attractively tactile travel case with a magnetically attached pouch for a USB-C and 3.5mm cable. The cover is made from 75 percent recycled plastic bottles.
In terms of performance, you get all the bells and whistles you'd expect. Wireless connectivity is via Bluetooth 5.4 and they have SBC and AAC codecs, making the Ace compatible with ALAC and Qualcomm Snapdragon Sound aptX Lossless. The sound is delivered by a pair of specially designed 40mm dynamic drivers. Sonos is typically cagey when it comes to frequency response, but from my brief listen at a recent press event in London, they were full enough for real bass. Ported acoustic architecture provides optimal low-frequency extension.
Spatial audio is available via streaming services that support Dolby Atmos and/or Sony 360 Reality Audio, and Sonos' Intelligent Motion Processing with Dolby Head Tracking dynamically tracks your head movement to provide an even greater sense of immersion and envelopment.