Sonos Ace Headphones Review: Everyone’s a gangster until a real gangster walks in

Sonos Ace Headphones Review

Sonos Ace Headphones Review: Sonos, the US-based tech manufacturer, has earned its name by offering top-notch audio equipment for approximately a couple of decades. In its latest launch, it has unveiled its debutant headphones, the Sonos Ace headphones. It will be interesting to see how it fares among its other competitors in a market that already witnesses cut-throat competition. Let’s delve deep into the features and analyse its standing in the segment.

Sonos Ace Headphones Review: Design

Sonos Ace Headphones Review: Sonos Ace boasts a minimalistic design, exuding a premium look. The device feels rich and polished at first glance, donning a classic outlook. 

Sonos Ace Headphones Review: Slim Profile

Sonos Ace Headphones Review: Weighing just over 300g-312g to be precise, the slim profile with matte finish combined with the metallic design gives this device a unique appearance. The headband and ear pads come with a vegan leather finish along with a stainless-steel yoke, enhancing the comfortability factor. The cups are made of plastic, one of the reasons for their lightweight profile. The device is available in two colour variants: Soft White and Black.

Sonos Ace Headphones Review: Control buttons

Sonos Ace Headphones Review: Users can control this device through tactile buttons instead of touch functionality. The controls are extremely responsive, with the tactile buttons providing a satisfactory feel. The left ear cup houses the power button, while the right cup has the Content Key, made up of metal, performing multiple functions like adjusting volume, playback control, and more. There’s also a Noise Control button, which assists with Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency modes. 

Sonos Ace Headphones Review: Connectivity

Sonos Ace Headphones Review: The Sonos Ace supports Bluetooth 5.4, ensuring seamless wireless connection with stability. To use the device optimally, the Sonos App can be downloaded, which comes loaded with a slew of features to enhance the user experience. It features dynamic head-tracking functionality, adapting to the user’s movements. Additionally, the device is equipped with spatial audio and Dolby Atmos, working with the Sonos soundbar and the Sonos App. The app elevates the user experience by allowing users to customize the sound to their tastes, including adjusting loudness, bass, and EQ settings. The device also features the TV Audio Swap functionality, allowing users to switch the TV audio from the Ace soundbar to the headphones, thus, taking the integration with the Sonos ecosystem to the next level. 

Sonos Ace Headphones Review: Sound Quality

Sonos Ace Headphones Review: Featuring 40mm dynamic drivers in each cup, the Sonos Ace delivers excellent sound output across a variety of frequencies. Minute details are appropriately delivered, which is a testament to its precise and deep audio prowess. Whether listening to music or podcasts, the device offers clear audio with seamless clarity. Furthermore, it features an eight-microphone setup, ensuring a top-notch calling experience. 

Sonos Ace Headphones Review: Active Noise Cancellation

Sonos Ace Headphones Review: The Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) feature is superb, neutralising external sounds to stunning levels. You can feel the silence, making a totally immersive experience possible once the track is played. There’s also an ‘Aware Mode’, allowing ambient sound to pass through the headphones. It gets activated by a single press of the Noise Cancellation button on the left cup or through the Sonos App. Notably, toggling between ANC and Aware modes is as smooth as it can get. 

Sonos Ace Headphones Review: Verdict

Sonos Ace Headphones Review: The world of headphones is constantly stirred by regular launches throughout the year. The launch of Sonos Ace headphones might turn out to be the most significant stirring experienced in the headphones market recently. The device features a premium design with an adequate comfort factor. It also offers decent sound quality with an immersive ANC experience. Another appealing aspect is its seamless connection with the Sonos ecosystem, giving it a clear edge over competitors. Well, not everything may be perfect, given the price tag it comes with. In a price-sensitive market like India, Rs. 39,999 might raise eyebrows, but it, being a complete device in itself, will likely attract a significant number of takers. Undoubtedly, with its first launch in the headphones category, Sonos may successfully carve its own niche.

Sonos Ace Headphones Review: Pros and Cons

Sonos Ace Headphones Review: Pros

- Premium design

- Excellent sound quality

- Good battery life

- Seamless connection

Sonos Ace Headphones Review: Battery

Sonos Ace Headphones Review: The Sonos Ace is powered by a 1060 mAh Li-ion battery, which comes with a promise of 30 hours of playback time with ANC enabled. This roughly translates into a 7–10-day usage for a modest user. Additionally, the device offers 3 hours of playback time with just 3 minutes of charging. 

Sonos Ace Headphones Review: Cons

- Price may be higher