Sonos Ace Review: Great Noise Cancelling Headphones for Android and iOS Users

Sonos may not be a household name in the headphone space. The company, mostly known for its range of wireless speakers and soundbars, recently launched its first pair (headphones) in India. The Sonos Ace is an expensive affair (more expensive than the flagships of brands like Sony, Sennheiser and Bose). Given its price tag of ₹39,999, and its direct rivals are Apple’s AirPods Max (which retails for ₹59,900).

The Sonos Ace is a brilliant pair of on-ear headphones, and one of the most comfortable I’ve ever worn. But is it enough to steal the crown in a space dominated by Sony, Sennheiser, and Bose? It certainly beats the more expensive AirPods Max, mainly because ₹59,999 is a lot of money for a pair of headphones.

Zen Mode

It was on a Thursday evening, while travelling on the Western Line of the Mumbai Suburban Railway, that I realised that I was in seventh heaven. The festive sounds of Ganesh Chaturthi could be heard at every station. But for half an hour of my journey, I heard nothing but the vocals of Adele, Beyonce, Coldplay, U2, Black Keys and others. That was because I was wearing Sonos Ace headphones with active ANC.

There is also an awareness mode that can be accessed with a single press of a button. This mode lets ambient sounds in. It is clear, vivid and works like a charm.

Active noise cancellation and instrument separation are where the Sonos Ace shines the most. They’re also incredibly comfortable. These are headphones I could wear for hours without breaking a sweat (more on that later).

Teething app and wifi issues

While Sonos did launch a new, revamped app, it was clearly done in a hurry. Reddit is full of complaints about it. My experience was no different. Connecting to the app took several attempts and multiple resets before it paired with the same network as my Sonos Arc.

If that matters, Bluetooth pairing was near-instantaneous and worked flawlessly. But without connecting to the app, you can’t access many features, including the best of all: TV Audio Swap. Once you’re connected to the app, you get access to the equalizer, ANC controls, surround sound on/off, wearable detection, and a few more.

They’re Bluetooth headphones first, and Wi-Fi second. The Ace can’t stream lossless audio over Wi-Fi (unlike the company’s other products), as that would significantly reduce battery life. In its current form, the Ace only pairs with the Arc soundbar to provide a personal home theater experience (Spatial Audio and TV Audio Swap). Put simply, these are great noise-cancelling headphones for Android and iOS users, and a way to listen to your TV without disturbing others, but only if you’re already part of the Sonos ecosystem.

Last but not least, the Ace headphones cannot be connected to other Sonos speakers. Now let’s get to what I really liked about the Sonos Ace headphones

Comfort, ANC and sound quality shine

With custom-designed 40mm dynamic drivers, the Ace headphones punch above their weight. The sound is well-balanced and clear. There’s plenty of detail, sparkle, and a punchy (but not overwhelming) bass. Vocals are natural, and instrument separation is excellent. These headphones have a relatively wide soundstage.

On Thursday night at a lively bar, I immersed myself in the vocals of Chris Martin, Miles Davis, Beyonce, Diljeet Dosanjh and many others. I had my own, personally composed concert, despite the loud bells of the guys sitting around me.

In fact, various Foo Fighters, The Black Keys and Arctic Monkeys songs were played, and for half an hour I was simply lost in the different drum rhythms and crystal clear vocals. The Ace headphones are paired to different genres and how.

I tested them for about eight hours one day in Delhi. While walking, visiting cafes and just at home. For the first time, I didn’t feel the need to take a break and the comfort was top-notch. I really felt that Sonos had put a lot of R&D into making the earphones perfect.

The battery is rated for up to 30 hours on a single charge with ANC on. I managed to get that many hours and more out of these headphones. You’ll get three hours of playback from just a three-minute charge. A full charge takes about two hours.

Perfect sound replacement feature for your TV

I also had the Arc soundbar with me during my review period. The Paralympic Games were happening at the same time. It was a perfect combination.

The content key lets you conveniently adjust the volume by swiping up or down hard. But this key also doubles as the TV audio swap button. It instantly swaps the sound from your TV to your headphones while adjusting the volume. Sonos has fixed all the kinks since its US launch, and this feature is magical. With TV audio swap, you get access to surround sound and head tracking, giving you a more cinematic experience. I tested it with Dune 2 AND Best Pistol: Maverick and the experience was on a completely new level.

No IP protection and some condensation

Before I wrap up, I need to quickly address one issue: condensation. The Ace headphones don’t have an official IP rating, although Sonos claims they’re built to withstand normal environmental conditions. That means you can probably wear them at the gym without breaking a sweat. After a day of working out, walking, and sweating in the Delhi humidity, I got home and took off the earphones. What I saw was a ton of condensation. Could that be a dealbreaker for some?

Verdict: The Best Pair of Bluetooth Headphones?

If Sonos hadn’t screwed up the redesigned app, Ace would have scored nearly perfect. But that’s not the case. However, the company has fixed the issues with TV Audio Swap. That’s a step in the right direction.

I’ve been a fan of TWS over on-ear headphones for years now. The Sonos Ace are just a step away from convincing me to make the switch. They’re the most comfortable (slim, sleek, and pretty) pair of headphones I’ve ever worn. They have fantastic ANC, good awareness mode, excellent sound quality, work with Bluetooth (unlike many other Sonos products), and have the best battery life. For a first-generation product, this is a good effort.

They are not foldable, they are a bit heavier than their competitors and they are expensive. But if you have a Sonos soundbar, the TV Audio Swap feature is enough to convince you. Private cinema sound at the touch of a button? That is the USP feature.

But would you spend ₹39,999 for a single pair of headphones (especially when other flagship headphones are much cheaper)? If money were no object, I would put these at the top of my shopping list.

Sahil Bhalla is a Delhi-based writer. He posts at @IMSahilBhalla