Audio T Verdict
Sonos Ace takes much of what makes the Sonos ecosystem so easy to live with and applies it to a genuinely premium pair of over-ear headphones. They work perfectly well as conventional Bluetooth headphones with a phone, tablet or computer, but their real party trick is the way they connect with compatible Sonos soundbars for private TV and cinema listening.
There is plenty here even if you do not own another Sonos product. Adaptive Active Noise Cancellation, Aware mode, lossless playback, Dolby Atmos spatial audio, dynamic head tracking, Bluetooth multipoint and a 30-hour listening battery make Ace a very capable everyday headphone for music, travel, work and films.
If you already have a Sonos home cinema system, however, Ace becomes considerably more interesting. TV Audio Swap can move your television sound from a compatible Sonos soundbar straight to the headphones, while TrueCinema uses information about your room to create a more convincing private surround experience. It is a clever extension of the Sonos ecosystem without making the headphones dependent on owning one.
Sonos Ace Active Noise Cancelling Wireless Headphones
Sonos Ace is a premium over-ear wireless headphone designed for personal music, films, calls and private home cinema listening.
Custom 40mm dynamic drivers sit inside a closed-back acoustic design, supported by eight microphones for Active Noise Cancellation, Aware mode and voice pickup. Bluetooth 5.4 provides everyday wireless connectivity, while USB-C and analogue wired listening are also supported using the supplied cables.
- Premium over-ear wireless headphones
- Custom-designed 40mm dynamic drivers
- Eight microphones
- Adaptive Active Noise Cancellation
- Aware mode
- Dolby Atmos spatial audio
- Dynamic head tracking
- Lossless audio support
- Bluetooth 5.4
- Bluetooth multipoint
- aptX Lossless support
- aptX Adaptive support
- aptX HD support
- AAC and SBC support
- USB-C digital audio
- 3.5mm wired source compatibility via supplied cable
- TV Audio Swap with compatible Sonos soundbars
- TrueCinema private home cinema processing
- Wear detection
- Adjustable EQ through the Sonos app
- Up to 30 hours listening time
- Up to 24 hours call time
- 3 hours playback from a 3-minute rapid charge
- Replaceable ear cushions
- Stainless steel headband
- Memory foam ear cushions
- Soft vegan leather covering
- Travel case included
- Black and Soft White finishes
Custom 40mm Dynamic Drivers
Each ear cup houses a custom-designed 40mm dynamic driver.
Sonos positions the drivers to deliver a balanced presentation with low distortion across the audible range, while the surrounding acoustic architecture is designed to reinforce low-frequency performance without simply relying on electronic bass boost.
Ported Acoustic Architecture
The drivers operate within a ported acoustic system designed to extend and strengthen bass response.
This allows Ace to combine low-frequency weight with the control required for voices, music and film soundtracks rather than making bass an isolated effect.
Lossless Audio Playback
Sonos Ace supports lossless audio both wirelessly with compatible Bluetooth hardware and through a USB-C connection.
The important part is compatibility: lossless Bluetooth playback requires a source device that supports Qualcomm Snapdragon Sound with aptX Lossless. A phone that only supports standard Bluetooth codecs will still work with Ace, but it will not provide aptX Lossless transmission.
Lossless Bluetooth Depends on the Source
Buying a headphone that supports aptX Lossless does not automatically make every Bluetooth connection lossless. The phone, tablet or other source also needs compatible Qualcomm Snapdragon Sound hardware and software.
Supported Bluetooth Audio Formats
Sonos currently specifies support for:
- SBC
- AAC
- aptX Lossless
- aptX Adaptive
- aptX Adaptive Low Latency
- aptX HD
This gives Ace broad compatibility with Apple, Android and other Bluetooth devices while allowing supported Android hardware to make use of higher-performance Qualcomm codecs.
Bluetooth 5.4
Bluetooth 5.4 provides the main connection for everyday music playback from phones, tablets, laptops and other Bluetooth-enabled sources.
Initial pairing is handled using the Power/Bluetooth button on the headphones, after which Ace can reconnect to previously paired devices in normal use.
Bluetooth Multipoint
Multipoint allows two Bluetooth devices to remain paired with Sonos Ace at the same time.
That can be particularly useful when working with a laptop and phone. You might be watching a video or listening to music from the computer and then take an incoming call from the phone without repeatedly disconnecting and repairing the headphones.
Register Ace in the Sonos App for Multipoint
Sonos requires Ace to be registered in the Sonos app before Bluetooth multipoint can be enabled.
USB-C Wired Audio
Ace is not restricted to Bluetooth.
The supplied USB-C to USB-C cable can be used for wired digital audio from a compatible source as well as for charging the headphones.
This also provides an alternative route for compatible lossless playback without depending on the Bluetooth capabilities of the source device.
3.5mm Analogue Sources
Sonos also supplies a USB-C to 3.5mm cable.
This allows Ace to connect with conventional analogue headphone outputs, including older audio equipment and in-flight entertainment systems.
It makes the headphones considerably more flexible than a Bluetooth-only design, particularly when travelling.
Active Noise Cancellation
Sonos Ace uses an array of microphones and digital processing to detect external sound and reduce how much of it reaches the listener.
The current adaptive ANC system also responds to the way the headphones fit and to changing surroundings, allowing the processing to adjust rather than operating as a completely fixed noise-cancellation profile.
Why Adaptive ANC Matters
The acoustic seal around a headphone can vary according to head shape, glasses, hair and how the ear cushions are positioned.
An adaptive system can account for these changing conditions and continually optimise the noise-control processing around the actual fit.
This is particularly useful when moving between different environments such as home, office, train and aircraft.
Aware Mode
There are times when completely isolating yourself from the outside world is not desirable.
Aware mode uses the microphones to blend external sound with the audio you are listening to, allowing you to remain more conscious of conversations, announcements and activity around you.
A dedicated Noise Control button makes it quick to move between ANC and Aware mode without reaching for the phone.
Stay Aware When Your Surroundings Matter
Noise cancelling headphones can significantly reduce awareness of external sounds. Use Aware mode or remove the headphones whenever hearing traffic, announcements or other environmental cues is important for safety.
Eight Microphones
Sonos Ace uses eight microphones across the headphone design.
These support noise control as well as voice targeting for phone and video calls, giving the processing system multiple points from which to analyse both the environment and the wearer's voice.
Beamforming for Calls
Beamforming microphone processing focuses on the wearer's voice while suppressing unwanted background sound.
This is intended to make Ace as useful for video meetings and phone calls as it is for music and films.
Sidetone
When Active Noise Cancellation is enabled during a call, it can be difficult to judge how loudly you are speaking because so much of the surrounding acoustic feedback has been removed.
Sidetone allows you to hear some of your own voice through the headphones, helping conversations feel more natural.
Dolby Atmos Spatial Audio
Ace supports spatial audio content including Dolby Atmos from compatible devices and services.
Instead of presenting every sound purely between the left and right ears, spatial processing can create the impression that elements of a mix or soundtrack are positioned around the listener.
As always, the source material and device also need to support the relevant spatial format.
Dynamic Head Tracking
Dynamic head tracking takes spatial audio a step further.
Sonos Intelligent Motion Processing follows movement of your head and adjusts the spatial presentation so the apparent soundstage remains anchored rather than rotating with the headphones.
The feature is enabled through the Sonos app.
Spatial Music
For music mixed in Dolby Atmos or another supported spatial format, head tracking allows different elements of the production to occupy a more externalised space around the listener.
Whether you prefer this presentation or conventional stereo will naturally depend on the recording and personal taste, so Ace allows spatial features to be configured through the app.
TV Audio Swap
TV Audio Swap is one of the features that most clearly separates Sonos Ace from conventional Bluetooth headphones.
When used with a compatible Sonos soundbar, television audio can be moved from the soundbar directly to Ace using the Content Key.
This provides private TV listening without asking you to reconnect the television to a separate Bluetooth headphone system.
Compatible Sonos Soundbars
Current TV Audio Swap compatibility includes:
- Sonos Arc Ultra
- Sonos Arc
- Sonos Beam (Gen 2)
- Sonos Beam (Gen 1)
- Sonos Ray
A compatible soundbar needs to be connected to WiFi and the Sonos system and Ace should be running compatible software.
Listen With Two Pairs of Sonos Ace
Current Sonos software allows TV Audio Swap to send sound to one or two pairs of Sonos Ace.
This means two people can watch a film or play a game privately without using the room loudspeakers, particularly useful late at night or where other people in the house do not want to hear the television.
Two-Person Private Cinema
With a compatible Sonos soundbar and current software, two Sonos Ace headphones can receive TV Audio Swap simultaneously. Dynamic head tracking is disabled when two pairs of Ace are being used at the same time.
TrueCinema
TrueCinema expands the home cinema side of Ace by using information about the listening room to create a more convincing virtual surround presentation through the headphones.
The technology maps the room and then uses that acoustic information when rendering the private headphone soundstage.
The aim is to preserve some of the sense of listening to a properly positioned home cinema system rather than making every film sound as though it is happening entirely inside your head.
Private Dolby Atmos Home Cinema
With a compatible Sonos soundbar, Dolby Atmos content can be presented through Ace as a spatial home cinema experience.
Dynamic head tracking can maintain the apparent position of the soundtrack as you move your head, making film and television listening more interactive than conventional stereo headphones.
Ace Is Not a Conventional Sonos Multi-Room Speaker
This is an important distinction.
For normal personal music playback, Sonos Ace works primarily as a Bluetooth or wired headphone. It does not appear as a conventional standalone WiFi room in the same way as an Era 100, Era 300 or Sonos Five.
Ace does use WiFi when communicating with a compatible Sonos home cinema player for TV audio and control data, but this connection is not a general-purpose WiFi streaming connection for other devices.
Think Headphones First, Sonos Integration Second
You do not need to own another Sonos product to use Ace for music, calls or Bluetooth listening. The additional Sonos ecosystem features become relevant when you pair Ace with a compatible Sonos soundbar.
Content Key
Rather than relying entirely on touch controls, Ace has a physical Content Key.
Slide it up and down to adjust volume and press it to control playback, calls and other functions.
With a compatible Sonos home cinema system, the Content Key is also used for TV Audio Swap.
Dedicated Noise Control Button
A separate button provides quick switching between Active Noise Cancellation and Aware mode.
This means the two most frequently changed listening modes remain accessible without navigating through the Sonos app.
Wear Detection
Built-in sensors detect when Ace is being worn.
Taking the headphones off can automatically pause playback, while putting them back on resumes the content.
This is particularly useful when somebody starts speaking to you or you need to step away briefly without manually pausing the source.
Sonos App Control
The Sonos app provides access to additional headphone configuration and software updates.
Functions include:
- Bass adjustment
- Treble adjustment
- Loudness control
- Dynamic head tracking
- Noise-control settings
- Bluetooth multipoint setup
- TV Audio Swap configuration
- TrueCinema setup
- Software updates
Adjustable EQ
Bass, treble and loudness can be adjusted through the Sonos app.
This provides a useful amount of tonal customisation without burying the listener in a complicated studio-style equaliser.
30-Hour Listening Battery
The 1060mAh lithium-ion battery provides up to 30 hours of listening time with Active Noise Cancellation or Aware mode enabled.
Actual battery life will naturally vary according to listening level, features, connection type and other usage factors.
Up to 24 Hours of Call Time
Sonos separately specifies up to 24 hours of call time with ANC or Aware mode enabled.
This makes Ace well suited to a working day containing a mixture of music, telephone conversations and online meetings.
Rapid Charging
If the battery reaches 0%, a 3-minute rapid charge provides up to 3 hours of listening time.
This is particularly useful before leaving the house or boarding a journey when there is not enough time for a complete recharge.
Up to Three Hours for a Full Charge
A complete charge from 0% can take up to three hours using the supplied USB-C cable and a compatible USB-C power adaptor.
A mains power adaptor is not supplied with Ace.
USB-C Charging
The same USB-C connection used for compatible wired digital listening is also used to recharge the internal battery.
The supplied USB-C to USB-C cable measures 0.75m.
All-Day Comfort
A high-performance headphone is of limited use if it becomes uncomfortable halfway through an album or film.
Sonos has therefore paid particular attention to pressure distribution, ear-cushion shape and headband adjustment.
Memory Foam Ear Cushions
The ear cushions use plush memory foam covered in soft vegan leather.
The design aims to create the acoustic seal required for bass response and effective ANC while minimising uncomfortable pressure around the ear.
Replaceable Ear Cushions
The ear cushions can be replaced rather than requiring the entire headphone to be discarded when the cushions eventually wear.
That is particularly worthwhile on a product intended to be used for several hours at a time and carried regularly while travelling.
Stainless Steel Headband
A stainless steel headband provides the main structural adjustment.
It extends smoothly and is designed to hold its selected position once fitted to the listener.
Internal Adjustment Mechanism
The ear cups incorporate an internal mechanism that allows them to adjust to different head shapes while equalising pressure and maintaining the acoustic seal.
Sonos specifically tested Ace around different head shapes, hairstyles, glasses and earrings rather than designing around one idealised fit.
312g Weight
Sonos Ace weighs approximately 312g.
This keeps the headphone relatively manageable for extended listening while still allowing for the battery, microphones, structural components and acoustic system required by the design.
Dimensions
- Height: 191mm
- Width: 160mm
- Depth: 85mm
- Weight: 312g
Black or Soft White
Ace is available in Black and Soft White with a matte finish.
The inside of the right ear cup uses a contrasting colour so it is immediately obvious which way round the headphones should be worn.
LED Status Indicator
An LED on the bottom of the left ear cup provides connection and status information.
This keeps the external design relatively clean while still providing visual feedback during pairing and setup.
Travel Case Included
A slim protective travel case is supplied with Sonos Ace.
The case incorporates recycled materials and includes a magnetically detachable cable pouch so the supplied leads can remain organised separately from the headphones.
USB-C and 3.5mm Cables Included
Sonos includes both of the main wired connection options in the box:
- USB-C to USB-C cable: 0.75m
- USB-C to 3.5mm cable: 1.2m
You therefore do not need to buy a separate cable immediately simply to use Ace with a laptop, compatible USB-C source or conventional 3.5mm headphone output.
Designed With Recycled Materials
Ace and its travel case incorporate post-consumer recycled plastics.
Sonos states that Ace and the case together contain 31% total recycled content under the SCS Recycled Content Standard.
Recyclable Packaging
The packaging is fully recyclable and made from sustainably sourced FSC-certified paper.
Replaceable ear cushions also help extend the useful life of the product rather than turning normal cushion wear into a reason to replace the complete headphone.
Sonos Ace for Music
For everyday music listening, Ace can simply be treated as a premium Bluetooth headphone.
Pair it to an Apple or Android phone, choose your music service and listen without needing to own any other Sonos hardware.
Compatible devices can add lossless Bluetooth or USB-C playback, while spatial music and head tracking provide additional options where supported.
Sonos Ace for Travel
The combination of ANC, 30-hour listening battery, rapid charging, analogue cable and protective case makes Ace particularly well suited to travel.
The supplied 3.5mm connection is useful for aircraft entertainment systems and other sources where Bluetooth is either unavailable or inconvenient.
Sonos Ace for Work
Bluetooth multipoint, beamforming microphones, Sidetone and long battery life make Ace equally useful at a desk.
Two simultaneously paired devices make it straightforward to move between computer audio and calls from a mobile phone.
Sonos Ace for Home Cinema
This is where Ace is at its most distinctive.
Owners of compatible Sonos soundbars can move TV audio directly to the headphones, add Dolby Atmos spatial processing and use TrueCinema to make the private presentation feel more connected to the physical room.
If late-night television or gaming is a regular part of your routine, this integration can be considerably more elegant than maintaining a completely separate wireless headphone system for the TV.
Sonos Ace and Arc Ultra
The Sonos Arc Ultra is the current flagship Sonos soundbar and supports TV Audio Swap with Ace.
Together they provide a choice between full-room Dolby Atmos playback through the soundbar and private headphone listening when you do not want to disturb anyone else.
Sonos Ace and Beam
The compact Sonos Beam (Gen 2) also supports TV Audio Swap.
This makes Ace integration available without requiring Sonos' largest flagship home cinema system.
Sonos Ace and Ray
TV Audio Swap also works with the Sonos Ray.
That means the private-listening feature extends across a broad range of Sonos home cinema systems rather than being restricted to the most expensive soundbar.
What Comes in the Box?
- Sonos Ace headphones
- Protective travel case
- Magnetically detachable cable pouch
- USB-C to USB-C cable, 0.75m
- USB-C to 3.5mm cable, 1.2m
- Quickstart Guide
- Legal and warranty information
USB-C Power Adaptor Not Included
Sonos supplies the charging cable but not a mains USB-C power adaptor. A compatible USB-C power supply is therefore required for mains charging.
Recommended Setup Routine
- Charge Sonos Ace using the supplied USB-C cable.
- Download or open the Sonos app on your compatible Apple or Android device.
- Switch on Ace using the Power/Bluetooth button.
- Pair the headphones with your phone, tablet or computer.
- Register Ace in the Sonos app to unlock the full feature set.
- Install any available software updates.
- Adjust bass, treble and loudness to taste.
- Choose between Active Noise Cancellation and Aware mode.
- Enable Bluetooth multipoint if you regularly use two source devices.
- Enable spatial audio and dynamic head tracking where desired.
- If you own a compatible Sonos soundbar, configure TV Audio Swap.
- Run TrueCinema setup where supported and required.
- Adjust the headband and ear cups until pressure is even and the ear cushions form a comfortable seal.
Key Features
- Sonos Ace
- Premium over-ear headphones
- Wireless Bluetooth headphones
- Closed-back design
- 40mm custom dynamic drivers
- Eight microphones
- Adaptive Active Noise Cancellation
- Aware mode
- Beamforming voice microphones
- Sidetone for calls
- Dolby Atmos
- Spatial audio
- Dynamic head tracking
- Sonos Intelligent Motion Processing
- Lossless audio support
- aptX Lossless
- aptX Adaptive
- aptX Adaptive Low Latency
- aptX HD
- AAC
- SBC
- Bluetooth 5.4
- Bluetooth multipoint
- USB-C wired audio
- 3.5mm source compatibility
- TV Audio Swap
- TrueCinema
- Compatible with Arc Ultra
- Compatible with Arc
- Compatible with Beam Gen 2
- Compatible with Beam Gen 1
- Compatible with Ray
- Two-pair TV Audio Swap support
- Wear detection
- Physical Content Key
- Dedicated Noise Control button
- Adjustable app EQ
- 1060mAh lithium-ion battery
- Up to 30 hours listening time
- Up to 24 hours call time
- 3-minute rapid charging
- 3 hours listening from rapid charge
- Up to 3 hours full charging time
- Memory foam ear cushions
- Vegan leather covering
- Replaceable ear cushions
- Stainless steel headband
- 312g weight
- Black finish
- Soft White finish
- Protective travel case
- USB-C cable included
- USB-C to 3.5mm cable included
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Sonos Ace still current?
Yes. Sonos Ace remains part of the current Sonos product range.
Are Sonos Ace over-ear headphones?
Yes. They use a closed over-ear design with memory foam ear cushions.
What size drivers do Sonos Ace use?
Each ear cup contains a custom-designed 40mm dynamic driver.
Do Sonos Ace have Active Noise Cancellation?
Yes. Current software provides adaptive Active Noise Cancellation that responds to fit and surroundings.
What is Aware mode?
Aware mode allows ambient external sound to be heard alongside your music or other content.
How many microphones are fitted?
Eight microphones are used for noise control and voice targeting.
Are Sonos Ace good for calls?
They use beamforming microphones to target your voice and suppress background sound, with Sidetone available to make your own voice sound more natural when ANC is active.
Do Sonos Ace support Dolby Atmos?
Yes, with compatible content and source devices.
Do Sonos Ace support spatial audio?
Yes. Spatial audio playback is supported from compatible services and devices.
What is dynamic head tracking?
Motion processing follows movement of your head and adjusts spatial audio so the apparent soundstage remains positioned around you.
Do Sonos Ace support lossless audio?
Yes. Lossless playback is available via USB-C and over Bluetooth when used with a compatible aptX Lossless source.
Is Bluetooth automatically lossless?
No. Wireless lossless playback requires a compatible Android device with Qualcomm Snapdragon Sound and aptX Lossless support.
Which Bluetooth codecs are supported?
SBC, AAC, aptX Lossless, aptX Adaptive, aptX Adaptive Low Latency and aptX HD.
Which Bluetooth version is used?
Bluetooth 5.4.
Do Sonos Ace work with iPhone?
Yes. They can be paired with compatible Apple Bluetooth devices.
Do Sonos Ace work with Android?
Yes.
Can I connect two devices at once?
Yes. Bluetooth multipoint allows two devices to remain paired simultaneously once the feature has been enabled through the Sonos app.
Can I listen through USB-C?
Yes. The supplied USB-C to USB-C cable supports compatible wired digital audio as well as charging.
Can I connect Sonos Ace to a 3.5mm headphone socket?
Yes. A USB-C to 3.5mm cable is supplied.
Can I use Sonos Ace on an aircraft entertainment system?
Where the aircraft system provides a compatible 3.5mm output, the supplied analogue connection can be used.
Are Sonos Ace normal Sonos WiFi speakers?
No. Everyday personal audio is handled by Bluetooth or a wired connection. WiFi is used specifically when Ace communicates with a compatible Sonos home cinema player for audio and control data.
Do I need another Sonos product to use Ace?
No. Ace works independently as Bluetooth and wired headphones. A compatible Sonos soundbar is only required for features such as TV Audio Swap and TrueCinema home cinema integration.
What is TV Audio Swap?
It allows television audio playing through a compatible Sonos soundbar to be transferred directly to Sonos Ace for private listening.
Which Sonos soundbars work with TV Audio Swap?
Current compatibility includes Arc Ultra, Arc, Beam Gen 2, Beam Gen 1 and Ray.
Can two people use Sonos Ace with the same TV?
Yes. Current Sonos software can send TV Audio Swap to one or two pairs of Sonos Ace simultaneously with a compatible soundbar.
Does dynamic head tracking work when two Ace headphones are connected to the TV?
No. Sonos specifies that dynamic head tracking is disabled when TV Audio Swap is being used with two pairs of Ace simultaneously.
What is TrueCinema?
TrueCinema uses information about your room to create a more lifelike virtual surround soundstage through Ace when used with a compatible Sonos home cinema system.
Do Sonos Ace pause when I take them off?
Yes. Wear detection can automatically pause playback when the headphones are removed and resume when they are put back on.
Can I adjust the sound?
Yes. Bass, treble and loudness can be adjusted in the Sonos app.
How long does the battery last?
Sonos specifies up to 30 hours of listening time with Active Noise Cancellation or Aware mode enabled.
How long is the call battery life?
Up to 24 hours with ANC or Aware mode enabled.
How fast does Sonos Ace charge?
A three-minute rapid charge from 0% can provide up to three hours of listening time.
How long does a full charge take?
Up to three hours from 0%.
Is a charger supplied?
A USB-C cable is supplied, but a mains USB-C power adaptor is not included.
What capacity is the battery?
1060mAh lithium-ion.
Can the ear cushions be replaced?
Yes. Sonos designed the ear cushions to be easily replaceable.
What are the cushions made from?
Memory foam covered in soft vegan leather.
How much do Sonos Ace weigh?
Approximately 312g.
What are the dimensions?
191mm high, 160mm wide and 85mm deep.
What colours are available?
Black and Soft White.
Is a travel case included?
Yes. A slim protective travel case with detachable cable pouch is supplied.
What cables are included?
A 0.75m USB-C to USB-C cable and a 1.2m USB-C to 3.5mm cable.
What is the operating temperature?
Sonos currently specifies 0°C to 40°C.
Related Sonos Products and Advice
Why Buy Sonos Ace From Audio T?
Sonos Ace is straightforward to use as a pair of Bluetooth headphones, but there is considerably more to explore once spatial audio, lossless playback, TV Audio Swap, TrueCinema and the wider Sonos home cinema ecosystem enter the picture.
Audio T can help you decide whether Ace is right for music, travel or home cinema, demonstrate compatible Sonos soundbars and explain the difference between Bluetooth listening, USB-C playback and Sonos' dedicated TV Audio Swap connection.
- In-store Sonos demonstrations
- Headphone listening advice
- Active Noise Cancellation guidance
- Bluetooth setup advice
- Lossless playback guidance
- aptX compatibility advice
- Spatial audio demonstrations
- Dolby Atmos guidance
- TV Audio Swap setup
- TrueCinema guidance
- Sonos Arc Ultra demonstrations
- Sonos Beam demonstrations
- Sonos Ray demonstrations
- Sonos home cinema advice
- Sonos app setup
- Ongoing after-sales support
Contact your local Audio T store to hear Sonos Ace, explore its home cinema features or find the right Sonos system for your home.