I've worn these Sonos Ace headphones since last year – here's my buying advice for 2025

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.

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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. 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 gives way 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. Another disappointment is that only one pair of the Ace can connect to a soundbar, compared to Apple, which allows two pairs of AirPods or Beats to connect to one Apple TV. 

Additionally, 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 still not 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. 

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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 who want a pair of headphones that may rarely leave the house. But you also don’t have to be a hardcore Sonos user to appreciate them. 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. However, they are also unpolished and have plenty of room for improvement. If you have $450 to spare and want a pair of everyday headphones perfect for commuting, traveling, and office work, consider the Sony XM6 or the Bose QuietComfort Ultra.