Odi Productions
In this article, I’m going to share my HONEST Sonos Ace review for those who are wondering whether they are WORTH IT in 2026. I’ll also be comparing the Sonos Ace vs Apple AirPods Max 2, Sony WH-1000XM6, XM5, Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2, Sennheiser Momentum 4, and more!
I’m going to do my best to share whether these headphones are worth it, and ideally who these headphones are for. I bought these headphones with my own money, and was NOT sponsored, paid, or received a free copy for review. All thoughts are my own.
I’ll be sharing my critical opinion with 10 years of experience as a professional music producer, audio engineer, and tech journalist. I also run the RecordingNow YouTube channel with over 24,000+ subscribers and over 5 million views.
Let’s dive right in!
Sonos Ace Headphones review in short
Now approaching sub-$300 on sale, the Sonos Ace is an appealing value due to its world-class comfort, noise cancelling performance, and premium build quality. It’s less compelling at $400+ due to relatively less impressive sound quality compared to today’s contenders. Competes against Apple AirPods Max 2, Sony WH-1000XM6, Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2, Sennheiser Momentum 5, Bose QuietComfort Ultra, Apple AirPods Max, Sennheiser Momentum 4, and Sony WH-1000XM5.
Watch the Full Review on YouTube!
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Sonos Ace Pros and Cons
- Incredible comfort and build quality
- Elite noise cancelling performance
- Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos support
- Great value when on sale
- Expensive if not on sale
- Bass is lacking without EQ
- Slightly compressed sound and soundstage
Order here for the LOWEST PRICE AVAILABLE (Do NOT pay retail):Â
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Sonos Ace Sound Quality
Coming into this review, I was extremely curious and had fairly high expectations for the sound quality of the $449 Sonos Ace.
Having bought several Sonos speakers in the past, along with my current home theatre system consisting of a Sonos soundbar and Sub, I would say I’m a fan of the brand in general.
My very first initial impression of the Ace was… that I wasn’t exactly blown away.
Mind you, I’ve recently spent hundreds of hours testing it’s biggest competition like the Apple AirPods Max, Sennheiser Momentum 4, Bose QuietComfort Ultra, and Sony WH-1000XM5.
To start, the sound quality firmly belongs in this class – which is to say it’s pretty good for wireless ANC headphones, just not in a tier above.
I was sort’ve hoping it would be on another level, but the truth is, these flagship ANC headphones have gotten quite good, and the competition is stiff these days.
Also, the Sonos Ace supports the hi-res codec of aptX Lossless, leading to higher sound quality potential on paper.
To conduct this test, I used my Questyle QCC Dongle Pro to unlock aptX and LDAC support:
![Questyle QCC Dongle Pro [MFi Certified] USB-C Bluetooth Audio Adapter with LDAC,aptX Lossless&aptX-Adaptive,Low Latency Bluetooth 5.4 Dongle for PS5,Wireless Lossless Transmitter for PC/Headphones](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/21jT-Cm5ZVL._SL500_.jpg)
If you’re an iPhone user, or if your phone doesn’t support aptX codecs, then I highly recommend you pick up the dongle above which will cover both LDAC and aptX Adaptive high-res codecs. It’s the only one of its kind that supports both, to my knowledge.
The Good
Let’s start with the good: Next to the AirPods Max, these have some of the most pleasing stock tuning that doesn’t require EQ to be enjoyed out of the box (unlike the Bose QC Ultra or Sony XM5, for example).
Actually, the Sonos Ace does some things better than any headphone in this class: vocal and instrument timbre (most realistic-sounding), vocal detail, crisp tight/fast treble, and drums.
Drums seriously sound amazing, with a ton of energy, dynamics, and detail.
Because of the above, I think the Sonos Ace might be the best rock and metal headphones in this class. It also handles Acoustic, Classical, and Jazz exceptionally well. Fairly realistic timbre of the various instruments in those genres.
Also, the vocal-forward nature of these (and Spatial Audio/Dolby Atmos support) is really great for other media like movies, TV shows, podcasts, and gaming.
The Bad
Now the downsides, and the main reasons why I wasn’t blown away on first impression…
First, the sub-bass was very light without EQ.
Second, the audiophile technicalities are somewhat mediocre compared to its competition. The soundstage is rather small with not a lot of depth, and I would like to hear more clarity and resolution overall. I’m getting a rather “compressed” sound.
Also, the treble can be a little peaky with some very slight sibilance on more modern songs. This could be smoother while pushing even more detail like the QC Ultra (with EQ) and Momentum 4.
The stock sound profile actually first reminded me of the Beats Studio Pro, no offense to the Beats, but that’s a sub-$200 headphone on sale compared to the $400+ Sonos Ace.
Very detailed, crisp, and “fast”, but overall thin-sounding and weak bass response that is almost “missing”.
So in short, it does some things at an elite level, but the bass is below average stock.
Thankfully, a little EQ is able to improve this situation to an enjoyable level, but increasing the bass too much exposes a sluggish, muddy bass response that still doesn’t include a lot of slam.
Basically, if you like to “feel” the music, these won’t be pushing enough air to compete with the likes of Sennheiser Momentum 4 or Bose QuietComfort.
That said, the boosted bass from EQ does create a very punchy, crisp upper bass that is satisfying in its own way. But the deeper sub-bass frequencies is going to be underwhelming as a whole.
Because of this, the Sonos Ace is not as impressive for modern genres like Pop and Hip Hop as its competitors.
Overall Thoughts on Sound Quality
I want to reiterate that I think these might be one of the better headphones for Rock, Metal, Acoustic, Classical, and Jazz genres, especially right out of the box. Drums sound very good, and guitars are sweet. Along with the vocals being pushed forward with some beautiful detail.
For the audiophiles out there, these might be the closest to the “Sennheiser house sound” in a wireless headphone, and certainly more than the Momentum 4 is.
But its fatal flaw is being pretty “bass light“, which can be salvaged with a bit of EQ. These might not satisfy the bassheads and perform as competitively for modern genres like Pop and Hip Hop.
Also, it’s not as audiophile and sounds a little “compressed” overall compared to the top of this class.
Overall, I actually have been enjoying listening to these, as the stock sound profile is close to my preference of neutral bright. Add in some bass with the EQ, and I’m personally pretty satisfied.
Sound Quality Comparisons
vs Apple AirPods Max 2
The newer AirPods Max 2 has more of a “neutral bright” sound profile to the consumer-friendly sound of the Sonos Ace.
I’m hearing more detail and fullness in the mids of the AirPods Max 2 especially, which I quite prefer.
Although the AirPods Max 2 is a bright headphone, it’s not as sibilant or harsh as the treble presentation on the Sonos Ace.
In terms of overall sound quality, I think the AirPods Max 2 is in a tier above the Sonos Ace, with a higher level of resolution and detail as a whole.
vs Sony WH-1000XM6
Stock for stock, the Sony WH-1000XM6 is closer to the Sonos Ace’s sound quality than the AirPods Max 2 or Bose QC Ultra 2.
I slightly prefer the warmer and more neutral XM6’s stock tuning, but it really comes alive with help of its custom 10-band EQ.
After EQ and listening in LDAC, I would put the XM6 at a slight level above the Sonos Ace.
vs Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2
The Sonos Ace and Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2 are more similar in their consumer-friendly sound profiles, but I find the Bose to be more balanced.
The mids on the Bose are more detailed and fuller, then improved further with a touch of custom EQ.
Both headphones support aptX Lossless which is nice, but I think the driver hardware and headphone amp of the Bose is higher fidelity than the Sonos Ace’s hardware.
Like the AirPods Max 2, I think the Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2 is in another tier of sound quality above the Sonos Ace.
vs Sennheiser Momentum 5
Honestly, I think even the previous-generation Momentum 4 is on another level of sound quality to the Ace, and the Momentum 5 widens that gap even further.
These two differ greatly in sound profile, with the Momentum 5 being a warmer, darker, and much smoother tuning versus the more V-shaped Sonos Ace.
The bass is much more satisfying on the Momentum 5, in terms of both quantity and quality.
Aside from the bass, the mids are much fuller with better timbre on the Momentum 5 over the Ace.
Sound Quality Score: 8.1 out of 10
Sonos Ace Comfort
The Sonos Ace is actually the one of the heavier headphones in this class, as weighed on my scale:
- Bose QuietComfort (2023 model) – 236.1 grams
- Sony WH 1000XM5 – 245.9 grams
- Sony WH 1000XM4 – 251.6 grams
- Sony WH 1000XM6 – 252.8 grams
- Bose QuietComfort Ultra (1st gen) – 254.4 grams
- Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd gen) – 262.2 grams
- Beats Studio Pro – 268.6 grams
- Sennheiser Momentum 5 – 288.8 grams
- Sennheiser Momentum 4 – 292.9 grams
- Bowers and Wilkins Px7 S2e – 305.2 grams
- Sony 1000X THE COLLEXION – 311.2 grams
- Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 – 312.0 grams
- Sennheiser HDB 630 – 313.4 grams
- Sonos Ace – 318.1 grams
- Bowers & Wilkins Px8 – 320.1 grams
- Bang & Olufsen H95 – 323 grams
- Focal Bathys – 350 grams
- Focal Bathys MG – 365.5 grams
- Bang & Olufsen H100 – 375.6 grams
- Dali IO-12 – 379.4 grams
- Apple AirPods Max 2 – 384.4 grams
Only the AirPods Max is heavier, by about 70 grams.
That said, the Sonos Ace actually feels like a cloud.
Upon first wearing them, I was expecting their weight to measure around ~270 grams, just slightly heavier than the Bose QC Ultra.
I’m surprised at the actual number, but Sonos did a great job between the plush headband cushioning, earpad cushions, and minimal clamping force to make a seriously comfy headphone.
The leather on the headband and earcups just feels so nice and very premium.
I have zero complaints here. I can wear these all day no problem, and they actually kinda feel good to wear if you can believe it. Almost like an ergonomic pillow or something.
I’ve even tried working out in these and they might be my new favorite pair for the gym.
This and the Bose QC Ultra are at the very top for comfort right now.
Comfort Score: 10 out of 10
Features / Battery Life / Build Quality / Practicality
Features
The Sonos Ace is very feature-rich, and one of the only other headphones in this class to have true Dolby Atmos and Spatial Audio support like the Apple AirPods Max.
This makes the Sonos Ace great for watching movies and TV as well.
(Newer models like the Sony WH-1000XM6 and Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2 do have even better Spatial Audio with their “Cinema Mode”, in my opinion.)
The Ace also has hi-res codec support in aptX Lossless, along with Lossless Audio via USB-C wired connection.
Like all the other headphones in this class, they also feature multiple built-in microphones for taking calls, Active Noise Cancelling, and Transparency Mode.
These do also include a hardshell case that kind of has a strange exterior that feels like felt, and I’m assuming it might be recycled material. That said, it’s fine. It’s not the largest case but it’s also not as compact as Bose since the headphones do not collapse or fold.
Sonos Ace Battery Life
The Sonos Ace is rated at 24 hours of battery life on a single charge with noise cancelling ON, and 30 hours with it OFF, which is now slightly below average for the class:
- Marshall Monitor III – 70 hours (ANC on), 100 hours (ANC off)
- Cambridge Audio Melomania P100 SE – 60 hours (ANC on), 100 hours (ANC off)
- Audeze Maxwell – 80 hours (no ANC included)
- Sennheiser HDB 630 – 60 hours
- Sennheiser Momentum 4 – 60 hours
- Sennheiser Momentum 5 – 57 hours
- Dali IO-12 – 35 hours (ANC on)
- Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H100 – 34 hours (ANC on)
- Focal Bathys MG – “Over 30 hours” (ANC on)
- Sony WH-1000XM6 – 40 hours (ANC off), 30 hours (ANC on)
- Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen) – 30 hours
- Sony WH-1000XM5 and WH-1000XM4 – 30 hours
- Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 and Px8 – 30 hours
- Sony 1000X THE COLLEXION – 24 hours
- Bose QuietComfort Ultra (1st Gen) – 24 hours
- Sonos Ace – 24 hours (ANC on), 30 hours (ANC off)
- Apple AirPods Max 2 – 20 hours
- Apple AirPods Max – 20 hours
In my testing, I found these numbers to be accurate.
The class average is now closer to 30 hours with noise cancelling ON, which makes the Ace slightly below average.
There is also a “Rapid Charging” feature that provides 3 hours of listening time with 3 minutes of charging.
Sonos Ace Build Quality
Picking up the Sonos Ace for the first time, I think these are the most premium feeling and well-designed headphone for its price.
Although the exterior is mostly plastic, the shape and feel of the headphones to the touch is in a class above the others, save for the AirPods Max.
The metal hinges remind me of the AirPods Max, while the rest of the headphone is similar to the Bose QC Ultra.
Overall, these headphones feel like the best build quality and inspire a lot of confidence when handling.
Practicality
The Sonos Ace makes for a fantastic daily driver due to its elite comfort and noise cancelling performance.
They don’t fold like the Sony XM6 or Bose QC Ultra 2, so the Ace’s travel case is just a little larger than the most compact options for the class.
Lastly, I am confident in the build quality and metal hinges of the Sonos Ace to hold up nicely over time.
Features / Battery Life / Build Quality / Practicality Score: 9.0 out of 10
Sonos Ace Noise Cancelling Performance
Initially, I wasn’t sure how the Sonos would fare against the world-class noise cancelling performance of long-standing brands in this space like Bose and Sony.
But to my surprise, the Sonos Ace’s noise cancelling performance is right there with the best of them.
I’m adding the Sonos Ace to the “world-class” level of ANC performance, on par with the Bose QC Ultra and Sony WH-1000XM5.
This is superior to the AirPods Max, Sennheiser Momentum 4, and others.
I think one factor that makes these so good at noise cancelling is the larger earpad cushions that create more passive noise isolation than the other headphones.
Seriously, even with the noise cancelling turned to OFF, it blocks a ton of external noise already.
Similar to the AirPods Max, there’s only 3 modes: Noise Cancelling, Transparency Mode, and OFF.
The Transparency Mode might be the best in this class, certainly better than the Sony XM5.
These might become my go-to headphones for flights moving forward, in a tight race with the Bose QC Ultra.
Noise Cancelling Performance Score: 9.5 out of 10
Value
The Sonos Ace has a hefty retail pricetag of $449 USD, but now goes for anywhere from $279 on sale, up to $399 at the time of this writing.
When on sale closer to under-$300, I think the Sonos Ace is a solid value headphone and a much better proposition than at $400+.
But value is the one category where we have to take points off the Ace as it approaches that $400+ price, although I do truly believe these are the most premium feeling and looking headphone for its price.
I do think they bring a LOT to the table, when factoring in the perfect comfort score, world-class ANC, and competitive sound quality.
Value Score: 8.5 out of 10
Overall Scoring Breakdown
Sound Quality (50% of score): 8.1 / 10
Comfort (10% of score): 10 / 10
Features / Battery Life / Build Quality / Practicality (10% of score): 9.0 / 10
Noise Cancelling (20% of score): 9.5 / 10
Value (10% of score): 8.5 / 10
Overall: 8.70 / 10
Is the Sonos Ace WORTH IT?
Now that the Sonos Ace is being discounted to sub-$300 prices on sale, I find it to be one of the more appealing values for the class.
The non-sale price and relatively less impressive sound quality is the biggest weakness, but if you can shell out the money, you’re getting one of the strongest overall packages in ANC headphones to date.
The combination of world-class comfort, build quality, and noise cancelling performance is nearly unmatched.
The sound quality is very competitive with the top, and might be the best rock and metal headphones period.
I must admit that I’ve taken a liking to the Sonos Ace, and could see it being my daily driver and go-to headphone for travel in the future.
If you’ve got the dough, the Sonos Ace has little flaws and is overall a great, well-designed product.
Some very Strong Alternatives in this class of noise cancelling headphones are:
- Apple AirPods Max 2
- Sony WH-1000XM6
- Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2
- Sony 1000X THE COLLEXION
- Sennheiser Momentum 5
- Sennheiser Momentum 4
- Bowers and Wilkins Px7 S3
- Bowers & Wilkins Px8
- Bose QuietComfort Ultra
- Apple AirPods Max
- Sony WH-1000XM5
- Bose QuietComfort (2023 model)
- Beats Studio Pro
Some Relevant Comparisons in this class of noise cancelling headphones are:
- Sonos Ace vs Apple AirPods Max
- Sonos Ace vs Sony WH-1000XM5
- Sonos Ace vs Bose QuietComfort Ultra
- Sonos Ace vs Sennheiser Momentum 4
I highly recommend you check those out next!
Lastly, if you’d like to save some money and keep supporting RecordingNOW.com’s 100% independent, unbiased reviews, do consider using some of our affiliate links below to shop and even just compare prices. We purchase all products we review with our own money to maintain the highest level of integrity, and your support goes into that plus a continuously improving site experience.
Order the Sonos Ace for the LOWEST PRICE AVAILABLE (Do NOT pay retail):
Save money with RENEWED!
Disclosure: These affiliate links may provide a discount and in return, give us a commission in order to keep this website 100% independent to ensure honest unfiltered reviews 🙂
Sonos Ace Frequently Asked Questions
Does Sonos Ace have Lossless Audio?
Yes, the Sonos Ace supports lossless audio when connected to a device via USB-C cable.
Do Sonos Ace work with iPhone?
Yes, I’ve tested the Sonos Ace with iPhone and it works very well with no connection issues. There is a Sonos app on iOS that can control the headphones completely.
Is Sonos Ace a good gift for music lovers?
Yes! The Sonos Ace would be an excellent gift that any music lover would enjoy.
Can Sonos Ace connect to Apple TV?
Yes, Sonos Ace can connect to Apple TV but only in stereo.
How We Tested and Our Methodology
RecordingNOW.com is a 100% independent publisher with over 10 years of experience testing and reviewing consumer electronics and headphones.
We currently purchase the products we test with our own money, and are not paid by any company or manufacturer to influence our opinions or decisions.
After purchasing the product, we conduct up to hundreds of hours of detailed hands-on testing in a controlled, acoustically-treated environment.
ODi Productions is our resident expert and author of this article, with 10 years of experience as a professional music producer, tech journalist, and audiophile.
Post Update History
- June 2026: Updated scores to “Version 2.0” of our Headphone Scoring System. Added long-term “1 Year Review” updates throughout post. Included comparisons to newer models including Apple AirPods Max 2, Sony WH-1000XM6, Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2, and Sennheiser Momentum 5. Updated pricing to reflect 2026 market prices and sales, then adjusted Value score accordingly.
- April 2025: Original publication date.
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Bowers and Wilkins Px7 S2e Review
Bose QuietComfort Review (2023 Model)
