Sonos Ace – Headphones from Sonos? It’s real – and they’re $699!

Sonos describe this as their most requested product. Having established a strong community of owners around the world, and unquestionably become known for their high-quality audio initially in multi-room speakers, then soundbars and portable speakers, it really is a logical next step to launch Headphones. The Sonos Ace are made for Sonos owners, with some special features.

Premium – that’s an important word Sonos use in their announcement, and it’s important because that’s the price-tag they’ve laid on these too. $699 – available in early June anyone who owns a Sonos Arc soundbar should be the first to check these out.

Reason being, they have a feature which allows you to instantly swap the TV audio from your Sonos Arc (currently, expanding to the rest of the Sonos Soundbar range soon), to your Sonos Ace Headphones.

In our household, this means not having to listen to the computer games running on the big-screen after I go to bed. Or, going to bed early and not hearing the TV show being watched downstairs.

It’s like a private cinema experience. Just with the tap of a button.

Of course, it’s not just about the TV experience. This is about taking “Sonos sound” anywhere.

Hi-Fidelity sound, Spacial Audio, Dolby Atmos, there’s not much you could want for from headphones that the Sonos Ace doesn’t deliver.

CEO of Sonos Patrick Spence acknowledges the demand, saying “They’re here! Fans have asked us for years to bring the Sonos experience to headphones – and we knew our first foray into the category needed to champion the type of innovation and sound experience Sonos has become synonymous with,”

“Sonos Ace leverages everything we’ve learned over two decades as an audio leader to bring stunning sound, sleek design and long-standing comfort to one of the largest and most popular audio categories worldwide.”

Active Noise Cancellation allows you to block out the world, while “Aware” mode brings it in while you’re out walking or in the office.

Importantly, Sonos has nailed the core features right out of the gate, with 30 hours battery life in ANC mode. A 3 minute charge will get you 3 hours more too.

Maxime Bouvat-Merlin, Sonos Chief Product Officer says “Sonos Ace represents our ambition to create moving sound experiences that are equal to the moment we live in. It is an exciting new chapter as we embark on what it means to design for personal listening,”

“True to Sonos’ heritage of premium products, each individual detail of Sonos Ace has been expertly crafted, custom designed, and tuned by the world’s leading sound experts to give you a listening experience unlike any other.”

They come in two colours, Black and Soft White, with the Black being the same “shade” as all Sonos Black colours.

A simple button and toggle interface sits in line wth raised Sonos logo on just one ear for ease of use, while the engineering across the whole product appears to be epic quality.

Attention to detail is strong too, with the small pouch for cables in the travel case magnetically attaching to the case within the headband perfectly.

Here’s everything we know about Sonos Ace:

Audio

Drivers

• Custom-designed 40 mm dynamic driver in each cup.

Microphones

• Eight beamforming microphones for noise control and voice targeting so every word is crisp and clear.

Spatial Audio

• Surround yourself in hyper realistic three-dimensional sound, including an industry-leading Dolby Atmos experience and dynamic headtracking, from supported services and devices.

Lossless Audio

• Enjoy lossless audio over Bluetooth® with a supported device with Qualcomm Snapdragon Sound AptX for Lossless or via a USB-C connection.

Noise Control

• Block external sounds with Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), or use Aware mode to blend ambient sound with your content.

TV Audio Swap

• Press the Content Key to swap sound from a compatible Sonos soundbar to Sonos Ace. Sonos’ TrueCinema technology optimizes sound for your space for a hyperrealistic listening experience.

Wear Detection

• Built-in sensors detect when you’re wearing Sonos Ace, so playback pauses when you take it off and resumes when you put it back on.

Adjustable EQ

• Customize your spatial audio experience and adjust bass, treble, and loudness via the Sonos app.

Details

Dimensions (H x W x D)

• 191 x 160 x 85 mm

Weight

• 312 g

Colors

• Black, Soft White

Fit & Finish

• Foam-cushioned headband for all-day comfort; stainless steel, matte finish for everyday wear.

LED

• Light on the bottom of the left cup indicates connection status.

Controls

• Use the right cup buttons to control volume, play/pause/skip tracks, answer/decline calls, or switch between ANC and Aware mode. Use the left cup buttons to power on or pair a device.

Power and Connectivity

Bluetooth 5.4

• Supports audio streaming from any Bluetooth-enabled device.

Battery

• Li-ion, 1060mAh battery powers up to 30 hours of listening time with ANC or Aware mode enabled.

Charging

• Charge with included USB-C cable and a compatible power source. Rapid charge provides 3 hours listening time in 3 minutes from 0%. Complete charge from 0% requires approximately 2 hours.

Pricing and Availability

• Available starting June 5 for $699