Noise-cancelling headphones have become the new standard for commuters, music enthusiasts, work-from-home heroes and desk jockeys alike.
It’s becoming increasingly rare to come across a pair of high-end headphones or earbuds without the peaceful feature which does such a fantastic job at blocking out the roaring cityscape symphony consisting of angry busses, piledriver waltzes, unwanted buskers, individuals who scream at the sky for no apparent reason, and the myriad of other sounds which make London, London.
I have personally become so emotionally attached to the noise-cancelling power of my current Bose 700s (which have since been discontinued) that I tend to wear them around the city whether I’m listening to tunes or not. Like other noise-sensitive individuals, I’m therefore always on the hunt for new and improved noise cancellation systems and high-powered audio tech to keep me calm, composed and happy.
When the wireless speaker experts over at Sonos announced the release of their first-ever headphones, the Sonos Ace, I knew I had to give them a whirl. Are these sophisticated earmuffs high-tech enough to compete with industry leaders like the Apple AirPods Max and Bose QuietComfort? Keep scrolling for an in-depth review.
Key Specs
Dimensions
- Height: 7.52 in (191 mm)
- Width: 6.3 in (160 mm)
- Depth: 3.35 in (85 mm)
Weight
- 0.69 lbs (0.312 kg)
Battery
- Li-ion, 1060 mAh battery provides up to 30 hours of listening time or 24 hours of call time with Active Noise Cancellation or Aware mode enabled.
Charging
- Charge with included USB-C cable and a compatible power adapter. Rapid charge provides 3 hours of listening time in 3 minutes from 0 per cent. Complete charge from 0 per cent requires up to 3 hours.
Other
- Custom-designed 40 mm dynamic driver in each cup.
- Eight microphones for noise control and voice targeting.
- Spatial audio
- Lossless audio via USB-C connection
- Active Noise Cancellation
- Sonos Intelligent Motion Processing with Dolby Head Tracking.
Design
Given the fact that the price tag is remarkably close to the uber-stylish, eye-wateringly expensive Gen Z favourite Apple AirPods Max, which retail for £499, I was expecting a slightly more unique design. Instead, I was immediately told by my colleagues that I looked like an air traffic controller. Brilliant.
This isn’t to say that the Sonos Ace headphones aren’t aesthetically pleasing. With that butter-soft ear cover casing and those wonderfully clickable buttons, the headphones offer an un-cumbersome, incredibly comfortable listening experience – so much so, that you might even forget you’re wearing them without any music playing.
Lightweight and covered with uber-plush memory foam and vegan leather, they’re sleek and sophisticated, making them a brilliant option for audio enthusiasts who don’t want a garish and ostentatious pair of headphones.
Set-up
The set-up was an intuitive breeze, with the headphones connecting to my iPhone via Bluetooth with the utmost ease.
Noise-cancellation
The powerful, active noise cancellation in these headphones is powered by eight different optimally positioned microphones which pinpoint and neutralise external sounds. Musicians can also enjoy lossless audio via Bluetooth or USB-C2 connection.
Features
I quite liked that Sonos didn’t go overboard with unnecessary features. In fact, my favourite feature is the fact that there isn’t any hyper-sensitive touch control.
Instead, users simply toggle the satisfying Content Key button on the right earmuff to pause, play and skip songs, as well as adjust the volume. Beneath that toggle is a singular button which controls the noise cancellation mode. The power button is on the left earmuff, which also doubles as the Bluetooth pairing button. A fuss-free, three-button system with fabulous clickability is truly all a pair of brilliant headphones needs.
Perhaps the most discussed feature is the DolbyAtmos spatial audio. It’s a funny one that first-time users will have trouble getting used to. Alternatively, audio obsessives might immediately find themselves transported into another auditory realm. The feature certainly made me feel like I was floating through space.
DolbyAtmos works to immerse users into a three-dimensional sound stage through dynamic head tracking, which traces all of your movements to keep you as immersed in your music, movie, podcast or TV show as possible. It’s like having your favourite artist sing directly into your ears, whether you’re bending down to take out the laundry or running for a bus.
I also loved how toggling between two different connected devices with the click of a button thanks to the Bluetooth Multipoint to be a fantastic feature. It made switching between listening to music on my phone and playing files from my laptop an absolute breeze. Plus, whatever you’re listening to pauses when the headphones are removed.
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Companion App
The best part about the companion app? The fact that you don’t really need it. Once you’re comfortable with the three-button system for toggling between tracks, noise-cancelling levels and answering phone calls, you can go ahead and delete it.
Customised listening experience
While over-ear headphones like the Bose 700s allow you to customise the level of noise cancellation, the Sonos Ace headphones only allow you to toggle between three different modes: Noise Cancellation, Noise Aware Mode, and Noise Cancellation Off. Personally, I didn’t feel this to be a life-altering change, though it did cause the headphones to lose some points when it comes to curating an entirely customised listening experience.
Verdict
Sonos Ace
The Sonos Ace is a fantastic pair of noise-cancelling headphones that are just about worth the investment for the casual commuter. From the moment you put them on, the ultra lightweight and remarkably comfortable headphones evoke a barely-there feel which is incredibly rare for over-ear style tech.
Rather than employing frustratingly sensitive touch control, the Sonos Ace functions with the help of three, delightfully clickable buttons: the satisfying Content Key on the right earmuff which pauses, plays, skips songs, answers calls and adjusts volume, the singular button beneath the Content Key which controls noise cancellation, and the power/ Bluetooth button on the left earmuff.
DolbyAtmos spatial audio offers hi-tech brilliance, leaving listeners feeling like they’re floating. It’s not for everyone, but the dynamic head tracking is a fascinating feature which particularly shines when watching films. What’s more, the Bluetooth Multipoint allows users to switch between two favourite paired devices quicker than ever.
Rapid charge provides three hours of listening time in three minutes from zero per cent, while complete charge from zero per cent requires up to three hours. A full charge provides a whopping 30 hours of listening while Aware Mode/ Noise Cancelling is active. You’ll never go without high-powered noise cancellation ever again.
Buy now £449.00, Sonos
