Sonos is known for a wide range of multi-room speakers that can be integrated into your own ecosystem in your own home via WiFi. Now the US manufacturer has launched headphones for the first time. The OÖN tried out the Sonos Ace.
Design: The design of the headphones is quite simple, the hinges are hidden in the casing. This is made of plastic, and the workmanship appears to be very high quality. The headphones are also impressive in terms of comfort. The headband and ear pads are padded with synthetic leather. As with the rest of the Sonos range, buyers can choose between black and white.
Setup and connection: Anyone who has ever set up a Sonos device will know that you need the Sonos app to do this. The Sonos Ace can also be set up in the app, but they seem more like a foreign body there. This is mainly because they cannot be controlled via WiFi. The Ace are more like classic Bluetooth headphones – probably also to save battery. However, complete integration into the Sonos ecosystem with all the associated advantages is therefore not possible. There is one additional function, at least if you have a Sonos soundbar. If you play TV sound or audio via the Sonos Arc, you can transfer the playback to the Ace at the touch of a button (“TV Swap”). Thanks to dynamic head tracking, the sound always comes from the right direction, even if you turn your head to the side.
Steering: Sonos has deliberately decided against touch controls and instead installed a slider for playback control and a button for the noise cancellation mode. Speaking of which: the noise cancellation works perfectly, and the transparency mode is really outstanding. This not only reproduces ambient noise clearly, but also makes it easy to see the direction from which it is coming.
Sound quality: Good sound is one of Sonos’ strengths – and the Ace also performs excellently here. The headphones produce a very balanced sound – neither highs nor bass dominate. This makes the Ace suitable for a very broad target group. And if you want to help out in certain frequency ranges, you can do so using the equalizer in the app.
Price and conclusion: Entering a new market always involves risks, especially when the price (499 euros) is rather high. However, the manufacturer has done a lot of things right and made a successful debut with the Sonos Ace.
