Sonos Ace Headphones: May be more than you think!

Nothing new there at all that we don’t already know from reading about them here. In fact, they didn’t really point out any of the many downsides.  I reckon for people with Arc bars who want to mute them and listen with headphones alone, yay - otherwise, nope.  They barely work with any Sonos products - that, along with a busted app.  It’s all betting on the come - “maybe one day soon”. 

High price for early adopters, half of whom will probably try them out and send them back after they satisfy their curiosity.  It’s a product with a few niche advantage cases otherwise swimming in a pond of big players.  A product made by a company willing to trash the systems they sold to people.  Nope!  Not even a trial - well that could be an interesting way to waste their time as penance, but I’d be wasting mine as well.

Here is Peter Pee’s latest video:

Overall he likes it but gives his downsides.  For example he says "they are not the most musical set of cans” because they stumble on music with  “complex tracks”.

I don’t own an arc and can’t ever see getting more committed to the Sonos ecosystem than I currently am, so these headphones are not for me.

@AlexPermit

Thanks for providing the latest Peter Pee review!!

Take always I gleamed from Peter’s review are:

• Best overall headset on the market today *
• ANC is the best on market as well as PNC *
• The Sound Cinema feature for Dolby Atmos is better than AirPod Max as it uses WiFi instead of AirPlay2 which offers practically no noticeable latency. *
• Equipment-wise the Ace requires an Arc and the AirPod Max requires an AppleTV box.
• USB-C to USB-C connection allows wired audio compatibility out of the box with an iPhone, Laptop, Tablet or DT Computer *
• Bluetooth performance on par with other headsets **
• Music performance-wise the Ace is tuned with not-in-your-head bass. The sound is more balanced.
• Probably not the best headset for rock music with layered tracks. Then again rock is geared toward a select group. Sonos has never promoted their speakers as an essential product for rock. **
• Peter did mention that if the Sonos Ace is not enough you might consider UNITY by HED for $2,200 that offer full WiFi. ***

 * Reason to consider the Sonos Ace

 ** Reason not to consider the Sonos Ace

 *** Reason not to consider the Sonos Ace; if you have deep pockets

I’ve often thought that Sonos was missing some easy revenue by limiting themselves to products for there wireless audio system only.  Sonos has built up a good reputation (though not recently and some may disagree on that) and would be able to sell audio products that aren’t in the system by reputation only.  Many of their competitors do this by selling non-smart products across several different market segments.  Sonos could have done the same by selling ‘dumb’ earplugs, bluetooth speakers, passive speakers,  amps/receivers, etc, that would take less development effort and low maintenance/support due to the ‘dumb’ nature of the products.

In a way Ace is somewhat of a ‘dumb’ product since it is primarily just BT with the ability to be part of the network in a niche way.  Indeed, it’s being reviewed against BT only products, not as a WiFi product.  So, in a way, I am not bothered by Sonos making a ‘dumb’ product as it’s something I thought they should be doing for years.  At the same time,  it feels like they went about it in the wrong way.  Why not make passive speakers (not Sonance produced)  that can be used with the Amp or any other speaker?  Why not make some sub $100 BT earplugs that don’t pretend to be part of the system?   It feels like they went for perhaps the hardest ‘dumb’ audio category first instead of easing into it.

If they had approached it from a different angle and consumers were used to dumb Sonos products, I don’t think it would have resulted in the same level of disappointment that these do pretty much the same thing as the other headphones in that price range.  It’s the expectations, and the current mess with the app, that’s causing most of the negative feedback.

Overall positive reviews that I’ve seen so far. Peter Pee is a very good reviewer of sonos products.

MKBHD, though, probably making Sonos execs sweaty. Not a negative review by any means, just not as positive as say PP, but MKBHD has 19million subs and most wouldn’t be hyped to buy after this IMO. I LOL’d when he casually threw shade on the new app, calling it “extremely neutered” or something like that

Oh…How quickly we forget 😂

MKBHD reviewed the AirPods Max and called them “luxury” listening headphones for $550! I’m an Apple fan and I have a pair of the AirPods Max headphones. So yeah I paid for the privilege to wear a set of cans made by Apple. Nuf’ said on that!

Getting back to MKBHD’s review of the Sonos Ace. IMO his review based upon what he said in 2019 about the AirPods Max places the Sonos Ace headphones a step above in the “luxury” listening category for these reasons:

• $450 vs $550
• Best in class ANC and PNC
• 40 hr battery vs 10-16 hrs
• WiFi Transfer of Dolby Atmos if one owns a Sonos Arc *
• My personal favorite they come with a case regardless of the zipper comment made by MKBHD **

I suggest viewing MKBHD’s review below and pay close attention at time mark 10 mins 38 secs and listen to what he says about the AirPods Max case.

 * AirPods Max require AppleTV box

 ** Really…complaining about a zipper as opposed to what he said about the AirPods Max case

🤣 4 years ago is a long time.  he’s suggesting wait for Max2 or just buy Sony mk4 or 5 except in three narrow cases:

1. You love the Sonos brand.
2. you want best transparency that’s not AirPod Max
3. You own an arc and will listen to sound from it often.

This is the type of reviewer Sonos needed to convince, seems Ace don’t quite do it for him. I’m gonna take his advice and wait for Max2 to decide.  

@Bumper 

So what it boils down to for you speaking the technology approach IMO…

If the AirPods Max2 offer the same updated features as the Sonos Ace’s do now… then you’ll chose the  AirPods Max2 and connect via an AppleTV box to enjoy Dolby Atmos movies and spatial audio. I see nothing wrong with that approach. At that point it’s just a buying decision like any other.

What I would hope is that you or anyone else does not let the recent S2 App debacle influence your decision as I do believe everything will be resolved. If I’m wrong then there’s one on me and I’ll have to re-evaluate my future with Sonos at that time. However, IMO it’s too early to throw in the towel.

Peter Pee is the only one I’ve seen saying it’s the best ANC (I obviously haven’t read all reviews).  I struggle to believe they are though - to think at their first attempt they’d best the likes of Bose, Sony, Apple and Sennheiser in this area would be incredible - almost unbelievable to be honest.

Soundguys say this: “However, if you’re looking for over-ear headphones with the best noise cancelling performance possible, or you just want more control over your sound, then I’d suggest looking at alternatives from Apple, Bose, Sony, or Sennheiser before setting your sights on the Sonos Ace.” for example.

Regarding the use of WiFi for reduced latency, I was also surprised to read that they started dropping out at round 14ft away from the Arc.

Being unable to access the App to adjust settings when connected by cable seems very strange too.

The Engadget review also suggests that when in TV Swap mode that if your phone rings, although it’s still connected simultaneously with Bluetooth and WiFi, that “you won’t get device swapping like you would with multipoint Bluetooth. This means if you get a call, you have to un-swap for Bluetooth to reconnect (it also means your phone won’t ring in the headphones if TV Audio Swap is active).”

Reviews and reviewers are subjective - while Peter Pee felt the bass was balanced and ‘not in your head’ (not sure if they’re @AjTrek1 ‘s words but don’t quite know what it means - excessive?), the other reviewer struggled to listen for a minute without adjusting the (still) limited EQ to -5 for bass.

People should listen for themselves and decide and maybe not latch onto positives from single reviews/reviewers.

Seriously?  I’d say there are many, many thousands doing precisely that.  This is about much more than the S2 debacle happening, it’s about the conscious decisions Sonos made in advance and have continued to make since.  They have done, and continue to, treated their customers disgracefully.  Don’t forget the webpage promoting the new release said how this would only make the App better but that nothing would be lost.  This was a lie and wrong.

It’s pretty much silence from Sonos now, mods no longer comment on any posts related to the new software.  And here, I don’t mean responding the ever increasing rants - I mean to the seemingly dozens and dozens of issues being repeatedly raised - not the relative few (but massive!) issues mentioned on the main page where Sonos have given all the updates and timelines we need (even if ‘we’re’ angry about them).

The removal of those set in stone, accepted Sonos features with zero mention until the inevitable s***show was, for many, unforgivable.