Earlier this year, Sonos launched its Ace headphones, which also kicked off a tumultuous and rushed mobile app update to support the new headphones (a total SNAFU).
We recently got our hands on the Sonos Ace to try out its TV Audio Swap feature with the new Arc Ultra soundbar. We mostly use our Apple AirPods Max headphones for music and watching streaming media on Apple TV 4K. Let’s see how the Sonos Ace headphones compare to an AirPods Max user.
The Sonos Ace in white has a sleek matte finish, metal accents, and slim profile. The headphones come with a slim zipper case that had a clever magnetic pouch to store your USB-C cable and USB-C to 3.5mm cable.
There are super soft removable memory foam ear cushions (the right ear cup has a green colourway so you can quickly detect headphone orientation; genius!), making the Sonos Ace light and also very comfortable to wear. They are far lighter than AirPods Max, which are fairly heavy (you can definitely feel the strain after hours of non-stop use).
There were no issues setting up the Ace headphones using the latest Sonos app. This may have been a different story six months ago. No issues.
Both headphones feature Active Noise Cancellation (ANC). Sonos uses optimally placed microphones to pinpoint and neutralize external sounds effectively.
While ANC performance is closely matched, we’re going to say it’s a near tie, but we’ll give the edge to the Sonos Ace. We did feel more ANC “pressure” from the Ace headphones versus the AirPods Max, however.
The case design of the Sonos Ace is flat and provides full protection, unlike the AirPods Max case, which leaves the mesh headband exposed. In terms of setup, Sonos makes connecting and using the Ace straightforward with its app, offering features like dynamic head tracking to keep users centred in the soundstage, ideal for home theatre setups.
AirPods Max is louder, more spaciousness when it comes to Dolby Atmos with sound separation. I feel I can look into the corner of the room to check for instruments in the corners, as an example.
The Sonos Ace is not as loud and sounds a bit muddied at times. Maybe I haven’t gotten past the burn-in period. When it comes to noise cancellation, Sonos Ace seems to be a notch better than AirPods Max, and my ears can feel more pressure from the ANC. Still, there’s very good depth and clarity and when watching TV with them, but the AirPods Max offered a wider sound stage.
Dolby Atmos tracks in Apple Music sound good, but we still prefer the spaciousness of AirPods Max. When it comes to bass, AirPods Max offers just enough and it’s balanced bass, not overpowering or unnatural, while remaining satisfying. Sonos Ace has more plenty of bass as well that’s satisfying (I had EQ settings for bass/treble at +7) and customizable.
Controls on the Sonos Ace are tactile, with intuitive buttons for volume, play/pause, and noise control, compared to the AirPods Max’s auto-connect feature that powers on and stops playback when placed on or removed from your head.
The Sonos Ace also allows customizable EQ settings through the app, though it lacks auto-pause functionality when connected to the Arc Ultra (it works fine for music). Apple’s AirPods Max have an EQ through the Apple Music app, but it’s either presets or custom. We usually have the EQ turned off on AirPods Max.
If you have a compatible Sonos soundbar, such as the Arc Ultra, Arc, Beam (Gen 1/2), or Ray, you can instantly send audio right to your Sonos Ace headphones. This is handy for watching TV at night and all that is needed is the Sonos app. There’s no need to fiddle with Bluetooth settings or anything else.
The Sonos iOS and Android apps let you manage the TV Audio Swap with Sonos Ace. You’ll need to have Wi-Fi enabled for your home theatre speaker for the feature to work.
You’ll need to set up the TV Audio Swap first before you can use it. Launch the Sonos app, head over to Settings and then select your Sonos Ace. Under Home Theater, select “+ Add TV Audio Swap”. Select the home theatre speaker you want to use, then follow the app instructions.
Once this is done, the easy part has arrived. When you want to swap TV audio to the Sonos Ace, just long-press the Content Key on the right ear cup. The Sonos app also lets you swap audio from the Sonos Ace’s info screen. Just tap the “Swap” button and then TV audio will head straight to the Sonos Ace headphones.
This feature is pretty awesome to use, as it’s so easy to swap audio from your Sonos sound bar to the Ace. The integration is about as easy as Apple’s iCloud when you want to connect AirPods Max to Apple TV. You put on your AirPods Max, Apple TV recognizes them through iCloud, and you press one button on the Apple TV remote to connect them.
When it comes to price, the Sonos Ace is significantly more affordable at $419 right now (regular $599; currently 30% off on Amazon!) compared to the AirPods Max, which remains at $779 (but on sale for $647 on Amazon at the moment).
For those who value comfort and advanced Sonos integration, the sleek looking Sonos Ace is an excellent choice. However, for users committed (tied) to the Apple ecosystem or seeking the best Spatial Audio experience, the AirPods Max remains the superior option in our opinion.
That being said, the Sonos Ace has better battery life at 30 hours (versus 20 on AirPods Max), and feel more comfortable on the head with super soft ear cushions.
Will I switch away from my AirPods Max? I don’t think so. Despite AirPods Max not being perfect, the ease of iCloud for switching across my Apple devices is just too convenient, especially when watching on Apple TV. You also again learn to appreciate the simplicity of just putting on AirPods Max and they turn on. No need to mess with on/off buttons. The Digital Crown is also much easier to control volume. Spatial Audio just sounds better with AirPods Max and an Apple TV 4K, compared to the Sonos Ace.
If you’re an existing Sonos user and want some great sounding headphones that can easily connect to your compatible sound bar, the Ace makes it just so easy. It would make sense to jump on these if they’re on sale, like they are right now for 30% off.
Click here to jump on the Sonos Ace for $419 on Amazon (save $180), or the Sonos website.
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