Product test
Ontrac headphone review: stupendous audio quality, but the software needs improvement
by Stefanie Lechthaler
Sonos Ace headphones sound great but weren’t ready to launch
5.6.2024
Translation: Katherine Martin
Speaker manufacturer Sonos has launched its long-awaited headphones. Although I’m impressed by the hardware, the software still has room for improvement.
The wait is over. That’s the slogan Sonos is using to tout its Ace headphones. The over-ears are the multi-room pioneer’s first crack at the headphone market. Not solely intended for use on the go, the Ace are designed to integrate into Sonos home systems. The audio’s supposed to switch from your Sonos soundbar to the Sonos Ace at the touch of a button – with surround sound to boot.
Updates are a must before set-up
Before you even take the headphones out of their box, you should update the Sonos app. I didn’t think to do so, which initially caused me a lot of frustration when pairing the Ace.
Even after connecting the Sonos Ace, I still have problems. If I switch off the headphones and lose the Bluetooth connection, I have to close the app completely and restart it when I switch the headphones back on. Otherwise they’re not recognised automatically, despite being paired to my phone.
Don’t bother trying to integrate the headphones into your Sonos system. Unlike the Sonos multi-room system, this doesn’t work with the Ace headphones. Wi-Fi support is only available for the TV Audio Swap feature, another source of criticism for the manufacturer. Too bad.
You can also connect and use the Ace with your smartphone via Bluetooth without the app. But if you do, you’ll miss out on a few things.
Music: subtle and very, very good
Light, clear and from all angles
I put on Fool’s Errand by Fleet Foxes. With its choral vocals and drums, the track is ideal for finding out whether the Ace headphones separate the elements well and can reproduce them clearly. They can. Thanks to 3D sound and head tracking, the sound is very expansive. Listening to a track, I often feel like there are buskers playing right beside me.
The bass is beautifully subtle, but still packs a punch
Of course, Sonos has also equipped the headphones with noise cancelling. You can switch between the ANC On and Aware modes using a button on the headphones. If you want to turn the whole thing off, you need the app. I’m impressed by how quickly the Ace filter out sudden, one-off noises. This is usually a weak point on ANC headphones. Constant noises at the same frequency aren’t usually a problem. People chatting on the train, for example.
I liked Aware mode even better. Unlike many other models, the Ace don’t amplify the noise from the microphones and there’s no hissing. It’s actually on par with the AirPods Max’s powerful transparency mode.
The app
In addition to the ANC modes, the app boasts a multipoint function to connect two devices to the Ace at the same time. There’s also a reliable autodetection function that recognises whether you’re wearing the headphones and pauses or continues the music. Naturally, there’s also an equaliser for bass, treble, balance and volume.
The thing you can’t do is connect your streaming accounts to the app and use them from there. When you’re listening to music, you can skip tracks, pause them and so on, but you need to open your streaming app separately first. That’s another one of my bugbears with the app, but hopefully that’ll change soon. I haven’t had that problem with other Sonos devices in the past.
One of the features that Sonos is particularly keen to promote is TV Audio Swap. The idea behind it is that if you’re watching a film, you can switch the sound from the soundbar to the Ace at the touch of a button. When you don’t want to disturb your neighbours, for instance. Apparently, doing this doesn’t cause you to lose the surround sound.
TV audio: key feature still to come
The Audio Swap feature now works. Regardless of whether I’m watching a film on the TV or playing games on the PS5, the sound moves seamlessly to the headphones. I never hear any delay. However, I do feel like the battery drains slightly faster when the bar’s transmitting sound to the headphones.
Another feature set to be added is TrueCinema. With the help of new software, the headphones’ acoustics are adapted to the room. As a result, the surround sound produced by the headphones is supposed to equal that of the soundbar. Unfortunately, the feature won’t be released until later this year. If you ask me, the fact that a key product feature hasn’t been made available at launch is more than questionable.
Sturdy, comfortable headset with top-of-the-range controls
One of my favourite things about the over-ears is that Sonos hasn’t incorporated touch gestures. Instead, there’s a button for turning them on and off and pairing on the left-hand side. On the right, there’s a slider you can move up and down (for volume) and press (for play/pause). A spring inside the slider makes sure it always goes back to its original position. There’s also a separate button for TV Audio Swap.
Sonos includes a USB-C charging cable with the headphones, as well as a 3.5-millimetre jack cable for Bluetooth haters. There’s also a quick-start guide and a carry case. I’m pretty ambivalent about the latter. It’s made from recycled fabric, which is commendable. The little box stuck magnetically to the inside for storing cables is also a nice idea.
That being said, the whole thing feels tatty – like a piece of cardboard. The zip on the box reminds me of the kind you get on a 7-euro Primark raincoat (including its estimated lifespan).
Speaking of raincoats, just make sure you don’t get the thing wet. The case won’t withstand water. As for the Ace headphones, they don’t have an IPX certification, so be careful when you’re using them outdoors.
When fast-charging, it’s important you use the cable included as well as a good power supply unit (40 watts minimum). If all you do is connect the Ace to a lacklustre USB port on your laptop using a USB cable, they won’t charge as quickly.
In a nutshell
Unbelievably good headphones, but there’s a catch
Let’s get down to brass tacks. The Sonos Ace hardware is fantastic. I’m blown away by the sound, call quality, noise cancelling, finish and controls. All of which come at a steep (yet understandable) price tag. I can put up with minor flaws, such as the headphones’ lack of IPX certification. Plus, bonus features such as TV Audio Swap are fun when they work.
I just don’t get why Sonos didn’t take a little more time to make sure TrueCinema worked properly or to get TV Audio Swap ready for Android. Nor do I understand why Sonos doesn’t support all of its soundbar models. Or why you can’t integrate the headphones into the system as a «room» via Wi-Fi – a USP many Sonos fans would have been hoping for. At times, the app also got on my nerves.
This considered, the headphones don’t really stand out from other good over-ear models. The latest premium models from Bose, Sennheiser and Sony are all worthy competitors, depending on which sound signature you prefer.
Pro
- good sound
- top-of-the-line finish
- brilliant ANC and Aware mode
Contra
- lacking certain features at launch
- buggy app
- no IPX certification
Header image: Chris Walker
I've been tinkering with digital networks ever since I found out how to activate both telephone channels on the ISDN card for greater bandwidth. As for the analogue variety, I've been doing that since I learned to talk. Though Winterthur is my adoptive home city, my heart still bleeds red and blue.
Audio
Follow topics and stay updated on your areas of interest
