Sonos Ace review: Good things come to those who wait

Sonos has finally launched what many of its loyal followers have been waiting years and years to own. Yes, despite making speakers since 2001, the US audio giant has never tried its hand at headphones, that is until now. The all-new Sonos Ace are the firm's very first attempt at producing a wearable device but the big question is... was it worth that very, very long wait?

The answer is a big fat yes!

There's so much to like about the Ace and there's no question that they continue Sonos' tradition of making some of the best audio devices on the planet. However, with a price tag of over £440 and so much competition to fend off, should you invest in the Ace or stick with brands such as Sony and Bose?

Express.co.uk has been using them and here is our full Sonos Ace review.

Sonos Ace: Full review

Right from the moment you lift the Sonos Ace out of their eco-friendly packaging you know you've splashed out on something premium. These cans look and feel supremely well made with them featuring plenty of soft, subtle, curved edges and lashing of shiny metal.

Once you've stopped admiring them, you'll also have no issues getting the playlists started. Ours arrived with 50 percent of power in the battery and a quick tap and hold of the power button soon had the little blue indicator flashing and them linked to our iPhone. Unlike all other Sonos products, there's no Wi-Fi connectivity on the Ace with these headphones hooking up to devices via a standard Bluetooth connection.

That makes them really easy to use with laptops, tablets, phones and any other Bluetooth music players you might already own. You can even link them to two devices via a Multipoint option in the app so you can switch the source without any hassle.

Favourite songs can then be played via apps such as Apple Music or Spotify along with listening using the Sonos app. Adding the Ace to this recently refreshed Sonos application takes a matter of seconds and it's well worth doing as it's here you can check battery life and tinker with all the audio and EQ settings.

Once you are all connected it's time to pop them on your head and the first thing you'll notice is just how comfy they are to wear. Sonos boasted at its secret launch event in London about the length of time they had spent refining the design and they are right to be so pleased with themselves.

Thanks to the earcups - which feature memory foam - and a very soft headband the Ace are some of the most comfortable cans we've ever tested. Think of them like your favourite pair of winter slippers and you'll get the idea of how nice they are to have on your head.

During long periods of usage, you'll hardly notice you are wearing them and there are also no issues if you wear glasses - that's something that can't be said for all headphones we've tried in the past.

Of course, comfort is important but it's the audio quality that really matters and the Ace excels when you pump up the volume.

Thanks to a custom-designed 40mm dynamic driver in each ear cup you get audio which is refined, crystal clear and rich in detail. Bass booms but without being over the top and if there's not enough thump for your tastes you can push this up to max using the EQ settings in the app.

To make things feel more immersive there's also three-dimensional sound and dynamic head-tracking that makes it appear as if music is hitting your ears from all directions. Sonos has also included some pretty impressive Active Noice Cancellation (ANC) which blocks out almost all background sound.

We've tested them on the London Underground, at busy stations and in bustling cafes and the ANC is really is excellent.

For those times when you need to hear things going on around you, a simple tap of button on the side of the Ace switches off ANC or activates Aware Mode, this should stop you missing your flight being called when heading on your next overseas trip.

There's no question that the overall sound experience is as good as rival headphones and the Ace has another trick up its sleeve. If you're watching a Hollywood blockbuster or late-night football action - and don't want to disturb the family - you simply press the volume button on the side of the cups (or tap the special mode in the app) to transfer the audio directly to the headphones rather than it booming out of your soundbar. This is a function Sonos is called TV Swap and it really is quite brilliant.

It happens seamlessly and without the need to dig into Bluetooth settings. Spatial audio with Dolby Atmos is also included to make it feel like you've been transported to the cinema or fan-packed stadium.

Other extras worth mentioning Ace are a 30-hour battery life and fast charging which adds extra power in a flash.

Built-in sensors also detect when you're wearing the Sonos Ace and playback pauses when you take them off - then resumes when you put them back on. There are also simple controls including a rocker-style button that can be pushed up or down to raise or lower volume levels.

There's clearly lots to like about the Sonos Ace and it's a solid start from the audio firm but we do have some gripes including the price.

Yes, these are quality can but at £449 they are more expensive than Sony's excellent WH-1000XM5s (currently priced at £299) and also Bose's QuietComfort cans (now £259).

Although the option to tune into your TV is excellent it currently only works if you own a £899 Sonos Arc - more Sonos soundbars will get compatibility in the future but there's no current timeline for that upgrade.

We also can't help feeling Sonos has missed a trick by not including better integration with its speakers.

This is something found on its portable Roam which lets you instantly switch what you're listening to on this portable device to your main Sonos system.

How cool would it be to walk home from work with your tunes blaring from the Ace, then tap a button to switch that playlist to your Sonos speakers? Sadly, that is not something these headphones can do.

Finally, we're not convinced how long the slimline case, which is made from recycled materials, is going to last in your bag. It looks really nice but only time if it keeps that boz-fresh appearance after months of usage.

Sonos Ace: Final verdict

The Sonos Ace really are fabulous headphones. They look good, sound amazing and are so comfy you hardly notice you are wearing them.

The ANC makes sure you only hear your music and the neat option to instantly beam what's on the TV (as long as you have an £899 Sonos Arc of course) to the headphones is a brilliant bonus.

They also have epic battery life, simple controls plus other useful extras such as wear detection and full EQ audio controls.

Our biggest issue is the very high price (you can grab some top-notch rivals for a lot less) and the fact that they should link up more seamlessly with the other Sonos gear in your house.

It's been a very long time for these music makers to launch, so has it been worth the wait? The answer to that is a resounding yes!