Sonos Ace Headphone Review! Better Than AirPods Max!

[@dansaghin1]

Good review. I am waiting for the new Airpods Max though and I will decide then between the 2.

[@Jestradau]

I have the black version, they are solid headphones, very well-constructed and the sound is mellow compared to the bright tone of Airpods Max, but in my opinion, Sonos Ace makes it balanced and actually more exciting for my ears. Theses headphones are the correct choice i have been waiting for a long time. They are the combinarion between sonys xm5, apple’s APMax and Bose’s

[@AppleInsider]

Love it!

[@TransferPoint9346]

"Turn those notifications on so you miss my latest videos." That's a new one, Andrew.

[@victorcontreras5703]

Which one gets louder???

[@kembal7519]

Airpods Max

[@xrhythmsx]

@@kembal7519 lol not it doesn't sonos does for sure, and the bass is much better.

[@PaulFritzsche]

when walking outside, how are these with wind noise? airpods max is terrible and you can hear the wind alot! BOSE QC35-II is almost dead quiet Also, in the office environment, when in a call, and you have people around you talking, will this be cancelled out? Questions I have asked so many other reviewers and never gotten a answer... Will you be able to answer??

[@brentsmithline3423]

Never used over ear headsets much only when out on location when I worked for a profesional sound recording studio many moons ago. In house in the control room lets just say at that time had the best sound system when working on tracks. On a personal level use in ear headphones when out, and about. At home use speaker systems. So over the head headphones at this time I am not the target market.

[@FedDonovan]

Based on channels that actually is specialize on audio sound. The Sonos Ace are way better so let's just get out of the way. It is the superior headset

[@jo1683]

No they are not, have them both and the Max only looses of weight.

[@thetruth5672]

I returned them after 24 hours. Worst sound as compared to Sony and Bose and the price of ACE, omg what was the company even thinking 😂

[@FedDonovan]

@@thetruth5672 i didnt buy ..the xm5 still the best

[@Moose185]

@@thetruth5672I listened to the ace’s in store and they sounded amazing. What headphones were you listening to? Can’t be the same ones.

[@thetruth5672]

@@Moose185 listening in store and on Apple music is different

[@BenDMitchell]

Can I wear these outside?

[@EEE-kh3tn]

Very interesting and surprising you are saying the Sonos Ace sound better, even though you’ve heard the AirPods Max more

[@AttilaPatakiJr]

What do you think about the app and the ecosystem?

[@Keza82]

This was conveniently left out wasn’t it

[@user-dh6kg3kg7f]

I see the Sonos Ace as a mostly ecosystem agnostic option that works well with Sonos products. The Sonos Ace provide spatial audio with head tracking on both Android and iOS. Something Apple does not nor ever will. Much like they don't support Dolby Atmos on Apple Music for Windows or head tracking on Apple Music for Android. Apple products integration is great, until you have that other device like a gaming console your laptop or some other product that isn't Apple. As much as I love Apple products integration, I hate that Apple barely makes an effort to work with others. So much so that after 4 years, few other headphones work with Spatial audio and headtrackng on Apple. At the same time, Sonos Ace have some useful features that bring it closer to Apple products level of experience. With Bluetooth multipoint you can have two devices connected at the same time. So for instance an iPhone and a Mac. Additionally, unlike Apple and some other companies' proprietary solutions, adding Aptx Lossless to an Apple device only requires a bluetooth USB dongle like the FM120 or the eppfun AK3040 Pro Max that come with Snapdragon Sound. With integration with Sonos soundbars and likely upcoming products such as the rumored set-top box, the Sonos Ace provides an advantage over Apple's integration with Apple TV. Any product, Apple or any other, connected to the Arc, can send audio to the Sonos Ace with Dolby Atmos plus headtracking. So essentially adding Spatial audio with headphones to your Xbox for instance. Sonos products also support Airplay and work well with other voice assistants. For instance, using Siri to play audio on a Sonos speaker. Apple is likely going to release the Airpods Max 2 later this year. And almost surely it will come with all the new advantages they included with the Airpods Pro, new audio chipset. Lossless audio. Better battery. Audio and all that . Might even connect with wifi with Airplay integration to send audio to and from other Airplay compatible devices to the Airpods Max 2. But it will always be an Apple product that is limited once you use it with non Apple devices. In short. If you want a product that gives you a great ecosystem experience, while offering great compatibility across devices and ecosystems. Go Sonos Ace. If you want a product that has the best integration with Apple devices but doesn't always work well with others if it even works, wait for Apples Airpods Max 2 that will surely enjoy it more than any other product from Sonos, Sony or Bose.

[@AppleInsider]

I'm primarily in the Apple ecosystem, but I do have a couple Sonos speakers. Specially the Move (best portable AirPlay speaker available!) and a couple soundbars. HomePods don't make great theater companions in my experience. Until Apple makes a soundbar, I'll stick with the Arc. That said, I have no issues with the app. But I know a lot of features other users used got left out. Things like accessibility features, which are very important, but something that I very fortunately don't have to rely on. They need to be added back ASAP, as many have. Other things like sleep timers I never used. I primarily use my Sonos speakers with AirPlay. "Siri, play my jams playlist in the living room" and it does it.

[@Richard_Bullwinkle]

I’m not sure you and I agree on what lossless means. If you take audio out of a device, and then plug it into AirPods Max, it has been decoded and re-encoded. That ain’t lossless.

[@Yarus023]

How’s switching between different devices? That’s where any AirPods kill all the other headphones for people with multiple Apple devices…

[@AppleInsider]

Works very well. Has multi-point connection and does a pretty good job at switching between them. You still have to pair manually first though compared to your Apple ID syncing that profile to all your devices.

[@peterwan小P]

Sono ace is very impressive actually. It’s comfy, definitely lighter than AirPods Max (still heavy), and it sounds really nice as as good if not better than the AirPods Max. The ace also excel in the comfort of noise cancellation in my opinion. It’s more comfortable than the max, but transparency mode is not as good. If the ace have system integration like the AirPods Max, I won’t even hesitate to buy it.

[@aaroncenter6384]

Charging while in use -- AirPods Max can be charged while using them, all you need is to plugin the lightning cable into a battery, and you have unlimited playing time. The Sonos are also able to be charged while using. When you talked bout "fast charging speed" you failed to mention this. BTW; Sony XM3 and XM4 are both unable to be charged while using, which resulted in a quick return to the store for a refund.

[@dualtrx]

Another pair of headphones that you will have to throw away when the battery dies. Not having an audio jack on it, this should be illegal. I know these are "bluetooth" wireless, whatever headphones... But what do you do when you want to use them with 0 latency on other device that doesn't have bluetooth? Cable is still king for some aplications. They could do that, but they don't want to... The just want you to buy a new one when this stops working.

[@rcvillapando]

Sonos ecosystem owner here. The Ace is good for people like me who wants to watch a boomy movie or game late at night. For people who just want a great ANC headphones, I can understand if you choose the XM5 or QC Ultra due to costs. APM is just full of themselves to charge so much. Sorry Apple fans, there are just more appealing options out there.

[@merescoto]

Almost SOUNDS!!! like Sonos gave you a free pair!!

[@KingKikikoi]

Did all reviewers got white version? I want to see black version

[@AppleInsider]

I have video I took of the black but I think the white looks better.

[@AppleInsider]

The black looked a little generic to me

[@CaramelCraft]

9:40 The AirPods Max do not support Lossless using a wired connection, it merely removes the latency from Bluetooth.

[@susieroberts8175]

Just received and tested the Sonos Ace headphones, and they are absolute rubbish. What a load of hype.

[@06bostonguy]

i actually love the smart case for the AirPods Max i've got a third party full protective case for it but i never use cause it's big, takes a lot of space in my backpack and require xtra steps to put the AirPods Max in and to sleep, i love how easy and convenient the smart case is, easy in and out, and works just like all the other AirPods you take them out and they're already on and ready to use most people don't get that when they say they hate the AirPods Max case, i think it's the right design for them and they do protect the most vulnerable part of the headphones.

[@naledyt]

Hi😊

[@m.muzinski7842]

Nope.. not for me.

[@rolins3279]

Honestly, why will someone pay $450 for these Sonos when to really benefit from them, you have to be in the Sonos "Close-System", while most are already in that of Apple, and for those who are not there, Sony or other Sennheiser exist and do not have "Close-System" constraints, frankly, why 🤷🏽‍♂️ Today, all manufacturers want to have their "Close-System", none realize that the only winner at the end of this crazy race will be Apple, and perhaps Google to a certain extent 🤦🏽‍♂️ Ps:and I can guarantee you that 90-95% of people who are in both Close-System will choose the Airpod Max.

[@AppleInsider]

Honestly, you dont have to be in the Sonos system at all. At worst, they're on the same exact level as any other Bluetooth headphones but I think the look, feel, and sound better than almost all of them. At the best, they have added bonuses for those who have a Sonos soundbar. Right now, AirPods Max I can't recommend. At all. No one should buy a $600 Lightning product in 2024. Let alone the fact they probably won't get many -- if any -- other new features since their chipset is so old. Sonos Ace are far superior.

[@rolins3279]

@AppleInsider Sorry but the Airpod Max does not cost $600 currently they are very very easily found at $450, and as I said above, 95% of people who are in the Apple Close-System will choose the Apple product , in this case the Airpod Max 🤷🏽‍♂️

[@AppleInsider]

@@rolins3279 You can be limited by color and have to shop around. They're old. The Sonos Ace will inevitably be on sale too at some point. As someone very entrenched in the Apple ecosystem, who usually gets told in all the videos I do here on the channel that I'm a "fanboy" who "always chooses the Apple product" I wouldn't recommend the AirPods Max to anyone right now. They should not be purchased.

[@quatrical]

Too biased

[@AppleInsider]

You saying me, the Apple channel, is too biased AGAINST Apple? Hmm

[@bienvenu9582]

No it ain’t. APM is definitely better

[@callsign_cerberus159]

nuh uh

[@CyclingNowhere]

Overpriced junk

[@MarkHorton1980]

Let's not forget you're comparing 4 year old AirPods Max with a brand new product.

[@metalmanexetreme]

Yea, when the APM2 come out that would ne a closer comparison

[@Darkk_Sage]

You can’t compare to ghosts of the future.

[@AppleInsider]

I’m aware and mentioned that fact several times. But it’s still the newest product

[@michaeldavidcook1978]

You’re an Apple channel and you don’t even bother to show how they work within that ecosystem. And you didn’t bother to explain the most important factor with these headphones, how they work with the Apple TV… Sonos are a TV Hifi company after all. I want to know if I get full Dolby sound etc…

[@AppleInsider]

They’re Bluetooth headphones. They work the same with all others. They work with Apple TV the same way. AirPods Max have the tighter integration. You do get full Dolby Atmos when used with the soundbar. Otherwise you get Spatial Audio but not the full Dolby mix

[@pzboyz72]

​@@AppleInsiderthey have WiFi and do some audio tricks when used with Sonos Arc. Something Apple is not doing.

[@Ios18.1]

Honestly I’m not a fan of AirPods