Sonos Ace Ultra headphones bring upgraded sound and smarter noise cancellation
Sonos’ new premium over-ear headphones combine redesigned 40mm drivers, Adaptive EQ, improved ANC and up to 35 hours of battery life, with deeper integration into the Sonos ecosystem.
Sonos has introduced the Sonos Ace Ultra, its latest premium wireless headphones and successor to the original Sonos Ace.
The new model keeps the comfortable over-ear design of its predecessor while bringing several upgrades to the audio, noise cancellation and connectivity. It is also the first Sonos headphone built around the company’s new Headphone Engine 2 hardware, allowing it to connect directly with compatible Sonos speakers over Wi-Fi.
It comes in four colour options: Black, White, Sand and Agave. Sonos says the latter two are available through Sonos and select retailers.
Redesigned drivers and Adaptive EQ
At the heart of the Sonos Ace Ultra are newly designed 40mm drivers. Sonos says the drivers use a new motor structure with an additional outer ring magnet, designed to deliver clearer audio across the frequency range, including deeper bass and more detailed treble.
The headphones have also been tuned with input from Sonos’ Soundboard, a panel of audio experts from the music and film industries, which included Oscar- and Grammy-winning engineers.
For listeners who want more control, the headphones support both 3-band and 8-band EQ settings. Adaptive EQ is here too. It works by measuring the seal and fit of each ear cup so it can adjust the sound in real time, and ensure the balance of your music is consistent..
Upgraded ANC with 10 microphones
Noise cancellation is another major focus of the Ace Ultra. The headphones use a new 10-microphone array, compared with eight microphones in the original Sonos Ace. Sonos says this provides up to twice the noise-cancellation power of its predecessor, with faster processing designed to respond to surrounding sounds more effectively.
That makes the Ace Ultra particularly suited to commuting, travelling or working in busy environments.
There’s also an updated Aware Mode, which lets outside sound through when you need to stay aware of your surroundings. A Voice Boost feature can enhance human speech while Aware Mode is active.
Up to 35 hours of battery life
Sonos Ace Ultra offers up to 35 hours of Bluetooth playback with ANC switched on. That is an improvement over the original Ace’s 30-hour maximum.
Fast charging is carried over too, with three minutes of charging providing up to three hours of playback.
The new Power Saver mode can further extend the remaining battery by automatically switching off certain features when power is running low.
For anyone using the headphones throughout a day of travelling, writing, production or general listening, the combination of long battery life and rapid charging should make them less demanding to manage.
The headphones are built to last too. Sonos says they used fasteners over adhesives where possible to make the headphones easier to refurbish, repair, and recycle. Meanwhile, the battery is also replaceable by a killed operator.
A closer connection to the Sonos system
The biggest difference between Ace Ultra and conventional wireless headphones is arguably its relationship with the wider Sonos ecosystem.
TV Audio Swap returns from the original Ace, allowing users to switch audio between the headphones and a compatible Sonos soundbar.
Ace Ultra goes further with Headphone Linking, which Sonos is introducing through Early Access. It allows the headphones to stream audio over Wi-Fi and switch playback directly between the headphones and a compatible Sonos speaker.
As Sonos explains, one press can move whatever is playing on the Sonos system to the headphones, while another sends it back to the speaker. The headphones can also be controlled through the Sonos app.
This makes the Ace Ultra particularly interesting for people who already use Sonos throughout their home rather than simply looking for a standalone pair of wireless headphones.
Built for long listening sessions
The Ace Ultra retains the over-ear approach of the original Ace, with plush rebound foam cushions and a reinforced headband. Sonos says the design has been balanced to provide a secure fit without excessive clamping force.
The headphones also include wear detection, automatically pausing and playing audio when they are removed or put back on.
Physical controls handle key functions, including ANC, volume, track skipping and calls. There’s also support for Bluetooth, AirPlay with iOS, USB-C and a 3.5mm connection.
Pricing and availability
Sonos Ace Ultra is available to pre-order now on Amazon for $449, with general availability from September 29.
With its combination of high-end wireless audio, adaptive sound, upgraded ANC and direct Sonos connectivity, Ace Ultra is primarily aimed at listeners looking for a premium everyday pair of headphones that can also fit naturally into a larger home audio setup.