I identify as a power user when it comes to headphones. It is not a mere self-proclaimed title but a fact. My work involves video production, video editing and writing tech stories on a daily basis while I blast Anime music on repeat and finish at least a dozen cups of black coffee. It is what it is. The Sonos Ace didn’t take much effort to get used. It fits like a glove when it comes to assimilating into my workflow. It has dual connectivity, which is perfect for someone like me who’s always on a laptop or a mobile phone.
Priced at Rs 39,999, the Sonos Ace is without a doubt a premium device that goes above and beyond to offer admirable audio, ergonomics and ease of use. More importantly, it is good to see more competition in a market that is dominated by a handful of players like Sony, Sennheiser, Skullcandy and Bose.
The headphones are a notch above the rest when it comes to aesthetics and there is no doubt about it. The design is neat and clean. There are no rough edges, no frills and nothing asymmetric about this product. The metallic accents and matte finish of the Sonos Ace work towards making a great case for the headphones. There’s an almost indescribable quality about the headphones that is soothing to watch. Whatever it is, I’m certain that OCD folks are going to love it. The headband and the couplets have a vegan leather element clubbed with plastic. The yolk steals the spotlight, though, with its stainless steel charm.
As far as ergonomics are concerned, the Sonos Ace is delightful to use. Trust me when I say this is a quality that is hard to achieve. The cushions fit like a glove and are good for long hours. This is especially true for creatives who need to be on their system for hours. The cushions are made out of memory foam that offers good comfort.
The headphones weigh only 312 grams which adds to the above-mentioned point. These feel like they weigh nothing when they are on your head. I can tell because there have been days when I had them on literally throughout my workday. Apart from the minor adjustment every 30-45 odd minutes, there was no hassle whatsoever.
If the design had me impressed, the intuitive controls got my nod of approval (and a faint smile). The majority of the controls are placed on the right-hand side. All of the buttons have ample feedback which adds to the overall experience. These headphones have a total of three buttons, one of which is basically a slider (called the Content Key).
The above-mentioned slider is essentially a multi-utility volume rocker that does more than just change the volume. It can be pushed up and down to change the volume and pressed once to play and pause soundtracks. Pressing it twice will take you to the next soundtrack while pressing it thrice will take you to the previous soundtrack. Pressing it four times does nothing. I tried.
There is a button right beside the Content Key which can be used to switch between the ANC mode and hear-through modes (Aware Mode). On the left-hand side, we have the power button. Long pressing this button will let you turn on and turn off the headphones. Pressing this button for 7 seconds lets you pair this device.
The Sonos Ace comes equipped with Bluetooth v5.4 and connects without a hiccup. Once paired, all you need to do is turn on the headphones and it will automatically connect to your phone or laptop. It can also connect with a Sonos soundbar if you have one. That way you can redirect your television's
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For a more holistic experience, you can download the Sonos application from the Play Store or App Store to get more options. The app allows you to rename the headphones, choose the Noise Control mode you wish to turn on, customise the equaliser, turn on ‘Head Tracking’ (a feature that lets you experience spatial audio in a better way), customise Noise Control options, turn on Wear Detection (a feature that lets you take calls the moment you put on the headphones) and look for software updates. There’s nothing fancy about the app and it is extremely intuitive. It is, however, extremely limited in terms of the customisable options offered. The EQ, for instance, just has Bass and Treble levers.
In a day and age where every consumer tech company is trying to create an ecosystem, Sonos seems to follow the trend. If you have a Sonos soundbar like the Arc soundbar, you can simply press and hold the Content Key and get the TV audio from the soundbar re-routed to your Ace headphones. The utility of this feature eludes me but this could be useful for people who use their TVs for gaming.
Enough gushing over the design. Let’s dive into the hardware. The Sonos Ace headphones have 40mm custom drivers that are behind that sweet audio. The headphones also have 8 microphones that work great if you want to pick up calls. Not only that, the mics also help in neutralising outside sound resulting in a very effective ANC.
I would, however, mention that the ANC is not a complete hit. While sitting inside a coffee place, I could hear the people near me talk. The transparency mode or as Sonos calls it, the Aware Mode, is a feature that allows ambient sound to flow and lets you be ‘aware’ of your surroundings.
The Ace headphones come equipped with a 1060 mAh battery that the company claims can last for up to 30 hours (24 hours of call time). In regular or casual use, this would translate to roughly a week of using the headphones without charging them. For charging, Sonos has provided a USB type C port which complies with the industry standards.
There is a plethora of features that I truly enjoyed using in the Sonos Ace. The ANC is commendable, the controls are intuitive and the build quality is just fabulous. There is, however, one thing that leaves you wanting more. At Rs 39,999, the headphones should have been water-resistant at the very least.
Despite the fact that they are not water and dust-resistant, I did use them during my workouts. I did not experience any damage due to sweating. Be it some light bodyweight training or running, the headphones worked fine. However, one should be careful if there is too excessive sweating involved.
Another thing I noticed during my limited time with the Sonos Ace headphones was that there was condensation inside the couplings. I removed one of the couplings out of curiosity after one of my extended work sessions and I found sweat droplets all over the surface under the net-like sheet that separates the ears from the insides of the headphones.
I strongly believe that audio products are like motorcycles. Every motorcycle is going to have admirers as well as haters. Apparently, the same principle applies to audio products, especially headphones. The Sonos Ace, however, seems to be an exception. The way Sonos has crafted the Ace, it manages to appeal to a wider spectrum of consumers. The sleek and classy design makes it desirable to the aficionados while the strong sound profile makes it attractive to audiophiles and music enthusiasts.
The availability of the app makes the Headphones even more appealing to those who prefer to have options. An option to mess around with the EQ for that perfect balance between bass and treble for those who have a specific taste in music, an option to pick calls just by wearing the headphones for those who like to be efficient, an option to get TV audio directly to your headphones for those who don’t want to get neighbours nagging at them for playing their favourite tracks at outrageous volumes and an option to enjoy spatial audio for those who like that magical 360-degree sound.
If you’re an old soul, you can also have the option to use a type C to AUX cable to just plug your headphones into your computer and go at it. The only drawback is that the headphones need to be turned on which means they always need to have charge.
The question that still stands and will probably be the only thing between potential customers and the Sonos Ace is why would you spend Rs 40,000 on a good-looking pair of ANC headphones when you can get almost the same thing from a Sony, Bose and Sennheiser and that too at a lower cost. You can get the Sony WH1000X Mark 5 for less than Rs 30,000. Similarly, you can get Bose QuietComfort Ultras for Rs 36,000.
The Sonos Ace is great for people who are looking for overall comfort, long battery life, a classy and minimalistic design and a respectable ANC. Additionally, given the aspirational mindset of Indian consumers, the Sonos Ace might just hit the right spot.
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