Thank you to Sonos for the free product in exchange for writing this review. My first impression right out of the box is that these headphones hit the sweet spot when it comes to feeling premium - not so heavy that they can only be worn for short stretches of time before they start to feel uncomfortable because your head/ears need a break, but also not so lightweight that it feels like they skimped out on design details like using all-plastic construction instead of incorporating stainless steel elements for added durability. This high-end feel extends to the cushioning on the headband and ear cups, which are marshmallow soft. The headband is stretchy enough to fit when worn over a baseball cap without feeling like it's being strained; that flexibility combined with the low profile of the ear cups makes these headphones feel like they were meant to be worn on the go rather than meant strictly for indoor/studio use.

Sadly, whereas the actual headphones feel intentionally lightweight, the travel case that's included feels flimsy and incredibly cheap - like a DIY arts & craft felt project. It's obvious that Sonos put in the bare minimum with this case - I'd expect something of this quality out of a pair of disposable earphones - not something that's supposed to be aligned with the Sonos brand. In terms of the headphones themselves being travel-friendly, I'd say that's a bit of a stretch since the most you can do is retract the telescoping arms - that's the only way to get them to fit in the travel case anyway.

The average use time for me was three full days before I needed to recharge these headphones, so I consider the 30 hour battery life claim by Sonos to be conservative and accurate. I'm not an audiophile by any means, but I have owned my share of mid-range over-ear studio headphones. Can I hear a remarkable difference when it comes to standard audio quality in comparison? Honestly, I'd have to say no. The audio I hear through these headphones, which is mostly streaming music and movies, sounds well-rounded: OK bass depth, with very clear and crisp highs when default settings are used.

But where the Ace headphones really shine is in their noise-cancelling and ambient sound modes. When "Active Noise Cancellation" is activated, all of the random background noise you subconsciously tune out like the rumble of cars driving by, conversations and TVs on in the other room, is virtually silenced. "Aware Mode" lets in ambient sound and I felt like I could carry on a normal conversation without straining to hear what's being said. (Of course these two functions can be turned off entirely, which means it didn't feel like I was stuck with having to use either option.) These noise-control features, plus playback and Bluetooth, are accessible with the tap/push of a button, which makes the audio easy to adjust without having to download/open an app to get basic functionality out of them.

I don't own any other Sonos products, so I can't speak to the integration or functionality of the home theater "TV Audio Swap" features. But I personally consider that a positive - these headphones feel like a standalone product in and of themselves, and I don't really feel like I'm missing out on anything because I don't own complimentary Sonos audio products. Overall these feel like an upgrade (especially in terms of noise-cancelling ability) rather than an evolutionary jump when it comes to stylish high-end Bluetooth over-ear headphones, and recommend them highly if you keep these reasonable expectations in mind.

Sonos has been known for making some really incredible home audio speakers, their take on the Bluetooth speaker world is also quite remarkable with their Sonos move and their roam so their take on headphones is a huge welcome to me. At first impression their design on the headphones is remarkable, they’re incredibly light weight and comfortable for hours of usage. The plushy leather band sits on the head well and the ear cups are great for not generating ear fatigue or sweat. The stainless steel rod feels great for adjustment doesn’t feel cheap and it’s a great choice to allow users with multiple head shapes and sizes. The logo on the side is subtle enough to not notice from a far but proud enough to know who and what it is. The Included carrying case is great for travel it’s quite thin making it fit in my bag with my PlayStation portal and some extra clothes perfect. Sonos also offers a tiny little case for extra cables for either charging or lined in audio that fits inside the carrying case of the headphones magnetically. The headphones themselves are quite simple with controls which is great for getting what you need access to, your left ear cup provides a power button, usb c connector for charging/lined in audio and a light indicator to show Bluetooth connection, your right ear cup provides your noise cancellation and transparency mode button, above that button you have what may be one of my favorite takes on volume controls for a headphones, you have a volume slider, adjusting the volume up or down gives a click through the headphone to indict the action but after releasing the mechanism it returns back to a center position, it’s a simple switch but makes the experience feel responsive and elegant. The design of these headphones is what I would expect from Sonos, it’s elegant and efficient I would say for its price you barely recognize that it using a plastic housing because it’s plastic doesn’t feel cheap, no creaks or squeaks when picking up or adjusting the headset. Coming from the brand I do expect great audio quality especially being an owner of their Sonos beam gen 2 and Sonos move, their noise cancellation are strong and what’s great about that is they aren’t strong with pressure. The noise cancellation is one of the best I’ve used and there is a great feedback to let you know you’ve entered and exited noise cancellation. Transparency mode is clear and at times feels as if you aren’t wearing headphones it’s very clear with voices. My own voice however when in transparency mode doesn’t feel robot. I can definitely tell my own voice is coming through a microphone. Actual sound quality of the headphones is quite great, voices like Lauryn hill, phill Collin’s, bob Marley sound incredible they support mid sections incredibly well I honestly think that’s where they shine. The highs are pretty well done, bands like Red Hot Chili Peppers, rage against the machine and Metallica have some great guitar solos where I felt I could really let the headphones show their capability and I wasn’t dissatisfied. Their lows are quite good filling the space with some deep bass and heavy drums. Overall the Sonos headphones are a wonderful pair of headphones I would highly consider for my daily wear. My only gripe with these headphones is its price. I think it’s an excellent headset, had they been $50 or $100 less I would pick them up and never let them go

The quality of the product is clear from the moment you open the packaging. Everything has been carefully packaged and designed to make the experience simple and enjoyable. The headphones come charged ready to use and are easy to connect with bluetooth so you can be up and running in no time letting you explore the additional features when you feel ready. The headphones come in a practical case which is comfact and robust enough to allow them to be stored safetly without taking up too much space. The headphones also fold flat to allow for more compact storage.
The headband and ear coverings are both padded which makes for a really comfortable wear and also really helps with both the noise cancelling and makes for a contained listening experience so as not to disturb others around you.
The quality of the sound is exceptional. You have an excellent balance of bass and trebble without things becoming distored, overwhelming or tinny. The headphones also give a good concert hall experience of feeling the sound surrounding you and coming from different locations rather than just directed into your ears from one location.
Spoken word was also clear and crisp and enjoyable to listen to, making these an excellent choice for audiobooks and podcasts as well as a range of music.
The app proved a little tempremental to get the headphones to be recognised and updated at first but once this was resolved it was great to have the app on hand to gain more insight into the features of the product and also control from my phone if I didn't want to use the controls on the headphones themselves.
The controls however are simple and easy to use and thought has been given on how to make these easy to location and identify through touch to make for easy control. The multi function control also has clear distinctions for differernt options so you won't end up skipping a track instead of turning up the volume etc.
The charge lasted for a good length of time and I was happy to see a USB C charging cable in there to help me recharge the headphones easily.
My favourite feature was the auto play and pause. So whilst listening to music if I had to take the headphones off to speak to someone the music would auto pause and once I put the headphones back on my listening experience would automatically restart.
I also liked that I could easily switch between noise cancelling and aware mode at the press of a button or on the app to allow me to adapt to when I needed to be isolated from the noise around me or wanted to still be able to interact with what was happening around me.
The price point is high and I was sceptical about whether I would see the difference between these and my mid price headphones. The sound quality is definetly there and the noise cancelling and comfort have a level of luxury and quality to them which I would expect from the brand and price bracket.
I would highly recomend these as a purchase to people who enjoy a high quality and comfortable listening experience.

Thank you to Sonos who kindly sent me their newly-released Sonos Ace headphones for free, so that I could review it.

The much-anticipated Sonos Ace is an aesthetically pleasing pair of headphones. The soft white version looks and feels premium and superior in its quality. The effortless weight of the headphones, in comparison to other high-end competitors such as Bose, is notable. Although it is an over-ear product, it does not feel as bulky as the Bose. Compared to both Bose and Airpods Max, the Sonos Ace also provides substantially higher levels of comfort during longer-wear use.

The headphones are straightforward and easy to set up and can be connected via Bluetooth, or through the Sonos app.

The device charges swiftly (and specifically includes a quick-charge feature) with a very impressive battery life.

Controls on the device are sleek and discreet.

Audio quality is crystal-clear; this applies not only to listening to music, but also with calls.

There is also a control on the device which can be used to manoeuvre volume, calls and playback which makes the user experience super convenient. These features can also be controlled via the Sonos App, should you wish.

The "Active Noise Cancellation" mode noise cancelling capabilities are excellent and banishes all background interference, in parallel with other premium players within this space.

Conversely, the "Aware Mode" permits ambient sound so that you are able to hear the general environment, including conversations, around you without having to remove the headphones.

If you do remove the headphones, the device automatically pauses what you are listening to, which adds to the headphones' cool factor.

The surround-sound / spatial audio functionality of this device is outstanding and works effortlessly with the dynamic head tracking feature.

The device comes in a sturdy but disappointingly uninspiring case with zipper. My only suggestion here would be that Sonos consider making the headset case more aesthetically distinctive as the price point of the product demands a case that looks and feels more luxurious.

However, I am pleased with the user experience and would, therefore, invest into this product especially given the robust Sonos reputation. The product looks and feels superior, is lightweight, and it operates with minimum fuss, especially for someone like me who travels often and prefers stylish products that are also convenient and intuitive when rushing on-the-go.

I have recommended this product to friends and family as I have thoroughly enjoyed the sound quality and feature-set of the Sonos Ace headphones. My husband is an elite professional athlete and I have recommended these headphones to him for when he is on tour, and for his training and practice sessions, based on its design, functionality, comfort and intuitive user experience.

The only design drawback I would highlight is that, whilst the headphones fold flat, they, unfortunately do not fold up, which can otherwise be handy for frequent travellers like myself, however this does not hinder my positive experience with the product in any way.