Sonos has finally ventured away from the realm of speakers.
Not very far, though. On Tuesday, the company launched its first-ever pair of headphones, Sonos Ace. The headphones are exactly what you’d expect from Sonos: elegantly designed, with a focus on sound quality and connectivity with the rest of the company’s ecosystem of devices.
For the sound part, we have to trust Sonos, as we haven’t had a chance to try them out yet. The company says it’s using custom, 40-millimetre dynamic drivers to deliver sound, and beamforming microphones for voice calls and active noise cancellation.
Black and Soft White are your only color options.
Credit: Miller Kern / Mashable
In terms of design, the Sonos Ace headphones don’t break any new ground. They come in Black and Soft White, and they’re quite understated in both colors. The company says the magic is in the details, though, with super-soft ear cushions made of vegan leather taking care of comfort, a headband that’s lined with memory foam, and stainless steal arms with hinges concealed within the ear cups.
Hi-Fi purists will be happy to know that Qualcomm Snapdragon Sound AptX format is supported.
Credit: Miller Kern / Mashable
One cool feature for people who own other Sonos devices is being able to swap TV audio from Sonos’ Arc soundbar to the headphones with one button. Spatial audio with Dolby Atmos is supported, as is dynamic head tracking, making sure the sound always comes from the right spot.
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That’s a lot of parts.
Credit: Miller Kern / Mashable
Sound quality will, of course, depend on how you connect the Ace to the sound source. For lossless audio, you’ll have to either use a USB-C cable, or connect the headphones via Bluetooth with a phone or other device supporting Qualcomm Snapdragon Sound AptX Lossless. Apple’s devices don’t support that, so USB-C connection will be your only option for lossless audio.
As for the active noise cancellation (ANC), it’s once again hard to say how well it works without trying them. Sonos says its Aware mode, available with the press of a button, will immediately let you hear your surroundings, and the company claims this works better than in most headphones.
The battery on Sonos Ace should last up to 30 hours with ANC on, and fast charging will give you up to three hours of battery life with just three minutes of charging.
Sonos Ace start at $449 in the U.S. and €499 in Europe. They will be available starting June 5.
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