Sonos has made its long awaited entry into the headphone category with the new Sonos Ace premium Bluetooth active noise cancelling headphones with new TrueCinema technology.
Priced at $699, the Sonos Ace will be available in black and soft white and will go on sale on June 5.
Sonos has harnessed its knowledge of audio and expertise in design to re-invent the way we listen with headphones.
The premium over-the-ear headphones offers lossless and spatial audio along with state-of-the-art active noise cancellation and Aware Mode wall offering a precise and immersive home theatre experience with the new TrueCinema technology.
“They’re here! Fans have asked us for years to bring the Sonos experience to headphones – and we knew our first foray into the category needed to champion the type of innovation and sound experience Sonos has become synonymous with,” said Patrick Spence, CEO of Sonos.
“Sonos Ace leverages everything we’ve learned over two decades as an audio leader to bring stunning sound, sleek design and long-standing comfort to one of the largest and most popular audio categories worldwide.”
Under the hood are two custom designed drivers that represent each frequency with clarity and precision.
Users can swap the TV audio from a compatible Sonos soundbar to the Sonos Ace at the press of a button and enjoy Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos that surrounds you in impressive sound coming from all directions while head tracking keeps you centred in the action.
Later this year, Sonos will release an update to enable TrueCinema technology which will be able to map your listening space and offer a virtual surround sound system.
The onboard active noise cancellation can locate and suppress external sound to keep you focused on what you’re listening to.
Alternatively Aware Mode allows you to hear exactly what’s going on around you even more clearly.
“Sonos Ace represents our ambition to create moving sound experiences that are equal to the moment we live in,” says Maxime Bouvat-Merlin, Sonos Chief Product Officer.
“It is an exciting new chapter as we embark on what it means to design for personal listening.
“True to Sonos’ heritage of premium products, each individual detail of Sonos Ace has been expertly crafted, custom designed, and tuned by the world’s leading sound experts to give you a listening experience unlike any other.”
On the design side, Sonos Ace has a sleek look that blends metal accents with a matte finish.
The headphones are made of lightweight and premium materials with soft memory foam interiors wrapped in vegan leather while the specially designed headband and ear cups hide the hinge and create an acoustic seal.
And when you’re done the Sonos Ace headphones fold flat and can fit neatly inside its included travel case.
Listeners can enjoy up to 30 hours of playback while an ultra-fast charge for three minutes will be enough for three hours of battery life.
The Sonos Ace ANC Bluetooth headphones will go on sale on June 5 and will be priced at $699.
SONOS ACE SPECS
AUDIO
Drivers
Custom-designed 40 mm dynamic driver in each cup.
Microphones
Eight beamforming microphones for noise control and voice targeting so every word is crisp and clear.
Spatial Audio
Surround yourself in hyper realistic three-dimensional sound, including an industry-leading Dolby Atmos experience and dynamic headtracking, from supported services and devices.
Lossless Audio
Enjoy lossless audio over Bluetooth® with a supported device with Qualcomm Snapdragon Sound AptX for Lossless or via a USB-C connection.
Noise Control
Block external sounds with Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) or use Aware mode to blend ambient sound with your content.
TV Audio Swap
Press the Content Key to swap sound from a compatible Sonos soundbar to Sonos Ace. Sonos’ TrueCinema technology optimizes sound for your space for a hyper realistic listening experience.
Wear Detection
Built-in sensors detect when you’re wearing Sonos Ace, so playback pauses when you take it off and resumes when you put it back on.
Adjustable EQ
Customize your spatial audio experience and adjust bass, treble, and loudness via the Sonos app.
DETAILS
Dimensions (H x W x D)
7.52 x 6.3 x 3.35 inches (191 x 160 x 85 mm)
Weight
11 oz (312 g)
Colours
Black, Soft White
Fit & Finish
Foam-cushioned headband for all-day comfort; stainless steel, matte finish for everyday wear.
LED
Light on the bottom of the left cup indicates connection status.
Controls
Use the right cup buttons to control volume, play/pause/skip tracks, answer/decline calls, or switch between ANC and Aware mode. Use the left cup buttons to power on or pair a device.
POWER AND CONNECTIVITY
Bluetooth 5.4
Supports audio streaming from any Bluetooth-enabled device.
Battery
Li-ion, 1060mAh battery powers up to 30 hours of listening time with ANC or Aware mode enabled.
Charging
Charge with included USB-C cable and a compatible power source. Rapid charge provides 3 hours listening time in 3 minutes from 0%. Complete charge from 0% requires approximately 2 hours.
