The Sonos Ace were supposed to bring Sonos into an entirely new era of streaming and introduce the brand to a completely new product segment. Unfortunately, thanks to a rushed software launch, the brand’s first headphones fell to the wayside as headlines focused on other, more pertinent user issues.
That was a massive shame, because the headphones at the heart of the app debacle are actually really nice. They’re a comfortable, good-looking pair of headphones that sound good and offer the best spatial audio of any set of cans you can buy today. Expensive? Undoubtedly. Excellent? Arguably.
So what’s next — the Sonos Ace have had a couple of years to marinate in the market, so all eyes turn towards the future. So I’ve been thinking about the Sonos Ace 2. What will they have in store? Perhaps more importantly, what do we want from them?
I can only speak for myself, but as a massive fan of the first model, there are some key improvements I’d like to see if Sonos decides to invest in a new version of its headphones.
Improved ANC
The Sonos Ace have excellent noise canceling. It’s not quite enough for them to feature heavily in our list of the best noise-canceling headphones, but plenty to keep out the noise of your commute. There are better options — the Sony WH-1000XM6 and the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones, to name a few — and it’s one of the main improvements I’d like to see in a second model.
In particular, I’d like some extra blocking of high-range sounds and voices. The first model does a stellar job with rumbling engines and tires, but they struggle more with nearby conversation. That extra ANC would go a long way in potentially making them some of the best headphones you can buy today.
Even better sound
The Sonos Ace sound good. There is no argument there. They’re a dynamic, detailed pair of headphones with solid bass reproduction and a reasonably spacious soundstage. But they’re not the best.
Comparing them to the Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S3, you’ll notice that the bass can get a little flabby, and some of the detail gets lost in a pervasive mid-range. They’re a great-sounding pair of headphones, but a new model should sound even better.
I’d like to see tighter bass, and more rounded mids. Highs that are bright and effervescent, vocals that are smooth and well-delivered. Sonos knows what it’s doing in the sound department; the Arc Ultra and all the other smart speakers show us that. The Sonos Ace 2 could be the portable ace up the manufacturer’s sleeve.
Spatial audio for the ages
The Sonos Ace are some of my favorite headphones when it comes to spatial audio, making them perfect for watching movies on the go. As a result, they’re my headphones of choice for longer trips, where I fill the hours with rewatches of the Transformers movies. No, I’m not kidding.
I’d like things to get even better. There’s still the thinning out of some of the audio that happens with all spatial audio headphones — I’d like more bass for explosions and car chases. There are times when sounds don’t quite match where they’re supposed to be, and it would be great to see those match up better with Atmos expectations.
There’s also still nothing that persuades me that spatial audio is the future of music — perhaps Sonos’ next pair of headphones could be what does it for me. If they’re good.
All the small things
There are a couple of other places that I’d like to see the Ace get improved. While the first model is comfortable, it would be great to see a larger, more plush headband on a new model. The replaceable earpads are a nice bonus, but more repairability would also be welcome.
Battery life is good, but it could be better — especially as cheaper models now beat the 30 hours of this flagship pair. The case is very protective, but the strange, felt-like surface attracts grime from across the room.
The Sonos Ace are great — but Sonos has plenty of places to look for the sequel. I just hope the Ace launch doesn’t put it off.
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