Sonos Ace Review: The best headphones in 2025?

Let me level with you: There are a lot of headphone reviews out there, and even more headphones to choose from. I, myself, have reviewed probably a hundred different models over the years writing for leading tech publications. Even with that headwind, my Sonos Ace review somehow manages to surprise me and nail every feature and fundamental I’m looking for. I honestly didn’t expect the Ace headphones to be my main listening device. But here we are.

Sound quality and noise cancelling

With any pair of headphones, you’ve got to like how they sound. And during my Sonos Ace Review, it honestly surprised me when I first checked them out. I’ve grown to really love the Sony WH series (the mark 4s are still the best value in over-ear headphones in my book), so Sonos’ first foray into headphones had stiff competition for my ears.

The TL;DR here is that the Ace headphones sound nearly perfect for most things I listen to. My typical indie rock and folk music tendencies live perfectly in the balanced soundstage provided by these headphones. Their low-end is rich and full without being flabby, while the mids and highs really sing in a way that feels nuanced and musical. 

The noise cancelling is also surprisingly great. There are a lot of headphones out there that can really tamp down your environmental oise, so I won’t say these are the best you can get. But you won’t be disappointed. My current use-case is in bed watching Youtube while falling asleep, and they really pull me into an isolated space that’s comfortable without that stifling “vacuum” feel you get with heavier-handed ANC. I can also confirm that they’re great for airplane noise (I won’t regale you with the tale of bringing my toddler to Sweden, but at least the engine roar was under control). So for sound quality? Yeah, you should get this.

Design, build, and feel

Perhaps less surprising in my Sonos Ace review is seeing how good they look and feel. After all, Sonos has an eye for beautiful design and premium builds. Everything from the soft-touch plastic and the smooth telescoping steel headband adjust all the way down to the plush leatheresque ear cups feels concerted and meticulous. I also love the touch that the ear cups are magnetic so you can replace them easily if needed.

One thing I struggle with in a pair of over-ear headphones is how they feel with my ears. I have pretty large lobes, so even my previous favorite Sony headphones feel a bit tight over time. The Ace headphones provide an excellent balance of space for my ears and sleek compact design. And man, do these things look great. Their all-black aesthetic and simple, circular shape make them great for those who don’t want them to stand out. 

I’ve also read lots of complaints about the quality of the storage case, and while I can confirm that the zipper is a little annoying, I do like how slim and low-profile it is to slide into my bag. Bose and Sony are much better at cases here, but are you really buying headphones for the storage?

Though you can find the Sonos Ace for less now, at launch they were pretty expensive. This is probably the only conceivable con I have for these headphones. But isn’t that always the case for technology? If you want something nice, you’ve gotta pay for it. If you want to save some money there are great choices in the Soundcore line or you could go a generation or two back in the Sony WH-1000X series.

I’ve been really pleased with the battery life, requiring me to really only charge these headphones once a week or so. That does, of course, tell you how little I use them for long listening sessions. But an hour or two before bed takes me through a full week without even thinking about charging.

The connectivity is also reliable and steadfast. I’m an Apple user, so I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want the S1 chip connectivity. But once you’ve got them hooked up to your devices via Bluetooth, everything feels solid. Sonos also has their app to consider there, though I don’t think it’s all that valuable or necessary because I don’t use my Ace headphones for the full speaker ecosystem support that they advertise. This category is sort of a non-category for me, because there’s nothing incredible about it, but the battery and the connectivity do their jobs.

With an impeccable design, pro-level sound quality, and all the other features you’d want in flagship headphones, the Sonos Ace is a real standout. It’s honestly the AirPods Max that I wish Apple had designed.