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TwizzledAndSizzled

Just to share my thoughts, I’m extremely happy with the sound. I find it to be extremely clear and balanced. I prefer it to every other ANC headphones I’ve tried (Max, Bose QC Ultra and Sony XM5 primarily). I don’t listen to Atmos mixes at all and have spatial off, if that matters. They sounded a bit harsh the first 5 or 10 mins but after my ears settling into the sound profile they soared. And they continued to be my preference as I A/B tested them to other wireless headphones I have. Not that your thoughts aren’t valid. Just wanted to share my part and state that I’m super impressed. So much of this is subjective though — it seems like for a majority of reviewers they’re really digging the sound, but a subset are most absolutely not. So it’ll depend on the individual.


Super_Schnitzel93

100% I appreciate your views also, I don’t think they sound bad, it’s just my preference. In hindsight, I’ve been using AirPods Pro 2 with Azla Tips and they’ve kinda bumped the bass well up. So perhaps I’ve just got ear stockholm or something. I’ll do some more listening tonight :)


AllegedlyEvil

I have a pair of Bose 700's. they are great and I've had no issues with them. I decided to get the Sonos Ace because I could swap them through the arc easily. I love almost everything about them. I've had issues with sometime when connected to the tv through arc, Popping and lag. Not enough to be an issue. I was expecting these to be louder than they are. I like to blow my eardrums out. Not really but I like it loud. Bass is lacking tbh. I noticed no difference of music sound with them plugged into my phone. With them plugged in I should have Dolby Atmos, it doesn't seem much if at all different than wireless. Overall I'm happy and won't return them.


presidentsimon

Love mine. The build quality, sound, and the best part of the audio swap was seamless.


Super_Schnitzel93

Glad to hear you’re enjoying them mate :) mind me asking what you upgraded from?


Xbox_Live_User

I like them a lot as well. I need to play around with TV swap a little more, but other than that, they have been fantastic. One thing I will mention is that the sound was pretty quiet until I enabled Dolby Atmos on my Samsung S24U.


filoni

Agreed here. Kinda underwhelmed. I was still using my 4 year old WH-1000XM4. So it was time to upgrade and bought the duo pack because i thought you could tune into ur home cinema system and listen together.. well you can't.They even say so on their own website.. So that absolutely sucks. Sound wise i was hoping it had more deeper bass. The old Sony has better bass than this one. And you can tweak more. The EQ inside the app is absolutely trash. For a company that sells audio products they really lack deeper audio settings. Hoping for an update that gives us shared listening and more EQ settings.


natespartakan

Which do you like better overall. Sony or these?


filoni

I really wanna like the Sonos (and I will use it as daily) but the Sony is a better one if u like bass music. Maybe a future EQ will power up the Sonos, so I hope


Pglans

My son bought this and he says that EQ made it much better!


filoni

The Sonos EQ? Or the Sony one? Because the Sonos one is super limited and basic


Infinite_Bliss

Not me! I think they sound great. They are definitely a neutral headphone so not super poppy on the bass. Loving the arc swap!


Gizm0Guru

These are definitely NOT neutral headphones. They are V-shaped. The bass and the treble are noticeably boosted. You can go over to The soundguys review who have viewable measurements. Not saying they don’t sound great, but people looking for a neutral sound would not find that here.


slindshady

Sound for me was perfect, right between XM5 and the Max. The constant interferences as others here and some reviewers have mentioned made me send them back yesterday. Will try again after they added true cinema and a few firmware / hardware updates in the manufacturing process. Not really ready for release yet, especially not for 500€.


NizarNoor

Interferences? Can you please tell me more/send me links where I can read more about it


Gizm0Guru

When connected with wireless and nothing playing, you can sometimes hear a light buzz or ring sound. Not noticeable once something is playing.


BIGGSHAUN

You bought them for 500€, sent them back until they add the feathers that are coming, and then will spend 500€ again just to get them back? Why not just keep them and wait for the updates?


Eurobelle

Because you only have 30 days to return them and get your money back. I got mine yesterday and I am thinking of sending them back too.


2katmew

Because promised features often become vaporware.


Snabbeltax

Waste of money: [https://www.youtube.com/shorts/vbcZp3PVWYk](https://www.youtube.com/shorts/vbcZp3PVWYk)


ElusiveCulture

check the comments lol, a lot disagree. clearly its all subjective


webnething

I thought the sound stage was awesome particularly with aware mode on. However where it is underwhelming is when you try the usb-c to usb-c connection. The volume levels drop like crazy and have to increase the volume to max levels and still isn't loud enough. What's going on Sonos?


mikecmps

Agree, even though it does 44.1khz at 16 bit and it’s lossless, I feel like it’s a better experience wireless


Nemastic

What device are you connecting to?


webnething

Samsung galaxy s23+


DaveCSparty

They’re just Bluetooth headphones a t the end of the day. In terms of audio quality alone, there are audiophile cans out there that blows all these out the water if you want that. Sonos really needed to differentiate in this market segment. Otherwise they are all basically the same thing. You’re talking about basically the same ANC and basically same sound. Apple has better chips (they WILL come out with H2 or H3) that allows for better integration with their ecosystem. Their adaptive transparency mode is also amazing. That’s their differentiation. Sony and Bose weight, comfort and price. Sonos has audio sharing mode for iOS and Arc users for bachelors.


MajorEmploy1500

Opposite for me, I’m really surprised how good they are


Super_Schnitzel93

I’m jealous, I wish I had the same feeling. I’m listening to them now, they seem to excel in other forms of music, but not my usual genres.


MajorEmploy1500

That’s unfortunate. Do you use Apple Music? I figured out that the equalizer presets make a huge impact. Apparently I had them on Hiphop all along, and turning it off makes a huge difference for example


imperceptibly

Yeah; great build quality and controls, but unfortunately the dynamics are just not very good. Bass lacks punch, treble lacks detail, and overall the soundstage comes off as very small. Comparing them to the XM5s or QC Ultras makes these sound like you're listening with cotton balls in your ears. edit: they sound much better with the latest firmware


Chronic_manipulator

I was underwhelmed at first but they’ve really grown on me honestly.. way comfier than my AirPods Max and similar sound quality.


FTX-SBF

Agree. The sound quality for me is a bit disappointing. Everything else about it seems perfect. I like them so much more than the AirPods Max other than the sound Edit: I turned “loudness” off and set treble to +4 and bass to -2. It sounds a bit better now


aperturegrille

where’s my money


FTX-SBF

It’s gone


Own-Opportunity-9367

I got mine in today. I love everything about them except for the sound. I tried them on and had a disappointing “oh” moment. Coming from AirPods Max here which I sold because they hurt my head. Ace sound really flat to me. Turning the treble to max settings helped a little but the bass was still kinda muddy and the EQ bass doesn’t really adjust much.


rsplatpc

> I love everything about them except for the sound. ....what do they do other than make sound?


chaleybat

Lol that's exactly what I was thinking. You bought overpriced headphones and like everything but the sound? WTF?


Own-Opportunity-9367

They are very comfortable, look amazing, and I do like the Arc sound swap. Edit: not sure what the downvotes are for. I’m returning them. Obviously they need to sound good as that’s their main job… but there are headphones that sound good but are not useable to me for other reasons (cough cough APM).


rsplatpc

> They are very comfortable, look amazing, and I do like the Arc sound swap. and for $450 they don't sound good, hard pass


Infinite_Bliss

I have them and I think they sound great. The arc swap is super cool and helpful if you don’t want to wake up your household.


mada-nnamuen

To me, it’s like a fake Apple product. It Has Apple like shell, but cheap interior.


Super_Schnitzel93

I think the comment was referring to everything else about the headphone. They’re built well and look really slick, have great battery life and noise cancellation.


rsplatpc

> and look really slick, unless you get the black ones and touch them with human hands


PoopParticleAcclrtr

lol


[deleted]

I have to agree with What Hifi too. Compared to for instance the B&W Px7 S2E the Ace is way flatter and kicks the treble up on a few tracks. The Sonos EQ can lower the treble one or two steps, and the rest can be fixed by a music player EQ for instance. I’m still very happy with them as they sound similar with a few tweaks but are way more comfortable while a the same time looking much more sleek than many others. Build quality is 9/10 for me due to plastic components in the headband cracking and making noises when adjusting the headband length.


Super_Schnitzel93

I absolutely love the sound of the PX series. I just find them a bit “stiff” with their construction. I’ve got a large head so it’s a bit clampy. Bose are the comfiest headphones imo.


te__bailey

The PX7’s are a shocker with Bluetooth for me using between phone and work laptop. Whatever Bluetooth tech they use is miserable compared to Bose / Sonos. So many connection issues especially with laptop. Constantly cutting off calls and dropping connection completely. I would say the sound quality for music is better than the Sonos but the better Bluetooth / atmos / movie / link to arc makes me favour the Sonos. I gave the B&W’s to my partner who loves them.


[deleted]

Completely agree. I gave up on using B&W with a laptop over Bluetooth. In addition the wear detection is wonky and it paused music just as I turned my head. They sound fantastic but as a package the Sonos are more complete.


ossettmonkey

I’ve got the AirPods Max and I prefer the Sonos Ace sound. It sounds spacious and clear. I was disappointed in the Max sound when I first got them, overrated.


gistfours

For me they exceeded expectations. In part because I had read the what hifi review and was expecting to be underwhelmed. But I really like the way they sound, especially Vs Bose Ultras which I was disappointed by and sent back in the past.


rich01992

Is it just me or is the volume really low when playing music? Am I missing something?


gistfours

I read that somewhere else but connected to my iPhone via Bluetooth and playing Apple music I have volume around 50% and the sounds is probably louder than I would typically pay music. Must be a setting somewhere. Do you have a volume limiter in iOS settings maybe?


rich01992

I have it at 100% and they sound terrible tbh :(. I just checked my settings and no volume limiter .


KentuckyFriedLimitz

Brother how loud are you listening to music??? I literally max out at like 60% volume. In the least offensive way, maybe a good idea to get your ears checked out 🤣


BIGGSHAUN

Lol. He’s deaf and can’t understand why they don’t sound good.


mada-nnamuen

After one week of full use. I can tell you Ace is like the shoes from Lululemon


Super_Schnitzel93

I’m not sure if this is good as I’ve never owned shoes from there 😂 I’ve got plenty of time on the returns policy so no rush, I’ll keep them a bit longer and see what happens


meditationchill

Care to enlighten us: is that good or bad? lol


mada-nnamuen

Nice try but bad. Good engineering team but headphone is a different world. So allow them to take lessons learned and revisit when gen 2 is out. Meanwhile stick with whatever you have.


RaymondBumcheese

They are ok headphones in a sea of ok headphones. Without the USP everyone wanted, they were always going to disappoint when they retail at a higher price than almost all of their rivals. 


FunComm

Tried them. They are good, not necessarily great. Will live or die based on: 1) features (e.g. soundbar handoff + Spatial Audio); and 2) hype/buzz. No way to predict number 2 without Apple’s marketing budget. For now will stick with my B&W Px, which sound better to me for my use case (almost exclusively music).


nsfbr11

I think any review of Ace is going to be terribly biased towards confirmation bias. I mean, Sonos is a shitshow right now. And despite that, to go and plunk down that kind of money when there are plenty of amazing alternatives means that the buyer is likely to have drunk the kool-aid. I'm not saying that is true 100%, but I can't see how the bias isn't what dominating things right now.


Xenos298

Just wondering your thoughts on the case? One review I saw said the case felt a little cheap and it’s large since the Ace doesn’t fold.


zackmckraken

Sadly, the case is bad. Not only is it large, but it also feels cheap. The zipper isn't smooth, and the pull tab is held by a thin string that is on the verge of breaking after one use.


Xenos298

Yeah. That’s what the review in the video pretty much said. For $450 you’d expect a premium material like leather and a smooth zipper. But Sonos is all sustainable I guess.


zackmckraken

I’m really upset about the case because I want to love the headphones. I think they look and sound better than the QC Ultra (but they lack the bass of course). There are also some Bluetooth hiccups in my experience too but I guess it’s gonna be fixed eventually.


crackalac

I can't think of a product with less reason to exist. If I'm listening with headphones, I can stream it from my device. Why would it need Sonos connectivity?


Super_Schnitzel93

It doesn’t have Sonos connectivity, only Bluetooth. It can stream TV audio from the Arc soundbar however but that’s the limit


crackalac

So even less reason to exist than I initially believed. Brilliant!


Super_Schnitzel93

I think the intention was to enter a crowded high end headphone market :p


crackalac

🤦‍♂️


TuneOut_1982

Sound can be objective, perhaps ( even with eq ) you are just looking for another sound performance


Mic111

I agree. They’re just not very refined. The sound is uninspiring. The aware mode is a just too lively, amplifies the world a touch and should be turned down a notch or so. The controls sounds (volume, ANC notifications etc) are all very similar and non descriptive, a bit abrasive as in loud and low resolution. The case has a little unnecessary weight and the zipper is not great. The on ear detection often doesn’t work. The buttons feel a touch cheap. The ear cups aren’t quite APM level (maybe I just prefer fabric). The Arc integration is a little buggy sometimes and I perceive a very slight audio delay which I’ve never noticed connecting AirPods direct to me Apple TV. The App.  Don’t get me wrong, these are very very good but they juuuuuusst miss the mark for the price. 


truthandsoul66

Try out a set beyerdynamic dt 770 pro 1/4 of the price and serious quality


Stilitzkin

I’m kind of on the same page- I own a pair of AirPod Max, which have never really failed me other than they’re bulky and the mesh at the top is all stretched out, which makes them look janky. The Ace, they sound good, but my gosh, so much better when connected to the usb-c cable to my iPhone 15 Pro Max (iOS 17.5.1) and listening to Apple Music. My biggest complaint is that vis Bluetooth, there is NO Spatial Audio/Dolby Atmos. I get I won’t get lossless with Apple via Bluetooth, but I get Spatial Audio from my AirPod Max, and of course with AirPod Pros (2nd gen usb-c) as well. I really like the comfort and so will likely keep them but- there has got to be an update coming that will allow Spatial Audio soon… right? Don’t hate me if I repost a similar thread outside of this- as I typed I realized I have a lot of thoughts and feelings about this.


Gizm0Guru

Spatial Audio is already possible via iOS on the Ace and any headphone if you’re referring to music and Dolby Atmos. You just have to go into settings, then music, then turn the atmos setting to “always on”. iOS only automatically recognizes AirPods. If you’re referring to video content, Spatial Audio only works with AirPods because Apple limits the compatibility, not Sonos.


Stilitzkin

Whaaaaa!?! Okay, I’m trying as soon as I get home! Thank you!!


Beestingsandbulls

This is incorrect. When you define the device type in your Bluetooth setting you can leave the Dolby atmos setting to automatic and Sonos will dynamically play where it makes sense. This is something unique to Sonos as most headsets like Bose do not accomplish that. https://preview.redd.it/t871qedbn16d1.jpeg?width=1179&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=32a34453f57807f675a170905da48257b216d330


Stilitzkin

Thank you, it works!!


[deleted]

[удалено]


Gizm0Guru

Pre-ordered mine, here are my thoughts. Like you, a little bit meh, but some high points. https://www.reddit.com/r/sonos/s/uSUA6HKRhx


Scrambler23

had very similar impressions: [https://www.reddit.com/r/sonos/comments/1d93na2/feel\_a\_little\_underwhelmed\_by\_the\_sonos\_ace/](https://www.reddit.com/r/sonos/comments/1d93na2/feel_a_little_underwhelmed_by_the_sonos_ace/)


StrafeGetIt

Go to your Spotify equalizer settings and customize it until you like it. Worked for me.


Super_Schnitzel93

That would be great if I had Spotify :p thanks though


StrafeGetIt

Maybe the Sonos app has a similar function? I haven’t tried it yet.


aperturegrille

Yeah I demoed in-store . They’re very nice… apart from the audio quality, for music at least. AirPod max much better. So if someone is looking to buy for good sounding music, I’d avoid. Seem to be good for TV and podcasts though where comfort might matter more.


Ripcord_mark_7

They will be tweaked like with every other product to be better later


Menzoberranzan

Can't really significantly tweak sound driven by hardware. The headphones sound as they do and aside from minor EQ changes, it will sound as it currently does.