A day after a German authorized Sonos partner accidentally pulled back the veil on the company’s long-in-the-works headphones, The edge has learned comprehensive details about the hardware features and software features that the Sonos Ace will offer.
As the rumored price of around $450 suggests, Sonos plans to market its first wireless headphones as a premium product that will compete with the Sony WH-1000XM5, Apple AirPods Max and Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones. The company believes it has developed active noise cancellation and transparency modes that can compete with the best of the best.
The Ace headphones offer lossless audio playback over Bluetooth (presumably via AptX Lossless) and can perform dynamic head tracking when a user listens to spatial audio content on supported music services. The headphones also deliver spatial sound for Dolby Atmos home theater content when listening to TV audio; A Sonos soundbar is required for the practical function of the TV sound passthrough.
Taking a cue from Apple’s AirPods Max, the Sonos Ace headphones feature removable magnetic ear pads that allow for easy replacement when the time comes. There are some Although metal is used in the construction of these headphones, Sonos has consciously aimed for a lightweight fit that remains comfortable over long periods of time. Battery life is 30 hours, which is the same listening time Sony advertises for its 1000XM5.
It’s still unclear how exactly the Sonos Ace headphones will integrate into the company’s overall home audio ecosystem. You can listen to TV audio privately with them – I know that much – but can the Ace stream music over Wi-Fi or be zoned like any Sonos speaker? If the answer is no, it could mean disappointment for some. However, you can listen to wired lossless audio using the included 3.5mm and USB-C cables.
Sonos is expected to launch the Ace headphones sometime in June, so an official announcement probably won’t be long in coming. The company reports its second-quarter results this afternoon – already a busy day in the tech world – and CEO Patrick Spence may provide further insight into Sonos’ hardware roadmap during the call with analysts.