It’s been over two years since Sonos introduced its first pair of headphones, the Ace. It was quite a milestone for a company that had spent years filling homes with speakers. Now, Sonos is back with a successor, and this time, it wants its headphones to become a proper part of the Sonos ecosystem.
Meet the Sonos Ace Ultra, a pair of premium over-ear headphones that promises better sound, stronger noise cancellation, and a rather interesting new way of interacting with your home audio system.
The headphones feature newly developed 40 mm drivers, Adaptive EQ, spatial audio with Dolby Atmos, dynamic head tracking, and lossless audio support. The upgraded Adaptive Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) system uses 10 microphones and promises up to twice the noise-canceling performance of the original Ace.
Naturally, there’s an Aware mode for when you need to hear the world around you.
Battery life has improved from 30 hours to 35 hours with ANC enabled. Connectivity includes Bluetooth, USB-C, and a 3.5 mm wired option, so you’re not entirely at the mercy of wireless audio.
But the big news is Headphone Engine 2 and its new headphone-linking capability. Available initially through Early Access, it lets you transfer whatever is playing on a compatible Sonos speaker directly to the headphones with a button press, then send it back again.
No need to keep your phone nearby. And unlike the original Ace’s TV Audio Swap feature, this extends the idea beyond compatible soundbars to other supported Sonos speakers.
TrueCinema also works with compatible soundbars to personalize the home theater experience. Meanwhile, replaceable ear cushions and a replacement battery kit offer some welcome attention to longevity.
Available in Black, Soft White, Agave, and Sand, the Sonos Ace Ultra is available now for US$449.
Images: Sonos.