Sonos Ace Ultra headphones review: Comfy, versatile, and a little odd

Sonos has introduced a new version of their Ace headphones, now called the Sonos Ace Ultra, which launched in 2024. These wireless, over-the-ear headphones position themselves as a special upgrade from the original Ace model. During a week-long review, the reviewer found the Ace Ultra to be comfortable, offering surround sound and integration with the Sonos speaker system in their home. However, for pure music listening, the reviewer found them to be just "OK".

In terms of design, the Ace Ultra remains largely unchanged from its predecessor, with a subtle color scheme to choose from: Sand, Agave, Soft White, and Black. The reviewer particularly liked the Agave color, describing it as a "very subtle shade of green-blue that goes well with anything". Despite being lighter than the AirPods Max 2, the Ace Ultra still retains a sleek, understated look.

One notable design feature is the different colors on the two cups, making it easier to tell them apart. The controls are standard, with a Power button for both Bluetooth pairing and switching between active noise cancellation (ANC), aware mode, and off mode. A volume key also doubles as a content key, allowing users to swap audio between the headphones and nearby Sonos speakers. The headphones also feature a USB-C port for charging or plugging in a USB-C to 3.5mm cable, which is included in the box.

The most significant upgrade in the Ace Ultra is its custom, Sonos-engineered drivers, which the company claims will improve sound quality. However, the reviewer's impressions were mixed. While the headphones sound full and deep with noise cancellation or aware mode enabled, turning those features off results in a flat and tinny sound.

This is unusual, as most headphones sound best with all digital enhancements turned off. The reviewer found that the Ace Ultra sounded the best when noise cancellation was on, with a slightly too bass-heavy sound that worked well for music like Black Sabbath's "War Pigs".

Lossless audio support over Bluetooth is another notable feature, but the reviewer noted that the Ace Ultra may not work well with all Bluetooth codecs. Instead, the reviewer suggests using a wired connection for the best sound quality. In comparison to Apple's AirPods Max 2, the Ace Ultra offers a different sonic signature, with more bass and less detail, which some may prefer.

However, the reviewer found that the Ace Ultra's Dolby Atmos support for movies and live shows on the TV made it shine, offering a more immersive experience.