Comfort That Lasts Miles
Travelling with headphones often exposes their flaws—ear strain, neck fatigue, or an uncomfortable fit during long hours in transit. Over two week-long back-to-back trips filled with flights and cab rides, the Sonos Ace stood out as a companion I barely noticed I was wearing. The plush cushions on the ear cups and the featherlight headband make them incredibly easy to wear, and the snug fit ensures they stay securely in place, even when you’re on the move.
This mix of comfort with excellent sound quality is what makes the Sonos Ace a good pick — something that has convinced me to even think about spending around ₹40,000 on a pair of headphones. Sonos has absolutely nailed the ergonomics here, making the Ace ideal for long-haul flights, daily commutes, or marathon music sessions.
Physical Controls Over Touch Panels
In an era where touch controls are everywhere, Sonos has made a refreshing choice by sticking with physical buttons—and honestly, I’m all for it. The right ear cup features a Content Key slider for volume control and track navigation. A single press pauses or plays music, while double and triple presses skip forward or backward, respectively.
Below the slider, there’s a dedicated button to toggle between Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) and the excellent ‘Aware’ transparency mode. On the left ear cup, you’ll find a USB-C port and a power/Bluetooth pairing button. Multipoint Bluetooth support allows you to stay connected to two devices at once, and on-head detection automatically pauses music when you take the headphones off.
Easy Pairing
The initial pairing process wasn’t totally seamless—I did fumble a bit trying to figure it out. But once connected, the headphones reliably paired with my phone every time I powered them on. It’s one of those small details that makes a big difference in daily use.
Battery Life
Battery life clocks in at an impressive 30 hours, which means you can easily get through a long-haul flight and still have juice left. Whether you’re travelling, working, or binge-listening to your favourite playlists, battery anxiety won’t be an issue here.
Sound Quality
Sonos didn’t try to reinvent the wheel with their audio tuning—but honestly, they didn’t need to. Music playback is well-balanced, with clear highs, smooth mids, and punchy bass. iPhone users get AAC codec support, while some Android devices can tap into AptX Adaptive for higher-quality streaming.
Sonos’ Aware mode also deserves a shout-out. Transparency modes on headphones often sound artificial or overly amplified, but the Ace delivers a strikingly natural passthrough experience. It’s pretty close to my experience on Apple’s AirPods Pro and incredibly useful during travel — letting you hear flight announcements or have quick conversations without needing to take the headphones off.
Verdict
The Sonos Ace headphones check almost every box: comfort, sound quality, noise cancellation, and transparency mode. They may not introduce groundbreaking new features, but they refine existing ones to near perfection.
For frequent travellers, audiophiles, or anyone who just wants a genuinely premium listening experience, the Sonos Ace isn’t just a debut effort — it’s a solid product that confidently earns its place among the best out there. Yes, they’re pricey, but if comfort, sound quality, and reliability are priorities for you, the Sonos Ace headphones are worth every penny.
