Sonos has released the Ace Ultra, a new flagship over-ear headphone that refines the formula introduced by the original Sonos Ace. The new model keeps the same minimalist silhouette and premium mix of plastics and metal, but it changes much of what happens under the surface. The company has redesigned the 40mm drivers, increased the microphone array from eight to ten, improved adaptive active noise cancellation, and extended battery life to up to 35 hours with ANC enabled. Bluetooth has also moved from 5.4 to 6.0, and the EQ system now includes both three-band and advanced eight-band controls. Sonos has added user-replaceable batteries, updated the ear and headband cushion materials, and increased ear cup rotation so the headphones can rest flat around the neck. Two new colors, Agave and Sand, join Black and White.

The Ace Ultra is available now for $449, the same launch price as the original Ace. It can be purchased from Sonos's website and Amazon. The original Sonos Ace remains available for $239 while supplies last, which makes it an interesting alternative for buyers who want the first-generation design at a lower price. At $449, the Ace Ultra competes with premium noise-canceling headphones from Apple, Bose, and Sony. That is a crowded and highly capable segment, so Sonos needs more than a familiar name to stand out. The changes suggest the company focused on the right areas: bass response, ANC performance, app flexibility, and long-term ownership.

What's New Compared With the Original Sonos Ace

Sonos has made several hardware and software changes that separate the Ace Ultra from the original model. The most notable updates include redesigned 40mm drivers, a 10-microphone array, improved adaptive ANC that is said to be up to twice as effective, longer battery life, Bluetooth 6.0, expanded EQ controls, headphones linking with the Sonos ecosystem, user-replaceable batteries, updated ear and headband cushion materials, more ear cup rotation, and two new colors. These are not cosmetic tweaks. They target the areas that matter most in daily use: sound quality, noise cancellation, comfort, connectivity, and long-term durability.

• Redesigned 40mm drivers for improved acoustics.
• 10-microphone array, up from eight microphones on the original.
• Improved adaptive ANC, stated to be up to 2X more effective and able to adjust to glasses, hair, and changes in the seal around the ears.
• Longer battery life with up to 35 hours with ANC turned on.
• Bluetooth 6.0 versus Bluetooth 5.4 on the older generation.
• Expanded EQ controls with three-band and advanced eight-band options.
• Headphones linking with the Sonos ecosystem.
• User-replaceable batteries.
• Updated ear and headband cushion materials.
• More rotation of the ear cups so they can sit flat when around the neck.
• Two new colors: Agave and Sand.

The most important of these changes are the redesigned acoustics, the stronger bass response, and the improved noise cancellation. The original Ace had a polished but sometimes restrained low end, and some users reported a rare hissing noise when ANC was active. The Ace Ultra aims to fix both issues. The new drivers and tuning deliver more low-end impact, while the enlarged microphone array and updated ANC algorithm are said to be up to twice as effective. Sonos also says the adaptive system can account for glasses, hair, and changes in the seal around the ears, which are common real-world factors that can weaken noise cancellation.

The Ace Ultra retains several features from the original model: spatial audio with Dolby Atmos, dynamic head tracking, lossless audio on supported devices, USB-C and 3.5mm wired audio support, Bluetooth multipoint, fast charging that provides up to three hours of playback from a three-minute charge, and TV Audio Swap with compatible Sonos soundbars. Those features keep the Ace Ultra well-rounded for both music and home theater use. The magnetic ear cups also return, making it easy to replace worn cushions without replacing the entire headphone.

Design, Comfort, and Build Quality

At first glance, the Ace Ultra looks very similar to the original Ace. The design remains clean and understated, with chrome accents placed slightly differently and new color options. The materials combine plastic and metal to create a premium but lightweight feel. The ear cups still attach magnetically, and the updated cushion materials are designed to improve long-term comfort. The ear cups also rotate more than before, allowing them to sit flatter when the headphones are worn around the neck. That small change makes a difference for commuters and travelers who frequently take the headphones on and off.

Comfort has been a strong point for the Ace line, and the Ultra continues that tradition. In extended testing, the headphones remained comfortable during long flights, including an eight-to-ten-hour trip where they were worn for the vast majority of the time. There were no reported aches, pain, or heat buildup. That matters because premium headphones are often worn for hours at a time, whether during work, travel, or casual listening. A comfortable fit also helps ANC perform better, since a consistent seal is essential for blocking outside noise.

Sound Quality: More Bass Without Losing Clarity

The biggest improvement is bass. The original Ace had acceptable bass, but at $450 many listeners expected more depth and impact, especially for R&B, hip-hop, and pop. The Ace Ultra delivers substantially more punch and low-end extension. Importantly, Sonos did not simply raise the bass slider. The difficult part of tuning a bass-forward headphone is preserving separation so that low frequencies do not overwhelm vocals, instruments, and higher frequencies. The Ace Ultra manages this balance well. Bass hits harder, but vocals remain clear and crisp. The improvement applies across media, including podcasts, movies, and online videos, not just music.

The new EQ controls give listeners more ways to adjust the sound. The three-band EQ provides quick bass, mid, and treble adjustments, while the advanced eight-band EQ allows more precise tuning. That is a meaningful upgrade for anyone who wants to tailor the headphones to different genres or personal preferences. The redesigned 40mm drivers provide the hardware foundation, and the software EQ gives users the flexibility to fine-tune the result. For a premium headphone, that combination is important because no single tuning will satisfy every listener.

Adaptive Noise Cancellation and the 10-Mic Array

The improved ANC is immediately noticeable. The 10-microphone array dynamically pushes more sound away from the listener. Even with no media playing, the headphones create an impressive sense of quiet in many environments. The biggest improvement is in handling unpredictable noises. Blocking a constant sound like an airplane engine is one challenge; blocking passing cars, construction, sirens, or sudden loud sounds while walking outside is another. The Ace Ultra appears to handle those dynamic situations better than the original.

The adaptive system is also designed to adjust to glasses, hair, and changes in the seal around the ears. Those factors can create small gaps that reduce ANC effectiveness. By accounting for them, the headphones can maintain stronger noise reduction without requiring a perfect fit. This is the kind of improvement that may not show up in a spec sheet but becomes obvious in daily use. The original Ace occasionally produced a hissing noise in ANC mode; the new model has reportedly alleviated that issue, which is another sign of a more polished implementation.

Battery Life, Charging, and Connectivity

Battery life has increased to up to 35 hours with ANC turned on. That is enough for long trips, multiple workdays, or a week of commutes without frequent charging. Fast charging remains a highlight: a three-minute charge provides up to three hours of playback. That is useful when a battery is low and there is no time for a full charge. Bluetooth 6.0 is a forward-looking upgrade from Bluetooth 5.4, and Bluetooth multipoint lets the headphones connect to more than one device at once. USB-C and 3.5mm wired audio support add flexibility for devices that prefer a cable, including in-flight entertainment systems and some audio gear. Lossless audio is supported on compatible devices, and spatial audio with Dolby Atmos plus dynamic head tracking remains available for immersive content.

User-replaceable batteries are another important addition. Premium headphones are often kept for years, and battery degradation is one of the main reasons people replace them. By making the battery replaceable, Sonos improves the long-term value of the Ace Ultra and reduces electronic waste. That feature also aligns with a broader trend in consumer electronics, where repairability and sustainability are becoming more important to buyers. The updated ear and headband cushions further extend the product's lifespan, since cushions are among the first parts to wear out.

Sonos Ecosystem and App Experience

For people who already own Sonos speakers, the Ace Ultra fits into a wider home audio system. A new feature lets users move music from a Sonos speaker to the headphones with the press of a button. That is a convenient way to transition from room listening to private listening without manually reconnecting. The feature may not be used every day, but it reinforces the advantage of staying inside the Sonos ecosystem. The app experience has also been improved, with expanded EQ controls and smoother operation. The original Ace's app experience was one of the areas that left some users wanting more; the Ultra appears to address that with more granular controls and better integration.

One remaining complaint concerns the headphone case. The zipper or mechanism can cause a sticker to get stuck too often. That is a small issue compared with sound and ANC, but it is the kind of detail that affects daily ownership. A premium product should have a case that feels equally refined. Apart from that, the hardware and software experience is reported to be much more complete than the first generation.

Pricing, Colors, and Availability

The Sonos Ace Ultra is available now for $449 in Black, White, Agave, and Sand. It can be ordered from Sonos's site and Amazon. The original Sonos Ace is available for $239 while supplies last. At $240, the original remains a solid option for buyers who want the core Sonos headphone experience at a lower price. But the Ultra's improvements in bass, ANC, battery life, EQ, and replaceable batteries make a strong case for the newer model. At $450, the Ace Ultra sits firmly in the premium noise-canceling category alongside options from Apple, Bose, and Sony. Each of those competitors has strengths in areas like ecosystem integration, noise cancellation, or sound tuning. The Ace Ultra's advantage is its combination of Sonos ecosystem features, comfortable design, spatial audio, and now more competitive bass and ANC.

For existing Sonos Ace owners, the upgrade decision depends on what they value. Those who want deeper bass, stronger ANC, longer battery life, and more EQ control will find enough improvements to justify the move. Those who mainly use the original Ace for casual listening and are satisfied with its performance may choose to wait. For new buyers, the Ace Ultra belongs on the shortlist for premium wireless headphones, especially for people already invested in Sonos speakers or soundbars. The $449 price is not inexpensive, but it matches the original launch price while adding meaningful upgrades. The original Ace at $239 also remains a value option while supplies last. In the premium headphone market, the Ace Ultra now competes more directly with the best from Apple, Bose, and Sony, and that alone shows how much Sonos has improved its second-generation flagship.

Source:9to5Mac News