The first pair of Bluetooth noise-canceling headphones from WiFi manufacturer Sonos has been revealed. These headphones are meant to be the ideal home theatre sound system, but they can also be used on the go.
The Ace headphones have a distinctive party trick: they can link to a compatible Sonos speaker over wifi at the touch of a button to provide a full cinematic sound experience without disturbing the rest of your house. The Ace appears like sleek, understated normal headphones.
Using the head tracking sensors in your headphones, the soundbar can simulate the room’s acoustics and create the illusion that you are not wearing any.
Additionally, the audio exchange capability works with TV shows, movies, game consoles, and anything else fed into the soundbar from the TV, unlike competing systems from companies like Apple and others.
Sonos debuts Ace headphones
With eight microphones for efficient noise cancellation and beamforming for phone calls, the Ace rivals conventional headphones from industry giants Bose, Sony, and Apple when used outside the home. For accurate, high-fidelity audio, custom 40mm drivers have been fine-tuned in association with over 50 elite music producers.
Grammy-winning Giles Martin, who oversees Sonos’ audio experience, stated: “Headphones should provide a pleasant listening experience that isn’t overly bright or emphasised in any one area.” We have started from scratch to make the Ace sound as authentic to the source material as we can because they must be open and truthful.
The Ace is compatible with standard Bluetooth 5.4, allowing it to be connected to tablets, smartphones, and other devices. However, they also enable Dolby Atmos spatial audio from compatible devices and services for films on the move, as well as lossless audio playback over Bluetooth with Android devices certified for Snapdragon Sound or via a USB-C connection.
They link to the contentious new Sonos app for iOS and Android, which offers soundbar functions and personalization options, including a sophisticated equalizer. When charging via USB-C, the headphones can be used for up to 30 hours while maintaining noise cancellation.
The cozy over-ear headphones contain a removable ear cushion and a serviceable battery and are constructed from recycled plastic.
The black or white Ace headphones will retail for £449 (€499/$449/A$699) when they go on sale on June 5.
Sonos Ace specifications
Eight microphones and two 40mm dynamic drivers are included in the Sonos Ace. They have three different noise control modes: “off,” which turns off both Aware Mode and Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), which blocks external environmental noise, and “aware mode,” which blocks some but not all distracting noises.
The Sonos smartphone app, which allows users to change the audio’s loudness, treble, and bass, is compatible with these headphones. Users may also use the app to activate Dolby’s head-tracking feature, which replicates the sound of a home theatre.
The latest headphones from Sonos have a 3.5mm connection in addition to Bluetooth 5.4 connectivity. An LED light on the left cup’s bottom shows if the headphones are connected or not. Included with them are a Power/Bluetooth button and a Content Key that can be used to control calls and media playing by pressing and sliding up and down.
With ANC or Aware mode on, the 1,060mAh battery in the Sonos Ace headphones provides up to 30 hours of music playback or 24 hours of talk time. Charging from zero to 100 percent using a USB Type-C port takes up to three hours. A three-minute charge gives up to three hours of listening time.
For more information, visit https://www.theguardian.com/technology/article/2024/may/21/sonos-releases-ace-headphones-cinema-sound-bluetooth-wifi-noise-cancelling
