Sonos Ace Ultra adds stronger noise cancellation and longer battery life

TechRadar’s Harry Padoan says the Sonos Ace Ultra make several meaningful improvements over the original Sonos Ace after two weeks of testing. The changes include a more flexible equalizer, an expanded microphone system, new smart features, longer battery life and updated drivers.

The Sonos Ace Ultra have an eight-band equalizer, compared with the original Ace’s basic two-band controls. They also add adaptive EQ, which adjusts the sound for factors such as fit, glasses and hair. The microphone count rises to ten from eight, helping improve calls and active noise cancellation. ANC can be adjusted, and the headphones also include a transparency mode.

Sonos adds Headphone Linking through Headphone Engine 2, allowing audio to move over Wi-Fi between the headphones and compatible speakers such as Sonos Play. TV Audio Swap remains available for compatible soundbars such as Sonos Arc Ultra. Dolby Atmos and head tracking support a more immersive listening experience.

Battery life rises from 30 hours with ANC on in the Sonos Ace to 35 hours in the Ace Ultra. A three-minute charge provides three hours of playback. The battery is user-replaceable with specialist kit. The headphones also use new 40mm custom drivers, which Padoan identifies as part of the sound-quality improvement.