Sonos Ace Ultra review: stronger sound and expanded features

TechRadar’s Harry Padoan says the Sonos Ace Ultra deliver a major improvement over the original Sonos Ace, especially for music. The wireless over-ear headphones use enhanced custom 40mm drivers and a new headphone engine, while also adding better battery life, noise cancellation and EQ controls.

Compared with the original model, the Ace Ultra offer a more open soundstage, clearer detail and better balance across bass, mids and treble. Padoan says the Sony WH-1000XM6 and Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 still provide slightly more detailed sound for music, but the gap is small. Dolby Atmos performance remains strong for movies, with effective head-tracking, clear dialogue and powerful bass.

Two additional microphones bring the total to ten. Adaptive ANC and transparency mode are also included. Battery life reaches up to 35 hours with ANC enabled, compared with the 30-hour standard Padoan cites for headphones in this price range. A rapid-charge mode provides three hours of playback after three minutes of charging, and the battery is replaceable.

The headphones now offer an eight-band equalizer and adaptive EQ, alongside the standard model’s two-band equalizer. TV Audio Swap and the new Headphone Linking feature transfer audio from compatible Sonos devices. The Ace Ultra arrived two years after the original Ace and retain a similar design, although the case and lack of full folding draw criticism.

Padoan concludes that the improvements are substantial, while noting that some rivals remain better for sonic detail and travel convenience.