Sonos, the renowned audio company known for its high-quality speakers and soundbars, has just announced its foray into the world of personal audio with the launch of the Sonos Ace headphones.

After what feels like years of rumours and speculation, Sonos has finally made the dive into the world of headphones, and at an event in New York this week. I got to see firsthand what these headphones sound like and feel like and how they fit into the overall Sonos range of products.

I was skeptical that Sonos could bring what makes the brand so iconic to many audio lovers to a set of Bluetooth headphones, but at least after first impressions, I am excited. The Sonos Ace headphones boast impressive features, including custom-designed 40 mm dynamic drivers in each cup for superior precision and clarity and eight microphones that deliver world-class noise cancellation and crystal-clear voice quality for phone and video calls. The headphones also support spatial audio, allowing users to immerse themselves in their favourite content with Dolby Atmos head tracking.

With the promise of up to 30 hours of battery life via Bluetooth and active noise cancellation, the Sonos Ace headphones are built to last through long commutes, extended work sessions, or even a full day of travel. The quick-charge feature also provides three hours of listening time with just a three-minute charge, so you never have to worry about running out of power at an inconvenient time.

It’s a long list of features, and the company representatives walked us through each one to show why this is such a big change from the everyday headphones you can buy from any of a myriad of companies. While the sound was good, and they thought it was fantastic, perhaps the most exciting thing is that it can integrate with your current system, seamlessly bringing your audio from your Sonos Arc soundbar to your headphones.

“With the promise of up to 30 hours of battery life via Bluetooth and active noise cancellation, the Sonos Ace headphones are built to last through long commutes, extended work sessions, or even a full day of travel.”

It may sound like a small feature, but I’ve been wanting it in headphones for a long time, and I’m sure anyone living in a house where some people go to bed early has wanted it. With the click of a button, you can instantly switch between the soundbar and the headphones, so you can continue to enjoy your movies or games without worrying about being too loud.

At launch, it will only support the Sonos Arc, but I was assured that the feature will come to the full line of Sonos soundbars in a future update. The company’s unique TrueCinema feature will also be coming to Android a little later, starting with support for iOS. It was unclear how soon the new features would hit the app after launch, but I was told it wouldn’t be long.

Even if movies are not your thing, these new headphones are packed with technology and design. The Sonos Ace is compatible with both Qualcomm Snapdragon Sound AptX Lossless and Apple Lossless Audio Codec, allowing users to experience a deeper connection to their music when streaming lossless audio over Bluetooth or USB-C. The headphones also offer adjustable EQ settings via the Sonos app, giving users the ability to fine-tune their listening experience.

Director of Product Marketing at Sonos, Raphael Jose, explained the company’s decision to enter the wearables market: “The wearables market is enormous, a $5 billion category. Customers have been asking for this. Bringing our signature sound into a wearable device that people can use on the go is a significant step for us.”

The Sonos Ace headphones keep with the brand’s track record of crafting modern audio hardware, looking both stylish and comfortable. Available in black and soft white finishes with a matte, stainless steel accent, these headphones are designed for all-day wear. The pillowy soft memory foam ear cups gently conform to the user’s head, providing an airy and comfortable fit for extended listening sessions or even phone calls, should you want to enjoy that aspect of the headphones.

“With its groundbreaking capabilities and industry-leading dynamic head tracking and spatial audio, the Sonos Ace headphones are set to redefine personal listening.”

“One aspect I’m particularly proud of is the telephony feature. We’ve worked hard to ensure clear, crisp sound for calls with microphones that reduce background noise. This feature meets customer expectations and enhances the overall experience,” added Jose.

The combination of the Sonos Ace headphones’ advanced features and seamless integration with Sonos home theatre systems promises to deliver an unparalleled listening experience. With its groundbreaking capabilities and industry-leading dynamic head tracking and spatial audio, the Sonos Ace headphones are set to redefine personal listening.

After spending time with the Sonos Ace, I have to admit there is a lot to like here. The audio profile keeps the brand’s attention to creative audio tuning, with the Ace bringing a rich and vibrant sound to every track I got to listen to during the preview. The Ace is also fantastically comfortable, sitting well on my head and even after the full listing session, never causing any of the pain points I find with many over-ear headphones.

Even better is the ANC noise cancellation. These are headphones that help audio sound fantastic and give you easy ways to block out the outside world without distorting or taking away from your listening experience. It’s hard to say exactly how well the Sonos Ace compares to other ANC found on competing brands, but they sounded very good from the session. But as with anything hardware-related, we will need hands-on time before we can truly say if they are up to competing with the Bose, Sennheiser, or Sony headphones that people flock to when they want high-end portable audio.

The Sonos Ace headphones will be available in various markets in North America, Europe, Asia and Oceania starting June 5, with prices starting at USD $449, GBP £449, EUR €499 and AUD $699. As Sonos continues to push the boundaries of audio technology and innovation, the launch of the Ace headphones marks an exciting new chapter for the company and its dedicated fan base.