TL;DR: The Sonos Ace Ultra finally make Sonos headphones a true part of the family, with Wi-Fi headphone linking, richer sound, twice the noise cancellation, excellent comfort and a 35-hour battery. Headphone linking arrives in Early Access with more to come. A must-buy for Sonos owners and a brilliant start for future ones.
Sequels are supposed to level up the original
Every great franchise has that moment where the sequel arrives and takes everything you loved about the first chapter to the next level. Think of how The Empire Strikes Back deepened everything A New Hope set up, or how Mass Effect 2 kept the soul of the first game while sharpening every system around it. The Sonos Ace Ultra are that kind of follow-up. The original Ace earned a loyal following thanks to their comfort, polish and the clever trick of pulling TV sound from a Sonos soundbar straight to your ears. The Ace Ultra take that foundation and connect the headphones to the entire Sonos experience, turning them into a true member of the household rather than a guest at the party.
Available from September 29, 2026 at Dhs. 1,899.00, the Ace Ultra take the flagship spot while the first-generation Ace steps down to a lower price. From across the room, the two look nearly identical, and that’s a smart decision, because the clean, understated design was already one of the original’s best qualities. The real upgrades live inside: a new 40mm driver, a ten-microphone array, adaptive noise cancellation, a proper 8-band EQ, a bigger battery and an entirely new hardware platform that lets the headphones join your Sonos system over Wi-Fi. This is the pair that fully delivers on the promise Sonos made when it first stepped into headphones, and it’s an exciting one to wrap your head around, quite literally.
Headphone Engine 2: the upgrade you can’t see
The secret weapon of the Ace Ultra is something you’ll never actually look at. They’re built on Headphone Engine 2, a new platform with redesigned Wi-Fi antennas and secure credential storage that allows the headphones to connect directly to your Sonos system and participate in it like any speaker would. The original Ace ran on the first-generation engine, which kept them tethered close to a soundbar for TV Audio Swap. The new architecture frees the Ace Ultra to move through your home while staying connected, which is the technical leap that makes everything else in this review possible. It’s the equivalent of a character unlocking a whole new skill tree rather than just getting a stat boost.
That also explains why headphone linking is exclusive to the Ace Ultra, as the original Ace simply don’t have the hardware to support it. The Ace Ultra arrive alongside Sonos 27, the latest version of the company’s audio operating system, which introduces Sonos Fabric, a system capability that lets Sonos products sense one another and adapt to the moment. Headphone linking is one of the first features Fabric powers, sitting next to portable surrounds that turn a Move 2 or Sonos Play into rear speakers the instant they’re placed in position. Sonos 27 also brings its own music-focused voice assistant and support for outside AI assistants, including ChatGPT, for controlling the system. The Ace Ultra aren’t just new headphones; they’re part of a much bigger vision for how sound should flow through a home.
Headphone linking is the main event
Here’s the feature that transforms the Ace Ultra from premium headphones into genuine Sonos headphones. Once linked, they stream any Sonos content directly over Wi-Fi without needing your phone nearby, so you can leave your handset charging in another room and keep listening. Start a playlist on a speaker, press the Content Key to pull it onto your ears, then press again to send it back out loud, or handle the whole thing from the Sonos app. Music, podcasts, radio and line-in sources like a turntable all reach the headphones exactly the way they reach any Sonos speaker. If separate rooms are playing separate music, moving one stream to your ears leaves the rest of the house untouched, which is the kind of quiet magic that makes the Sonos ecosystem worth its premium.
Compatibility is impressively wide, covering the Amp, Arc, Arc SL, Arc Ultra, Beam Gen 1, Beam Gen 2, Beam Ultra, Era 100, Era 100 SL, Era 100 Pro, Era 300, Five, Move, Move 2, Ray, Roam, Roam SL, Roam 2 and Sonos Play, and the feature comes at no additional cost. It launches as an opt-in Early Access feature, which makes owning the Ace Ultra feel a little like getting a founder’s pass to something that will keep evolving. During this phase, one linking session runs per system at a time, only the household member hosting the session sees it in the app, and audio returning from your ears flows to the nearest speaker for a quick, simple handoff. Streaming over Wi-Fi through headphone linking currently uses a high-quality compressed stereo stream tuned for rock-solid reliability, while lossless listening on the Ace Ultra remains fully available through aptX Lossless over Bluetooth or a wired USB-C connection. With all that Wi-Fi bandwidth waiting in reserve, the best of this feature may genuinely still be ahead, like a game that keeps getting better with every season update.
TV Audio Swap, Bluetooth 6.0 and every way in
TV Audio Swap returns and remains one of the most practical tricks in the headphone world. Pair the Ace Ultra with a compatible Sonos soundbar, set it up once in the app and you can flip between room-filling movie sound and private listening whenever a partner, roommate or sleeping toddler needs some peace. Late-night action movies, explosive boss fights and booming soundtracks no longer have to wait until everyone else is out of the house. It runs over Wi-Fi, keeping everything tightly woven into your home system. Between this and headphone linking, the Ace Ultra cover both your TV and your entire music library without missing a beat.
Away from home, Bluetooth 6.0 handles everything with SBC, AAC and aptX Adaptive Lossless codecs, while iPhone users also get AirPlay support. Lossless audio is available through aptX Lossless with a supported device or via a wired USB-C connection, delivering CD-quality 16-bit/48kHz sound that will satisfy the vast majority of listeners. Spatial audio and Dolby Atmos are supported too with compatible content and devices, which makes movies and immersive mixes feel properly cinematic. Multipoint pairing lets you add extra devices with a long press of the power button and jump between Bluetooth sources with a double tap, perfect for flipping from laptop to phone mid-day. A USB-C to 3.5mm cable is included for in-flight entertainment systems still living in the wired era.
Sound quality: richer, bolder and fully yours to shape
The custom 40mm driver inside each ear cup features a redesigned motor structure with an extra outer ring magnet, and the step up from the original Ace is easy to appreciate. Bass lands with real weight and drive while vocals stay front and center, and stereo imaging gives instruments plenty of room to breathe. Sonos brought in Oscar and Grammy-winning engineers to help shape the tuning, and that cinematic pedigree shows in how confidently the sound carries everything from film scores to pop anthems. The result is a lively, engaging signature built for people who genuinely love their music. Kick drums punch, guitars spread wide and the whole presentation has an energy that keeps you pressing play on one more track.
Where the Ace Ultra really shine is in how much control they hand over. Both a 3-band and an 8-band EQ live in the Sonos app, alongside a Loudness toggle, so you can sculpt the sound precisely, whether you want more vocal presence for podcasts or extra sparkle for orchestral scores. Adaptive EQ adds another layer of intelligence, measuring the seal and fit of each ear cup and adjusting in real time for glasses, hair and other acoustic leaks so your bass never quietly disappears. The 8-band EQ is exclusive to the Ultra, making it one of the clearest reasons to step up to the new model. Spend five minutes dialing it in and you’ll have a sound profile that feels custom-built for your ears.
Noise cancellation and calls: twice the quiet
The Ace Ultra jump from eight microphones to ten, and the payoff is dramatic: noise cancellation is roughly twice as effective as the original Ace at the frequencies that matter most. That works out to 2.2 times more cancellation at 65Hz, where air conditioning hum lives, and 1.8 times more at 120Hz, the heart of airplane cabin drone. Adaptive ANC reacts faster to your environment and recalibrates when head movement, glasses or hair change the fit. The new rebound foam cushions handle the sharper stuff passively, muting keyboard clatter and the hiss of an espresso machine before the electronics even get involved. For commuters, frequent flyers and anyone living with a noisy air conditioner, that combination creates a seriously comfortable bubble.
The same ten-microphone array powers Aware mode, which blends in your surroundings with depth and detail while softening sudden loud noises, and Voice Boost, which brings human speech forward so conversations come through clearly. On calls, beamforming microphones isolate your voice from background noise, and 32kHz high-resolution calling keeps both sides of the conversation crisp. Sidetone lets you hear your own voice naturally while ANC is running, so you won’t end up accidentally shouting through a meeting like a raid leader on voice chat. Switching between ANC and Aware takes one press of the dedicated button, and a long press summons your voice assistant. For hybrid workers who live on calls, this is one of the most quietly valuable upgrades of all.
Comfort and controls: hour ten feels like minute one
Comfort was the original Ace’s superpower, and the Ultra carry that torch proudly. At 322g, they’re practically the same weight as before, with independently rotating ear cups and an extendable headband that lock in a personal fit. A reinforced headband and sturdier hinges hold their shape through daily use, while the plush rebound foam cushions form a secure acoustic seal even over glasses and earrings. The clamping force is carefully judged, snug enough for a proper seal without ever feeling tight. These are the kind of headphones you forget you’re wearing until someone asks you a question.
The physical controls are a delight. The Content Key on the right ear cup slides for volume and presses to play, pause, skip or swap sound with the nearest Sonos speaker, while a noise control button sits alongside it. The left cup houses the power and Bluetooth button plus a status LED that shows connection and power at a glance. Smart wear detection pauses your audio when you lift them off and resumes when they’re back on. Real buttons you can find blindfolded make every interaction instant and satisfying, and they feel refreshingly confident in a world full of finicky touch panels.
A battery built for marathons
The 1060mAh battery delivers up to 35 hours of listening with ANC or Aware mode on, and even more with both switched off. That’s enough to carry you from a morning playlist through an entire day and straight into movie night without reaching for a cable. Forget to charge before heading out and a three-minute top-up from empty delivers around three hours of playback, while a full charge takes up to three hours. A low power mode, toggled in the Sonos app, stretches battery life by up to 30 percent, a clever lifeline for long-haul flights or marathon gaming sessions. Few things in tech feel as liberating as headphones you stop worrying about.
The felt-wrapped carrying case returns lighter than before, made from roughly 80 percent recycled material, and keeps its magnetic pouch for the included USB-C to USB-C and USB-C to 3.5mm cables. It’s a small detail, but one that keeps everything organized and ready to grab. Combined with the battery stamina, the Ace Ultra feel engineered for people who genuinely live in their headphones. Whether you’re traveling, working or just shutting out the world for a while, they’re ready when you are. Every one of these touches points to a product designed by people who actually wear headphones all day.
Built to last, designed to impress
This is one of the most admirable parts of the Ace Ultra story. The vegan leather ear cushions attach magnetically and pop off for easy replacement, and the battery can be swapped as well, giving these headphones a lifespan well beyond the usual ownership cycle. Sonos used fasteners instead of glue wherever possible, which makes refurbishing, repairing and recycling far more realistic. The materials include 46 percent recycled and renewable content overall, along with the company’s first use of bio-based plastics. Premium headphones designed to stay with you for years feel like exactly the right direction for the category.
The Ace Ultra come in Black, Soft White, Agave and Sand, all in a refined matte finish with subtle metallic accents. Black and white are widely available, while the striking Agave and Sand finishes are offered through Sonos directly and select retailers. Every colorway looks premium without shouting for attention, and Agave in particular brings a welcome splash of personality to a category dominated by black and silver. These are headphones designed to blend effortlessly into your life while still turning a few heads. Sustainable, stylish and built for the long haul is a combination that’s easy to love.
The Sonos app and Sonos 27: the brains behind the headphones
The Ace Ultra arrive as part of Sonos 27, the newest version of the company’s audio operating system, rolling out as a software update to all Sonos S2 products. The redesigned app brings cleaner, more intuitive navigation, shaped and tested with input from the Sonos community, and it’s where much of the Ace Ultra’s personality lives. From here you can fine-tune sound with the 3-band or 8-band EQ, toggle Loudness, switch on low power mode to stretch battery life by up to 30 percent, and set up TV Audio Swap and headphone linking. It’s also where you can find and play music from all your services directly on the headphones, turning them into a fully fledged Sonos listening zone. The app is no longer just a remote, it’s mission control for your entire sound universe.
Sonos 27 also opens the door to a smarter, more flexible way of controlling your system. Alongside the app, you can use Sonos 27voice, the company’s own assistant built for music and mood curation, or Sonos 27web from a browser. Sonos 27mcp, launching in Early Access, lets you connect outside AI assistants and agents, including ChatGPT, so you can ask for music anywhere in your home without leaving the conversation. Sonos has even previewed Custom Agents, which will let you create your own assistants with their own model, persona and voice, like building a personal JARVIS for your speakers. Paired with Sonos Fabric, the system capability that powers headphone linking, it’s clear the Ace Ultra are joining a platform that’s only going to get smarter with time.
Who are the Sonos Ace Ultra really for
If you already live in a Sonos home, the Ace Ultra are the missing piece of the puzzle. Moving music from the kitchen speaker to your ears, or a late-night movie from the soundbar to your head, makes your whole system feel more personal. With compatibility across nearly the entire lineup, from the Ray and Era 100 to the Arc Ultra and Beam Ultra, your existing speakers are likely ready to go. Original Ace owners gain richer sound, twice the noise cancellation at key frequencies, the 8-band EQ, a bigger battery and headphone linking.
They’re also a smart starting point for anyone planning to build a Sonos setup over time. On their own, they’re supremely comfortable, beautifully built headphones with engaging sound, strong ANC, excellent calls and multipoint Bluetooth. Add a Sonos soundbar or speaker later and a whole new dimension opens up, like a game where every expansion makes the world bigger. For music lovers, movie fans and gamers who value comfort and connected home audio, these are an inspiring pick.
Verdict
The Sonos Ace Ultra are a smart, confident sequel that brings the headphones fully into the Sonos family. Headphone Engine 2 unlocks Wi-Fi headphone linking that streams music, podcasts, radio and even vinyl without a phone nearby, while the new 40mm drivers, adaptive EQ, 8-band EQ, ten-microphone noise cancellation, crisp calls, 35-hour battery and outstanding comfort make them excellent everyday headphones in their own right. Headphone linking launches as an Early Access feature, which means one of their most exciting capabilities will keep growing over time, while lossless listening is already on tap through aptX Lossless and USB-C. Add multipoint Bluetooth, Dolby Atmos support and an impressively repair-friendly design, and the package feels complete. At Dhs. 1,899.00, they’re an easy recommendation for Sonos owners and a superb foundation for anyone building a connected home audio setup.
