Premium Sonos Ace headphones are back on super sale. They don't even cost 7 thousand

While Sonos recently introduced premium Ace Ultra headphones with a price of 12,690 Kč, you can once again get the original model in a fantastic sale. Sonos Ace now cost 6,993 Kč with code ALZADNY30 instead of 10,990 Kč, which is the lowest price on Alza since July.

Quick summary:
✅ They make sense if you have a Sonos soundbar at home or want premium ANC headphones with a metal construction and physical buttons.
⚠️ Consider that the successor promises significantly stronger noise cancellation and ears may sweat under the faux leather earcups.
💡 For 6,993 Kč, you get headphones 5,697 Kč cheaper than the new Ace Ultra.

Ace Ultra are out, original Ace are back on sale

Sonos introduced the second generation of its headphones in September. The new Ace Ultra promise up to twice as effective noise cancellation, 35 hours of battery life, and direct connection to soundbars via Wi-Fi. On the official Sonos e-shop, they cost 12,690 Kč.

For the original Ace, this is good news, at least price-wise. They started at 12,490 Kč on the Czech market, and now you can buy them again in a big sale, almost half off the original price. And one thing paradoxically speaks for the older model: the Ultras switched to touch controls, while the Ace have a tactile slider and physical buttons, which owners praise in reviews.

Metal headband, 30 hours of battery life, and sound via USB-C

Inside each earcup sits a 40mm dynamic driver. The headphones support Dolby Atmos spatial audio with head tracking, active noise cancellation, and Aware mode, which, conversely, lets ambient sound through to your ears. Connectivity is handled by Bluetooth 5.4 with the ability to pair two devices simultaneously, so you don’t have to manually switch between your phone and laptop.

Lossless audio, however, has its conditions. Via Bluetooth, you only get it on Androids with Qualcomm chips; otherwise, a cable is needed. Via cable, they play through USB-C or a 3.5mm jack, but they don’t have the jack directly on the body, and the cable plugs into the USB-C port. The manufacturer states up to 30 hours of listening with ANC enabled, plus fast charging, where 3 minutes on the charger gives you 3 hours of music.

They make the most sense alongside a Sonos soundbar

Whoever has a Sonos soundbar at home gets a feature that regular Bluetooth headphones don’t offer. With a single press, you can switch the sound from the TV, from the soundbar to the headphones, including Dolby Atmos. An evening movie or console gaming won’t wake anyone in the apartment. According to user reviews, the switch works reliably, but one owner mentions that sometimes a soundbar restart was needed.

The construction feels luxurious. The headband is made of stainless steel, the earcups from memory foam and vegan leather can be replaced thanks to magnetic attachment, and the headphones themselves know when you take them off your head. Inside the earcups, each side is color-coded, so you won’t mix up left and right even in the dark.

What those who wear them say

On Alza, Sonos Ace have a rating of 4.4 out of 5 from 33 reviews; 85% of customers recommend them, and over 500 units have been sold. The complaint rate of 1.87% is low. Most often, people praise the build quality, strong ANC, the well-executed Aware mode, and especially the cooperation with the soundbar.

However, opinions on the sound diverge more than one would expect from such a brand. One owner rates them acoustically on par with Bowers & Wilkins PX8, while others, conversely, consider them average at full price, and one customer even returned them due to the sound. There is also a recurring complaint that ears sweat under the earcups after prolonged listening and that people with larger ears may perceive the earcups as small.

When to opt for Ultra or elsewhere instead?

If you are buying headphones mainly for the strongest possible noise cancellation for planes or subways, it makes sense to look for the successor, which promises significantly better ANC. Without any Sonos product, you also miss out on the biggest draw and mainly pay for design and craftsmanship. According to one owner, the Ace are not very suitable for sports, and iPhone owners will only enjoy lossless audio via cable.

For seven thousand, I wouldn’t hesitate, but there’s one condition

For me personally, the Sonos Ace for 6,993 Kč seem like a decent choice, but they are twice as appealing as an accessory to a Sonos soundbar. That’s where they make the most sense, and over five thousand saved compared to the newer and better-equipped Ultra model is a strong argument. They also suit someone who wants metal headphones with physical buttons and doesn’t need the absolute strongest ANC on the market. Those who don’t have Sonos at home and are purely looking for quiet on the go would probably do better to look at competing models.

Would you go for the original Sonos Ace on sale, or pay extra for the new Ultra?