Re: Sonos Ace headphones, take 2

[Joshua Hendrickson]

My apple airpods max e my main headphones I use these days. I really should get the earpads replaced. However, I don’t want to pay $70 from apple for a new set. Sent from my quantum phone!! On Jun 13, 2025, at 8:51 AM, 'Richard Turner' via VIPhone <viphone@googlegroups.com> wrote:  Sonos Ace headphones The Sonos Ace headphones were on sale for $329, regularly $449, so I ordered them from Amazon, though Sonos has the same price, but I knew I could easily return them to Amazon if I decided not to keep them. I have the Apple Airpods Max headphones that I bought a few years ago so I am going to compare the two from my perspective.  Everyone has different hearing, different preferences, so this is just my take based on my hearing…   IN the box are the headphones, a paper that looks like a CD case, and a small pouch that you squeeze to open one half… IN the paper trifold package is the printed quick-start guide, and two cables.  One is USBC to USBC and the other is USBC to a 3.5 MM jack. The headphones come in a pretty sturdy, zippered case. Once you wind up the cables and put them in the smaller pouch, you discover that the pouch is magnetic and will attach to the inside of the zippered headphone case. I would say they weigh remarkably close to the same as the Apple Airpods Max.   Sonos clearly used the Apple headphones as a model since the ear cushions attach much the same way as the Apple ones do, that is, they are held in place by magnets.  They have a similar steel bar over the head with padding that makes them very comfortable. Inside the ear cushions are embossed letters, R for right, and L for left.  If you know print letters, they are truly clear. On the left ear is the USBC port and the power button. On the right ear, is the volume control which also serves as the button for answering calls, making voice calls, pausing and playing, etc. There is also the noise cancelation/aware mode button. The instructions say they take about 3 hours to charge from 0 to 100% and will last up to 30 hours on full charge.  From 0%, if you charge them for 3 minutes, you get 3 hours of use they say.   When you turn them on, they are in pairing mode.  Nothing is spoken, but there are sounds you will learn quickly.   I paired them with my iPhone.  I've evaluated them with spoken word, and a few music styles.  The base is very clear, and the treble is good, but perhaps not quite as bright as the Apple Airpods Max, but still quite good.  What is hard to put into words is the differences in the sound.  The Apple ones may be a little brighter, but the base is clearer with the Sonos.  The overall sound I would say is close enough that one would have to compare them to see which is preferred.   When I opened the Sonos App, I had to try about three times to get them to connect to Sonos, and then it said there was an update.  I chose to go ahead and do the update, which took about 15 minutes, but it worked. You then have to set them up to be able to swap audio between a Sonos Sound Bar and the Sonos Ace headphones.  You cannot have both the Sound Bar and the headphones playing at the same time.  I have not listened to a movie as yet, but I'm sure it will sound great! I noticed after I used them with my Sonos Arc, that when I switched back to the Arc with the TV playing, only the Arc was playing, not the other speakers I have connected with the Arc.  So, I had to go into the Output selector and select my All Speakers setting, then they all came back.   I added my iPad to the Sonos Ace.  It went smoothly. It is pretty easy to switch between devices through the Bluetooth settings.   My overall impression is that the Sonos Ace may have a bit more depth in their sound and a little more separation in stereo and surround sound than the Airpods Max, and since they have a separate power button, you can be more sure with the Ace headphones that they are off.  They also have the wear detection, i.e. if you take them off, they stop whatever was playing. At this point, I think I will keep them and give my wife the Airpods Max; but I won't make a final decision until next week after I have had more time with them.           Richard, USA “Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass. It's about learning how to dance in the rain.” — Vivian Greene   My web site: https:/www.turner42.com/     -- The following information is important for all members of the V iPhone list.   If you have any questions or concerns about the running of this list, or if you feel that a member's post is inappropriate, please contact the owners or moderators directly rather than posting on the list itself.   Your V iPhone list moderator is Mark Taylor. Mark can be reached at: mk...@ucla.edu. Your list owner is Cara Quinn - you can reach Cara at caraqu...@caraquinn.com   The archives for this list can be searched at: http://www.mail-archive.com/viphone@googlegroups.com/ --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "VIPhone" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to viphone+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. 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