Sonos Ace vs AirPods Max: Which headphones are higher?

.The Sonos Ace is the primary pair of wi-fi headphones from the corporate famend for its room-pounding wi-fi audio system. With premium options and a fats price ticket to match, the Sonos headphones compete with Apple’s over-ear headphones, the AirPods Max. However in a Sonos Ace versus AirPods Max comparability, which pair of high-end headphones comes out on prime?

When you’ve got the cash to spend, try the specs, professionals and cons of every mannequin in our hands-on comparability.

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Sonos Ace vs. AirPods Max comparability

If you’re able to spend massive bucks on headphones, you want the most suitable choice doable. Whereas the Sonos Ace and the AirPods Max are each glorious headphones, the best choose for you’ll rely on extra than simply sound high quality. Apple’s headphones maintain up effectively towards Sonos’ first product on this class, regardless of being in the marketplace for greater than 3.5 years. However AirPods Max’s shortcomings in some areas are actually extra evident than earlier than.

Desk of contents: Sonos Ace vs. AirPods Max comparability

Design and dimensions

• AirPods Max: 187.3 x 168.6 x 83.4 mm, 0.85 kilos (384.8 grams), aluminium end, brushed aluminum ear cups, mesh acoustic on-ear cups
• Sonos Ace: 191 x 160 x 85 mm, 0.69 kilos (312 grams), matte end, plastic ear cups, reminiscence foam on ear cups with vegan leather-based on prime

As over-ear headphones, the AirPods Max and the Sonos Ace look related. Nonetheless, some vital variations set the 2 designs aside. Apple makes use of aluminum development and ear cups for the AirPods Max to offer it a extra premium feel and appear. Compared, the Sonos Ace includes a plastic-and-steel development with plastic ear cups.

Add within the Ace’s matte end, and the headphones won’t look as premium as Apple’s providing. However they nonetheless provide a stellar construct high quality that seems extra sturdy than Apple’s providing. Extra importantly, the Sonos Ace weighs round 73 gms lower than the AirPods Max. Whereas that may not appear to be an enormous deal, the added weight makes a huge impact throughout each day use. The Sonos headphones will really feel far more comfy to put on over an prolonged interval.

Each headphones use a telescopic arm, so you may modify the ear cups’ placement for the best match. On the AirPods Max, the arm is uncovered, whereas Sonos hides the arms contained in the ear cups for higher sturdiness.

The AirPods Max makes use of mesh cloth for the ear cups, which ought to be far more breathable than the Sonos Ace’s reminiscence foam. The latter, nevertheless, feels extra comfy to put on.

Sonos Ace vs. AirPods Max: One comes with an honest case

Neither of the headphones fold up for straightforward stowing. So, they don’t seem to be simple to hold round in your backpack. However no less than Sonos ships the Ace with a usable carrying case constructed from recycled plastic bottles. Compared, the AirPods Max’s good case provides little safety. No marvel it grew to become the butt of many jokes quickly after the headphones launched in late 2020.

Whereas each headphones use magnetic earcup cushions, Sonos makes use of a wiser implementation. The corporate positioned magnets with reverse polarities for every cup, so you can not snap the incorrect cushion into the incorrect earcup. In distinction, Apple places lettering inside every ear cup that will help you rapidly establish the best cushion for the best ear cup.

Lastly, Apple’s premium over-ear headphones positively win on the subject of coloration decisions. You may get the AirPods Max in 5 colours: area grey, silver, sky blue inexperienced and pink. Sonos provides its first headphones in solely black and white shades with a matte end.

Sound high quality and drivers

• AirPods Max: Apple-designed 40mm drivers, spatial audio, energetic noise cancellation, Transparency mode, Adaptive EQ
• Sonos Ace: Customized-designed 40mm drivers, spatial audio, Dolby Atmos, energetic noise cancellation, adjustable equalizer, TV Audio Swap

Given the steep price ticket, the AirPods Max and the Sonos Ace ship excellent sound high quality with clear particulars. Nonetheless, the businesses tuned their headphones in a different way, with the AirPods Max benefitting from a extra impartial and balanced sound profile. The Sonos Ace focuses extra on bass, which could please you in case you are a bass head. Nonetheless, over lengthy listening hours, this could tire out your ears quicker.

Not like the AirPods Max, the Sonos Ace provides a customizable equalizer, so you may tweak its output to your liking. Each headphones help spatial audio, with the Sonos Ace that includes Dolby Atmos. Lively noise cancellation works nice on the AirPods Max and the Sonos Ace, simply blocking out all of the noise on a busy road. Nonetheless, between the 2, I’d give the AirPods Max a slight edge on ANC.

The microphone high quality proves good on each headphones. Callers didn’t complain about my voice crackling with the AirPods Max or Sonos Ace.

Controls

• AirPods Max: Digital Crown, button
• Sonos Ace: Three buttons, together with a Content material Key

Much like the Apple Watch, the AirPods Max includes a Digital Crown. You’ll be able to rotate the crown to regulate the quantity, whereas urgent it controls audio playback. A double-click will skip to the subsequent monitor, whereas a triple-click will return to the earlier monitor. Apple’s headphones additionally include a devoted button to change between noise cancellation and Transparency mode. For causes greatest recognized to Apple, the AirPods Max don’t provide an influence on/off button. As an alternative, they robotically fall asleep once you put them of their good case.

Sonos provides extra elaborate management choices on the Ace. You press the Content material Key to play/pause music, whereas a double/triple-press will skip ahead or backward. To regulate the quantity, you slide the Content material Key up or down. As with AirPods, you may toggle between ANC and the Ace’s Conscious mode utilizing a devoted noise management button. Lengthy-pressing this key will set off your telephone’s default voice assistant.

Sonos Ace and AirPods Max each characteristic built-in sensors that may robotically pause music playback once you take the headphones off your ears.

Connectivity and ecosystem integration

• AirPods Max: Apple H1 chip, Bluetooth 5.0, Lightning cable, Lossless audio playback over Lightning-to-3.5mm cable
• Sonos Ace: Bluetooth 5.4, multi-point Bluetooth, USB-C, lossless audio playback over USB-C and Bluetooth

If you’re all-in on Apple merchandise, the AirPods Max will seamlessly combine into that ecosystem. Due to its Apple H1 chip, the headphones can robotically swap between your energetic iPhone, iPad or Mac.

Sonos Ace helps a more moderen Bluetooth model in addition to multi-point Bluetooth. So, you may concurrently join the Ace to 2 gadgets. And whereas the headphones don’t characteristic a 3.5mm jack, Sonos bundles a USB-C-to-3.5mm cable within the field to make your life simpler. You’ll be able to even get pleasure from lossless audio over a wired connection.

A singular characteristic of the Sonos Ace is integration with Sonos soundbars. As soon as related by the companion app, you may instantly stream TV audio to the Ace by long-pressing the Management Key.

Battery life

• AirPods Max: As much as 20 hours with ANC or Transparency mode enabled, 5 minutes of quick cost offers 1.5 hours of listening time
• Sonos Ace: As much as 30 hours with ANC, three-minute fast charging offers three hours of music playback

Regardless of being heavier than the Sonos Ace, the AirPods Max delivers a significantly shorter battery life. Apple says its headphones can final 20 hours with ANC enabled on a single cost. The Sonos Ace does a lot better, lasting 30 hours. Extra importantly, it ships with USB-C, so you may simply prime off the headphones’ battery on the go.

Compared, the Lightning connector on the AirPods Max stands proud like a sore thumb in a USB-C world. Its quick charging capabilities are additionally not so good as the Sonos, with a five-minute top-up offering only one.5 hours of juice. Sonos says the Ace can ship twice the runtime with a fast three-minute cost.

AirPods Max vs. Sonos Ace: Clear winner on value

• AirPods Max: $549
• Sonos Ace: $449

The AirPods Max value $100 greater than the Sonos Ace. That’s regardless of Apple’s premium headphones launching in late 2020 and now being greater than 3.5 years outdated.

With all its options, the Sonos Ace headphones higher justifies their $449 price ticket, particularly since they work equally effectively with each Android and iPhone.

AirPods Max vs. Sonos Ace: Which headphones must you purchase?

The AirPods Max and Sonos Ace are each glorious headphones, and you may’t go incorrect with them. Nonetheless, for those who should choose one, you additionally have to consider ecosystem integration. In case you personal an iPhone and different Apple merchandise like a Mac or iPad, the AirPods Max is a no brainer due to how seamlessly it would combine into that ecosystem. Whereas Apple’s premium headphones can pair with Android gadgets, the expertise will show horribly irritating.

Additionally, the AirPods Max appear too costly and outdated for what they provide. The Lightning connector feels outdated now that all the things’s going to USB-C. You sometimes can discover the headphones with $100 reductions on Amazon. However that’s not inexpensive sufficient to look previous among the getting old machine’s shortcomings.

The Sonos Ace is a greater purchase for Android customers or these with Sonos soundbars who can reap the benefits of the TV Audio Swap characteristic. The Sonos headphones additionally retail for $100 lower than Apple’s premium headphones.

Ideally, even for those who already made up your thoughts on which headphones to purchase after studying this Sonos Ace versus AirPods Max comparability, I like to recommend attempting them out at your nearest electronics retailer. See how they match and assess their sound high quality with your individual ears. Headphones are very private gadgets, and everybody’s ears are totally different.

Purchase: AirPods Max | Sonos Ace