Sonos has simply launched its first ever pair of over-ear headphones: Sonos Ace. Right here’s how they stack up in opposition to the AirPods Max from what we at present know.
Whereas we haven’t but had an opportunity to assessment the headphones, Sonos guarantees that the Sonos Ace “builds on Sonos’ main status for superior sound, refined design, and category-disrupting innovation to redefine private listening”.
So how does the Sonos Ace examine to Apple’s over-ear headphone providing, the AirPods Max? Because the latter launched again in 2020, we’ve got spent numerous time with the Apple’s premium headphones and gave them a strong four-star ranking.
We’ve in contrast the specs of the Sonos Ace with the AirPods Max so you may see the important thing variations and any similarities between the 2 flagship headphones.
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Each have Energetic Noise Cancelling (ANC)
Like most premium headphones, each the Sonos Ace and AirPods Max have Energetic Noise Cancellation (ANC) expertise. With ANC, microphones detect and actively counter exterior sounds to supply a extra immersive listening expertise.
To do that, each the Sonos Ace and AirPods Max use eight microphones to detect and counter exterior sounds. The distinction right here is that whereas the Sonos Ace has eight microphones in complete, for each ANC and for telephone calls, the AirPods Max has one extra microphone for voice pickup.
If you happen to don’t require complete noise cancellation then you may activate Conscious Mode by merely urgent a button in your Sonos Ace, permitting you to listen to and interact along with your environment. Equally, AirPods Max additionally gives Transparency mode, which will also be activated by urgent a button in your headphones.
Sonos Ace has TrueCinema expertise coming quickly
Sonos has teased an upcoming new expertise that’s set to be launched into the Sonos Ace headphones later this yr: TrueCinema. Sonos explains that TrueCinema is an all-new expertise that “exactly maps your house then renders an entire encompass sound system for an viewers of 1”.
Till the launch of this new characteristic, Sonos Ace customers should make do with its spatial audio compatibility and head monitoring with Dolby Atmos, which guarantees an immersive listening expertise.
Whereas the AirPods Max don’t have a devoted expertise like this, Apple does promise that its personalised spatial audio with dynamic head monitoring gives a cinema-like sound that surrounds you.
Sonos Ace have an extended battery life
Whereas the AirPods Max have 20 hours of battery life with ANC and Spatial Audio turned on, the Sonos Ace boast as much as 30 hours even with ANC enabled.
As well as, the Sonos Ace makes use of a USB-C connector whereas the AirPods Max nonetheless makes use of Apple’s Lightning adaptor. If in case you have an iPhone 14 or older then this shouldn’t be an excessive amount of of a difficulty for you, however should you’ve already turned to USB-C then that is an additional cable to maintain for charging.
Only a three-minute cost of the Sonos Ace ends in three hours of battery life which makes it excellent for final minute dashes out the home. The AirPods Max do provide the same speedy cost possibility, with a five-minute cost providing simply 1.5 hours of battery.
AirPods Max is accessible in 5 colors
The AirPods Max boast a extra vibrant lineup and is accessible in 5 colors: Silver, House Gray, Sky Blue, Inexperienced and Pink. Compared, the Sonos Ace are solely obtainable in Silver or Black.
Talking of design, the Sonos Ace have a light-weight memory-foam-lined headband with chrome steel arms that develop. The ear cushions are additionally wrapped in a vegan leather-based for softness and sturdiness.
The AirPods Max’s headband is made out of a breathable knitted mesh which distributes weight to scale back on-head stress. It is usually sturdy, due to the chrome steel body and aluminium cups which home the mesh textile wrapped memory-foam ear cushions.
Sonos Ace is cheaper
The Sonos Ace will likely be obtainable from the fifth June 2024 with an RRP of £449 / €499 / $449 / AUD 699.
Regardless of being the older mannequin of the 2, the AirPods Max truly has the next RRP of £499 / €579 / $549, nevertheless this does embrace a Sensible Case.