Sonos Ace HONEST Review and Comparison to AirPods Max! 

Man, appreciate you just saying which you prefer straight off the bat. Im'a watch the full video anyway to see how you got to that conclusion but really appreciate that

I'll just wait for the airpods max 2..... been waiting awhile already anyways..

Just to add that the AirPods Max have 4 years old technology… Mine work as good as day 1 and I love them.

Hello Dan, thank you for another wonderful video, I always enjoy your balanced and realistic perspective on Apple’s products. I appreciate that you do not pressure your viewers/listeners (MacRumors Show) to purchase every new iteration of products Apple releases. As far as Headphones go I definitely would like to give the Sonos Ace a listen but, the fact that you need to have other Sonos gear is a dealbreaker for me since I do not have a Sonos Soundbar. There are three reasons for that: 1. None of Sonos’s current Soundbars have an HDMI Input, this means that they do not support Dolby Vision nor Dolby Atmos pass-through. Although my TV does support Dolby Vision, it does not support Dolby Atmos pass-through since the Generation M-Series TV that I purchased does not have a compatible HDMI connection. This means that I cannot plug my Apple TV 4K through a Sonos Arc where I could get Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos at the same time. Maybe Sonos will update the Arc to have an HDMI Input but at the moment, Sonos is not an option for me. 2. I know that most manufacturers have all switched to having metal grills on their Soundbars but to me, metal grills give any speaker a more shrill, artificial and tinny sound which I personally do not particularly care for. The last Soundbar Samsung made that had a fabric grill/cover, the HW-Q950A sounded absolutely amazing! But when Samsung switched to having a metal grill with the HW-Q960 ”?” things went down hill. The Samsung HW-Q990C last year finally improved upon that to some extent and hopefully this year’s Samsung HW-Q990D will improve on that even further. The Samsung Soundbars do in fact support Dolby Vision + Dolby Atmos pass-through since they have HDMI Inputs. The current iteration of the Sonos Arc sounds shrill, tinny and artificial to me and I don’t really care for it. Again, that’s just my personal feeling and I’m not trying to hate on Sonos or on anyone who has a Sonos Arc and absolutely loves it. 3. I already own AirPods Max and an Apple TV which means not only do can I enjoy Spatial/Dolby Atmos Audio with supported content when I use my AirPods Max, but I also enjoy Dolby Vision on my TV. The entry price to get the Sonos Ace would be cheaper for the headphones, but the overall cost would be way more expensive since I’d have to get a Sonos Soundbar to get all of the benefits from Sonos’s ecosystem. The entry price as you mentioned to get into Apple’s ecosystem is a $129 Apple TV, and a pair of AirPods Max which you can get for $449 brand new very often, and sometimes cheaper than that if you get a pair from Best Buy in Open-Box Excellent Condition. I will say this, the Sonos Five, the Sonos Move (Generations 1 & 2), are all very good sounding speakers! The Era 300’s, which do support Dolby Atmos, and the Era 100’s, which do not support Dolby Atmos, sound pretty good as well. Not as good as the Sonos Five or Move speakers but good nonetheless. If someone wants a Soundbar system because that’s all they have room for or they prefer the esthetics of having a streamlined sound system, I would definitely recommend giving the Samsung HW-Q990D a listen. Best Buy currently has it for $1,699.99 on sale and with it you get two Atmos capable surround speakers, the soundbar, and a subwoofer. To get the same kind of setup with Sonos you’re looking at having to spend $2,076 on sale which is $376 more. Thanks again for your video and I hope this comment is helpful to you and your viewers. 😊

Very good review. What is the transparency feature you mentioned?

Torn here. I have Apple TV’s on every TV with some form of Sonos sound bar lol. Decisions decisions. Been holding out for the Max 2’s. Just no telling how long. Great review!

How is the bluetooth multiport? If I connect Sonos Ace to both IPhone and Macbook Pro will it automatically switch audio based on which is playing like Airpods?

Insane how a 2024 device is still neck to neck with one that was released in 2020

Great intro dude, nice and smooth! Thanks for showing me a great way to introduce a product! Do you edit ur own videos?

I won’t lie, if you have an Apple phone it changes everything. The ease of use is much better with the AirPods Max and the transparency mode is far far better along with better noise cancelling. I personally prefer the feel of the AirPods Max but each to their own

How does the Sonos Ace work with Dolby Atmos from iOS Apple Music app?

Curious to see when the sony wh-1000xm6 come out & how they compare.

The Sonos Ace seems like a good product but it's still being compared with older headphones. We'll have to wait and see how they stack up with upcoming ones. Also, products evolve these days with new software updates and Sonos Ace seems like it could get some pretty decent ones. WIth that said there is a reason why the Sonos Ace is high in my list versus the upcoming Airpods Max 2. Compatibility. The Airpods Max are great....when they are connected to other Apple products. And we all know the Airpods Max 2 will be great as long as they are connected to other Apple products. Even if many of us here have Apple products, we also have decent number of non-Apple products. We may have an iPhone but decided to get a Samsung Galaxy Tab. Perhaps we have a Mac but also an office PC laptop. We might have a PS5 or Xbox and set-top box from our TV provider that runs on some other random system. Or a Google TV connected to a bedroom tv. As cool as the quality-of-life features in the Airpods Max are, it sucks that when I connect to an Android device, spatial audio and headtracking are gone. Watch a movie on an Android tablet while on holidays? No Spatial audio. Count the number of devices you have and see how many you can't fully take advantage because Apple doesn't do much to support other products. I like Sonos solution because it removes the barrier. Whatever is connected to the Arc gets the same spatial audio + headtracking treatment. Be it iOS or Android they take advantage of all the features. I can even use a BT 5.4 usb dongle lke the FMA120 connected to my iPad or PC/Mac and get Aptx Lossless. Apple will never release a USB dongle to support their audio technology in a 3rd party product. And their products work well with Apple as well. They have Airplay 2. Sonos has apps for most systems. iOS, Google, Windows , Mac.

how long do you wear it? to feel if it is a good confort headphone, you should wear it 8h, like someone working with it in a remote work. I have a Bose quiet confort QC35 II since it's introduction on the market, ans as of today none, even from Bose, none is as good as the QC35-II. Hope this one will do.

THANK YOU for giving your ultimate decision right at the start, but I'm still watching the whole things because I want to here your thoughts

I don't understand...why woukd this be more seamless and convinient than connecting my headphones directly with my tv via bluetooth? After the initial pairing process, it only takes 1 and a half clicks to switch the audio with my Bose QuiteComfort Ultra or Sennheiser Momemtum 4. So whats the big deal? Or is the audio that switched from the Arc soundbar a better quality audio? I honestly don't get it.

after my AirPods max failed after a year use..I hope apple is held accountable for this..I might get a sonos or a AirPods max 2..but can sonos have dolby atmos without the soundbar ..

til mac rumors has a yt channel and its really good, and thank you for being viewer friendly and answering the question in the beginning, still watched the whole video but im just saying

8:03 what makes you think a refresh is coming for AirPods Max? I think they're going the way of the iPod-Hi-Fi and this will be the last pair we see imo.

I wish my Sony XM5s had magnetic ear cups. I replaced the original ones with Wicked Cushions as I wasn't a huge fan of the originals and the clips weren't fun to deal with.

AirPods use a lightning port still. That makes them a no for me.

What about comparing them to Bose Quietcomfort ultra headphones?

Great video, still waiting for that AirPods Max 2 announcement from Apple this fall

Great and concise comparison video of probably 2 best headphones on the market. I am a Sonos user with about 9 speakers and an Arc in my house. But I am also an Apple user with 3 Apple computers and 3 Apple TV boxes. So, I decided to pop for the AirPods Max on Prime Day at $394 to work with my broad Apple ecosystem including iPad and Phones. I may still buy the Sonos Ace as I love their products and have an Arc but am disappointed that they did not choose to define the headphones as a separate speaker to be used within the ecosystem. It can only be used with the Arc (which I have) and then everything else is bluetooth. Doesn't make sense for a wifi based system. Depending on my experience with the Max, I may not even buy the Ace, but we'll see and I'll try to update my post with my decision in the near future.

As someone who is invested in both ecosystems, I’m torn. I will wait to see the next iteration of AirPods Max before making a decision 👍🏾.

With the AirPods Max, can you listen to regular TV with an Apple TV box connected, or is it just media you’re playing through the Apple TV box?

Love the breakdown. I will be buying a Sonos Ace due to my whole house is Sonos and I will be waiting for the AirPod Max 2 to come out soon.

There is zero reason to buy the AirPods Max right now unless they come down in price. They were released four years ago and are still the same price they were the day they released. Supposedly they are releasing AirPods Max 2 later this year, so if you are wanting the Apple ecosystem, just wait.

I’m picking these up this week. I will see how I feel about them

You can connect both to your somewhere modern tv with just a build-in Bluetooth connectivity. Also connecting APM with Samsung tv 2022 has no issues whatsoever in a call of duty (multiplayer or warzone)

This may be obvious - can I use my Sonos Ace with an Apple TV and still get Atmos, Spatial, and head tracking? Or can I only get those features with an Arc?

Just got Sonos Ace and I am glad with my purchase.

when is sony coming out with XM6.

The plastic build and bulky case make the Sonos a no go for me. I’m heavily invested in the Sonos ecosystem, but these headphones don’t seem travel friendly. I also prefer the ear-cup fabric and general design on the AirPods Max.

Deep in both ecosystems. Going with Sonos Ace this time. Sonos doesn't disappoint and are more committed to home audio innovation. The Max still don't don't come in USB C and my Apple TVs are basically the same for years despite TVOS updates.

For being known as the "Apple guy" Dan did a really good job here assessing both products objectively and fairly.

What do you think about the new app update?

Can you connect the ace to Apple TV?

how is the Dolby atmos between them? I do have Apple TV 4K but I don’t have sonos soundbar. which one is good? thanks

I have both an Apple TV and Sonos arc I’m leaning more towards the Sonos based on the price and carrying case alone

Bose Ultra Comfort for me. Costco sale $200 is great value.

Which one gets louder???

I’ve worn the AirPods Max for like 6-8 hours a day for three and a half years and never felt uncomfortable except for on hot days, and the battery life on AirPods Max or lack of a power button have literally never been a problem. Sonos Ace look cheap as hell for the price point.

How was sound quality one of the shortest sections of this headphone review?

If you are flying, you can connect your Sonos to the display in front of you with the included usb c to 3.5 mm connector and enjoy a long flight with their entertainment. I don't think the Apple can do this and there would be no other way to connect it to the inflight TV system.

I'm sticking with the max. I don't see any real advantage that differentiates between the two. Besides, to pay yet another 450 dollars to a company that fucked up its app and made all of my other Sonos products virtually useless gets a no from me.

i have both and the airpods max still sound a lot better by a long shot in my opinion, but the sonos are a lot more comfortable.

White or black color better?

The Auto-EQ on the AirPods Max is so damn good.

I've had the AirPods Max since they came out, Love them. But I have a house full of Sonos, I'm tired of waiting for Apple to maybe do a plug update. The Ace's come Weds in white., I want the Ace because I want the EQ you get in the Sonos app and there is no EQ in iTunes on an iPhone. I have the Arc soundbar in living room and a beam in the bedroom. Hope it won't take long for the update for the beam.

Comparing these to almost 3yr old headphones is crazy…that’s very telling

Listening to this in my new Ace in white. Just received, so far interesting thoughts.

Con la pessima qualità della attuale app Sonos come si fa a comprare altri prodotti Sonos?

looking to buy a new option because I had a horrible experience with the airpods max, they only lasted 1 year and a month and had to get them replaced 3 times in that timeframe and every single time it was because of the same issue, the connectivity connector would no longer pair with the phone or ipad and it would randomly happen, they would work in the morning and 2 hours later they would just be a dead pair of metal , it happened again last week and warranty no longer covers it and they want me to pay 837 dollars to get them fixed, it's ridiculous honestly, it's supposed to be a premium headset but personally it's a badly made product if it only lasted 1 year with regular usage

Lightening port is a show stopper for me and makes for an easy decision. Life will be better when I never have to use another lightning cable again, and I am a huge apple fan.

I must say that if the AirPod Max, a 4 year old device, is still being compared to newly released products, I can't wait to see what Apple releases with version two with all the latest chips and advancements.

One other factor to consider: since the AirPods Max are like 4 years old, you can definitely find pairs secondhand for as low as $250. Couple questions: - How is the mic quality for calls on the Sonos? Love it on the AirPods Max. - What is device connectivity like? Is it standard bluetooth? As someone deep into the Apple ecosystem, the Max seems tough to beat in this regard. I do own a Sonos Arc already, but no Apple TV, so oddly the one device that my AirPods don't smoothly work with is my TV. Generally, my only two strikes against the Max are 1) the connectivity issues, which forced me to do a hard reset every few days until I finally solved the issue (need to use a SIM key to remove the headband from the cups, and then clean the band contact points with isopropyl alcohol. has worked flawlessly since I did this), and 2) the clamping discomfort. It's not a dealbreaker, but it's not the best.

Well, if you can hold on, perhaps wait until they announce the revised AirPods Max by end of year (It has to be updated because of lightning connectir)

Look great. Thing is I am not an over the head headset user

In Australia the Sonos Ace are cheaper then the AirPods Max, but I hate the idea of having an app

Please compare the Sonos to the Sony

If you care about lossless audio: Sonos says the Ace can be connected to an iPhone with a USB-C to USB-C cable, but the AirPods Max can’t be connected to an iPhone with a Lightning to USB-C cable.

Honestly I’d say get a best buy membership buy the AirPod max and return it after 60 days and then buy the next gen AirPod max

Awesome comparison Dan!

Oh wow guys, he’s HONEST again!

Holy Shit! Sonos put a power button on their headphones?!?! Now they just gotta do the same for all their other products!

Also the most slept on headphones and my favorite after owning literally all of them from the Bose ultra, AirPod max, XM5 definitely has to be sennheiser momentum 5s they definitely sound much better than all of these

All my airpods, gen 1, 2, pros, 3 and max, have had serious issues. Been waiting for a decent competitor to ditch the apple train.

You can always purchase a bluetooth transmitter rather than a soundbar or AppleTV

Can I wear these outside?

A wired set of reasonably priced over ear headphones along with a USB-C Hi Res dac would easily blow both these headphones out of the water for a fraction of their cost.

They Airpods Max are sexy, but I'm so deep in the Sonos ecosystem that it'd be hard to pass on the Ace

For me Apple shouldn’t change the look of the Airpodsmax, its perfect already, headband is perfect it last in a period of time compared to leather. they only need to change are the sound , volume bass etc or adding apps eq to control the preferred sound

Bold of you to assume my cash was hard-earned.

I’ve got Sonos speakers around the house and they’re not the best in terms of connectivity/alexa etc the app is clunky and not intuitive. I have the AirPods Max and won’t be changing to the Ace

Only thing holding me back from buying the AirPods Max is Apple. If the Max 2 only new feature is usb-c I’m ordering the minute orders go live.

Very nice 👍

If you have a Sonos Upgrade Credit available you can get £70 off the Ace.

WH-1000XM5 in comparison? Better value? Must be due AirPods Max 2 at some point soon as well, lighter and a bit cheaper would be a nice upgrade

Everything playing on your TV plays on the Arc/Ace vs Everything playing from your Apple TV can play on the AirPods Max

What Hi-Fi, who seem to be pretty rational about this type of thing and were not very flattering of the Ace sound quality at all.

The recent Sonos app update has slowed down the whole experience. I just did a quick test and it took 39 seconds from opening the Sonos app to hearing music come from one of my speakers. I would go bonkers if I had the same issue with a pair of headphones.

If you have apple products the AirPod max are the best choice period. They integrate and work perfectly with all Apple devices.

Imagine paying $600 for a pair of headphones that will “get you by”

2 will be cheaper than 1. Apple always prices version 1 higher of a brand new product,and version 2 the price can come down. They did this with the m2 MacBook Air, iPad 10… etc Max airpods 2 I predict 499, or hopefully 449.

I wait for the Max 2 with usb c

If you are on Android and want to use these for tv from the arc just save your money. It's iphone only and you'll water 40 mins to get to that conclusion

watch it get a death update in 5 yrs lmao

"SONOS Aces, Airpods Max...Which ones worth your hard earned cash, Well I wont make you wait to the end of this video but I will say I highly recommend watching the whole thing just because etc." LOL sounded like a good poem for the headphones.

The word "premium" has been greatly overstated as the best choice. Most luxury cars are essentially plastic. Most luxurious homes are not made of "premium metals." The whole idea of "premium" is insane and overly used to describe the best, which isn't necessarily true.

Airpodmax are very good but if you don't have an iPhone or apple product it's not worth it

The sound profile is NOT neutral. There is bass emphasis but the treble in particular is wayyyyy too lifted. These headphones have a horrible frequency response and the app is crap. Not to mention a largely plastic design is off-putting at this price point.

Apple please give us APM 2

I’ll just wait for Max 2 feels Like Apple Is due for update and hopefully they’ll less heavy and USB-C

AirPods Max 2 with USB C is my vote

The Ace looks better and is lighter and sounds good

comparing any new headphones to airpods max just feels like insult.

Will highly recommend everyone to wait the AirPods Max gets USB-C

Just received and tried the Sonos Ace. Absolute rubbish. Going straight back.

Sonos are 100% more comfortable