Sonos Ace vs. AirPods Max comparability: Which high-end headphones are higher? – Uplaza

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 high?

When you have the cash to spend, take a look at the specs, professionals and cons of every mannequin in our hands-on comparability.

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Sonos Ace vs. AirPods Max comparability

In case you are able to spend large bucks on headphones, you will have the most suitable choice attainable. Whereas the Sonos Ace and the AirPods Max are each glorious headphones, the appropriate choose for you’ll rely on extra than simply sound high quality. Apple’s headphones maintain up effectively in opposition to 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 high

As over-ear headphones, the AirPods Max and the Sonos Ace look comparable. Nevertheless, some important 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 appear and feel. As compared, the Sonos Ace contains a plastic-and-steel development with plastic ear cups.

Add within the Ace’s matte end, and the headphones may not look as premium as Apple’s providing. However they nonetheless supply 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 seem to be a giant deal, the added weight makes a huge impact throughout day by 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 alter 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, nonetheless, feels extra comfy to put on.

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

Neither of the headphones fold up for simple stowing. So, they aren’t simple to hold round in your backpack. However no less than Sonos ships the Ace with a usable carrying case comprised of recycled plastic bottles. As compared, the AirPods Max’s sensible case gives little safety. No marvel it turned 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 better implementation. The corporate positioned magnets with reverse polarities for every cup, so you can’t snap the fallacious cushion into the fallacious earcup. In distinction, Apple places lettering inside every ear cup that can assist you shortly establish the appropriate cushion for the appropriate ear cup.

Lastly, Apple’s premium over-ear headphones positively win with regards to colour decisions. You will get the AirPods Max in 5 colours: area grey, silver, sky blue inexperienced and pink. Sonos gives 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. Nevertheless, the businesses tuned their headphones in another 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 if you’re a bass head. Nevertheless, over lengthy listening hours, this may tire out your ears sooner.

Not like the AirPods Max, the Sonos Ace gives a customizable equalizer, so you may tweak its output to your liking. Each headphones assist spatial audio, with the Sonos Ace that includes Dolby Atmos. Energetic noise cancellation works nice on the AirPods Max and the Sonos Ace, simply blocking out all of the noise on a busy avenue. Nevertheless, 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

Just like the Apple Watch, the AirPods Max contains 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 observe, whereas a triple-click will return to the earlier observe. Apple’s headphones additionally include a devoted button to modify between noise cancellation and Transparency mode. For causes greatest recognized to Apple, the AirPods Max don’t supply an influence on/off button. As an alternative, they robotically fall asleep once you put them of their sensible case.

Sonos gives 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 cellphone’s default voice assistant.

Sonos Ace and AirPods Max each function 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

In case you are all-in on Apple merchandise, the AirPods Max will seamlessly combine into that ecosystem. Because of 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 units. And whereas the headphones don’t function 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 take pleasure in lossless audio over a wired connection.

A novel function of the Sonos Ace is integration with Sonos soundbars. As soon as linked by means of the companion app, you may immediately 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 supplies 1.5 hours of listening time
• Sonos Ace: As much as 30 hours with ANC, three-minute fast charging supplies 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 high off the headphones’ battery on the go.

As compared, the Lightning connector on the AirPods Max stands out 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 just 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 worth

• 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 previous.

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 fallacious with them. Nevertheless, in the event you 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 can combine into that ecosystem. Whereas Apple’s premium headphones can pair with Android units, the expertise will show horribly irritating.

Additionally, the AirPods Max appear too costly and previous for what they provide. The Lightning connector feels outdated now that all the things’s going to USB-C. You usually can discover the headphones with $100 reductions on Amazon. However that’s not reasonably priced 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 make the most of the TV Audio Swap function. The Sonos headphones additionally retail for $100 lower than Apple’s premium headphones.

Ideally, even in the event you 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 units, and everybody’s ears are totally different.

Purchase: AirPods Max | Sonos Ace