Not tested. This is a research score for the documented features, compatibility and ownership trade-offs discussed in this review, not a performance measurement.
Features & capability 30%8.7
Adaptive 10-mic ANC that SoundGuys measured at 88.1%, an 8-band EQ, Dolby Atmos with head tracking and TV Audio Swap make a deep feature set, held back by early-access linking.
Compatibility & connectivity 20%8.4
Bluetooth 6.0 multipoint, aptX Lossless, USB-C audio and a 3.5 mm cable cover most sources, but linking needs the Sonos app, skips AirPlay and can't join speaker groups.
Ownership & upkeep 20%8.2
A $39 replaceable battery and $59 magnetic cushions extend life, offset by a one-year warranty, no IP rating and a case zipper that reviewers and owners say catches.
Setup & everyday use 15%7.8
Physical controls and widely praised comfort help daily use, but at 322 g with no folding hinge they pack bigger than the Sony XM6, and Wi-Fi sessions start slowly.
Documentation & support clarity 15%7.9
Sonos's Canadian spec page is clear on codecs, EQ and repairs, but it labels linking as-is Early Access without saying when lossless Wi-Fi or grouping might arrive.
Compare scores within the same product category. Small decimal differences should not override your needs or the evidence limits.
How the Standpoint Score works
We score five aspects of the documented product on a 0–10 scale, then calculate a weighted total:
- Features & capability30% of the total
- Compatibility & connectivity20% of the total
- Ownership & upkeep20% of the total
- Setup & everyday use15% of the total
- Documentation & support clarity15% of the total
This product’s 8.3/10 is an editorial research assessment. It does not claim measured performance, tested reliability or a verified customer satisfaction rate. Compare it with products in the same category, and read each criterion’s reasoning above.
Read the full rubric and score bands ↗From a tech standpoint.
The Ace Ultra are the headphones Sonos should have launched in 2024: fuller sound, a proper 8-band EQ, 35 hours of battery and a battery you can replace. If you own a Sonos soundbar or speakers, they're the best headphones for your setup and worth the $599. If you don't, the Sony WH-1000XM6 sounds better, folds smaller and was $478 at Best Buy Canada this week. Original Ace owners who mainly use TV Audio Swap can keep what they've got, because headphone linking is still an early-access feature with real gaps.
Reasons to consider it
- TV Audio Swap and headphone linking move sound between a Sonos soundbar or speaker and your head over Wi-Fi, which no Sony or Bose pair can do with Sonos gear.
- The new 8-band EQ lets you fix the treble and bass quirks SoundGuys measured, something the original Ace's two sliders couldn't do.
- SoundGuys ran the battery for 35 hours and 53 minutes, beating the 35-hour claim, and the battery is replaceable with a $39 Sonos kit.
- Reviewers and owners keep coming back to comfort: The Verge wore them for hours with glasses on and called them among the comfiest it has tried.
Go in knowing
- Headphone linking is labelled Early Access, streams lossy audio for now, has to start from the Sonos app and won't take AirPlay or Bluetooth sources.
- Sonos claims up to twice the noise cancelling of the original Ace, but SoundGuys measured nearly identical results for both pairs.
- They don't fold, there's no IP rating, and both TechRadar and several owners say the case zipper catches.
- Outside a Sonos home you're paying $599 for features you won't use, while a Sony WH-1000XM6 costs less on sale and folds smaller.
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The specification sheet.
Published specifications from the linked sources. Configurations and availability can differ by country.
- Canadian price (Oct 13, 2026)
- $599 at Sonos.ca; $599.99 at Best Buy Canada and Amazon.ca
- Drivers
- Custom 40 mm dynamic driver in each ear cup
- Noise cancelling
- Adaptive ANC with 10 microphones; Aware mode with Voice Boost
- Battery
- Up to 35 hours with ANC on; 3-minute charge gives up to 3 hours
- Bluetooth
- Bluetooth 6.0 with multipoint; SBC, AAC and aptX Lossless
- Wired audio
- USB-C (up to 16-bit/48 kHz); USB-C to 3.5 mm cable included
- Wi-Fi features
- TV Audio Swap; headphone linking (Early Access)
- Weight
- 322 g
- Water resistance
- No IP rating
- Replaceable parts
- Ear cushions ($59) and battery kit ($39) at Sonos.ca
The "twice the noise cancelling" claim one lab couldn't find
Sonos says the Ace Ultra block up to twice as much noise as the original Ace. SoundGuys ran both pairs through the same lab test and found almost no gap: 88.1% less perceived outside noise with ANC on for the Ultra, about 88% for the old Ace. That's still an excellent number, right beside the Sony WH-1000XM6. It just means the best reason to buy these isn't the one Sonos put first.
The Ace Ultra are Sonos's second pair of over-ear headphones, on sale since September 29. In Canada they cost $599 at Sonos.ca and $599.99 at Best Buy Canada and Amazon.ca (checked October 13, 2026). Sonos still sells the original Ace beside them for $479, and Amazon.ca had the black Ace at $395.69 the same day.
So here's the question this review answers. Are the Ultra worth $120 to $200 more than the Ace, and more than a Sony XM6 that Best Buy Canada has on sale for $478 until October 15? The short version: yes if Sonos gear already runs your living room, probably not if it doesn't. The rest of this explains where that line sits.
What your extra $120 actually buys over the original Ace
The outside barely changed. The inside did. What Hi-Fi says the new 40 mm drivers use a dual-ring magnet design meant to cut distortion and add punch. There are 10 microphones instead of 8, noise cancelling now adapts on the fly, and the battery claim rises from 30 to 35 hours. The EQ jumps from two sliders to a choice of 3-band or 8-band. Bluetooth moves to 6.0 with aptX Lossless, and The Verge notes the weight creeps up from 0.69 to 0.71 lb.
The headline addition is headphone linking. Press the Content Key and whatever a Sonos speaker is playing, including a turntable plugged into it, moves to the headphones over Wi-Fi. Press again and it goes back. Sonos's own spec page calls it Early Access and "as-is", and The Verge confirmed with Sonos that the stream is lossy during that period.
What didn't change: the hinges still swivel flat instead of folding, the felt case is the same, and The Verge says the 8-band EQ isn't coming to the original Ace. If you own an Ace and mostly use TV Audio Swap with a Sonos soundbar, you already have the feature that matters most. That raises the obvious next question: does linking work well enough to justify the jump?
Headphone linking is the reason to buy, and it's still rough
When it works, it's the trick nobody else offers. The Verge could pull music from any Sonos speaker or group, and other rooms kept playing their own music. TechRadar found it as dependable as TV Audio Swap. What Hi-Fi moved a Blade Runner 2049 soundtrack from a Beam (Gen 2) to the headphones by holding the Content Key for about five seconds. What Hi-Fi lists Arc Ultra, Ray, Beam (Gen 2), Beam Ultra, Five, Era 100, Era 300, Move 2, Play and Roam 2 as compatible.
The limits are real, though. The Verge sometimes had to press the button more than once, and sending audio back only returns it to the nearest speaker, not the group that was playing. The headphones can't be grouped with speakers at all. Engadget and SoundGuys both note that playback has to start in the Sonos app, and AirPlay sources such as Apple Music won't link. If your household AirPlays everything to an Era 100, this feature mostly won't apply to you.
Owners are running into the same walls. A recurring complaint in r/sonos is that the headphones don't behave like a cast target in Spotify until you kick things off in the Sonos app, and that starting a Wi-Fi session is slow and inconsistent. Some owners say they've stopped using it until updates arrive. My take: buy these for what linking does today, not for what Sonos might ship later.
Noise cancelling: a huge leap or the same as before? Outlets split
Three outlets came away impressed. Tom's Guide said air conditioning hum and jet rumble were muted so well that Bose has real competition. What Hi-Fi said the Ultra have dramatically narrowed the gap to the Sony WH-1000XM6 and Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen). TechRadar said passing cars on walks simply disappeared.
Others were cooler. The Verge rated the ANC below the XM6, the Bose and the AirPods Max 2, saying more midrange and some higher frequencies get through. Engadget saw the biggest gains on steady noise like dryers and HVAC, but found voices and TV dialogue leak through more. SoundGuys measured 88.1% reduction, close to the XM6 at about 87% and the AirPods Max 2 at 89.4%, but basically level with the original Ace.
Here's what that means in practice. On a GO train or a five-hour flight to Vancouver, constant engine drone is exactly what these handle best. In an open-plan office full of chatter, expect to hear more of your coworkers than you would with the Sony. My read: the ANC is excellent and competitive, not class-leading, and not on its own a reason to retire a working original Ace.
Much better sound, as long as you spend ten minutes in the EQ
Every outlet agrees the sound is a big step up from the Ace. TechRadar heard a wider, more organised soundstage and tighter treble, and placed the Ultra just behind the Sony XM6 and Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3. What Hi-Fi liked the rich, weighty bass but found timing and dynamics less lively than the Sennheiser HDB 630 or XM6. The Verge wanted more midrange clarity on busy tracks and still preferred the XM6's default tuning.
SoundGuys' measurements explain those notes. It found extra low bass, a dip around 5 kHz and a lift around 8 to 9 kHz, which can make cymbals sound slightly dull and some tracks a touch sharp. Its MDAQS score of 4.9 out of 5 still predicts most people will like them out of the box. A few r/sonos owners called the upper mids tinny at first and fixed it with the 8-band EQ, much as The Verge did by nudging 460 Hz and 1 kHz.
On lossless audio, What Hi-Fi says aptX Lossless tops out at 16-bit/44.1 kHz and wired USB-C at 16-bit/48 kHz, so there's no true hi-res. iPhones don't support aptX, so iPhone owners get AAC over Bluetooth. Want the best quality from an iPhone? Plug in the USB-C cable that comes in the box.
35 hours on Bluetooth, noticeably less when you lean on Wi-Fi
Over Bluetooth, the battery claim holds up. SoundGuys measured 35 hours and 53 minutes, beating Sonos's 35-hour figure. Engadget still had 45% left after 19 hours of mostly ANC-on use. A three-minute top-up gives up to three hours of play, Tom's Guide says Low Power Mode can add up to 30%, and SoundGuys clocked a full charge at up to three hours. There's no wall adapter in the box. Sonos.ca sells a 45 W one for $39.
Wi-Fi is the catch. Engadget saw TV Audio Swap drain the battery faster than Bluetooth streaming, and several r/sonos owners report much shorter runtimes when they swap audio from a soundbar or listen over Wi-Fi, while Bluetooth-only use lands near the claim. A two-hour movie on the Beam won't matter. If you plan to wander the house on linked Wi-Fi audio all day, plan on charging every night.
When the cell wears out, you can replace it. Sonos.ca sells the battery kit for $39, but SoundGuys warns it's a real repair: pull the left cushion, open the cup with a Torx driver and lift out the circuit board. The Verge quotes Sonos's own listing saying it takes tools and patience. Still, that beats binning $599 headphones in year four.
Where the Ace Ultra land against Sony, Bose and Apple in Canada
Sony WH-1000XM6: $478 at Best Buy Canada on October 13, on sale until October 15 (regular $600). The Verge and TechRadar both preferred its sound, and The Verge rated its ANC and street-noise call handling higher. It folds, weighs 254 g to the Sonos's 322 g according to TechRadar, and supports LDAC. Without Sonos gear, this is the better buy.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen): $599.99 at Best Buy Canada, the same price as the Sonos. The Verge rated the Bose's noise cancelling higher, while What Hi-Fi says the Sonos has nearly caught up, so this one comes down to whether you'd use the Sonos tricks. If you want strong ANC for less, the original 2023 QuietComfort Ultra was $379.99 in some colours at Best Buy Canada. The Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless was $279.99 there, and Sennheiser rates it for up to 60 hours.
Apple AirPods Max 2 (USB-C): $799.99 at Best Buy Canada. SoundGuys measured them slightly ahead on ANC, and they're the natural pick for a heavy iPhone and Apple TV home. The original Sonos Ace ($479 at Sonos, $395.69 at Amazon.ca) still makes sense if TV Audio Swap is the only Sonos trick you need.
Living with them: warranty, spare parts and the Sonos app question
Sonos covers defects for one year from purchase through Sonos or an authorized dealer, and its Canadian terms say provincial consumer law can add to that. Buying direct gets you 30-day returns with free return shipping and a price match promise. Since Sonos.ca and Best Buy charge about the same, going direct makes sense. Be careful with a Best Buy Canada marketplace listing at $499.99: it's sold by a third-party seller, not Best Buy, so confirm warranty coverage before you click buy.
Upkeep is straightforward. Magnetic ear cushions cost $59 and the battery kit $39 at Sonos.ca. SoundGuys and Tom's Guide both point out there's no IP rating, so a sweaty gym session or a walk through wet snow is at your own risk. TechRadar found the case zipper jammed, and complaints about that zipper and the case's cheap feel come up across several r/sonos threads.
Then there's the app. Engadget still listed "residual app anxiety" as a con after Sonos's 2024 app meltdown, and linking leans on that app. The upside: comfort is the most consistent praise from reviewers and owners alike. The unknown is durability, since nobody has had these for more than a few weeks.
Buy them, skip them, or buy the old Ace instead
Buy the Ace Ultra if you have a Sonos soundbar and want late-night TV without waking anyone. Even the Ray, at $289 on Sonos.ca, works with TV Audio Swap. They're also a strong pick if you already play music from the Sonos app and want to carry a record or playlist from the kitchen speaker to your ears. For that household, nothing else at $599 fits as well.
Skip them if you don't own Sonos gear. The Sony WH-1000XM6 gives you better default sound, stronger ANC in The Verge's comparison and a folding design for less money while the sale lasts. Frequent flyers should lean Sony too. If you live in Apple's world and the budget stretches, the AirPods Max 2 make more sense.
Already own the original Ace? Upgrade only if the sound always bugged you or you really want linking. Otherwise wait, since Tom's Guide notes Sonos discounts less often than Sony or Bose, and see whether Sonos turns linking into a full Wi-Fi mode before you spend another $599.
Questions before checkout.
Is the Sonos Ace Ultra worth upgrading from the original Sonos Ace?
Only if the original's sound bothered you or you want headphone linking. Reviewers agree the Ultra sound much better and add an 8-band EQ, but SoundGuys measured nearly identical noise cancelling, and TV Audio Swap already works on the original Ace.
Can I stream Apple Music or Spotify to the Ace Ultra over Wi-Fi?
Partly. Headphone linking is in Early Access and has to be started from the Sonos app or by pulling audio from a Sonos speaker. Engadget and SoundGuys say AirPlay and Bluetooth sources don't work with linking, and The Verge reports the Wi-Fi stream is lossy for now.
Which Sonos products in Canada work with the Ace Ultra's TV and linking features?
What Hi-Fi lists the Arc Ultra, Ray, Beam (Gen 2), Beam Ultra, Five, Era 100, Era 300, Move 2, Play and Roam 2 as compatible. The cheapest way in is the Sonos Ray soundbar, which was $289 at Sonos.ca on October 13, 2026.
Do the Ace Ultra play lossless audio with an iPhone?
Not over Bluetooth. Lossless wireless audio needs aptX Lossless, which iPhones don't support, so an iPhone connects with AAC. Plug in the included USB-C cable instead, which What Hi-Fi says carries audio at up to 16-bit/48 kHz.
Where should I buy the Sonos Ace Ultra in Canada, and what warranty do I get?
Sonos.ca ($599), Best Buy Canada ($599.99) and Amazon.ca ($599.99) were within a dollar of each other on October 13, 2026. Buying direct from Sonos adds 30-day returns with free return shipping. Sonos's warranty is one year and requires purchase from Sonos or an authorized dealer.
Can I replace the Ace Ultra battery myself?
Yes, Sonos sells a $39 battery kit on Sonos.ca, but SoundGuys says it's an advanced repair: you remove an ear cushion, open the cup with a Torx screwdriver and take out the circuit board. Comfortable fixing electronics? It's a real way to stretch the headphones' life.
Sources & further reading.
These are the sources behind this research review. Manufacturer claims are not independent performance measurements. Community accounts, when cited, describe individual experiences.
- Sonos Ace Ultra product page and tech specs (Sonos Canada) ↗manufacturer
- Sonos Canada Terms of Sale (warranty and returns) ↗manufacturer
- The Verge: The Sonos Ace Ultra are the headphones Sonos should have made the first time ↗independent review
- Engadget: Sonos Ace Ultra review ↗independent review
- SoundGuys: Sonos Ace Ultra review with lab measurements ↗independent testing
- TechRadar: Sonos Ace Ultra review ↗independent review
- What Hi-Fi?: Sonos Ace Ultra review ↗independent review
- Tom's Guide: Sonos Ace Ultra review ↗independent review
- Best Buy Canada: Sonos Ace Ultra (Black) ↗retailer
- Amazon.ca: Sonos Ace Ultra (Black) ↗retailer
- r/sonos: Disappointed in Sonos Ace Ultra's headphone linking feature ↗Community discussion
- r/sonos: Ace Ultra battery life ↗Community discussion
- r/sonos: Sonos Ace Ultra vs Bose QC Ultra 2 initial impressions ↗Community discussion
- r/sonos: Sony XM6 to Sonos Ace Ultra ↗Community discussion
Product software and regional bundles can change. Corrections and editorial disclosures.
Affiliate link. As an Amazon Associate, Tech Standpoint earns from qualifying purchases. It never changes our verdict or score. Disclosure
