Sonos Ace Ultra vs Sony WH-1000XM6: TechRadar finds a close contest at $449

The Sonos Ace Ultra was released in September 2026, about two years after the original Sonos Ace. It costs $449 / £399 / AU$699, TechRadar said, the same price at which the original Ace launched in the US and Australia. The Sony WH-1000XM6 arrived in May 2025 at the same $449 / £399 / AU$699 price. Because it has been on sale longer, TechRadar noted, it is more likely to be discounted; the Sony headphones have fallen below $380 / £300 / AU$500 before. Neither model is cheap, but TechRadar said both offer high-quality sound and features that help justify the price.

The two headphones differ in hardware. The Sonos Ace Ultra uses next-generation custom 40mm drivers, Bluetooth 6.0 and USB-C connectivity, and is rated for 35 hours of battery life. It weighs 322g. The Sony WH-1000XM6 uses 30mm dynamic drivers, Bluetooth 5.4 and a 3.5mm connection, with 30 hours of battery life and a weight of 254g. Both have active noise cancellation and a stated frequency range of 20Hz to 20kHz.

TechRadar described both as among the best-featured wireless headphones on the market. They offer extensive EQ options with multi-band custom settings, wired and Bluetooth connectivity, wear detection and active noise cancellation. In noise cancellation, the Sony WH-1000XM6 had a very slight edge in testing. TechRadar attributed this partly to Sony’s larger microphone system, with 12 microphones compared with 10 on the Ace Ultra, and said the Sony model dulled deep sounds such as engine rumble slightly more effectively. The Sonos Ace Ultra offers wider ecosystem support that Sony cannot match. Its TV Audio Linking feature lets users transfer audio from a compatible Sonos soundbar and listen privately, according to TechRadar.

On design, TechRadar praised the Sonos Ace Ultra for a stellar look and great build quality, but said it is not fully foldable like the XM6. The Sony WH-1000XM6 has intuitive touch controls and a comfortable fit, though it looks bulkier than the Ace Ultra. The Sonos model lacks LDAC support and does not sound quite as detailed, while the Sony model lacks Snapdragon Sound and aptX support and has slightly weaker battery life. In sound quality, the Ace Ultra was described as a significant improvement over its predecessor, with better musicality and excellent Dolby Atmos performance for movies. The Sony WH-1000XM6 was praised for fantastic sound quality and class-leading ANC.

TechRadar’s reviewer said the Sonos Ace Ultra might be their favorite headphones of 2026 and described them as a considerable upgrade over the original Ace, with expanded Sonos ecosystem support and seriously good ANC. The reviewer added that the Sony WH-1000XM6 had been their go-to headphones for well over a year, making the comparison unexpectedly close. The Sonos model may still be edged out by some rivals in sonic detail and travel convenience, TechRadar said, but it remains easy to recommend, while the Sony model combines clean touch controls, an ultra-comfortable fit and many features despite its bulkier look.