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TechRadar Review Praises Sonos Ace Ultra Upgrades in EQ, ANC and Sonos Integration

TechRadar's two-week review says the Sonos Ace Ultra address the original Ace's weaknesses with an eight-band EQ, adaptive EQ, stronger ANC, closer Sonos integration and a replaceable battery.

AI News Feed · 2026-09-24 03:22

The review said the original Sonos Ace fell short of greatness because of middling musicality, while rivals such as Sony and Bose released strong iterations in their WH-1000X and QuietComfort Ultra lines. According to TechRadar, the Ace Ultra change that by improving the features that matter most to buyers considering a top-tier pair of wireless headphones or upgrading from the first Ace. The review highlighted several upgrades that it said make the headphones worth buying.

One improvement is a more customizable listening experience, with an eight-band equalizer that allows adjustments to specific parts of the frequency range, TechRadar said. The original Ace had only basic two-band EQ options for increasing bass or treble, while the Ultra also provide a three-band equalizer for simpler changes. The Ultra add adaptive EQ, which automatically adjusts for fit, glasses, hair and other elements that can cause leakage, a feature the original Ace skipped.

Another upgrade is ANC. TechRadar said the Ace Ultra carry ten microphones, up from eight on the standard Ace, which improves calling and, most importantly, active noise cancellation. In the reviewer's testing, typing in an office was totally eliminated, construction work and passing traffic were subdued on walks, and engine rumble and nearby conversations on public transport were silenced. The review credited a relatively secure but comfortable fit for helping keep the outside world at bay. ANC is adjustable, so users can choose full noise blocking or lighter blockage, and a transparency mode is available for awareness or quick conversations.

The Ace Ultra also offer more interplay with Sonos products than the original headphones, partly through a new Headphone Engine 2, according to the review. Headphone Linking lets users transfer audio from compatible speakers, such as the Sonos Play, over Wi-Fi to the headphones or in the other direction with a single button press. TV Audio Swap, also available on the original Ace, connects the headphones to a compatible soundbar such as the Sonos Arc Ultra. Because the Ace Ultra support Dolby Atmos and head tracking, TechRadar said the feature creates a rich, immersive experience for private movie listening without disturbing others in the household.

TechRadar also listed better battery life and a fully replaceable battery as an upgrade. It said the standard Sonos Ace offers 30 hours of playback with ANC on, which it described as basically the standard for headphones in the premium price bracket.

Editor's Summary TechRadar's review says the Sonos Ace Ultra improve on the original Ace with an eight-band EQ, adaptive EQ, stronger ANC from ten microphones, closer Sonos system integration and a replaceable battery. The review positions the headphones as a more competitive premium option, while noting the original Ace's 30-hour ANC battery life as a benchmark. These changes, as described by TechRadar, target buyers seeking top-tier wireless headphones or an upgrade from the first Ace.