Sonos appears to be working on a successor to its Ace over-ear headphones. According to a recent leak, the Ace Ultra is set to launch as early as September, coinciding with the time when Sony is also set to release its WH-1000XM6 (Review | Price not available *) with new color options and a more affordable offshoot of the XM series.
New Details on the Ace Ultra’s Design
The current Sonos Ace models were released in May 2024 in black and white. According to leaker Roland Quandt, whose images were published via WinFuture, Sonos is sticking with exactly these two color options for the Ace Ultra. However, the leaked photos reveal several changes compared to the current model.
For example, the ear cups are noticeably deeper. The wear sensor has also been repositioned, and the microphone design has changed. The Ace Ultra is said to feature thicker but shorter, capsule-shaped microphone openings.
These adjustments could indicate improved noise cancellation, though Sonos has not yet confirmed any specific technical details. The manufacturer continues to omit a 3.5-mm jack. Instead, as with the predecessor, the package is expected to include a 3.5-mm-to-USB-C cable and a USB-C charging cable.
A Direct Competitor to Sony’s 1000X Series
With the Ace Ultra, Sonos is likely to position itself even more clearly against its established Japanese competitors. Sony has just stepped up its game with the WH-1000XM6 and, most recently, the Olive Gray color variant; in addition, a more affordable reissue of the WH-1000XM4 is set to follow in September for 349 euros.
Other manufacturers, such as JBL, are also making a strong showing in the same price segment with models like the Tour One M3 (Review | € 309.99 *), so the market for premium headphones with active noise cancellation is set to remain dynamic in the coming weeks.
Sonos has not yet commented on the price or exact technical specifications of the Ace Ultra. However, if the timeframe mentioned by Quandt is accurate, official details should follow in the coming weeks.
Sources/Images
Roland Quandt via WinFuture
