Got a new pair of Sonos Ace headphones? These are our top 10 tips to try out
Sonos launched the Ace headphones at the end of May 2024, offering a range of features from TV Audio Swap to Spatial Audio and head tracking. They deliver excellent sound performance and they are nice and easy to use too, but a few of the settings are a little more hidden than you may initially realise.
Having used the Sonos Ace headphones since before they launched, these are our top 10 tips and tricks to help you get the most out of your new over-ear cans.
Change the Noise Control options in the app
There is a small Noise Control button that sits below the Content Key on the right ear cup of the Sonos Ace headphones. Push it to move between Noise Cancellation, Aware and Off. You can change this in the Sonos app though and perhaps only opt for Noise Cancellation and Off, for example.
Open the Sonos app > Tap on the Settings cog in the top right corner > Tap on Sonos Ace > Scroll down to Hardware Controls > Select Noise Control > Tick the modes you want the button to include when you push it.
Activate a smart assistant
The Sonos Ace headphones will activate your phone’s assistant if you press and hold the Noise Control button. If you have an iPhone for example, it will activate Siri, while an Android device will activate Google Assistant.
Turn on Wear Detection for calls
The Sonos Ace headphones offer Wear Detection, which means they will be able to detect when they are on your head and when you take them off. You can turn Wear Detection on or off in the Sonos app, but you can also turn it on specifically for audio, as well as for calls. Turn it on for the latter and if you receive a call, you can put the Sonos Ace headphones on and the call will be answered automatically.
Open the Sonos app > Tap on the Settings cog in the top right corner > Tap on Sonos Ace > Scroll down to Hardware Controls > Select Wear Detection > Toggle on Wear to Answer.
Set up TV Audio Swap
Sonos Ace headphones offer a feature called TV Audio Swap that is currently compatible with the Sonos Arc soundbar but will come to both the Sonos Ray and Sonos Beam (Gen 2) in a future software update. The feature allows you to transfer the TV audio on your Sonos Arc to your Sonos Ace headphones, and vice versa. We have a more detailed feature on the TV Audio Swap feature, how it works and how to set it up, but the below will give you a rough idea of where you need to head.
Open the Sonos app > Tap on the Settings cog in the top right corner > Tap on Sonos Ace > Scroll down to TV Audio Swap > Tap on Add TV Audio Swap > Follow the on-screen instructions.
Set up Multipoint to switch between two devices
Sonos Ace headphones can switch between two devices if you set up a feature Sonos calls Multipoint in the Sonos app. It means if you have a MacBook or PC, or an iPad or tablet and your smartphone for example, the Ace headphones can connect to both and move seamlessly between them.
Open the Sonos app > Tap on the Settings cog in the top right corner > Tap on Sonos Ace > Scroll down to Bluetooth > Toggle on Multipoint. You will need to make sure you then pair the Sonos Ace headphones with your secondary device though.
Ditch head tracking
We enjoy head tracking, but it’s not everyone’s cup of tea. When on, the Sonos Ace headphones respond to your head movements, keeping the audio in the centre, no matter which way you turn. You can turn it off if you aren’t a fan though.
Open the Sonos app > Tap on the Settings cog in the top right corner > Tap on Sonos Ace > Scroll down to Sound > Toggle Head Tracking off.
Adjust EQ
In our opinion, the Sonos Ace headphones sound excellent but everyone is different and you might fancy yourself a little less bass, or a little more treble. Like Sonos speakers, you can adjust the EQ of the Sonos Ace headphones, changing the bass and treble by -10 or +10. You can also change the balance between left and right and toggle on Loudness which will boost bass and treble at low volumes.
Open the Sonos app > Tap on the Settings cog in the top right corner > Tap on Sonos Ace > Scroll down to Sound > Tap on EQ > Adjust the sliders to your preferences.
Check the battery
The Sonos Ace headphones promise up to 30 hours of listening time, with Active Noise Cancellation turned on but there will come a time you will need to charge them. You don’t want to board a 12-hour flight only to realise half way through the flight that your Ace headphones have run out of juice.
Open the Sonos app > Tap on the Settings cog in the top right corner > Tap on Sonos Ace > Scroll down to Status > You’ll see your Ace battery level in a percentage.
Rename your Sonos Ace
Want to call your Sonos Ace a different name? Fair enough. Thankfully, it’s nice and easy.
Open the Sonos app > Tap on the Settings cog in the top right corner > Tap on Sonos Ace > Tap on Sonos Ace under Name at the top > Rename your headphones to whatever you want.
Use the Content Key
The Content Key on the right ear cup is key (see what we did there?). Press it once to play or pause audio, press it twice to skip forward a track and press it three times to go back a track. When a call comes in, you can press the Content Key once to answer and again to end the call. Meanwhile, sliding it up and down will increase and decrease volume. Use it, it’s much faster than getting your phone out.
