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Welcome to Skimm Tested, a series where we put viral products to the test and give you our honest, unfiltered reviews.
What I tested…
Sonos Ace Wireless Headphones ($449)
Why I tested…
How I tested…
I wore the Sonos Ace headphones during my weekday commute for over three months. Whenever I was getting on the subway, bus, or train, I took them with me. I worked out in them, too.
Test Results…
Sound quality. I love the sound quality. I'm not an audiophile, just a regular person looking for a solid listening experience, and these without question fit the bill. The noise is rich, crisp, and clear. To rattle off a few talking points, they have active noise cancellation, an aware mode, dynamic head tracking, smart sensing (the headphones sense when they're on versus off, so if you remove them, your music pauses), and more.
Battery life. I've owned these headphones for months, at least three or four, and I've worn them continuously since I got them. I charge them every once in a blue moon, which translates to once every 3-4 weeks. They provide up to 30 hours of listening time and charge rapidly so I never have them plugged in for longer than an hour.
Connectivity. They connect to my devices via Bluetooth, but really what I want to highlight here is that the connection has been seamless. They connect the second I turn them on and have never disconnected from my mobile. I haven't experienced a lag when switching between my cell and laptop.
Controls. I find the controls very intuitive to use. The Content Key slides up and down to adjust volume, while pressing down once can pause music. Twice skips songs.
Aesthetic. They're sleek and cool-looking, for lack of a better adjective. They're not Apple AirPods Max, but they have a similar appearance if you're interested in them as a status symbol.
Sidenotes…
Comfort. For the most part, these are very comfortable headphones. I find it important to note that as a headache-prone person, sometimes the band can cause discomfort after 30 minutes of wear. This doesn't happen all the time, but I compared the Ace with Bose's Quiet Comfort and I must admit I find the Quiet Comfort to be easier to wear for longer periods of time.
Price. This bullet speaks for itself but they're an investment at nearly $500 dollars.
Packability. The earmuffs lay flat so they're not the most annoying thing to pack, but they don't bend. Most times I sit them upright in my backpack, but I kind of hate that they're floating around if I don't use the case. If I was traveling internationally, I would bring the case for durability. If I'm taking the train to Long Island to visit my family, I just store them uncased after wearing.
The Fine Details…
Available at sonos.com for $449
Available in two colors: black and soft white
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