ANC King! đź‘‘ Sonos Ace Review vs Sony WH-1000XM5 vs Momentum 4 vs WH-1000XM4
Having compared the Sonos Ace to the most popular headphones in the market, I found it much better than I thought. One highlight is the head tracking is available on any device with any content. You just have to enable it in the Sonos app. Additionally, you can get Spatial audio with content mastered in Dolby Music or 360 Reality Audio. Even if your Android phone does not support Snapdragon Sound or aptX Adaptive, you can still stream your audio over aptX HD. This feature already makes it look like a game changer, but is it really?
In this review, I’m going to compare its features and performance to the Sony WH-1000XM5, WH-1000XM4 and the Sennheiser Momentum 4. We’re going to discuss their sound, noise canceling, transparency and microphone pickup as well their pros and cons.
Transparency Mode
The first thing I wanted to discuss is the transparency mode. Previously, I mentioned that it’s comparable to the Sony WH-1000XM5, but I was wrong. It’s actually better than any of the headphones in this comparison. While the Sonys amplify ambient sound clearly with minimal hiss, their voices still sound a little obscured when you’re speaking to somebody. In contrast, with the Sonos Ace, it’s almost like I’m not wearing headphones, except it amplifies the upper regions of the midrange a bit more than what sounds natural. So the ceiling fan could sound louder than it actually is in real life.
The Mic pickup of the Sonos is exceeded I expectations. In fact, it sounds about as good as the WH-1000XM5, making it one of the greatest mic pickups available right now. It was a little less aggressive at noise reduction, but my voice sounded very smooth and less robotic in both quiet or noisy conditions. It’s definitely better than Sennheiser’s, and of course, the XM4s being the oldest product in this group is the least effective at voice pickup.
👉 Have a listen to the microphone quality samples.
(Comparison of microphone pickup in both quiet and noisy conditions using loud cafe noise and wind noise from this fan.)
Active Noise Cancelling
In terms of active noise canceling, the Sonos Ace stands out as the best ANC in this group. It is extremely quiet in both the lower and midrange frequencies, where human chatter lives. If I were to rank them it would the Ace, followed by the XM5, the XM4 and lastly, the Sennheiser Momentum 4.
👉 Have a listen to the ANC sound samples.
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Sound Quality
In terms of sound quality, frequency sweeps show that on default settings, the Sonos Ace measured a little more muted in the bass frequencies compared to the others. There’s also a big dip in the 4khz region which affects the crispness of vocals, but also makes vocals sound a little more throaty.
The Sonos Ace sounds very good with its great dynamic range, making softer details in the mids and highs more audible. It’s crisp and airy in the highs, and well decay from wind and string instruments in the soundstage. Some individuals may think they sound better than the XM5, XM4, and Sennheiser Momentum 4 because of the increased vocal clarity and treble range. However, they sort of lose out is in terms of bass. While you do get LFE, the more audible mid and upper bass notes are not nearly as intense or gravitational as the XM5, let along the XM4 which has the heaviest default bass tuning. It’s closer in this regard to the Momentum 4.
👉 Have a listen to the sound quality samples.
On top of that, if you prefer a more spacious and relaxed sound, you might not like the Sonos Ace because its soundstaging is the most compact of this group. It improves the excitement and engagement of music, videos, and games, but it can also make things seem a little too intense while listening to fast-paced, crowded music.
This is true on its default settings. You can tune the bass and treble in the Sonos app, though. I recommend jacking up the bass all the way, which more than makes up for the lack of bass I mentioned earlier. Besides that, you could also activate head tracking in the app. This feature works for any source of content, whether you are watching youtube on your phone or Netflix on your TV. It’s going to pin the audio, so that even if you move your head, the sound direction stays in place. It’s not spatial audio, but it still gives you the feeling that you’re listening to stationary speakers. (When you turn your head, the audio positioning stays pinned in one spot for about 8 seconds before shifting to where your head’s facing.)
Spatial Audio Experience
For spatial audio music, head tracking will still work as long as it’s activated. However, for the best spatial audio experience, you do need Dolby Atmos. Also, the best Dolby Atmost experience for the Ace right now is only through a Sonos soundbar like the Sonos Arc. With supported content, you can get up to 7.1.4 Dolby Atmos. You can get even more realistic spatial audio after tuning the Ace with TrueCinema. This feature uses the microphones inside the Arc to tune the headphones’ spatial audio according to the acoustics of your room.
In a large room, spatial audio sounds like speakers in a large room, same goes for small bedroom setups. I have tested it in the Sonos showroom and yes, with TrueCinema calibration, it does sound even more immersive for movies since the objects are placed in a 3D space around me.
Spatial audio: TV Audio swap
Of course TV Audio swap lets you connect the Ace to the Arc over WiFi, and toggle the sound between them depending on your preference or the situation. For example, if the kids are going to bed and you don’t want to wake them up while gaming or watching something, this feature is very useful.
Why Sonos Ace?
So why should you choose the Sonos Ace over the others? These headphones have the best noise cancelling and the best transparency among them. They look sleeker and feel more premium in terms of build quality with stainless steel headband and magnetic cushions that makes them so easy to replace. The mic pickup is excellent, and they support head tracking on any device.
Another benefit is the button controls, which are more intuitive. The button controls work better in certain situations like cold weather, because you could be wearing gloves. If you have a Sonos Arc soundbar, you can enjoy immersive, room-calibrated Dolby Atmos, a feature that will soon be available on other Sonos soundbars via software update.
Therefore, while having a Sonos soundbar is required to access ALL of the Sonos Ace’s features, not having one still allows you to use them as powerful noise cancelers that sound great, and look great.
Why Buy Sony WH-1000XM5, Not Sonos Ace?
Where the Sonos Ace falls short compared to the Sony WH-1000XM5 is primarily in terms of comfort. The Sonys sit more gently on my head while offering a firm fit. It also has a more spacious soundstage and better default bass performance. It offers more ways to customise its sound to your preference, whether through EQ presets, a graphic EQ, or Find Your Equalizer which auto-suggests a setting based on your taste in sound. Unlike the Sonos Ace, the XM5 allows you to adjust the intensity of the noise cancelling or transparency. The XM5 also supports LDAC which streams at a higher bandwidth compared to aptX Adaptive or HD. That is something audiophiles do pay attention to.
Why Buy Sony WH-1000XM4, Not Sonos Ace?
The same points apply to the XM4s. As a four year old product, they’re starting to feel dated, but people still love them because of the value they offer for the money compared to the XM5. Although they don’t perform as well as the Sonos Ace or the XM5 in terms of microphone, noise cancelling and transparency, their sound quality remains a favourite. The XM4 offers a fuller, crisper and more bassier sound than the XM5. Many prefer the XM4’s design, which folds into a smaller package with a smaller case that leaves more space in their bags for other things, whereas the XM5 and Sonos Ace only fold flat, resulting in larger cases.
Why Buy Sennhsier Momentum 4, Not Sonos Ace?
Compared to the Sennhsier Momentum 4, I prefer the Sonos Ace because of its superior performance in ANC, Transparency, and mic pickup. Moreover, they also have head tracking which the Momentum 4s lack. The Sennheisers do require more EQ-ing to sound great, and thankfully, this is where it’s a lot more versatile than the Sonos. With its range of EQ presets, graphic EQ and auto-calibration with Sound Personalization, you could actually make them sound comparable to the Sonos.
You can also customise the level of noise cancelling or transparency you want, unlike the Sonos. Plus, the biggest advantage of Sennheisers is their thick and juicy 60 hour battery, far longer than the Sonos and Sonys. Not having to charge as often could be a great reason for some of you to pick the Sennheisers over the Sonos. In terms of comfort, both are quite comparable, with similar clamping force.
But overall, the Sonos Ace is currently one of my favourite headphones. Check in the links below for the latest prices.
Check Latest Price:
Sonos Ace - https://amzn.to/3xhgg9t
Sony WH-1000XM5 - https://amzn.to/4bIqJtZ
Sony WH-1000XM4 - https://amzn.to/3UL9YID
Sennheiser Momentum 4 - https://amzn.to/3TAxQOb
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