By Tom the Tech Explainer
Looking for over-ear headphones that nail comfort, sound, and noise cancelling? These two giants—Sonos Ace and Bose QuietComfort Ultra—have earned serious attention this year. Let’s dig deeper with real-world test results, review highlights, and user feedback.
💷 Price & Value
The **Sonos Ace** launched at around £449 ($449), positioning itself firmly in the premium over-ear category. On a second-hand or deal hunt, you might snag it closer to £400.
The **Bose QuietComfort Ultra** also sits in the high-end range and often goes for around £429 in UK deals. Both aren’t cheap—but each justifies its price in different ways.
🎧 Sound Quality & Noise Cancellation
**Bose QuietComfort Ultra** is widely praised for its top-tier ANC and immersive audio. Reviewers say it delivers audiophile-level sound quality once you tweak the EQ. Quiet Comfort Ultra scores in comparison tests, especially for ANC and comfort.
The **Sonos Ace**, on the other hand, focuses on spatial audio—offering Dolby Atmos and head-tracking to create a true surround-sound feel. It’s ideal if you’re watching movies or deep into Sonos sound ecosystems.
🖼 Style & Design
The **Sonos Ace** sports a minimalist, elegant design with plush memory foam and soft vegan leather—great for long movie nights .
The **Bose** opts for classic over-ear design with a lightweight metal-accented build and thoughtful ear pad comfort—especially noted for glasses users. Despite being simple, both feel premium in their own way.
🎧 Comfort & Wearability
Both models offer all-day comfort, but reviewers often give Bose the edge—though some report fit shifting during active movement. The Sonos Ace is tailored for extended use thanks to lightweight materials and ergonomic design. Battery life is strong on both: Bose delivers about 24 hours, while Sonos promises up to 30.
⚙ Features & Apps
- Bose QuietComfort Ultra: Features Immersive Audio, customizable ANC via the app, Bluetooth 5.3, multipoint pairing, and aptX Adaptive support.
- Sonos Ace: Stands out for Dolby Atmos, spatial audio with head tracking, lossless audio support via USB-C, and tight integration with Sonos ecosystems.
Real-World Test Results
Sonos Ace delivers about 32 hours of battery life with ANC on, outperforming competitors—even Sony and Bose—during standardized testing . Their noise cancellation is top-tier too, reducing ambient noise by ~88%, keeping it neck-and-neck with Bose.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra clocks in at around 27 hours of playback with ANC, per lab tests. Many reviewers praise its comfort and design, calling it “one of the smoothest ANC implementations” yet. TechRadar confirms it as their AGM pick for noise-cancelling power, lauding its immersive audio and build quality .
Expert Review Highlights
Sonos Ace impresses with cinematic spatial audio, fast charging, and stellar comfort—earning a “world-class” ANC rating and a 92% score from Stereo Guide. The Guardian calls it “top sound, long battery life, supreme comfort, and a killer home-cinema feature” .
Bose QC Ultra earns praise for superior ANC, luxurious comfort, and strong battery life . RecordingNow summarizes it as having unbeatable ANC customization and immersive audio support.
User Feedback & Insider Notes
A Reddit user found that battery performance improved after a full discharge/recharge cycle—now consistently achieving over 22 hours, even on low power settings{index=10}.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Sonos Ace | Bose QuietComfort Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ~£449 | ~£429 (deals available) |
| Noise Cancelling | ~88% reduction—class-leading ANC | Bests the class—highly customisable ANC |
| Spatial Audio | Dolby Atmos + head tracking | Bose Immersive Audio |
| Battery Life | ~32 hrs (ANC on) | ~27 hrs (ANC on) |
| Comfort | Extremely plush, lightweight | Top-tier ergonomics |
| Fast Charge | Yes | 15 min → 2.5 hrs |
| Bonus | TV Audio Swap with Sonos setup | Exceptional ANC, widely trusted |
| Codec Support | Lossless via USB-C | aptX Adaptive, Bluetooth 5.3 |
| App | Sonos app with Atmos focus | Bose app with EQ, ANC, and shortcuts |
Who Wins on Style?
The **Sonos Ace** brings glossy, modern elegance with plush vegan leather and modern aesthetics. Reviewers note the standout design and swappable pads .
The **Bose QC Ultra** keeps a classic design that’s well-worn but intuitively premium—lightweight, understated, and ridiculously comfortable.
Verdict from Tom
- Go Sonos Ace for immersive movie-watching, unparalleled battery life, and seamless integration into Sonos-home setups.
- Go Bose QC Ultra if you’re after the most refined ANC, ergonomic comfort for long use, and trusted all-around performance.
Either way, you’re getting some of 2025’s best over-ear options. It boils down to whether cinematic spatial audio or maximum cancellation + comfort is more important to your listening experience.
– Tom, The Tech Explainer
