Sonos Ace Ultra vs Sony WH-1000XM6: which noise cancelling headphones should you buy?

Date:
Mon, 28 Sep 2026 13:00:00 +0000

Description:
Which noise cancelling headphones are better, the Sonos Ace Ultra or the Sony WH-1000XM6? I tested both side by side heres my verdict.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter Sonos Ace Ultra 399 at very.co.uk (Black) 399 at Sevenoaks Sound and Vision 399 at Smart Home Sounds Check Amazon



With a significant improvement in musicality, excellent Dolby Atmos performance, and a more fleshed-out feature set, the Sonos Ace Ultra feel
like a big improvement over their predecessor. Incremental additions to battery life, ANC, and Sonos ecosystem interactivity only help these stylish cans to stand-out more than the original model. While the Ace Ultra may still get edged out by a few rivals in terms of sonic detail and travel
convenience, theyre still easy to recommend. Pros Excellent audio for movies Good Sonos ecosystem interactivity Stellar look and great build quality Cons Not fully foldable, like the XM6 No LDAC support Dont sound quite as detailed Sony WH-1000XM6 349 at Sony UK (Silver) 349 at Amazon (Blue) 349 at
very.co.uk (Silver) 349 at Currys (Blue)



The Sony WH-1000XM6 are a fantastic pair of over-ear headphones that combine the best design elements of their predecessors, while levelling up the sonic and ANC capabilities of what came before. With super-clean touch controls, an ultra-comfy fit and a ton of features at your disposal, theres a lot to love about these headphones though they do look a little bulky. Pros
Class-leading ANC Fantastic sound quality Incredibly intuitive touch controls Cons Slightly weaker battery life Bulkier look than the Ace Ultra No Snapdragon Sound/aptX support The Sonos Ace Ultra just dropped, and they
might just be my favorite headphones of 2026. Theyre a considerable upgrade over the original Ace, boasting far better musicality, incredible movie
audio, expanded Sonos ecosystem support, and seriously good ANC. It really feels like Sonos has made a statement with this release, and the multi-room specialist is finally ready to take on the titans of the headphone world.

But just how well do the Sonos Ace Ultra shape up against their class-leading rivals at this money? I wanted to find out for myself, so I tested them against one of their fiercest competitors: the Sony WH-1000XM6 . Sony s flagship headphones come in at the same price point as the Ace Ultra and they too supply stellar sound, noise-crushing ANC, and a swathe of fantastic features. So, which headphones are better: the Sonos Ace Ultra or the Sony WH-1000XM6? Ive compared them across four key areas: features, sound quality, design, and value, to help you decide which are the best headphones for you. The Sony WH-1000XM6 have been my go-to headphones for well over a year, but this contest was genuinely far closer than Id expected. But anyway, let the battle commence oh, and make sure to stick around 'til the end, for my verdict. Latest Videos From TechRadar Watch full video here: Sonos Ace Ultra vs Sony WH-1000XM6: price & availability The Sonos Ace Ultra were released in September 2026, about two years after the original Sonos Ace headphones arrived on the scene. The Ace Ultra cost $449 / 399 / AU$699, which is
cheaper than the standard model cost at launch in the UK, and the same price as the original Ace launched at in both the US and Australia.

Meanwhile, the Sony WH-1000XM6 are a little older, and hit the market back in May 2025. They cost the same as the Sonos Ace Ultra, carrying a price tag of $449 / 399 / AU$699. As theyve been about for a little longer, its more
likely that youll find these cans on sale, and we have seen them drop below $380 / 300 / AU$500 before. While neither of these models are cheap, they
both offer incredible quality across the board, with excellent sound quality and features, which helps to justify the steep asking price. You may like AirPods Max 2 vs Sony WH-1000XM6: which is king of the noise cancelling headphones game? Sonos Ace Ultra review: more musical, more feature-rich,
much improved headphones 5 upgrades that I love on the Sonos Ace Ultra headphones that make them worth buying Sonos Ace Ultra vs Sony WH-1000XM6: specs Swipe to scroll horizontally Header Cell - Column 0

Sonos Ace Ultra

Sony WH-1000XM6

Price

$449 / 399 / AU$699

$449 / 399 / AU$699

Drivers

Next-gen 40mm custom

30mm dynamic

Active noise cancellation

Yes

Yes

Battery life

35 hours

30 hours

Weight

322g

254g

Connectivity

Bluetooth 6.0, USB-C

Bluetooth 5.4, 3.5mm

Frequency range

20Hz-20kHz

20Hz-20kHz Sonos Ace Ultra vs Sony WH-1000XM6: features Let me be clear from the offset: when it comes to features, these two pairs of wireless headphones are arguably the very best on the market. So, as you can imagine, its hard to pick a winner here.

The Sonos Ace Ultra and Sony WH-1000XM6 share a lot of the same positives: they each have extensive EQ options, with multi-band custom options, wired
and Bluetooth connectivity, wear detection, and impressive ANC. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

When it comes to noise-cancelling specifically, both are excellent
performers, and easily dispose of external sounds like surrounding chatter
and traffic noise. In my testing, I found the Sony WH-1000XM6 to have a very slight edge, though, perhaps lending to their larger microphone system (12 mics to the Ace Ultras 10) they dulled deep sounds like engines rumbling to slightly greater effect.

Something that the Sonos Ace supply that Sony cant compete with, is wider ecosystem support. TV Audio Linking enables you to transfer audio from a compatible Sonos soundbar and enjoy immersive sound privately, while
Headphone Linking gives you the option to hand off audio to supported speakers, including the Sonos Play (or vice versa) for a seamless listening experience, no matter where you are.

Another thing that I love about the Ace Ultra is their native Dolby Atmos support. This means you can enjoy Dolby Atmos music and movies at their very best, and with the help of head-tracking, Ive been able to enjoy deliciously expansive movie audio with impressive height effects and clear dialogue to boot. The Sony WH-1000XM6 arent as accomplished for movies, and while they feature a Cinema upmix mode, which transfers a stereo signal into a more expansive format, the actual quality of this is a little disappointing. What to read next The best Sony headphones for all budgets, as tested by our audio experts The best noise cancelling headphones, all TechRadar tested The best headphones you can buy today, all tested by our experts

While were on the topic of sound-related features, its worth talking about codecs. Each of these headphones possesses something the other does not. And thats because the Sonos Ace Ultra boast aptX codec support something Sony skips on while the XM6 feature LDAC, which their competitor leaves out. Both of these open up higher-res Bluetooth streaming, opening up a more detailed listen than youd get with SBC or AAC, for instance.

The key differentiator here is compatibility. Apple fans, Im sorry, but your phone supports neither of these. Android users, theres a very high chance
that your handset can make use of LDAC, which is actually a proprietary technology developed by Sony itself. However, its a different story with
aptX. Fewer phones support this, and although I get to enjoy it on my Xiaomi 17, a lot of models leave it out. Both models support lossless wired listening, although only Sonos has USB-C audio passthrough, which is more convenient in my view after all, so many of us carry around USB-C cables to charge our phones and other devices (Image credit: Future) In terms of
battery life, these cans are close, but Sonos is the overall winner. The Ace Ultra provide 35 hours of playback with ANC switched on, whereas Sony give
you 30 hours. Thats a pretty average amount of playtime to get from
headphones in this price-class, but if you do run out of charge, you can use both pairs while they regain life via USB-C.

Finally, a word on controls. The Sonos Ace Ultra feature responsive, well-sized, and precise button controls. But they dont have touch controls, something the WH-100XM6 pull off brilliantly. Sonys cans have reactive and intuitive touch controls that I love. A single press wont trigger anything so you can avoid accidental commands, but you can swipe on the right earcup to adjust playback and even cover it with your hand to enter into transparency mode. As much as I appreciate the reliability of Sonos buttons, I prefer
Sonys approach.

So, whos the winner in the features category? Its such a close one: I think Sony has a slight edge in ANC, I like the touch controls, and the broader compatibility of LDAC is a win. However, Sonos ecosystem interplay, native Atmos support, USB-C audio, and better battery life is pretty impressive too. Lets call this category a tie. (Image credit: Future) Sonos Ace Ultra vs Sony WH-1000XM6: sound quality While both of these headphones sound great, and theres not a big different in quality, theres only one winner for me.

The Sonos Ace Ultra made a big step up from the original Ace, especially when it comes to musicality. They provide well-balanced sound, with satisfyingly deep, regimented bass, clean mids, and expressive highs. But how do they compete against the Sony WH-1000XM6?

Well, allow me to reference my listening notes. In the funk tack, Joa rara by Brylho, both sets kept electric guitars well-separated from vocals and other instruments in the mid-range, almost making it sound as if they were playing in a unique pocket. Both also plated up well-weighted, clean bass, and finer details, like subtle percussive elements came through nicely. I did find, though, that the XM6 handled vocals with a bit more care they sounded a bit more natural, and more effectively defined in the mix.

Moving onto a house track next, with Get it on by Jansons. This was a tight contest, the Ace Ultras deep bass came through with palpable impact, and higher-pitched drums sounded tastefully forward without getting shrill or tinny. It was the same on the XM6 thumping yet agile bass alongside bright and precise treble, helping to capture the exciting, energetic vibe. I
perhaps found that the XM6 offered slightly better dynamism, though drops just had a bit more impact, which isnt to say that the Ace fell flat, they were just marginally outclassed. (Image credit: Future) More generally, I found that the XM6 slightly edged out the Ace Ultra with more dynamic low-end output and better detailing, especially in the mid-range.

Its worth noting that I do consider the Ace Ultra to be superior for movies. They have native Dolby Atmos support, and with built-in head-tracking, you
can experience truly mesmerizing audio for all your movie-watching needs.
When I connected the headphones up to the Sonos Beam Ultra via TV Audio Swap, I was blown away by the fidelity of height effects, the phenomenal width, and clear dialogue available. Sonys headphones are good for movies, and they do feature some head-tracking technology (albeit more restrictive), but the Ace Ultra were clearly designed with movies in mind to a much greater extent.

Still, its important to have some perspective. The vast majority of people arent buying wireless headphones solely to watch movies. The most important thing is portable musical performance, and while the Sonos Ace Ultra get
close to the Sony WH-1000XM6, they fall just short overall and as a result, Im handing Sony the W here. (Image credit: Future) Today's best Sonos Ace Ultra and Sony WH-1000XM6 deals Sony WH-1000XM6 349 View Deal See all prices voucher gift Sonos Ace Ultra 399 View Deal See all prices We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices Sonos Ace Ultra vs Sony WH-1000XM6: design At a glance, these headphones might not look wildly different, especially as I tested two very similar colorways but there are some notable deviations worth discussing.

In my view, the Sonos Ace Ultra are the better looking pair of headphones. They have a slimmer form factor with flatter ear cups, which look a bit more flattering than the XM6s bulky ones. Their metallic details and curved look also gives them a premium yet understated aesthetic which I cant get enough of.

The XM6 arent bad-looking at all, I just dont think they quite match the luxurious vibe of the Ace Ultra. But what I do like about these is that
theyre fully foldable. This means theyre amazing for travel just fold em up, throw them in your bag, and youre good to go. The ear cups can fold down on the Ace, enabling them to fit in their carry case, but theyre not quite as flexible as Sonys flagship model. (Image credit: Future) On the topic of cases, Sony takes the win here. They have an enticing hard case which uses a magnet lock, meaning its so quick and easy to whip them out or stow them
away. The Ace Ultras case doesnt have the same premium feel, and it also has
a pretty low-quality zip that jams a bit too regularly for my liking.

Neither of these models have an IP rating, which denotes dust and waterproofing capabilities something that, in fairness, is rarely seen on over-ears (though some, like the Noble FoKus Artemis, do boast an IP rating).

But both models are very comfortable and dont clamp too hard on my head,
which makes it easy to listen to music for hours on end. This means theyre pretty close overall in the design section, but personally, Id take the sleeker look and more luxurious design of the Ace Ultra over the XM6 even if the latter are fully foldable and have a better carry case. (Image credit: Future) Sonos Ace Ultra vs Sony WH-1000XM6: value So, its been a tight
contest so far. And when you consider that both the Ace Ultra and XM6 have
the same list price, deciding which offers better value for money is very tough indeed.

The truth is this: the better-value model is going to be very dependent on your needs and expectations. If you already own a Sonos system, and want interplay with your speakers and maybe even a soundbar, then the Ace Ultra
are incredibly attractive. Their ANC and sound quality isnt far off the XM6s, theyre superior for movies, and I think theyre more stylish too. (Image credit: Future) But if you want the best all-round pair of headphones in this price bracket, I still dont think you can beat the Sony WH-1000XM6 right now. They offer slightly more detailed, dynamic audio than the Ace Ultra, their
ANC is class-leading, and they have no shortage of features, a fully foldable design, and their battery life is close to that of their Sonos rival.

In the context of this showdown, the XM6s older age also works in their favor somewhat weve seen them go on sale a few times here and there, so chances are, youll be able to swipe them up for less than the Ace Ultra in practice.
I think youll be exceedingly happy with either of these models, but unless
you want interplay with your Sonos system and top-tier Atmos for movies, then I think the Sony WH-1000XM6 give you ever-so-slightly more bang for your
buck. (Image credit: Future) Sonos Ace Ultra vs Sony WH-1000XM6: verdict So, there you have it. As I mentioned in the value section, its been a close affair, but I think the Sony WH-1000XM6 are the best headphones for most people at the time of writing. Ultimately, their marginal wins over Sonos in terms of ANC, musicality, and flexibility give them the edge.

If you have a Sonos system, though, I do think the Ace Ultra are worth
picking for their seamless connectivity with your speakers and soundbar. And the Ace Ultra do offer a few improvements over Sonys cans, like higher
battery life, a more luxurious look, and better sound for movies.

Both are great options, however, so you can feel confident in your choice, whether you opt for Sonos or Sony. But what do you think? Would you choose
the Sonos Ace Ultra or Sony WH-1000XM6? Let me know in the comments. Today's best Sonos Ace Ultra and Sony WH-1000XM6 deals Sony WH-1000XM6 349 View Deal See all prices voucher gift Sonos Ace Ultra 399 View Deal See all prices We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices Follow
TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds.



======================================================================
Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/audio/wireless-headphones/sonos-ace-ultra-vs-sony-wh -1000xm6


--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A49 (Linux/64)
* Origin: tqwNet Technology News (1337:1/100)