Rumors about Sonos headphones began in early 2019, but they are finally close to launch, according to a new leak that appears to have revealed their design and name for the first time.
As discovered by The Verge, Dutch Sonos distributor Schuurman released a series of images of the new 'Sonos Ace' headphones, presumably a little earlier than planned. The images reveal a pair of black earbuds that look like a cross between the Sony WH-1000XM5 and the Apple AirPods Max.
There appear to be at least three buttons on the headphones themselves, including a toggle switch that is presumably a power button. There will also likely be a pairing button and potentially a quick audio transfer feature, which we hope will appear on the Sonos headphones.
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Another leaked image shows the 'Ace' headphones alongside a fairly standard carrying case along with 3.5mm and USB-C cables, plus another mystery bag. The latter is most likely a simple cable organizer, but we'll have to wait for the full launch to know for sure.
The images suggest these could be a new premium contender for our best headphones guide, and Schuurman's leak also hints at a price. The list price on the 'Sonos Ace' page was €403.58, which converts to around $435 / £350 / AU$660. So we're probably looking at something that's priced just below the current AirPods Max.
If these leaked images weren't enough, some sleuths on the Sonos Subreddit also discovered a Sonos page with the title “Pre-order Sonos Ace, our new wireless headphones.” The company's wireless earbuds are almost certainly on the way then, and it's just a question of when we'll see them, as the latest rumors predict a reveal sometime in June, or potentially a little sooner.
What else is coming?
We expect the Sonos Ace headphones (assuming that's what they're called) to be the company's biggest release in the next month, but it looks like a new wireless speaker, the Sonos Roam 2, could also join them.
Not content with leaking Sonos' first headphones, Schuurman also included the Roam 2 on his site. This is important, because the original Roam tops our guide to the best Bluetooth speakers, so if you're looking for a small, powerful and rugged wireless speaker, the official launch of the Roam 2 will be worth waiting for.
The current Roam has a useful “transfer” feature to quickly switch your audio to another Sonos device, and that's on our wish list of features we want to see in the Sonos Ace headphones (along with Hi-Res Audio support, ANC advanced and generous battery life).
Given that Sonos also recently launched a nifty new app that seems ideal for a pair of headphones, it's shaping up to be a big year for the wireless audio giant, and also for anyone looking for new, comfortable alternatives to the AirPods Max.
