Sonos sees your AirPods Max 2 and raises you an Ace Ultra, and the much-rumored second-generation headphones sound extreme

Date:
Wed, 12 Aug 2026 13:00:00 +0000

Description:
The Sonos Ace Ultra have been rumored and spotted in filings multiple times. So how soon can we expect them and will they join the multi-room ecosystem?

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 spotted in FCC listings... ... and leaks, and rumors, and more Upcoming launch sounds imminent for the second-generation over-ears It's been two years since the release of the Sonos Ace , the inuagural premium over-ear headphones from the well-known wireless multi-room audio pioneer. And it sounds like a new follow-up pair are on the way... with a linguistic upgrade in stock.

We know a Sonos launch event is happening in September, and now, FCC listings point to a new pair of wireless headphones. It doesn't take a genius to put two and two together to deduce that Sonos' second stab at wireless cans are the product cleared for launch? And if that wasn't obvious enough, a pair of headphones called the Sonos Ace Ultra have been leaking left, right and center. Winfuture recently published a suite of pictures and details about them, which ensure (if the images prove genuine, of course) there's very little mystery left to uncover. Latest Videos From TechRadar Watch full video here:

These images of the headphones look pretty similar to the original Ace, but with bigger ear cups and a slider on the body. In terms of design, then, they still look closer than most to Apple 's AirPods Max, albeit with more pill-shaped ear cups. Ultra by name, ultra by nature? By all accounts, then, Sonos has some AirPods Max 2 rivals, ready to drop on us at a moment's notice (or competitors to the Sony WH-1000XM6 , Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2nd Gen , Dali IO-8 , take your pick from one of the many premium headphones out
there). You may like Not sure about AirPods Max 2? New Beats headphones were spotted at the World Cup training camp Can you tell Sony's 1000X The
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The real question is, what does the 'Ultra' in the name mean? Will these cost even more than the original Ace? Perhaps an advanced multi-driver set-up? Maybe some extra features, as in the Sony 1000X The Collexion ? Or, most pertinently here: will they work within Sonos' multi-room ecosystem, for true audio hand-off to and from the grouped Sonos speakers in your home? The original Ace could do this only to your Sonos Arc, via the TV Audio Swap feature, which made many fans disappointed.

So far, the leaks don't really explain what's Ultra about these headphones,
so that's something Sonos will have to sell us on when the new headphones arrive. 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.

TechRadar's Audio Editor Becky Scarrott suggests that anything other than proper audio hand-off to the Sonos wireless speaker array in your home would be a misstep for the company. It's something fans really want and that rival Bowers & Wilkins has been offering for quite some time in its headphones and earbuds, including the Bowers & Wilkins PX8 and five-star Pi8 earbuds . Both are controlled by B&W's Music app, which enables audio hand-off from your buds/cans to your home system when you walk through the door, to any speaker in Bowers & Wilkins own Formation range , including the Formation Wedge and newer Zeppelin Pro .

Hopefully, we will see this though; the name suggests that these headphones aren't a sequel to the Sonos Ace (which gained mixed reviews and a four-star review from this publication), but a 'pro' version. And the features will
need to match.

For now, watch this space The best noise cancelling headphones for all
budgets Our top picks, based on real-world testing and comparisons

Read our full guide to the best noise cancelling headphones 1. Best overall: Sony WH-1000XM6 2. Best mid-range: Bose QuietComfort Headphones 3. Best under $100/100: 1More Sonoflow Pro HQ51 4. Best under $60/50: Soundcore Q30 Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds.



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/audio/wireless-headphones/sonos-sees-your-airpods-ma x-2-and-raises-you-an-ace-ultra-and-the-much-rumored-second-generation-headpho nes-sound-extreme


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