Sonos Ace Headphones Get Long-Overdue Features in Update—Just in Time for That 27% Discount

Sonos has timed its annual sale with something else that’s been a long time coming: a software update for the Ace headphones. A year after their debut, the company’s first-ever headphones are finally getting a few of the features users expected at launch. While the Ace haven’t exactly set the market on fire—thanks to fierce competition and a premium price tag—they’re now seeing a solid discount and a boost in functionality that might make them worth a second look.

The Sonos Ace stirred up plenty of opinions when it launched in 2024—especially among longtime Sonos users. Those hoping to add it as another zone in the Sonos app or treat it like a fully integrated part of their multi-room setup were left underwhelmed. It wasn’t Wi-Fi enabled (except in one very specific scenario), and didn’t behave like a typical Sonos product. That said, owners of compatible Sonos soundbars appreciated the TV Audio Swap feature, which kept the immersive home theater experience intact—without waking up the entire house.

Outside the Sonos ecosystem, the Ace held its own. Build quality was excellent, comfort was top-tier, and the tuning struck a smart balance between accuracy and fun. It avoided the bloated low end of the Sony XM5 and sounded livelier than the AirPods Max in A/B testing. It was more comfortable than both, better looking than the Sennheiser Momentum 4 or Bose QC Ultra, and rivaled the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e in materials and overall finish.

Sonos clearly took its time, and while the Ace wasn’t perfect, it was an impressive debut. For those willing to judge it on its own terms—not just as a Sonos product—it delivered solid results in all the right areas: build, comfort, sound, and battery life.

So what’s new and why should you consider these now that they are on sale?

TrueCinema Finally Arrives on Sonos Ace—Because “Immersive” Shouldn’t Take a Year

First up in the long-awaited software update: TrueCinema finally arrives for all Sonos Ace headphones. Yes, the feature that was heavily promoted when the Ace launched in 2024—then quietly missing in action—is now actually usable.

So what is TrueCinema? Think of it as TruePlay for your head. It’s Sonos’s take on room correction, but instead of optimizing your speakers, it uses your soundbar’s microphones to map your room and calibrate the Ace headphones accordingly. The catch? You need a Sonos soundbar to make it work. No Beam, Arc, or Ray? No TrueCinema for you.

The goal here is immersion—Sonos wants you to forget you’re even wearing headphones. Whether it gets there is still up for debate, but at least now users can finally try the feature that was promised from the start.

A Better Shared Experience… If You’re in the Club

The second headline feature in the new software update makes TV Audio Swap a shared experience—finally. This is one of the marquee tricks the Ace headphones launched with: press the Content Key on the headphones, and the TV audio instantly shifts from your Sonos soundbar to your ears. Great for late-night movie sessions or not waking up toddlers.

Now, with the update, two people wearing Sonos Ace headphones can enjoy the same private listening session at once. Previously, TV Audio Swap was a solo-only affair.

Of course, there’s a big caveat: like TrueCinema, this feature only works if you already own a compatible Sonos soundbar. If you do, great—you’re deep enough into the ecosystem to enjoy one of the Ace’s best tricks. If you don’t? Well, it’s an unusable feature until you buy more Sonos gear. Clever move—or annoying upsell—depending on your perspective.

Better ANC & Call Clarity

Third and fourth on the list: the Sonos Ace just got better at blocking out the world and making your voice sound less like it’s trapped in a fishbowl. The new update enhances active noise cancellation and improves call clarity—finally, two features that don’t require you to shell out for a Sonos soundbar.

According to Sonos, the updated ANC now adapts in real time to account for glasses, hats, and even long hair. Yes, apparently your ‘47 Rocket City Trash Pandas cap might be letting sound leak in—something we didn’t know we had to worry about until now.

On the call side, Sonos added a feature called SideTone, which lets you hear a bit of your own voice during calls while ANC is active. It’s supposed to help your voice sound more natural and keep you from shouting like you’re in a wind tunnel. A small but appreciated quality-of-life update.

How to Update Your Sonos Ace Headphones

The firmware update for the Sonos Ace is available now—yes, finally. If you want to manually install it (because waiting for auto-updates is for amateurs), here’s how to do it:

1. Open the Sonos app on your smartphone.
2. Head to the Settings menu.
3. Scroll down and find the Headphones section, then tap on your Sonos Ace.
4. In the About section, select Software Updates.
5. Tap Check for Updates and follow the prompts.

It’s quick, painless, and no, you don’t need a Sonos soundbar for this one—just a little initiative.

The Bottom Line

The long-awaited firmware update finally makes the Sonos Ace feel like the premium headphone it was priced to be—at least for Sonos soundbar owners. TrueCinema and multi-user TV Audio Swap deliver the immersive, living-room-to-headphones magic that was missing at launch. But here’s the catch: you’ll still need a Sonos soundbar to unlock most of that wizardry. If you’ve already bought into the ecosystem, it’s a big win. If not, you’re staring at some high-end features you can’t actually use. That said, with the Ace currently on sale for $329 (27% off), now’s not a bad time to reconsider—especially if you’re thinking of adding a soundbar anyway.

Where to buy:

• $449 $329 at Amazon
• $449 $329 at Crutchfield

Related Reading:

• Sonos Ace Review: The Goldilocks Of Over-Ear Wireless Headphones
• New Sonos Ace Headphones Do WiFi, But Not How You Might Think
• Sonos And Sporty & Rich Partner On Limited Edition ACE Headphones