New Sonos Ace headphones are already almost 20% off for Black Friday – but I'd avoid them (and buy these instead)

Sonos Ace noise-cancelling headphones
(Image credit: What Hi-Fi?)

Sonos's debut wireless headphones have only been out a matter of months, but already they are being discounted in the UK – and by more than I often see new (and even old) Sonos kit being reduced by.

Indeed, the Sonos Ace are now 17 per cent off at Amazon and Sevenoaks, bringing the price to a more palatable – but still very premium – £369. They are actually slightly cheaper at AV.com, although at the time of writing only one pair is in stock.

The best early Black Friday deal on the Sonos Ace

Sonos Ace was £449 now £369 at Amazon (save £80)Deal also at Sevenoaks

Sonos Ace was £449 now £369 at Amazon (save £80)
Sonos's first-ever headphones are certainly ambitious, combining high-quality Bluetooth codec support with active noise cancellation, spatial audio and exclusive Sonos-centric features. Their performance somewhat lets them down, though.
Deal also at Sevenoaks

Typically, such a generous markdown on a Sonos product is not to be sniffed at. If you see a good discount on a Sonos Beam soundbar or Era 100 speaker in the early Black Friday sales, for example, I'd encourage you to snap it up if great TV or smart home sound is what you're after. But in the case of this deal on the company's Ace headphones, I'm afraid I can't be as enthusiastic – not least as there are far better-value options out there.

You see, when What Hi-Fi?'s reviews team went twelve rounds with them, they were surprisingly disappointed. Their spec sheet pointed to an all-round hit, what with their high-quality aptX Lossless Bluetooth support, active noise cancellation, spatial audio, exclusive Sonos ecosystem features and a 30-hour battery life. But their performance, in terms of both sound quality and noise-cancelling, wasn't up to scratch – the class leaders at (and below) their asking price performed notably better in both respects. "Ultimately, the Ace's safe sound is put to the sword by several rival headphones that are more exciting, more detailed, dynamic and expressive across the board. Both their ANC and call quality can be bettered too," concluded our three-star Sonos Ace review.

Does this £80 price cut make them any better value? Well, yes, slightly – but it still stands that you can get much more performance for similar money or less elsewhere...

The best deals on the best Sonos Ace alternatives

Sony WH-1000XM5was £379 now £274 at Richer Sounds (save £105)
What Hi-Fi? Awards winner

Sony WH-1000XM5 was £379 now £274 at Richer Sounds (save £105)
The latest and greatest Sony over-ear wireless noise-cancelling headphones are best in class in their premium field, offering more effective ANC and a more insightful and entertaining sound than the Ace. They also have a 30-hour battery life, but not spatial audio support. Great buys – I use these daily – although I do expect them to drop to around £260 (their lowest-ever price) as Black Friday nears.
What Hi-Fi? Awards winner

Read our Sony WH-1000XM5 review

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphoneswas £450now £379 at Amazon (save £80)

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones was £450 now £379 at Amazon (save £80)
Bose's over-ear flagships also earned the full five-star rating from us, and for good reason. They offer the best noise-cancelling out there, plus a rich and involving sound that also betters the Ace's. If spatial audio is a must, know that they have their own take on it ('Immersive Audio'). And a 24-hour battery life isn't bad either. This early Black Friday discount is very welcome, although we have seen them drop to £329 before.

Read our Bose QC Ultra Headphones review

Both the £274 Sony WH-1000XM5 and £379 Bose QC Ultra Headphones above are better buys than the Sonos Ace, predominantly for their superior noise-cancelling and sound quality. At the moment, the Sonys are the better value of the two pairs, with almost £100 between them, but if you value spatial audio and really do want the very best noise-cancelling, you may well side with the Ultra. Our Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones vs Sony WH-1000XM5 comparison can help further with that decision.

Can't afford either?
The top-end, five-star Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless are currently fantastic value, just £199 at Amazon courtesy of a 36 per cent discount. They are more similar to the Sonys in terms of features, forgoing things like spatial audio, though they do offer high-quality aptX Adaptive Bluetooth and an incredible 60-hour battery life, plus competitive sound and noise-cancelling that isn't far off the Sonys at all. Top, top value, folks.

iPhone user?
If you are an Apple loyal with cash to burn, you should certainly consider the AirPods Max, which sound better than the Sony, Bose, Sennheiser and Sonos pairs but do cost considerably more – £449.10 at 02 (original model with Lightning connector) or £499 at Amazon (newer version with USB-C connector). We expect the latter to also come down closer to £450 during the official Black Friday weekend.

MORE:

Dive into all the differences: Sonos Ace vs Sony WH-1000XM5 and Sonos Ace vs Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones

See our long list of the best early Black Friday headphones deals

Looking for other tech bargains? Check out our broader best early Black Friday deals list

Becky Roberts

Becky is the managing editor of What Hi-Fi? and, since her recent move to Melbourne, also the editor of Australian Hi-Fi magazine. During her 10+ years in the hi-fi industry, she has reviewed all manner of audio gear, from budget amplifiers to high-end speakers, and particularly specialises in headphones and head-fi devices. In her spare time, Becky can often be found running, watching Liverpool FC and horror movies, and hunting for gluten-free cake.