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Hands-On With the New Sonos 'Ace' Headphones

hansmoleman said:
They cut over too soon to the new app --
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This is the fundamental reason why I wouldn’t even consider another Sonos product until they fix their app.. Who’s to say Sonos didn’t rush the new Headphone to Market with unreported ‘issues’ that’ll be discovered by more unhappy consumers.
 
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Docsta80 said:
S1 is old as dirt. They can't support it forever. I would upgrade if I were you.
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lol. Sonos ditched me and lost a customer. There new speakers are just de-featured S1 with updated connectivity. Btw, I have 4 play3, 1 play5, 2 play1+sound bar+subwoofer.
 
iamdmann said:
You have missed my main point entirely...and I'll graciously decline your bizarre scenarios, thank you. The phrase 'vegan leather' is stupid. That is my point. I don't care if they're not using real leather for these headphones. I think that they are using a stupid phrase to describe the material they are using. Separate from the purpose of my original comment which I admit might not have been specific enough to avoid you, I think that usability/comfort are elements of product performance. I'm not saying all plant-based leatherette materials don't breathe as well as real leather or feel worse than all real leather...but some certainly do. As far as what material is more 'premium' I really don't care...but calling a material vegan leather is stupid because the phrase "vegan leather" is stupid.
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Lol.
ALthough your original statement with a sigh about vegan leather wasn't fully clear about what you disliked - that's on you.
My quote of that post of yours clearly stated in no way does Leather affect the performance of the product.
your direct reply stated about comfort - not my debate but you posed an alternative thought abotu enjoying the product. I countered that with what 5 products still use leather to touch the human skin - since comfort and enjoyment was your rebuttal - you've yet to back that up. maybe as you stated was not your point that's how it seem to imply.

You dislike "vegan leather' as a overused phrase that seems disingenius, yet you offered 'plant-based leatherette'. Leather should not be used in any product used to replace leather - it in itself is also disingenius/misleading.

Over the years by products of various manufacturers across the globe, by sales, and continued advancements the real enjoyment of audio headphones is still in the performance - what you're actually paying your money on. Now if you purchase a Bentley, Rolls-Royce, Ferrari or Aston Martin and you get anything but geniune leather or alcantara inside ... then damn straight I'm with you on enjoyment of the product beacuse the end user is constantly in contact with those materials in order to enjoy the performance of the product. But hey feel free to reject this post as well.
 
MacRumors said:
Sound quality was also impressive, with support for Dolby Atmos and lossless over Bluetooth or USB-C, as well as spatial audio.
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I think that has me the most interested. I didn't want to purchase headphones at the $300+ range that didn't support lossless audio wirelessly. I'll want to wait for the reviews from audiophiles, but if I can listen to lossless audio over bluetooth or Hi-Res Lossless over USB-C, I'll probably pull the trigger on these. And since I do have an Arc, I can still enjoy Cinema Style audio from my couch.
 
DeepIn2U said:
Please name me 5 high end headphones where real, genuine leather is still used ON the ear cup that touches your head?

This is why vegan leather is used if done right FEEL can be tricked just like your eyes can.

Here is a test:

1. When barefoot try touch your pinky toe with your index finger and try to move it. Now touch it with your pinky and do the same. See how quickly you pinky reacts or how you're OWN fingers feel. Leather is hide or skin so this is relevant.

2. Lie down on your stomach on the bed. Let yourself relax and basically fall asleep or be in a VERY restful state of mind for at least 1 hour. No music, pure quietness.

Now, have your long time significant other, spouse husband or wife or partner enter the room VERY quietly trying very hard not to alert you or disturb your sense of calm. Have them use their finger tips or 1 of their entire finger on the back of your thigh. Do this when the kids should be home or visiting family member or better yet a repair person is supposed to have access to the house.

Second part have them touch your shoulder blades or the top of your inner thighs unexpectedly.

IF you've jumped or suddenly became alert( insert Metal Gear Solid 2's game ⚠️ sound) ans you've failed while proving my point!

You SHOULD after at least a year know your partners touch in your most sensitive parts. Again it's skin the same as "leather hide" you've expressed as being premium. In no way does it affect the performance of the product. You're talking about feel or touch.
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I think almost every high end headphone still uses real leather. For example few of "high end" BT headphones use real leather, B&O, B&W, Focal...
 
ryanflanders256 said:
Interesting. $1300 is pretty spendy but I do wear bluetooth headphones all day.

Do you own a pair? If so, what are your impressions? Do they play friendly with the Apple ecosystem?

I've had the AirPods Max since release. I love the instant/automatic device switching. However, they do get itchy/sweaty after a few hours, and I've head to replace the ear pads annually at $70 a pop. They also get lots of condensation inside if you wear them all day and I had to pay $350 for an out of warranty replacement--probably from the constant condensation build up. (I don't even exercise in them, I just wear them around the house.)

$550 launch price + $350 out of warranty repair + $210 for three sets of ear pads = $1,110.

With that math, the Dali iO-12 seems reasonably priced. 😂😭

I bought the Bose Ultra headphones off eBay for $330 last week.

Pros: They are more comfortable than AirPods Max. The sound is great and the new Bose app has been greatly improved.

Cons: The touch-sensitive volume control is completely worthless. I prefer the volume dial on the AirPods Max, which gives very precise control over volume. Clicking the Bluetooth button switches devices, which is an improvement over previous Bose headphones, but still clunkier than the automatic/instant device switching of the AirPods Max, especially since I have 5 devices and I have to listen to the Bose robot voice announce device names until it connects to the right one. Also, powering on/off by holding down the bluetooth button for a few seconds is kinda dumb.

I think I'll keep both pairs of headphones and switch between them when they start to get sweaty.

I want to get a Soundbar for my TV so I'm curious to try the new Sonos Ace headphones when they're released. I'll pick my soundbar ecosystem based on which set of headphones I prefer.

I'm still curious to learn more about the Dali iO-12's though!
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I ordered my Dali iO-12 and "patiently" waiting to receive them :)

Initially I considered the AirPods Max. While I liked the sound, they were heavy and uncomfortable. So I started researching alternatives for high-end bluetooth over the ear headphones.

I came across these brands:

Dali iO-12
Focal Bathys
Bowers & Wilkins Px8
Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H95
Mark Levinson No.5909
T+A Solitaire T

After watching countless YouTube reviews by actual audiophiles I am convinced the Dali iO-12 are the best option.

This is a very useful review:

I can post more once I try the headphones myself :)
 
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Stenik said:
I ordered my Dali iO-12 and "patiently" waiting to receive them :)

Initially I considered the AirPods Max. While I liked the sound, they were heavy and uncomfortable. So I started researching alternatives for high-end bluetooth over the ear headphones.

I came across these brands:

Dali iO-12
Focal Bathys
Bowers & Wilkins Px8
Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H95
Mark Levinson No.5909
T+A Solitaire T

After watching countless YouTube reviews by actual audiophiles I am convinced the Dali iO-12 are the best option.

This is a very useful review:

I can post more once I try the headphones myself :)
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I have Focal Bathys, I like them a lot, but I have trouble with battery. Because of their warranty policies I don't think I will be getting another Focal product ever.
 
gigatoaster said:
I never understood why for audiophiles they don’t like this brand. And Bose, too.
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Pretty simple, “audiophiles” think they are better than everyone on the planet when it comes to sound. Funny thing is sound is totally subjective so they are just exhibiting narcissistic behavior to look cool, but no one thinks it’s cool.
 
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Jay Tee said:
It's been 3.5 years since the Airpods MAX launched. Anyone who wants a over-the-head earphones for their Apple devices would have got them by now.
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By that logic Apple may as well stop producing there own also.
 
iamdmann said:
You have missed my main point entirely...and I'll graciously decline your bizarre scenarios, thank you. The phrase 'vegan leather' is stupid. That is my point. I don't care if they're not using real leather for these headphones. I think that they are using a stupid phrase to describe the material they are using. Separate from the purpose of my original comment which I admit might not have been specific enough to avoid you, I think that usability/comfort are elements of product performance. I'm not saying all plant-based leatherette materials don't breathe as well as real leather or feel worse than all real leather...but some certainly do. As far as what material is more 'premium' I really don't care...but calling a material vegan leather is stupid because the phrase "vegan leather" is stupid.
Click to expand...

Vegan leather is much simpler and straight forward then “plant based leatherette”

Now that’s a stupid phrase

What if it’s not made from plants?
 
The fact they work with Sonos soundbars so you can switch over instantly makes these tempting! I have an Arc and being able to use headphones with any of the devices connected to my TV would be great! If I get AirPods Max then that would be fine for my AppleTV, but what about when I watch iPlayer through my TV set? (And I have to do that because iPlayer on my 2022 AppleTV doesn't support UHD HLG whereas the native app on my 2018 TV set does)
 
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coachgq said:
Yep. I have been able to make the transition. Apple watch, phone, ipad and airpods pro with USBC. I bring a dual charger and pick whatever needs attention, either phone/ipad or watch/airpods or any combination between.
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Same here; the only other thing I have that's separate from my USB-C and Watch charger (of which I connect to a multi-port USB charger) is my MagSafe charger

The AirPods Pro I have right now still has the Lightning case, but I don't care about that too much as I can also just charge those wirelessly with the Watch charger
 
nathansz said:
Vegan leather is much simpler and straight forward then “plant based leatherette”

Now that’s a stupid phrase

What if it’s not made from plants?
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then call it plastic. or don't. I really don't care. but I think 'vegan leather' sounds stupid. you're free to enjoy that description. I'm not sure I ever will.
 
iamdmann said:
then call it plastic. or don't. I really don't care. but I think 'vegan leather' sounds stupid. you're free to enjoy that description. I'm not sure I ever will.
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not sure why it bothers you so much

it's the simplest possible description
 
hansmoleman said:
Are there things missing? Sure, absolutely, 100%.

But I don't exactly think they're folding up shop and saying "too bad, this is all you get."

Obviously it's a work in progress.

They cut over too soon to the new app -- no question there. But I suspect it has to do with the Ace launch -- they couldn't get Ace out the door with the old app, but the new app wasn't 100% finished yet.

So they made a call to get Ace moving, and now will finish the missing features.

A few months from now - probably not even - we'll have alarms back, and wifi reconfig and all the things missing from the app.

But so many folks are throwing the baby out with the bathwater (so to speak) -- I don't understand the overreaction. Perfectly understand being upset, but the reactions I'm reading seems just overdramatic. It'll all be fixed shortly.
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I don't even use the app. I prefer HomePod + AirPlay 2 :p

I much prefer the Apple Music interface or even the Spotify app than the Sonos app.

Do people use the Sonos app for music? I am honestly curious.
 
henry72 said:
I don't even use the app. I prefer HomePod + AirPlay 2 :p

I much prefer the Apple Music interface or even the Spotify app than the Sonos app.

Do people use the Sonos app for music? I am honestly curious.
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I use the Spotify app if playing Spotify content, but I also use the Sonos app on most days to do one or more of the following...

* Play radio stations
* Play music from my own music collection (stored on network)
* Group/ungroup speakers
* Toggle soundbar settings or check audio format coming from TV to soundbar
 
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