Sonos prepares Ace Ultra headphones with AI and Wi-Fi

Sonos is reportedly preparing to launch the Ace Ultra, a high-end successor to its 2024 Ace over-ear headphones, likely during a company event in September. Information surfaced via FCC filings and industry leaks suggests the new model, internally codenamed ‘S52a’, will feature significant technical and design upgrades.

Key improvements include the addition of Wi-Fi support (2.4 and 5 GHz) alongside Bluetooth, allowing the headphones to stream music directly from a home network without a smartphone. The device is also expected to integrate artificial intelligence, potentially supporting voice commands and interaction with third-party AI chatbots to align with CEO Tom Conrad’s vision of ‘conversational computing’.

Design changes may include deeper ear cups, repositioned wearing sensors, and modified microphone designs to improve noise cancellation. While the original Ace was available only in black and white, the Ace Ultra may launch with a broader color palette, including Greige, Shadow Black, Agave, Blush, and Sand. The product is positioned to compete with premium models like Apple’s AirPods Max and Sony’s WH-1000X series.