Sonos just rolled out a significant software update for its Sonos Ace headphones, and it’s packed with goodies. The spotlight feature is called TrueCinema, which finally arrives after a few delays. But that’s not all: the update also sharpens the active noise cancellation (ANC), adds a slick TV Audio Swap enhancement, and boosts call clarity with improved SideTone. If you’re already rocking the Ace, you’ll want to dive into these new tricks.
TrueCinema Brings Real-Time Spatial Audio
With TrueCinema, Sonos is aiming to transform how you experience movies and shows. By using a compatible Sonos soundbar—think Arc Ultra, Beam, or Ray—the system analyzes the acoustic fingerprint of your room. It sends test tones from the bar and listens to reflections off walls, ceilings, and floors. Meanwhile, the Ace’s built-in microphones track exactly where you sit, so the spatial audio processing adjusts dynamically as you move.
The result is a convincing 3D audio stage that feels like speakers are floating around you, just like in a high-end home theater. The idea is borrowed from Sonos’s TruePlay speaker tuning but taken up a notch for headphones. It’s pretty cool to have your living room’s unique sonic signature baked into your personal listening bubble. Once you set it up, movie night never sounded so immersive.
Personalized ANC Takes a Leap
Next up, the update gives the Ace’s ANC some serious upgrades. Sonos has tweaked the algorithms to factor in physical quirks—things like hair, glasses, or even a chunky scarf that might interfere with the ear seal. Sensors on the headset detect those little details in real time, then fine-tune the noise-canceling profile to compensate for any sound leakage.
In practice, this means more consistent silence regardless of how you adjust the fit or what you wear. If you’re commuting on a bus or working in a noisy café, you’ll notice fewer distractions creeping in. The customization happens under the hood, so you can just park your phone and enjoy a more reliable block-out experience without fiddling with manual ANC levels.
TV Audio Swap Gets Juiced Up
For those who share their home theater, the update also supercharges the TV Audio Swap feature. Previously, you could only swap audio between one set of Ace headphones and a Sonos bar. Now, you can pair two Ace units to the same soundbar and stream TV audio to both headsets simultaneously. Perfect for late-night gaming sessions or splitting the volume control without waking the neighbors.
Setting it up remains as simple as connecting to the Sonos app and tapping on the TV Audio section. Once paired, you and your partner or roommate can independently adjust the volume on your own headset. No more complicated Bluetooth juggling or sharing earbud cables. Plus, the sync is remarkably tight—there’s virtually no lag between the two units.
Crystal-Clear Calls with SideTone
If you’ve used headsets that make your own voice sound hollow or distant during calls, you know how annoying that can be. Sonos has improved the Ace’s SideTone feature to give you a more natural self-monitoring experience. Your voice now feeds back into your ears at just the right level, so it feels like you’re speaking into a high-quality microphone rather than leaning in awkwardly.
This upgrade also brings better noise handling on your end, so background chatter or keyboard clacks won’t drown out your speech. Whether you’re on a quick chat with friends or a serious work call, the Ace ensures you hear yourself clearly and transmit a clean signal to the other side. It’s the cherry on top of an already tasty feature stack.
