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Sony WH-1000XM3 — Over-ear · 2018
Sony

Sony WH-1000XM3

Over-ear · 2018

86
/ 100
From $349
VS
Sonos Ace wins by 1
Sonos Ace — TV Audio Swap · Dolby Atmos · Wireless Home Theater
Sonos

Sonos Ace

TV Audio Swap · Dolby Atmos · Wireless Home Theater

87
/ 100
From $449
Specdex verdict

Sonos Ace takes it — here’s why.

In our weighted Specdex score, Sony WH-1000XM3 lands at 86 and Sonos Ace at 87. That puts Sonos Ace ahead by 1 points — a narrow margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.

Pick Sony WH-1000XM3 if…

  • ✓Flagship comfort + ANC on modern models
  • ✓Premium build
  • ✓Active noise cancellation (most models)

Pick Sonos Ace if…

  • ✓Unique TV Audio Swap with Arc soundbar
  • ✓Great ANC
  • ✓Spatial audio
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Winner by scenario

Derived from the sub-score breakdown · not a separate test

Sound quality

Sonos Ace

Tuning, detail, and staging

Sonos Ace leads on sound (90 vs 86).

Noise cancelling

Sonos Ace

ANC strength for commute and travel

Sonos Ace leads on anc (90 vs 84).

Comfort

Sonos Ace

Long-session wearability

Sonos Ace leads on comfort (88 vs 85).

Value for money

Sony WH-1000XM3

Specdex score per dollar at MSRP

Sony WH-1000XM3 more score per dollar ($349 vs $449).

Sony WH-1000XM3 86
vs
87 Sonos Ace

Score breakdown

Sony WH-1000XM3
86
anc 84
sound 86
comfort 85
battery 82
features 82
Sonos Ace
87
anc 90
sound 90
comfort 88
battery 84
features 92

Specs side-by-side

Sony WH-1000XM3 versus Sonos Ace — full spec comparison
Spec Sony WH-1000XM3 Sonos Ace
Type
Over-ear
—
Release year
2018
—
Driver
—
40 mm dynamic
Battery
—
30 h
Weight
—
312 g
Codecs
—
aptX Lossless via Snapdragon Sound

Sony WH-1000XM3

Pros
  • +Flagship comfort + ANC on modern models
  • +Premium build
  • +Active noise cancellation (most models)
Cons
  • −Battery varies by codec
  • −Some are Bluetooth-only
  • −Price creep vs previous gen

Sonos Ace

Pros
  • +Unique TV Audio Swap with Arc soundbar
  • +Great ANC
  • +Spatial audio
Cons
  • −Swap feature only works with Arc/Arc Ultra
  • −Sonos app issues
  • −Heavy

FAQ: Sony WH-1000XM3 vs Sonos Ace

Which is better, Sony WH-1000XM3 or Sonos Ace? +

Sonos Ace scores 87 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 1. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.

Is Sony WH-1000XM3 worth the price? +

At $349, Sony WH-1000XM3 delivers a Specdex score of 86 — strongest in sound.

Is Sonos Ace worth the price? +

At $449, Sonos Ace delivers a Specdex score of 87 — strongest in features.

Does Sony WH-1000XM3 or Sonos Ace last longer? +

Based on our long-term update and support ratings, both ship with multi-year support. Battery and reliability scores are visible in the breakdown above.

Which is better for sound quality, Sony WH-1000XM3 or Sonos Ace? +

Sonos Ace — leads on sound (90 vs 86). Tuning, detail, and staging.

Which is better for noise cancelling, Sony WH-1000XM3 or Sonos Ace? +

Sonos Ace — leads on anc (90 vs 84). ANC strength for commute and travel.