Sonos Ace Ultra leaks in photos: September launch targets Sony WH-1000XM6

Sonos is preparing a new flagship headset, the Ace Ultra, aimed at competing with Sony's WH-1000X line. According to insider Roland Quandt, writing on WinFuture, the device is set to debut next month. This follows a series of images obtained by the publication.

The original Sonos Ace arrived in May 2024 in black and white. Based on the photos, the Ace Ultra keeps that color scheme but brings notable design changes. Ear cups are significantly deeper in this generation, and the wear sensor has been moved to a new position. The microphone design has also changed, with a thicker but shorter pill shape replacing the earlier elements.

Technical specifications remain undisclosed, but the visual clues hint at improved noise cancellation. Unlike its predecessor, the Ace Ultra lacks a standard 3.5 mm jack — instead, the bundle includes a 3.5 mm to USB Type-C cable alongside a Type-C charging cable. Pricing is also still unknown.

Earlier this month, Quandt reported that Sony was working on a more affordable version of its WH-1000X headphones. Another insider, bilbil-kun, revealed that the WH-1000XM4C would be unveiled on September 7 at £219 or €349. For comparison, the current WH-1000XM6 sells for £349 and €333. This means Sonos and Sony are effectively refreshing their lineups in the same price segment at the same time.

The Ace Ultra name and launch timing suggest Sonos is targeting the premium tier where Sony models dominate. However, without official specs or pricing, real competition remains a question. What is clear is that September will be a busy month for the wireless headphone market.