Sennheiser HD 800S
Over-ear · 2016
Sonos Ace
TV Audio Swap · Dolby Atmos · Wireless Home Theater
Sennheiser HD 800S takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, Sennheiser HD 800S lands at 95 and Sonos Ace at 87. That puts Sennheiser HD 800S ahead by 8 points — a decisive margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.
Pick Sennheiser HD 800S 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
Winner by scenario
Derived from the sub-score breakdown · not a separate testSound quality
Sennheiser HD 800STuning, detail, and staging
Sennheiser HD 800S leads on sound (95 vs 90).
Noise cancelling
Sennheiser HD 800SANC strength for commute and travel
Sennheiser HD 800S leads on anc (93 vs 90).
Comfort
Sennheiser HD 800SLong-session wearability
Sennheiser HD 800S leads on comfort (94 vs 88).
Value for money
Sonos AceSpecdex score per dollar at MSRP
Sonos Ace more score per dollar ($449 vs $1,699).
Score breakdown
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | Sennheiser HD 800S | Sonos Ace |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Over-ear | — |
| Release year | 2016 | — |
| Driver | — | 40 mm dynamic |
| Battery | — | 30 h |
| Weight | — | 312 g |
| Codecs | — | aptX Lossless via Snapdragon Sound |
Sennheiser HD 800S
- +Flagship comfort + ANC on modern models
- +Premium build
- +Active noise cancellation (most models)
- −Battery varies by codec
- −Some are Bluetooth-only
- −Price creep vs previous gen
Sonos Ace
- +Unique TV Audio Swap with Arc soundbar
- +Great ANC
- +Spatial audio
- −Swap feature only works with Arc/Arc Ultra
- −Sonos app issues
- −Heavy
FAQ: Sennheiser HD 800S vs Sonos Ace
Which is better, Sennheiser HD 800S or Sonos Ace? +
Sennheiser HD 800S scores 95 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 8. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is Sennheiser HD 800S worth the price? +
At $1,699, Sennheiser HD 800S delivers a Specdex score of 95 — strongest in sound.
Is Sonos Ace worth the price? +
At $449, Sonos Ace delivers a Specdex score of 87 — strongest in features.
Does Sennheiser HD 800S 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, Sennheiser HD 800S or Sonos Ace? +
Sennheiser HD 800S — leads on sound (95 vs 90). Tuning, detail, and staging.
Which is better for noise cancelling, Sennheiser HD 800S or Sonos Ace? +
Sennheiser HD 800S — leads on anc (93 vs 90). ANC strength for commute and travel.