Sonos Ace
TV Audio Swap · Dolby Atmos · Wireless Home Theater
Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro
Open-back
Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, Sonos Ace lands at 87 and Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro at 88. That puts Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro ahead by 1 points — a narrow margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.
Pick Sonos Ace if…
- ✓Unique TV Audio Swap with Arc soundbar
- ✓Great ANC
- ✓Spatial audio
Pick Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro if…
- ✓Reference-level detail
- ✓Well-regarded in audiophile community
- ✓Long-term ownership appeal
Winner by scenario
Derived from the sub-score breakdown · not a separate testSound quality
Sonos AceTuning, detail, and staging
Sonos Ace leads on sound (90 vs 88).
Noise cancelling
Sonos AceANC strength for commute and travel
Sonos Ace leads on anc (90 vs 0).
Comfort
TieLong-session wearability
Effectively tied — neither pulls a 2-point weighted lead.
Value for money
Sonos AceSpecdex score per dollar at MSRP
Sonos Ace more score per dollar ($449 vs $599).
Score breakdown
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | Sonos Ace | Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Driver | 40 mm dynamic | — |
| Battery | 30 h | — |
| Weight | 312 g | — |
| Codecs | aptX Lossless via Snapdragon Sound | — |
| Type | — | Open-back |
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
Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro
- +Reference-level detail
- +Well-regarded in audiophile community
- +Long-term ownership appeal
- −Requires amplifier (most)
- −No active noise cancellation
- −Impractical for commuting
FAQ: Sonos Ace vs Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro
Which is better, Sonos Ace or Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro? +
Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro scores 88 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 1. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is Sonos Ace worth the price? +
At $449, Sonos Ace delivers a Specdex score of 87 — strongest in features.
Is Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro worth the price? +
At $599, Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro delivers a Specdex score of 88 — strongest in battery.
Does Sonos Ace or Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro 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, Sonos Ace or Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro? +
Sonos Ace — leads on sound (90 vs 88). Tuning, detail, and staging.
Which is better for noise cancelling, Sonos Ace or Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro? +
Sonos Ace — leads on anc (90 vs 0). ANC strength for commute and travel.