Sonos Ace
TV Audio Swap · Dolby Atmos · Wireless Home Theater
SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 (Black) · Arctic White
Gaming · 2024 · Black
Sonos Ace takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, Sonos Ace lands at 87 and SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 (Black) · Arctic White at 82. That puts Sonos Ace ahead by 5 points — a decisive 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 SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 (Black) · Arctic White if…
- ✓Low-latency 2.4 GHz wireless (most)
- ✓Detachable broadcast mic
- ✓Console compatibility
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 82).
Noise cancelling
Sonos AceANC strength for commute and travel
Sonos Ace leads on anc (90 vs 70).
Comfort
Sonos AceLong-session wearability
Sonos Ace leads on comfort (88 vs 80).
Value for money
SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 (Black) · Arctic WhiteSpecdex score per dollar at MSRP
SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 (Black) · Arctic White more score per dollar ($129 vs $449).
Score breakdown
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | Sonos Ace | SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 (Black) · Arctic White |
|---|---|---|
| Driver | 40 mm dynamic | — |
| Battery | 30 h | — |
| Weight | 312 g | — |
| Codecs | aptX Lossless via Snapdragon Sound | — |
| Type | — | Gaming headset |
| Variant | — | Black |
| Release year | — | 2024 |
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
SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 (Black) · Arctic White
- +Low-latency 2.4 GHz wireless (most)
- +Detachable broadcast mic
- +Console compatibility
- −Bulkier than audiophile cans
- −Game-tuned EQ
- −Software required on PC
FAQ: Sonos Ace vs SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 (Black) · Arctic White
Which is better, Sonos Ace or SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 (Black) · Arctic White? +
Sonos Ace scores 87 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 5. 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 SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 (Black) · Arctic White worth the price? +
At $129, SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 (Black) · Arctic White delivers a Specdex score of 82 — strongest in battery.
Does Sonos Ace or SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 (Black) · Arctic White 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 SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 (Black) · Arctic White? +
Sonos Ace — leads on sound (90 vs 82). Tuning, detail, and staging.
Which is better for noise cancelling, Sonos Ace or SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 (Black) · Arctic White? +
Sonos Ace — leads on anc (90 vs 70). ANC strength for commute and travel.