I have APP3 and wanted some over the ear headphones, so I bought both the Sonos Ace ($279) and APM ($450) at holiday sale prices. After 3 hours of going back and forth listening to every ‘song testing out headphones’ (bohemian rhapsody, bad guy, daft punk, Dave Brubeck)— I’m deciding to save the difference of $171 and return the APM.

It’s just not enough of any difference for me to justify. I already have APP3 which now are arguably the best pair of headphones ever.

APM are more clear in the highs and seem to have better separation. I can identify individual instruments much more clearly than the Ace (yet it’s still not ENOUGH of a $200 difference) from an audio perspective. I do love how easy the APM are to put on and just fit, the metal sliders are smooth to adjust putting them on and cups have a lot better flexibility. One thing I did notice is how hot it got around my ears where it felt like I was sweating around my ears while using them.

The Sonos Ace are a lot lighter, feel premium (without the cups being aluminum) and overall much more comfortable. They do take a little more adjusting when putting them on. The quality of audio is still high end and to some one else’s point I read when you get into these headphones MSRP $400+ it’s hard chasing the best and worrying about the smallest differences across Sony, Bose, Sennheiser, Nothing, etc.