Headphone link expectations and limitations
Headphone linking makes Sonos headphones uniquely Sonos by enabling seamless audio handoff between your Sonos home speakers and Sonos Ace Ultra. This feature is still in Early Access, and we are constantly working to improve reliability in our Early Access features. By providing you early access to this feature, you can experience an exciting addition to the Sonos ecosystem along with the opportunity to provide feedback as it evolves. Understanding the expected experience and limitations of headphone linking will help you get the most out of your Sonos Ace Ultra headphones.
One active headphone link
Sonos systems allow multiple sets of Sonos Ace Ultras to complete the headphone link setup process. It is important to note that only a single Sonos Ace Ultra headset may have an active headphone link session at a time.
Compatible product requirement
To set up headphone linking with your Sonos Ace Ultra, you must have a compatible Sonos product connected to and powered on in your Sonos system. Once the setup process is complete, and you’ve begun an audio swap session to your Sonos Ace Ultra, at least one compatible product must remain connected to and powered on in your Sonos system. If all compatible products are disconnected from the Sonos system, the audio swap session would be interrupted. See the Set up headphone linking article for the exact product list.
Compatible content types
Headphone link sessions can utilize many types of audio content you enjoy across your Sonos system. Music service content that was initiated within the Sonos app, content that is fed into the Sonos system via a line-in source, and your local music library are all compatible with headphone linking.
iOS Live Activity incompatible with headphone link
iOS Live Activity allows iOS users to opt-in to enabling a display of what is playing on the current room or group. When you attempt to review the audio content playing on Sonos Ace Ultras via a headphone link session, you will not see those details within the iOS Live Activity display. If you swapped audio via the headphone’s Content Key, the Live Activity display shows no content. If you swap audio via the Sonos App, Live Activity will stop displaying.
Voice assistant interaction
Audio content started on a Sonos speaker via the Sonos Voice Control voice service is eligible to swap to your Sonos Ace Ultra using headphone linking. Audio started by using Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant can’t be swapped via headphone link.
You can’t use any voice assistant to control audio once it’s playing on the headphones. You should continue using the Sonos App or the headphone’s Content Key to control playback once you have linked your Sonos Ace Ultra.
Incompatible content sources
Headphone link sessions can play anything that you start and control via the Sonos app, including content from more than 100 music service providers, line-in sources connected to your system, and local music that you have connected to Sonos. The following content sources are incompatible with headphone link and would be unable to successfully swap audio:
- Bluetooth
- AirPlay
- Music service audio initiated with direct control such as Spotify, Amazon Music, Pandora, Tidal
No lossless audio
Headphone link sessions use a high quality, lossy compression stereo audio stream. This means that lossless or Spatial Audio quality is not supported via headphone linking.
Available on Sonos Ace Ultra
The headphone linking feature relies on both hardware and software introduced in the Sonos Ace Ultra headphones. Due to the reliance on these design advancements, linking is not available with Sonos Ace.
Requires WiFi connection
Headphone linking is a technology that relies on the WiFi network your Sonos system already relies on. If you are using Sonos products away from a WiFi connection, such as portables using Bluetooth audio away from the home, you will not be able to initiate a headphone link session.
As you move throughout your home, you may move into areas where your WiFi network has weaker coverage. This may result in a dropped connection and interrupt your linked audio session.
WPA or WPA2 WiFi security mode
Headphone linking requires the network Sonos is connected to to utilize either WPA or WPA2 WiFi security modes. While many Sonos products are compatible with the WPA3 security mode, the headphone linking feature is not. The set up process will complete as normal, but attempts to initiate a headphone link session will fail.
Headphone link setup and TV Audio Swap setup
Similar to the headphone link feature, TV Audio Swap is a feature that allows you to enjoy audio from your Sonos system directly on your Sonos Ace Ultra headphones. This feature preceded headphone linking, and Sonos recommends setting up both features at the same time when you begin either setup process. You may choose to opt out of the TV Audio Swap suggestion when the Sonos App prompts you if you wish to only set up headphone linking for non-TV audio.
Sonos system product limit
Sonos systems have the ability to add up to 32 products to a single system. If you have already configured 32 products on your Sonos system, attempting to set up a headphone link session will fail.
