Known limitations with headphone linking
Headphone linking makes Sonos headphones uniquely Sonos by enabling seamless audio handoff between your Sonos home speakers and Sonos Ace Ultra. By providing Sonos owners Early Access to this feature, customers 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 for 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. The Sonos App utilizes a BLE control connection to the Sonos Ace Ultra and is not able to utilize multiple BLE connections.
Compatible headphone link product requirement
To set up headphone linking with your Sonos Ace Ultra unit, you must have a compatible Sonos product existing on your Sonos system. Once the setup process is complete, and you’ve begun an audio swap session to your Sonos Ace Ultra unit, at least one compatible headphone link product must remain active on 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.
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 are not eligible to swap via headphone link.
Once a headphone link session has begun, voice assistant support is disabled. 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 utilize many types of audio content you enjoy across your Sonos system. 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 utilize an SBC codec to transmit audio information to the Sonos headphones. 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 hardware introduced in the Sonos Ace Ultra headphones. Due to the reliance on these design advancements, linking Sonos Ace will not be available.
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.
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 configured 32 products on your Sonos system, attempting to set up a headphone link session will fail.
