Contributor I

Ace Ultra with Arc Ultra

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Can the new Sonos Ace Ultra be used at the same time as the Arc Ultra? I would like to be able to wear the headphones while watching TV with other people and be able to watch the show while not being distracted by conversations.

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Stanley_4

Grand Maestro

Yes (with a couple missed asterisks) the listed Sonos when set up as surrounds won't link to the Ace Ultra.

However that is not what my post was about, I was asking about Grouped speakers. Grouped, not Bonded, very different connection to the HT device.

Can you explain how this works if the intended goal is one person watching a movie on headphones while others are watching and listening in the same “room” on the surround sound system, what am I missing?

Everyone in the room listens to the soundbar.

The person who wants to listen to headphones selects a Sonos speaker and Groups it to the soundbar.

They then link the Ace to the Grouped speaker.

Mr. T

Yes (with a couple missed asterisks) the listed Sonos when set up as surrounds won't link to the Ace Ultra.

However that is not what my post was about, I was asking about Grouped speakers. Grouped, not Bonded, very different connection to the HT device.

Can you explain how this works if the intended goal is one person watching a movie on headphones while others are watching and listening in the same “room” on the surround sound system, what am I missing?

Everyone in the room listens to the soundbar.

The person who wants to listen to headphones selects a Sonos speaker and Groups it to the soundbar.

They then link the Ace to the Grouped speaker.

There has been no indication headphone linking applies to TV audio. Any support reference is only to applicable music streaming.

If TV Audio Swap still works the same way as it does now, then adding Ace Ultra would disband the group and takeover the TV audio.

Stanley_4

Grand Maestro

We have been reading very different material, I have not see anything saying the link is for streaming sources only. What I have read says whatever is playing on a speaker can be linked.

Also when Grouped to a Home Theater Room the grouped speaker isn't playing "TV audio" but a normal audio stream.

If TV Audio Swap still works the same way as it does now, then adding Ace Ultra would disband the group and takeover the TV audio

Do not confuse Link and Swap they are very different, I am talking about the Link feature, not the Swap.

Mr. T

We have been reading very different material, I have not see anything saying the link is for streaming sources only. What I have read says whatever is playing on a speaker can be linked.

Also when Grouped to a Home Theater Room the grouped speaker isn't playing "TV audio" but a normal audio stream.

If TV Audio Swap still works the same way as it does now, then adding Ace Ultra would disband the group and takeover the TV audio

Do not confuse Link and Swap they are very different, I am talking about the Link feature, not the Swap.

You need to read more of the available support pages in that case.

Not everything that is playing on a speaker can be linked. There are exceptions listed and they all refer to music streaming. Bluetooth, AirPlay, Direct Control playback are not supported.

In addition, compatible content type on the headphone linking support page also only refers to music with no mention of grouped TV audio.

Edit: I knew I’d seen it somewhere.

Known limitations with headphone linking

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.

kdowling

That page wasn’t up when I was reading everything I could find the other day. I wish I had known the following before I pre-ordered. I don’t think I would have if I’d known:

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.

Stanley_4

Grand Maestro

From that article, I saw the "many types" and "across your Sonos system" with nothing disqualifying Grouping.

If Grouping is not supported that is not good, hoping for official clarification at some point.

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

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