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.
Question
Ace Ultra with Arc Ultra
The phrasing of your question is a bit confusing. However here’s’ what I think you are asking….
- The Ace Ultra can work in the same basic manner as the Ace. The Ace Ultra just adds more features/capabilities vs the Ace.
If you are looking for a different answer please rephrase your question.
So, no. It’s one or the other, not both at the same time.
I wonder how the Ace Utra would work in noise cancelation ANC mode and linked to a speaker Grouped to the Home Theater Room.
The 75 ms delay from the HT's sound should be masked by the ANC so it would only be a lip-sync issue.
Can we not get a feature where you can use both at the same time? Doesn't make any sense especially for those who have hearing issues or have processing issues in noisy environments. You should be able to listen to multiple devices from the same source at the same time.
I wonder how the Ace Utra would work in noise cancelation ANC mode and linked to a speaker Grouped to the Home Theater Room.
The 75 ms delay from the HT's sound should be masked by the ANC so it would only be a lip-sync issue.
I thought there was an asterisk implying anything linked as a surround speaker in an existing system couldn't link to Ace Ultra?
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.
I’d assume that ‘feature’ as requested is not easily implemented. Nothing tends to be ‘impossible’ when talking about software, but there is always a substantial difference between ‘this is easy’ and ‘this is not easy’ to implement.
Lots of things like that, I suspect.
It may also be a hardware issue, not enough CPU power or internal audio channels to process both the speaker audio and headphone audio at the same time.
Someone at Sonos had to look at this situation and decide providing the "both" option wasn't feasible. At least I hope that is the case rather than the option just being overlooked.
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?
I don’t think Sonos has ever supported that ‘goal’ in their software. As far as I’m aware, it can’t be done without using two outputs from the TV set, one for each device.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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