Same issue as everyone. As a multi-product Sonos owner for over 5 years, very disappointed that there is isn’t some type of software solution yet. Following in hopes that enough voices cause some actions and I don’t have to question whether I continue to add to Sonos equipment. 

Just bought an AMP and wasted an hour trying to get sound to my AirPods, believing it to be some Apple issue. 

Put in a RFC through Sonos Support and I’m really considering a return depending on the answer to the question “Is there a  fix for this in your software release schedule?”.  (edit, see answer).

I suggest that anyone annoyed by this issue does the same. You can refer to my case.

Just not acceptable for a premium product on such a basic use case scenario. 

I got his reply:

Thanks for reaching out regarding your TV setup with your Amp.

We are currently investigating an issue where TV audio meant for headphones reverts back to the HDMI-Arc connected device. At this time there is no further information to share regarding a fix for this issue.

We appreciate your patience while we look into this.

I have this same problem with my new Sonos Beam.  I listen to TV via my BT headphones after others have gone to bed so as not to disturb them.  New Sonos Beam keeps switching back after a few minutes on Bluetooth to the Sonos speaker.  I am considering buying an HDMI switch to turn off the HDMI instead of plugging and unplugging as suggested.  Main issue is to make sure the switch handles HDMI Arc and CEC.  If this works (they come with a small remote you can use it to remotely disconnect the HDMI and switch it  the non used HDMI port on the switch.  Apparently the Samsung TV gives priority to any HDMI Arc connection over the bluetooth.

Instead of fussing with an HDMI switch, with the challenge of passing through ARC, just do as suggested several times in this thread and connect an inexpensive BT transmitter to the TV's optical out. 

I just bought both: new LG C9 TV and new Sonos Beam. I encountered familiar problem: Beam steals the signal immediately after the Bluetooth headphones are lunched (if Beam connected through HDMI_ARC). I tried different things and settled on connecting Beam to TV using supplied by Sonos HDMI to optical adapter. I can still control the volume of the Sonos Beam with remote. While using iPods, Beam disconnects as soon as the iPods are put into charging cradle and the TV switches to Internal TV Speaker. At that moment I change Sound Out back to Optical. I can still control the volume.

Just purchased a new Samsung TV today and a Sonos beam+sub and now have this issue when connecting my Bose Bluetooth headset. The HDMI-CEC workaround is not good/nice, so I really hope that Sonos can fix this issue somehow.

Didn’t I respond to you in another thread a minute or two ago?

Connect either your Beam or your headphones to the optical output on your TV. 

+1 exact same issue. 
 

LG Smart TV OLED55C8P

Sonos Beam and speakers and sub

Bose QC 35ii Headset

Some were suggesting to use the Optical output but I remember in my own case, the beam will only work with ARC and not the Optical.

I will try the HDMI disconnect method and bookmark this topic.

No, the Beam is shipped with an optical to HDMI-ARC adapter, so that those who don’t have an appropriate HDMI connection can still use the device. 

Hi everybody,

My new SONOS Beam arrived yesterday, and I’m encountering the same issue like everybody else here: when connected through the ARC, the beam “steals” the audio from the TV (Samsung UE40F6200) after ~2 seconds; disabling AnyNet+ in the TV fixes the problem, but as many have said before me, this is in no way a proper & desirable approach...

As happy as I am about the sound quality of the Beam, it’s a huge & unexpected disappointment that SONOS did nothing to address this (clearly annoying for everybody) issue during all this time…

I’m still hoping…

Cheers !

PS. the root of this problem does not involve headphones at all.

Sometimes one might simply wish to use the normal built-in TV speakers (eg. for watching news), and you cannot do that. In my case, if I switch it to “speakers”, it stays like that for ~2 seconds, and then the SONOS kicks in and “steals” the sound.

A solution to the headphone issue would be OK. But please don’t mess with the HDMI function that automatically turns the sound to the Beam. For this purpose guiding the sound to the Beam is not “stealing” but the way it is supposed to work…….

I have difficulty understanding why you would buy an expensive speaker and then would want to use the low rent TV speakers, even for news .

Actually, it’s the way it was designed to work, by SONOS.

Which doesn’t necessary make it right or smart…

Actually, Sonos has implemented the Beam and Amp to follow the HDMI-ARC specification, a subset of HDMI-CEC, set forth by the organization responsible for publishing the spec, like all other manufacturers who implement devices that use this feature. 

You can do further research starting here, and then move on to the actual specs depending on your level of interest and electrical engineering knowledge. 
 

Like others, I have the same challenge with my Samsung Q70R TV and Beam. I was going to go with the approach recommended by ratty, viz purchase a BT transmitter (Aventree) and connect it to TV optical digital audio output but cannot determine whether this output is active all the time or not. It would appear from the settings on TV that I have to explicitly switch to this (ie switch away from the HDMI selection to the optical for audio output). When I have done that on the Samsung, the HDMI “reclaims” the output audio signal after a couple of seconds (just as it does when I tried having BT ear buds connected).   So if I do go the BT transmitter route, does this mean I am going to have to either split the optical audio output from TV to go to the BT transmitter and in parallel the Beam, or daisy chain (if there is a BT transmitter which supports that)  ??.

As long as it’s connected through HDMI-ARC and you have “AnyNet CEC” enabled in the TV settings, the beam will continue to “reclaim” the autio output of your TV.

The solution with something_else_than_the_beam connected to the TV digital-audio-out must work in combination with disabling AnyNet (ant thus leaving the beam connected to the TV’s HDMI) and only enabling it when you want TV Audio on the Beam (eg. watching a movie/concert )

Thanks for the response. However, I would like to make this as easy as possible to use since my wife will be using it and this may be a little beyond her patience level .  I think I will go the optical digital output route - ie not use HDMI ARC (my understanding is that audio quality will not be affected since the beam doesn’t support the higher def codecs anyway) and I will daisy chain or split the digital optical to the beam and BT transmitter.

Same problem as everyone and very annoying - come on Sonos - sort a fix out please!

This thread has been running since 18 July 2018. I’m sure if the ‘fix’ was on Sonos’ side, as opposed to the TV, they could have done something about it by now. 

I’ll repeat the same advice I’ve offered a number of times: get a little Bluetooth transmitter and connect it to the TV’s optical output. The chances are that, subject to headphone compatibility, you’ll end up with a better solution, in terms of quality and/or latency, than using the TV’s built-in Bluetooth. 

Hi ratty. Your advice on this is appreciated, however I don’t believe it is quite as straightforward as you suggest (or I am missing something) .  On my Samsung TV, I will run into the issue with the HDMI “claiming” the audio output back even when I select digital optical output if I was just to connect a BT transmitter via the digital optical output and keep the beam connected via HDMI (since optical digital is not “always on”). So, I will need to drive both the beam and the BT transmitter from the digital output of TV (and not use HDMI at all) either via splitter or daisy chaining beam from Avantree BT transmitter. This in turn leads to some other inconveniences (eg controlling volumes of the BT output and the beam, using iPhone/sonos app to mute beam etc)  ; however I will probably be pursuing that approach.

Hmm. I guess not all Samsung TVs are born equal then. 

So, I will need to drive both the beam and the BT transmitter from the digital output of TV (and not use HDMI at all) either via splitter or daisy chaining beam from Avantree BT transmitter. This in turn leads to some other inconveniences (eg controlling volumes of the BT output and the beam, using iPhone/sonos app to mute beam etc) 

You can train a Beam to respond to an IR TV remote. On the BT front hopefully you’d have volume control at the headphones themselves. 

hi everyone, i am dumbfounded that a fix is still not available...

Hi, same here, I am writing since I just found the same problem.  Just bought an LG C9 OLED and was super excited that I could simply use my AirPods, but this problem arose,  Saw the solution about a Bluetooth transmitter but how would I change the volume of my AirPods if they were connected to one? 

Replace them with conventional earbuds/phones that let you change volume by touch instead of having to shout at Siri? 

The fastest solution is to simply unplug the Beam and then select your BT headphones from the menu. Once done, plug the Beam back in, it’ll steal the audio from the headphones automatically.

How bad is the Sonos user experience if they couldn’t fix this simple issue in two years via a firmware update once they were notified?

Actually the fastest solution is to mute the Beam and power on an optical-connected Bluetooth transmitter. Ideally one with a higher quality and lower latency than the BT codecs typically found in a TV.

Also, repeatedly power-cycling the Beam could reduce its lifespan.