A method for swapping roles in a pair of wireless ear buds (165, 110), the method comprising: establishing, between a first wireless ear bud and a companion device (115, 120, 125), a wireless connection for communicating audio data between the companion device and the first wireless ear bud, wherein the wireless connection uses a first communication protocol for transferring asynchronous session data and a second communication protocol for transferring synchronous session data; creating an additional wireless connection between the first wireless ear bud and a second wireless ear bud; assigning the first wireless ear bud to a primary role; detecting a triggering event; and initiating a role swap responsive to the triggering event, the role swap comprising: requesting the companion device to temporarily stop transmitting at least a portion of the audio data using the first communication protocol for transferring asynchronous session audio data, and allowing the companion device to continue transmitting synchronous session audio data when using the second communication protocol; transmitting state information from the first wireless ear bud to the second wireless ear bud; replacing the first wireless ear bud with the second wireless ear bud in the established wireless connection; assigning the second wireless ear bud to the primary role by causing the second wireless ear bud to adopt a device address associated with the first wireless ear bud; and requesting the companion device to transmit the at least a portion of the audio data to the second wireless ear bud using the first communication protocol. establishing, between a first wireless ear bud and a companion device (115, 120, 125), a wireless connection for communicating audio data between the companion device and the first wireless ear bud, wherein the wireless connection uses a first communication protocol for transferring asynchronous session data and a second communication protocol for transferring synchronous session data; creating an additional wireless connection between the first wireless ear bud and a second wireless ear bud; assigning the first wireless ear bud to a primary role; detecting a triggering event; and initiating a role swap responsive to the triggering event, the role swap comprising: requesting the companion device to temporarily stop transmitting at least a portion of the audio data using the first communication protocol for transferring asynchronous session audio data, and allowing the companion device to continue transmitting synchronous session audio data when using the second communication protocol; transmitting state information from the first wireless ear bud to the second wireless ear bud; replacing the first wireless ear bud with the second wireless ear bud in the established wireless connection; assigning the second wireless ear bud to the primary role by causing the second wireless ear bud to adopt a device address associated with the first wireless ear bud; and requesting the companion device to transmit the at least a portion of the audio data to the second wireless ear bud using the first communication protocol. requesting the companion device to temporarily stop transmitting at least a portion of the audio data using the first communication protocol for transferring asynchronous session audio data, and allowing the companion device to continue transmitting synchronous session audio data when using the second communication protocol; transmitting state information from the first wireless ear bud to the second wireless ear bud; replacing the first wireless ear bud with the second wireless ear bud in the established wireless connection; assigning the second wireless ear bud to the primary role by causing the second wireless ear bud to adopt a device address associated with the first wireless ear bud; and requesting the companion device to transmit the at least a portion of the audio data to the second wireless ear bud using the first communication protocol.