diff --git a/modules/module-si-audio-adapter.c b/modules/module-si-audio-adapter.c
index c6667c54..6d522369 100644
--- a/modules/module-si-audio-adapter.c
+++ b/modules/module-si-audio-adapter.c
@@ -33,6 +33,18 @@ struct _WpSiAudioAdapter
   WpDirection portconfig_direction;
   gboolean is_device;
   gboolean dont_remix;
+  /* This is used during linking to pick the preferred format.
+   * If the priority in both in- and output ports is the same,
+   * the format of the input port is picked. If the priority
+   * is not set, the default 0 is used.
+   * Furthermore, if the priority is greater than 0, then in
+   * si_audio_adapter_find_format (), a new format is always
+   * picked, and in si_audio_adapter_enable_active (), the
+   * adapter is configured immediately. This is because such
+   * priorities indicate that this adapter's format is
+   * preferred during negotiation.
+   * Priorities lower than 0 are invalid. */
+  gint format_preference_priority;
   gboolean is_autoconnect;
   gboolean have_encoded;
   gboolean encoded_only;
@@ -110,6 +122,7 @@ si_audio_adapter_reset (WpSessionItem * item)
   self->portconfig_direction = WP_DIRECTION_INPUT;
   self->is_device = FALSE;
   self->dont_remix = FALSE;
+  self->format_preference_priority = 0;
   self->is_autoconnect = FALSE;
   self->have_encoded = FALSE;
   self->encoded_only = FALSE;
@@ -196,7 +209,15 @@ si_audio_adapter_find_format (WpSiAudioAdapter * self, WpNode * node)
           !spa_pod_copy_array(position, SPA_TYPE_Id, raw_format.position, SPA_AUDIO_MAX_CHANNELS))
         SPA_FLAG_SET(raw_format.flags, SPA_AUDIO_FLAG_UNPOSITIONED);
 
-      if (self->raw_format.channels < raw_format.channels) {
+      /* Only use this new format if it has _more_ channels than the old one
+       * to avoid unnecessary renegotiations and reconfigurations. By default,
+       * it is preferable to open too many channels than too few, since the
+       * extra channels can simply remain unused.
+       * Exception: when format_preference_priority is >0, do use the new format
+       * always. Such priorities indicate that the user wants the new format to
+       * be picked over the current format in all cases. */
+      if ((self->format_preference_priority > 0) ||
+          (self->raw_format.channels < raw_format.channels)) {
         self->raw_format = raw_format;
         if (is_unpositioned(&raw_format))
           self->is_unpositioned = TRUE;
@@ -285,6 +306,14 @@ si_audio_adapter_configure (WpSessionItem * item, WpProperties *p)
   str = wp_properties_get (si_props, PW_KEY_STREAM_DONT_REMIX);
   self->dont_remix = str && pw_properties_parse_bool (str);
 
+  str = wp_properties_get (si_props, "stream.format-preference-priority");
+  self->format_preference_priority = (str) ? pw_properties_parse_int (str) : 0;
+  if (self->format_preference_priority < 0) {
+    wp_critical_object (item, "stream.format-preference-priority value %d "
+        "is invalid (must be >= 0)", self->format_preference_priority);
+    return FALSE;
+  }
+
   str = wp_properties_get (si_props, PW_KEY_NODE_AUTOCONNECT);
   self->is_autoconnect = str && pw_properties_parse_bool (str);
 
@@ -589,9 +618,12 @@ si_audio_adapter_enable_active (WpSessionItem *si, WpTransition *transition)
   self->params_changed_sigid = g_signal_connect_object (self->node,
       "params-changed", (GCallback) on_node_params_changed, self, 0);
 
-  /* If device node, enum available formats and set one of them */
+  /* If device node, enum available formats and set one of them.
+   * Also, if format_preference_priority is >0, do the same, since during
+   * linking, the link will try to use the format as soon as possible. */
   if (!self->no_format && (self->is_device || self->dont_remix ||
-      !self->is_autoconnect || self->disable_dsp || self->is_unpositioned))
+      !self->is_autoconnect || self->disable_dsp || self->is_unpositioned ||
+      (self->format_preference_priority > 0)))
     si_audio_adapter_configure_node (self, transition);
 
   /* Otherwise just finish activating */
diff --git a/modules/module-si-standard-link.c b/modules/module-si-standard-link.c
index e0febe9d..0becd74a 100644
--- a/modules/module-si-standard-link.c
+++ b/modules/module-si-standard-link.c
@@ -428,10 +428,12 @@ on_adapters_ready (GObject *obj, GAsyncResult * res, gpointer p)
 struct adapter
 {
   WpSiAdapter *si;
+  guint32 proxy_id;
   gboolean is_device;
   gboolean dont_remix;
   gboolean unpositioned;
   gboolean no_dsp;
+  gint format_preference_priority;
   WpSpaPod *fmt;
   const gchar *mode;
 };
@@ -448,8 +450,14 @@ static void
 configure_adapter (WpSiStandardLink *self, WpTransition *transition,
     struct adapter *main, struct adapter *other)
 {
-  /* configure other to have the same format with main, if necessary */
-  if (!main->no_dsp && !other->dont_remix && !other->unpositioned && !main->unpositioned) {
+  /* Configure other to have the same format with main, if necessary.
+   * Do this only if both sides have valid channel positions, otherwise,
+   * the channel mixers can't work properly.
+   * main->preferred_format overrides this though, since then, the
+   * format from main shall be used no matter what. */
+  if (!main->no_dsp && !other->dont_remix &&
+      ((main->format_preference_priority > 0) || (!other->unpositioned &&
+      !main->unpositioned))) {
     /* if formats are the same, no need to reconfigure */
     if (other->fmt && !g_strcmp0 (main->mode, other->mode)
         && wp_spa_pod_equal (main->fmt, other->fmt))
@@ -539,6 +547,9 @@ configure_and_link_adapters (WpSiStandardLink *self, WpTransition *transition)
   out->si = g_steal_pointer (&si_out);
   in->si = g_steal_pointer (&si_in);
 
+  out->proxy_id = wp_session_item_get_associated_proxy_id (WP_SESSION_ITEM (out->si), WP_TYPE_NODE);
+  in->proxy_id = wp_session_item_get_associated_proxy_id (WP_SESSION_ITEM (in->si), WP_TYPE_NODE);
+
   str = wp_session_item_get_property (WP_SESSION_ITEM (out->si), "item.node.type");
   out->is_device = !g_strcmp0 (str, "device");
   str = wp_session_item_get_property (WP_SESSION_ITEM (in->si), "item.node.type");
@@ -559,19 +570,32 @@ configure_and_link_adapters (WpSiStandardLink *self, WpTransition *transition)
   str = wp_session_item_get_property (WP_SESSION_ITEM (in->si), "item.features.no-dsp");
   in->no_dsp = str && pw_properties_parse_bool (str);
 
-  wp_debug_object (self, "out [device:%d, dont_remix %d, unpos %d], "
-      "in: [device %d, dont_remix %d, unpos %d]",
-      out->is_device, out->dont_remix, out->unpositioned,
-      in->is_device, in->dont_remix, in->unpositioned);
+  str = wp_session_item_get_property (WP_SESSION_ITEM (out->si), "stream.format-preference-priority");
+  out->format_preference_priority = (str) ? pw_properties_parse_int (str) : 0;
+  str = wp_session_item_get_property (WP_SESSION_ITEM (in->si), "stream.format-preference-priority");
+  in->format_preference_priority = (str) ? pw_properties_parse_int (str) : 0;
 
-  /* we always use out->si format, unless in->si is device */
-  if (!out->is_device && in->is_device) {
+  wp_debug_object (self, "out [proxy id %" G_GUINT32_FORMAT ", device %d, dont_remix %d, "
+      "unpos %d format_preference_priority %d], in: [proxy id %" G_GUINT32_FORMAT
+      ", device %d, dont_remix %d, unpos %d format_preference_priority %d]", out->proxy_id,
+      out->is_device, out->dont_remix, out->unpositioned, out->format_preference_priority,
+      in->proxy_id, in->is_device, in->dont_remix, in->unpositioned,
+      in->format_preference_priority);
+
+  /* If the format_preference_priority values of out and in are equal,
+   * always use out->si format, unless in->si is device.
+   * If instead one of the two values is higher, use the associated
+   * adapter's format. */
+  if ((out->format_preference_priority < in->format_preference_priority) ||
+      ((out->format_preference_priority == in->format_preference_priority) &&
+      !out->is_device && in->is_device)) {
     main = in;
     other = out;
   } else {
     main = out;
     other = in;
   }
+  wp_debug_object (self, "using %s adapter as main adapter", (main == in) ? "in" : "out");
 
   /* always configure both adapters in passthrough mode
      if this is a passthrough link */
@@ -588,6 +612,12 @@ configure_and_link_adapters (WpSiStandardLink *self, WpTransition *transition)
   main->fmt = wp_si_adapter_get_ports_format (main->si, &main->mode);
   other->fmt = wp_si_adapter_get_ports_format (other->si, &other->mode);
 
+  /* Logging out and in formats instead of main and other ones on purpose,
+   * since main and other can be swapped depending on the logic above,
+   * while out and in always have the same unchanging meaning. */
+  wp_debug_boxed (WP_TYPE_SPA_POD, out->fmt, "configured out adapter format");
+  wp_debug_boxed (WP_TYPE_SPA_POD, in->fmt, "configured in adapter format");
+
   if (main->fmt)
     /* ideally, configure other based on main */
     configure_adapter (self, transition, main, other);