diff --git a/RELEASENOTES.md b/RELEASENOTES.md
index c3d63ba58e..50517a1440 100644
--- a/RELEASENOTES.md
+++ b/RELEASENOTES.md
@@ -28,6 +28,8 @@
 *   Audio:
     *   Add a `Builder` to `DefaultAudioSink` and deprecate the existing
         constructors.
+    *   Change `AudioCapabilities` APIs to require passing explicitly
+        `AudioCapabilities.DEFAULT_AUDIO_CAPABILITIES` instead of `null`.
 *   Extractors:
     *   Fix inconsistency with spec in H.265 SPS nal units parsing
         ((#9719)[https://github.com/google/ExoPlayer/issues/9719]).
diff --git a/library/core/src/main/java/com/google/android/exoplayer2/audio/DecoderAudioRenderer.java b/library/core/src/main/java/com/google/android/exoplayer2/audio/DecoderAudioRenderer.java
index 5dfcbf0653..a33c7c6a3a 100644
--- a/library/core/src/main/java/com/google/android/exoplayer2/audio/DecoderAudioRenderer.java
+++ b/library/core/src/main/java/com/google/android/exoplayer2/audio/DecoderAudioRenderer.java
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ import static com.google.android.exoplayer2.decoder.DecoderReuseEvaluation.DISCA
 import static com.google.android.exoplayer2.decoder.DecoderReuseEvaluation.DISCARD_REASON_REUSE_NOT_IMPLEMENTED;
 import static com.google.android.exoplayer2.decoder.DecoderReuseEvaluation.REUSE_RESULT_NO;
 import static com.google.android.exoplayer2.source.SampleStream.FLAG_REQUIRE_FORMAT;
+import static com.google.common.base.MoreObjects.firstNonNull;
 import static java.lang.Math.max;
 
 import android.os.Handler;
@@ -54,7 +55,6 @@ import com.google.android.exoplayer2.util.MediaClock;
 import com.google.android.exoplayer2.util.MimeTypes;
 import com.google.android.exoplayer2.util.TraceUtil;
 import com.google.android.exoplayer2.util.Util;
-import com.google.common.base.MoreObjects;
 import java.lang.annotation.Documented;
 import java.lang.annotation.Retention;
 import java.lang.annotation.RetentionPolicy;
@@ -163,22 +163,22 @@ public abstract class DecoderAudioRenderer<
    * @param eventHandler A handler to use when delivering events to {@code eventListener}. May be
    *     null if delivery of events is not required.
    * @param eventListener A listener of events. May be null if delivery of events is not required.
-   * @param audioCapabilities The audio capabilities for playback on this device. May be null if the
-   *     default capabilities (no encoded audio passthrough support) should be assumed.
+   * @param audioCapabilities The audio capabilities for playback on this device. Use {@link
+   *     AudioCapabilities#DEFAULT_AUDIO_CAPABILITIES} if default capabilities (no encoded audio
+   *     passthrough support) should be assumed.
    * @param audioProcessors Optional {@link AudioProcessor}s that will process audio before output.
    */
   public DecoderAudioRenderer(
       @Nullable Handler eventHandler,
       @Nullable AudioRendererEventListener eventListener,
-      @Nullable AudioCapabilities audioCapabilities,
+      AudioCapabilities audioCapabilities,
       AudioProcessor... audioProcessors) {
     this(
         eventHandler,
         eventListener,
         new DefaultAudioSink.Builder()
-            .setAudioCapabilities(
-                MoreObjects.firstNonNull(
-                    audioCapabilities, AudioCapabilities.DEFAULT_AUDIO_CAPABILITIES))
+            .setAudioCapabilities( // For backward compatibility, null == default.
+                firstNonNull(audioCapabilities, AudioCapabilities.DEFAULT_AUDIO_CAPABILITIES))
             .setAudioProcessors(audioProcessors)
             .build());
   }
diff --git a/library/core/src/main/java/com/google/android/exoplayer2/audio/DefaultAudioSink.java b/library/core/src/main/java/com/google/android/exoplayer2/audio/DefaultAudioSink.java
index 615a700fd7..f62e354daa 100644
--- a/library/core/src/main/java/com/google/android/exoplayer2/audio/DefaultAudioSink.java
+++ b/library/core/src/main/java/com/google/android/exoplayer2/audio/DefaultAudioSink.java
@@ -15,7 +15,9 @@
  */
 package com.google.android.exoplayer2.audio;
 
+import static com.google.android.exoplayer2.audio.AudioCapabilities.DEFAULT_AUDIO_CAPABILITIES;
 import static com.google.android.exoplayer2.util.Assertions.checkNotNull;
+import static com.google.common.base.MoreObjects.firstNonNull;
 import static java.lang.Math.max;
 import static java.lang.Math.min;
 
@@ -210,7 +212,7 @@ public final class DefaultAudioSink implements AudioSink {
   /** A builder to create {@link DefaultAudioSink} instances. */
   public static final class Builder {
 
-    @Nullable private AudioCapabilities audioCapabilities;
+    private AudioCapabilities audioCapabilities;
     @Nullable private AudioProcessorChain audioProcessorChain;
     private boolean enableFloatOutput;
     private boolean enableAudioTrackPlaybackParams;
@@ -218,6 +220,7 @@ public final class DefaultAudioSink implements AudioSink {
 
     /** Creates a new builder. */
     public Builder() {
+      audioCapabilities = DEFAULT_AUDIO_CAPABILITIES;
       offloadMode = OFFLOAD_MODE_DISABLED;
     }
 
@@ -225,9 +228,10 @@ public final class DefaultAudioSink implements AudioSink {
      * Sets audio capabilities for playback on this device. May be {@code null} if the default
      * capabilities (no encoded audio passthrough support) should be assumed.
      *
-     * <p>The default value is {@code null}.
+     * <p>Default is {@link AudioCapabilities#DEFAULT_AUDIO_CAPABILITIES}.
      */
-    public Builder setAudioCapabilities(@Nullable AudioCapabilities audioCapabilities) {
+    public Builder setAudioCapabilities(AudioCapabilities audioCapabilities) {
+      checkNotNull(audioCapabilities);
       this.audioCapabilities = audioCapabilities;
       return this;
     }
@@ -413,7 +417,7 @@ public final class DefaultAudioSink implements AudioSink {
    */
   public static boolean failOnSpuriousAudioTimestamp = false;
 
-  @Nullable private final AudioCapabilities audioCapabilities;
+  private final AudioCapabilities audioCapabilities;
   private final AudioProcessorChain audioProcessorChain;
   private final boolean enableFloatOutput;
   private final ChannelMappingAudioProcessor channelMappingAudioProcessor;
@@ -486,7 +490,10 @@ public final class DefaultAudioSink implements AudioSink {
       imports = "com.google.android.exoplayer2.audio.DefaultAudioSink")
   public DefaultAudioSink(
       @Nullable AudioCapabilities audioCapabilities, AudioProcessor[] audioProcessors) {
-    this(new Builder().setAudioCapabilities(audioCapabilities).setAudioProcessors(audioProcessors));
+    this(
+        new Builder()
+            .setAudioCapabilities(firstNonNull(audioCapabilities, DEFAULT_AUDIO_CAPABILITIES))
+            .setAudioProcessors(audioProcessors));
   }
 
   /** @deprecated Use {@link Builder}. */
@@ -506,7 +513,7 @@ public final class DefaultAudioSink implements AudioSink {
       boolean enableFloatOutput) {
     this(
         new Builder()
-            .setAudioCapabilities(audioCapabilities)
+            .setAudioCapabilities(firstNonNull(audioCapabilities, DEFAULT_AUDIO_CAPABILITIES))
             .setAudioProcessors(audioProcessors)
             .setEnableFloatOutput(enableFloatOutput));
   }
@@ -532,7 +539,7 @@ public final class DefaultAudioSink implements AudioSink {
       @OffloadMode int offloadMode) {
     this(
         new Builder()
-            .setAudioCapabilities(audioCapabilities)
+            .setAudioCapabilities(firstNonNull(audioCapabilities, DEFAULT_AUDIO_CAPABILITIES))
             .setAudioProcessorChain(audioProcessorChain)
             .setEnableFloatOutput(enableFloatOutput)
             .setEnableAudioTrackPlaybackParams(enableAudioTrackPlaybackParams)
@@ -1592,7 +1599,7 @@ public final class DefaultAudioSink implements AudioSink {
   }
 
   private static boolean isPassthroughPlaybackSupported(
-      Format format, @Nullable AudioCapabilities audioCapabilities) {
+      Format format, AudioCapabilities audioCapabilities) {
     return getEncodingAndChannelConfigForPassthrough(format, audioCapabilities) != null;
   }
 
@@ -1608,11 +1615,7 @@ public final class DefaultAudioSink implements AudioSink {
    */
   @Nullable
   private static Pair<Integer, Integer> getEncodingAndChannelConfigForPassthrough(
-      Format format, @Nullable AudioCapabilities audioCapabilities) {
-    if (audioCapabilities == null) {
-      return null;
-    }
-
+      Format format, AudioCapabilities audioCapabilities) {
     @C.Encoding
     int encoding = MimeTypes.getEncoding(checkNotNull(format.sampleMimeType), format.codecs);
     // Check for encodings that are known to work for passthrough with the implementation in this
diff --git a/library/core/src/main/java/com/google/android/exoplayer2/audio/MediaCodecAudioRenderer.java b/library/core/src/main/java/com/google/android/exoplayer2/audio/MediaCodecAudioRenderer.java
index 76401d440a..fc9a102406 100644
--- a/library/core/src/main/java/com/google/android/exoplayer2/audio/MediaCodecAudioRenderer.java
+++ b/library/core/src/main/java/com/google/android/exoplayer2/audio/MediaCodecAudioRenderer.java
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ package com.google.android.exoplayer2.audio;
 import static com.google.android.exoplayer2.decoder.DecoderReuseEvaluation.DISCARD_REASON_MAX_INPUT_SIZE_EXCEEDED;
 import static com.google.android.exoplayer2.decoder.DecoderReuseEvaluation.REUSE_RESULT_NO;
 import static com.google.android.exoplayer2.util.Assertions.checkNotNull;
+import static com.google.common.base.MoreObjects.firstNonNull;
 import static java.lang.Math.max;
 
 import android.annotation.SuppressLint;
@@ -129,7 +130,12 @@ public class MediaCodecAudioRenderer extends MediaCodecRenderer implements Media
       MediaCodecSelector mediaCodecSelector,
       @Nullable Handler eventHandler,
       @Nullable AudioRendererEventListener eventListener) {
-    this(context, mediaCodecSelector, eventHandler, eventListener, (AudioCapabilities) null);
+    this(
+        context,
+        mediaCodecSelector,
+        eventHandler,
+        eventListener,
+        AudioCapabilities.DEFAULT_AUDIO_CAPABILITIES);
   }
 
   /**
@@ -138,8 +144,9 @@ public class MediaCodecAudioRenderer extends MediaCodecRenderer implements Media
    * @param eventHandler A handler to use when delivering events to {@code eventListener}. May be
    *     null if delivery of events is not required.
    * @param eventListener A listener of events. May be null if delivery of events is not required.
-   * @param audioCapabilities The audio capabilities for playback on this device. May be null if the
-   *     default capabilities (no encoded audio passthrough support) should be assumed.
+   * @param audioCapabilities The audio capabilities for playback on this device. Use {@link
+   *     AudioCapabilities#DEFAULT_AUDIO_CAPABILITIES} if default capabilities (no encoded audio
+   *     passthrough support) should be assumed.
    * @param audioProcessors Optional {@link AudioProcessor}s that will process PCM audio before
    *     output.
    */
@@ -148,7 +155,7 @@ public class MediaCodecAudioRenderer extends MediaCodecRenderer implements Media
       MediaCodecSelector mediaCodecSelector,
       @Nullable Handler eventHandler,
       @Nullable AudioRendererEventListener eventListener,
-      @Nullable AudioCapabilities audioCapabilities,
+      AudioCapabilities audioCapabilities,
       AudioProcessor... audioProcessors) {
     this(
         context,
@@ -156,7 +163,8 @@ public class MediaCodecAudioRenderer extends MediaCodecRenderer implements Media
         eventHandler,
         eventListener,
         new DefaultAudioSink.Builder()
-            .setAudioCapabilities(audioCapabilities)
+            .setAudioCapabilities( // For backward compatibility, null == default.
+                firstNonNull(audioCapabilities, AudioCapabilities.DEFAULT_AUDIO_CAPABILITIES))
             .setAudioProcessors(audioProcessors)
             .build());
   }
diff --git a/library/core/src/test/java/com/google/android/exoplayer2/audio/DefaultAudioSinkTest.java b/library/core/src/test/java/com/google/android/exoplayer2/audio/DefaultAudioSinkTest.java
index 264cd67a68..689519ce68 100644
--- a/library/core/src/test/java/com/google/android/exoplayer2/audio/DefaultAudioSinkTest.java
+++ b/library/core/src/test/java/com/google/android/exoplayer2/audio/DefaultAudioSinkTest.java
@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@
  */
 package com.google.android.exoplayer2.audio;
 
-import static com.google.android.exoplayer2.audio.AudioCapabilities.DEFAULT_AUDIO_CAPABILITIES;
 import static com.google.android.exoplayer2.audio.AudioSink.CURRENT_POSITION_NOT_SET;
 import static com.google.android.exoplayer2.audio.AudioSink.SINK_FORMAT_SUPPORTED_DIRECTLY;
 import static com.google.android.exoplayer2.audio.AudioSink.SINK_FORMAT_SUPPORTED_WITH_TRANSCODING;
@@ -61,7 +60,6 @@ public final class DefaultAudioSinkTest {
     TeeAudioProcessor teeAudioProcessor = new TeeAudioProcessor(arrayAudioBufferSink);
     defaultAudioSink =
         new DefaultAudioSink.Builder()
-            .setAudioCapabilities(DEFAULT_AUDIO_CAPABILITIES)
             .setAudioProcessorChain(new DefaultAudioProcessorChain(teeAudioProcessor))
             .setOffloadMode(DefaultAudioSink.OFFLOAD_MODE_DISABLED)
             .build();
@@ -70,10 +68,7 @@ public final class DefaultAudioSinkTest {
   @Test
   public void handlesSpecializedAudioProcessorArray() {
     defaultAudioSink =
-        new DefaultAudioSink.Builder()
-            .setAudioCapabilities(DEFAULT_AUDIO_CAPABILITIES)
-            .setAudioProcessors(new TeeAudioProcessor[0])
-            .build();
+        new DefaultAudioSink.Builder().setAudioProcessors(new TeeAudioProcessor[0]).build();
   }
 
   @Test
@@ -204,8 +199,7 @@ public final class DefaultAudioSinkTest {
 
   @Test
   public void floatPcmNeedsTranscodingIfFloatOutputDisabled() {
-    defaultAudioSink =
-        new DefaultAudioSink.Builder().setAudioCapabilities(DEFAULT_AUDIO_CAPABILITIES).build();
+    defaultAudioSink = new DefaultAudioSink.Builder().build();
     Format floatFormat =
         STEREO_44_1_FORMAT
             .buildUpon()
@@ -219,11 +213,7 @@ public final class DefaultAudioSinkTest {
   @Config(maxSdk = 20)
   @Test
   public void floatPcmNeedsTranscodingIfFloatOutputEnabledBeforeApi21() {
-    defaultAudioSink =
-        new DefaultAudioSink.Builder()
-            .setAudioCapabilities(DEFAULT_AUDIO_CAPABILITIES)
-            .setEnableFloatOutput(true)
-            .build();
+    defaultAudioSink = new DefaultAudioSink.Builder().setEnableFloatOutput(true).build();
     Format floatFormat =
         STEREO_44_1_FORMAT
             .buildUpon()
@@ -237,11 +227,7 @@ public final class DefaultAudioSinkTest {
   @Config(minSdk = 21)
   @Test
   public void floatOutputSupportedIfFloatOutputEnabledFromApi21() {
-    defaultAudioSink =
-        new DefaultAudioSink.Builder()
-            .setAudioCapabilities(DEFAULT_AUDIO_CAPABILITIES)
-            .setEnableFloatOutput(true)
-            .build();
+    defaultAudioSink = new DefaultAudioSink.Builder().setEnableFloatOutput(true).build();
     Format floatFormat =
         STEREO_44_1_FORMAT
             .buildUpon()