Various implementations include audio systems and methods for mixed rendering to enhance audio output. Certain implementations include an audio system having: at least one far-field speaker configured to output a first portion of an audio signal; and a pair of non-occluding near-field speakers configured to output a second portion of the audio signal in synchrony with the output of the first portion of the audio signal, where the second portion of the audio signal increases intelligibility of the speech content within the audio signal.

A multi-driver multi-channel single enclosure Height-Channel (e.g., ATMOS? or DTS-X?) enabled soundbar loudspeaker system 260 uses a novel signal processing system, driver mounting configuration (310L, 310R) and method to provide a high fidelity home theater listening experience, in a manner which relies on a new method for cancellation of unwanted direct (not ceiling-bounced) radiation of the Height-Channel (or virtual height envelopment) channel's sound 213DS.

An apparatus and method of rendering audio. A binaural signal is split on an amplitude weighting basis into a front binaural signal and a rear binaural signal, based on perceived position information of the audio. In this manner, the front-back differentiation of the binaural signal is improved.

A loudspeaker transducer arrangement is provided. At least three loudspeaker transducer units emit sound in different directions, where the loudspeaker transducer units are arranged in separate walls, arranged in separate planes, such that a first wall arranged in the first plane is defined by a normal L1 perpendicular to the first plane and the first loudspeaker transducer unit mainly emits sound along the normal L1, a second wall arranged in the second plane is defined by a normal L2 perpendicular to the second plane and the second loudspeaker transducer unit emits sound mainly along the normal L2, and a third wall arranged in the third plane is defined by a normal L3 perpendicular to the third plane and the third loudspeaker transducer unit emits sound mainly along the normal L3. A soundbar is also provided.

The present disclosure relates to a method and system for calibrating a loudspeaker system in an environment (1). The loudspeaker system comprises an audio device (10) with a first and second loudspeaker arranged with a predetermined horizontal separation. The method comprises the steps of emitting (S2a, S2b) a first and second calibration audio signal from the first and second loudspeaker (11) of the audio device (10), wherein the second calibration audio signal is distinguishable from the first calibration audio signal. The method further comprises receiving (S3a, S3b), with a first external microphone (20) the first and second calibration audio signal, determining (S4) the position of the first external microphone (20) relative to the audio device (10) and calibrating (S8) the loudspeaker system based on the determined position of the first external microphone (20).

Various implementations include audio systems and methods for mixed rendering to enhance audio output. Certain implementations include an audio system having: at least one far-field speaker configured to output a first portion of an audio signal; and a pair of non-occluding near-field speakers configured to output a second portion of the audio signal in synchrony with the output of the first portion of the audio signal, where the first portion of the audio signal is distinct from the second portion of the audio signal.

Low-latency audio networking is disclosed. In one embodiment, an example playback device includes a processor and memory having stored thereon instructions executable by the processor. The example instructions are to cause the first playback device to perform functions comprising: receiving audio information; selecting a first frequency channel of a first spectrum based on a threshold latency associated with the audio information; transmitting to the second playback device via a second frequency channel of a second spectrum, control information that identifies the first frequency channel of the first spectrum; and transmitting to the second playback device via the first frequency channel of the first spectrum, the audio information to be played by the second playback device.

An automated process for equalizing an audio system and an apparatus for implementing the process. An audio system includes a microphone unit, for receiving the sound waves radiated from a plurality of speakers, acoustic measuring circuitry, for calculating frequency response measurements; a memory, for storing characteristic data of the loudspeaker units and further for storing the frequency response measurements; and equalization calculation circuitry, for calculating an equalization pattern responsive to the digital data and responsive to the characteristic data of the plurality of loudspeaker units. Also described is an automated equalizing system including acoustic measuring circuitry including a microphone for measuring frequency response at a plurality of locations; a memory, for storing the frequency responses at the plurality of locations; and equalization calculation circuitry, for calculating, from the frequency responses, an optimized equalization pattern.

Audio reproduction apparatus that includes a memory and a control circuitry. The memory stores an encoded object-based audio stream that includes a plurality of audio frames which include at least one encoded audio object that comprises an audio segment and metadata information. The control circuitry extracts the metadata information and controls movement of a first speaker of a plurality of speakers in a physical three dimensional (3D) space from a first position to a second position at a first time instant, based on the extracted metadata information associated with the at least one encoded audio object. The control circuitry decodes the audio segment from the at least one encoded audio object and controls play back of the decoded audio segment, at a second time instant, by the first speaker at the second position in a first audio frame of the plurality of audio frames.

A networked speaker system automatically adjusts certain audio speaker system settings based on whether the system is inside a building or has been moved outside. Also, techniques are described for adjusting speaker driver direction based on walls or other barriers in a room or based on the location of a listener.