A stable wearing state on an ear is secured. A speaker that outputs sound; a speaker arrangement portion in which the speaker is arranged therein; and a sound guiding pipe in which one end portion is continuous with the speaker arrangement portion and an internal space is formed as a sound guiding space that leads the sound outputted from the speaker are provided, in which an opening that emits the sound toward an ear is formed at the other end of the sound guiding pipe. The sound output apparatus is worn on the ear by sandwiching the outer peripheral portion of the auricle between the sound guiding pipe and the speaker arrangement portion or by the sound guiding pipe so that a stable wearing state on the ear can be secured.

Aspects of a multi-orientation playback device including at least one microphone array are discussed. A method may include determining an orientation of the playback device which includes at least one microphone array and determining at least one microphone training response for the playback device from a plurality of microphone training responses based on the orientation of the playback device. The at least one microphone array can detect a sound input, and the location information of a source of the sound input can be determined based on the at least one microphone training response and the detected sound input. Based on the location information of the source, the directional focus of the at least one microphone array can be adjusted, and the sound input can be captured based on the adjusted directional focus.

Embodiments of systems and methods are described for estimating a position of a loudspeaker and notifying a listener if an abnormal condition is detected, such as an incorrect loudspeaker orientation or an obstruction in a path between the loudspeaker and a microphone array. For example, a front component of a multi-channel surround sound system may include the microphone array and a position estimation engine. The position estimation engine may estimate the distance between the loudspeaker and the microphone array. In addition, the position estimation engine may estimate an angle of the loudspeaker using a first technique. The position estimation engine may also estimate an angle of the loudspeaker using a second technique. The two angles can be processed to determine whether the abnormal condition exists. If the abnormal condition exists, a listener can be notified and be provided with suggestions for resolving the issue in a graphical user interface.

Equipment including a casing wherein are located: a box; a first loudspeaker disposed inside the box, the first loudspeaker being arranged to broadcast sounds outwards from the casing; a main electronic board placed in the casing outside of the box and on which is mounted, at least one power supply module producing a first power supply voltage; a connecting device passing through the wall of the box; a secondary electronic board inside the box on which is mounted, at least one first amplifier connected to the first loudspeaker, the secondary electronic board being connected to the main electronic board via the connecting device to power the first amplifier with the first voltage.

Example techniques relate to audio generation in a media playback system. Based on one or more first functions and first characteristics of an area, the system may generate first audio that includes a first audio signal and a second audio signal. The system provides the first audio signal to at least one first audio driver and the second audio signal to at least one second audio driver, thereby causing a first playback device and a second playback device to play back the first audio synchronously. The system receives second characteristics of the area and based on one or more second functions and the second characteristics, generates second audio comprising a third audio signal and a fourth audio signal. The system provides the third audio signal to the at least one first audio driver and the fourth audio signal to the at least one second audio driver.

A rendering mode may be determined for received audio data, including audio signals and associated spatial data. The audio data may be rendered for reproduction via a set of loudspeakers of an environment according to the rendering mode, to produce rendered audio signals. Rendering the audio data may involve determining relative activation of a set of loudspeakers in an environment. The rendering mode may be variable between a reference spatial mode and one or more distributed spatial modes. The reference spatial mode may have an assumed listening position and orientation. In the distributed spatial mode(s), one or more elements of the audio data may each be rendered in a more spatially distributed manner than in the reference spatial mode and spatial locations of remaining elements of the audio data may be warped such that they span a rendering space of the environment more completely than in the reference spatial mode.

A method of managing a plurality of devices is described. The method comprises receiving an image comprising the plurality of devices; determining, based on an analysis of the image, a spatial map for the plurality of devices, wherein the spatial map comprises, for each device of the plurality of devices, a position relative to another device of the plurality of devices; and adjusting a sensor of at least one of the plurality of devices to modify an acoustic field associated with the plurality of devices based on the spatial map. A system for providing information is also described.

A method and system for communicating audio, video, and/or control signals within a home entertainment system. One or more signals are communicated between an input device and one or more output devices via one or more networks. The output device can include loudspeakers, display devices, and headphones. In some embodiments an output device, for example a center channel loudspeaker, transmits signals to other output devices. For example, the center channel loudspeaker can transmit a combined audio signal and control signal to a remote loudspeaker over a first network and transmit a video signal to a display device over a second network. The display device displays the video signal. The networks can be wireless, wired, infrared, RF, and powerline.

A speaker device comprises a curved support member having a U shape, housings provided on both sides of the curved support member, and speaker units attached to the front surfaces of the housings, wherein the curved support member is hollow such that the insides of the housings on both sides are in communication with each other, and include drone cones at its ends, and the drone cones are configured to vibrate by receiving on the back surface side a sound wave output from the back surface side of the speaker units, and output a sound from the front surface side.

A headset mountable microphone shield for obscuring the lips of a wearer of a conventional headset with hands free microphone. The headset mountable microphone shield includes a shield body which defines a planar member sized to obscure the mouth of a person and which is integrated with a clip member which defines an elongated limb with a front side and a back side. The clip member is attachable to a stem which connects a hands free microphone to a conventional headset through a pair of clips on its back side and secured in place with fastening screws which operate in conjunction with the clips. As such, a user can slide the stem into the clips and tighten the fastening screws, thereby wedging the stem against the clip such that it is held in place.