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.

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.

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.

A method may include obtaining audio to be projected in an environment in which the audio includes a plurality of audio channels. The method may include mapping a first audio channel of the plurality of audio channels to a first channel object, the first channel object including first audio of the first audio channel. The method may include obtaining environmental parameters associated with a speaker system including a plurality of speakers, the environmental parameters including one or more of: speaker locations, sensor information, speaker acoustic properties, environmental acoustic properties, environment geometry, or listener location. The method may include obtaining a first target sound effect associated with the first audio channel. The method may include directing projection of the first channel object by a speaker of the plurality of speakers according to the first target sound effect and based on the environmental parameters to simulate the first target sound effect.

A networked speaker system communicates using Li-Fi. The LEDs implementing the Li-Fi may also have modes in which they are used to map the walls of a room in which the speakers are located, detect the locations of speakers in the room, and detect and classify listeners in the room. Based on this, waveform analysis may be applied to input audio to establish equalization and delays that are optimal for the room geometry, speaker locations, and listener locations.

Sound bars with improved sound distribution are disclosed having at least first and second speaker drivers. The sound bars can have a spatial deviation point between the at least first and second speaker drivers such that the first and second speaker drivers are facing different directions. A second spatial deviation point can also be included to create additional directions for the driver speakers to face. The sound bars can include both active and passive speaker drivers.

An audio signal output method is provided. The audio signal output method includes acquiring audio data including a plurality of audio signals corresponding respectively to a plurality of channels, applying a head-related transfer function, which localizes a sound image to a location determined for each of the plurality of channels to each of the plurality of audio signals, outputting first audio signals that have been applied with the head-related transfer functions, among the plurality of audio signals, to an earphone, and outputting the audio signal of one channel corresponding to a location that is in front of a top of a listener's head, among the plurality of audio signals, to a speaker.

An audio signal output method is provided. The audio signal output method includes acquiring audio data including an audio signal and sound source location information indicating a location of a sound source, acquiring the audio data and the sound source location information from the acquired audio data, performing sound image localization processing of a head-related transfer function on the acquired audio signal based on the acquired sound source location information, outputting the processed audio signal to an earphone, and outputting the acquired audio signal that has not been performed with sound image localization processing to a speaker, in a state where the location of the sound source indicated by the sound source location information is in a predetermined location.

One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for generating audio for a speaker system. The technique includes receiving an audio input signal, a first location associated with the audio input signal, a first geometric model of the speaker system, and a second geometric model of one or more surfaces in proximity to the speaker system. The technique also includes generating a plurality of output signals for a plurality of speaker drivers in the speaker system based on the audio input signal, the first location, and the first and second geometric models. The technique further includes transmitting the plurality of output signals to the plurality of speaker drivers, wherein the plurality of speaker drivers emit audio that corresponds to the plurality of output signals, the emitted audio rendering a sound corresponding to the audio input signal at the first location.