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 soundbar speaker for transmitting reflected sound waves off an upper surface down to a listening environment, comprising: a cabinet containing a plurality of audio drivers, direct-firing drivers within the cabinet oriented to transmit sound along a horizontal axis substantially perpendicular to a front surface of the cabinet, and a pair of upward-firing slotted drivers placed proximate to ends of an top surface of the cabinet and oriented at an inclination angle relative to the horizontal axis. The slotted drivers are configured to create an overlapping reflected sound projection for high frequency sound when reflected down to a listening position located at a distance in front of the speaker pair. Such a speaker projects reflected sound that provides wider horizontal or side-to-side dispersion to better cover the listening area.

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 a 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.

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.

A seat integrating a loudspeaker system includes a seat having a seat body with a horizontally oriented seat bottom and a seat back secured thereto. The seat back includes an upper end and a lower end, wherein the lower end is positioned adjacent the seat bottom. The loudspeaker system includes a sound assembly mounted within the seat for selective movement between a storage orientation in which the sound assembly is housed and hidden within a support housing mounted along the seat and a use orientation extending from the support housing in which the sound assembly is positioned for use.

A plurality of reproduction sections are set. With regard to the reproduction section provided with the first reproduction device group that includes at least one reproduction device connected via a network with a storage that stores audio data, the audio data is transmitted via the network to each reproduction device. With regard to the reproduction section provided with the second reproduction device group includes a plurality of reproduction devices that are connected to each other using at least one audio cable and that include at least one reproduction device connected via the network with the storage, the audio data is transmitted via the network to at least one reproduction device connected via the network with the storage, and the at least one reproduction device is caused to transmit the received audio data via the at least one audio cable to at least one other reproduction device.

A Closed Loop Headphone Apparatus with 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or more built-in speakers and 2 Ear Openings, which go around the head of the user and imparting real surround sound emitted from each ear opening.

A speaker assembly broadly comprising a housing, an input circuit, and a number of speakers. The housing includes a lower section configured to be positioned at least partially below a ground surface and an upper section extending upwards from the lower section. The input circuit receives audio signals from a sound system or other controller and actively or passively sends the audio signals to the speakers. The speakers include a low-range speaker positioned in the lower section of the housing and a relatively higher-range speaker positioned in the upper section. The speaker assembly is configured to be spaced from other speaker assemblies within a listening area with each speaker assembly generating low frequency soundwaves and relatively higher-frequency soundwaves. This reduces or eliminates out-of-phase crossover frequency wave cancellation effects within the listening area.

Methods and systems are provided for ultrasonic emitter based audio devices. An example audio device may comprise one or more ultrasonic emitters. The audio device may generate audio outputs that comprise ultrasonic signals, with the ultrasonic signals emitted using the one or more ultrasonic emitters. The directionality of emission of the ultrasonic signals may be based on a position of a listener and/or a location of the at least part of the listener's body relative to the audio device. The ultrasonic signals and/or the positioning of the one or more ultrasonic emitters may be adjusted based on the position of the listener and/or the location of the at least part of the listener's body to optimize the directionality of emission of the ultrasonic signals. The position of the listener and/or the location of the at least part of the listener's body may be determined in real-time, such as using sensory information.

The disclosure relates to an audio signal processing apparatus for processing an input audio signal, comprising a filter unit comprising a plurality of filters, each filter configured to filter the input audio signal to obtain a plurality of filtered audio signals, each filter designed according to an extended mode matching beamforming applied to a surface of a half revolution, the surface partially characterizing a loudspeaker enclosure shape, a plurality of scaling units, each scaling unit configured to scale the plurality of filtered audio signals using a plurality of gain coefficients to obtain a plurality of scaled filtered audio signals, and a plurality of adders, each adder configured to combine the plurality of scaled filtered audio signals, thereby providing an output audio signal for producing a sound field having a beam directivity pattern defined by the plurality of gain coefficients.