Media playback systems with auxiliary audiovisual inputs

1 . A method comprising:

receiving, via a first hardware interface of an audio playback device communicatively coupled to a video display device, an input stream of audiovisual content comprising first audio data and video data;

tagging the first audio data to generate tagged audio data;

transmitting, via a second hardware interface of the audio playback device to the video display device, the tagged audio data and the video data;

receiving, via the second hardware interface from the video display device, a second audio data stream comprising second audio data, wherein the first audio data has a first number of audio channels, and wherein the second audio data has a second number of channels fewer than the first;

evaluating the second audio data to identify a tag; and

after identifying the tag:

playing back, via the audio playback device, the first audio data in substantial synchrony with the video data;

suppressing playback of the second audio data; and

generating an error indication that the video display device may have incorrect audio settings.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein tagging the first audio data comprises downmixing the first audio data such that the tagged audio data has fewer channels than the first audio data.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein tagging the first audio data comprises adding predetermined inaudible artifacts to the first audio data.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein evaluating the second audio data to identify a tag comprises comparing the tagged audio data and the second audio data.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the audio playback device receives the input stream via an HDMI connection, and wherein the audio playback device transmits the tagged audio data and the video data to the video display device via an eARC connection.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the audio playback device receives the input stream from one or more of: one or more remote computing devices associated with a media content service, a Blu Ray player, or a DVD player.

7 . A method comprising:

receiving, via a first hardware interface of an audio playback device communicatively coupled to a video display device, an input stream of audiovisual content comprising first audio data and video data,

tagging the first audio data to generate aged audio data;

transmitting, via a second hardware interface of the audio playback device to the video display device, the tagged audio data and the video data,

receiving, via the second hardware interface from the video display device, a second audio data stream comprising second audio data;

evaluating the second audio data to identify a tag; and

after identifying the tag:

playing back, via the audio playback device, the first audio data in substantial synchrony with the video data;

suppressing playback of the second audio data

after suppressing playback of the second audio data, continuing to evaluate the second audio data stream to identify the tag; and

after failing to identify the tag within a predetermined period of time:

suppressing playback of the first audio data; and

playing back the second audio data in substantial synchrony with the video data.

8 . One or more tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a playback device, cause the playback device to perform operations comprising the method of claim 7 .

9 . An audio playback device comprising:

the first hardware interface;

the second hardware interface;

one or more processors;

one or more audio transducers; and

data storage having instructions stored thereon that are executable by the one or more processors to cause the playback device to perform operations comprising the method of claim 7 .

10 . A method comprising:

receiving via a first hardware interface of an audio playback device communicatively coupled to a video display device, an input stream of audiovisual content comprising first audio data and video data;

tagging the first audio data to generate tagged audio data;

transmitting, via a second hardware interface of the audio playback device to the video display device, the tagged audio data and the video data;

receiving, via the second hardware interface from the video display device, a second audio data stream comprising second audio data;

evaluating the second audio data to identify a tag; and

after identifying the tag:

transmitting, from the audio playback device to a second playback device, at least a portion of the first data, wherein the second playback device comprises a wearable playback device;

playing back, via the second playback device, the at least a portion of the first audio data in substantial synchrony with the video data; and

suppressing playback of the first audio data by the audio playback device while the second playback device plays back the at least a portion of the first audio data.

11 . One or more tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a media playback system including the audio playback device and the second playback device, cause the media playback system to perform operations comprising the method of claim 10 .

12 . A media playback system comprising: the audio playback device; the second playback device; one or more processors; and data storage having instructions stored thereon that are executable by the one or more processors to cause the media playback system to perform operations comprising the method of claim 10 .

13 . A playback device comprising:

a first hardware interface configured to be communicatively coupled to an audiovisual content source;

a second hardware interface configured to be communicatively coupled to a video display device;

one or more processors;

one or more audio transducers; and

data storage having instructions stored thereon that are executable by the one or more processors to cause the playback device to perform operations comprising:

receiving, via the first hardware interface, an input stream of audiovisual content comprising first audio data and video data;

tagging the first audio data to generate tagged audio data;

transmitting, via the second hardware interface to the video display device, the tagged audio data and the video data;

receiving, via the second hardware interface from the video display device, a second audio data stream comprising second audio data, wherein the first audio data has a first number of audio channels, and wherein the second audio data has a second number of channels fewer than the first;

evaluating the second audio data to identify a tag; and

after identifying the tag:

playing back, via the playback device, the first audio data in substantial synchrony with the video data;

suppressing playback of the second audio data; and

generating an error indication that the video display device may have incorrect audio settings.

14 . The playback device of claim 13 , wherein tagging the first audio data comprises downmixing the first audio data such that the tagged audio data has fewer channels than the first audio data.

15 . The playback device of claim 13 , wherein tagging the first audio data comprises adding predetermined inaudible artifacts to the first audio data.

16 . The playback device of claim 13 , wherein evaluating the second audio data to identify a tag comprises comparing the tagged audio data and the second audio data.

17 . The playback device of claim 13 , further comprising:

after suppressing playback of the second audio data, continuing to evaluate the second audio data stream to identify the tag; and

after failing to identify the tag within a predetermined period of time:

suppressing playback of the first audio data; and

playing back the second audio data in substantial synchrony with the video data.

18 . One or more tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable media storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a playback device, cause the playback device to perform operations comprising:

receiving, via a first hardware interface of an audio playback device communicatively coupled to a video display device, an input stream of audiovisual content comprising first audio data and video data;

tagging the first audio data to generate tagged audio data;

transmitting, via a second hardware interface of the audio playback device to the video display device, the tagged audio data and the video data;

receiving, via the second hardware interface from the video display device, a second audio data stream comprising second audio data, wherein the first audio data has a first number of audio channels and wherein the second audio data has a second number of channels fewer er than the first;

evaluating the second audio data to identify a tag; and

after identifying the tag:

playing back, via the audio playback device, the first audio data in substantial synchrony with the video data;

suppressing playback of the second audio data; and

generating an error indication that the video display device may have incorrect audio settings.

19 . The one or more tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable media of claim 18 , wherein tagging the first audio data comprises downmixing the first audio data such that the tagged audio data has fewer channels than the first audio data.

20 . The one or more tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable media of claim 18 , wherein tagging the first audio data comprises adding predetermined inaudible artifacts to the first audio data.

21 . The one or more tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable media of claim 18 , wherein evaluating the second audio data to identify a tag comprises comparing the tagged audio data and the second audio data.