Playback device configuration according to distortion threshold
Examples described herein involve configuring a playback device based on distortion, such as that caused by a barrier. One implementation may involve causing the playback device to play audio content according to an existing playback configuration, determining an existing frequency response of the playback device in a given system, and determining whether a difference between the existing frequency response of the playback device in the given system and a predetermined frequency response for the playback device is greater than a predetermined distortion threshold. If it is determined that the difference between the existing frequency response of the playback device and the predetermined frequency response for the playback device is greater than the predetermined distortion threshold, then the existing playback configuration of the playback device is changed to an updated playback configuration of the playback device and the playback device plays audio content according to the updated playback configuration.
1. A playback device comprising:
one or more processors; and
tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable media having instructions encoded therein, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the playback device to perform functions comprising:
causing the playback device to play audio content according to an existing playback configuration;
determining an existing frequency response of the playback device in a given system;
determining whether a difference between the existing frequency response of the playback device in the given system and a predetermined frequency response for the playback device is greater than a predetermined distortion threshold;
if it is determined that the difference between the existing frequency response of the playback device in the given system and the predetermined frequency response for the playback device is greater than the predetermined distortion threshold, then
(i) changing the existing playback configuration of the playback device to an updated playback configuration of the playback device; and
(ii) causing the playback device to play audio content according to the updated playback configuration; and
if it is determined that the difference between the existing frequency response of the playback device in the given system and the predetermined frequency response for the playback device is not greater than the predetermined distortion threshold, then
(i) foregoing changing the existing playback configuration of the playback device; and
(ii) causing the playback device to continue to play audio content according to the existing playback configuration.
2. The playback device of claim 1 , wherein changing the existing playback configuration of the playback device to the updated playback configuration of the playback device comprises causing a speaker of the playback device to be deactivated.
3. The playback device of claim 1 , wherein changing the existing playback configuration of the playback device to the updated playback configuration of the playback device comprises causing a speaker of the playback device to play a component of the audio content.
4. The playback device of claim 3 , wherein the component of the audio content comprises a specific frequency range.
5. The playback device of claim 1 , wherein changing the existing playback configuration of the playback device to the updated playback configuration of the playback device comprises changing a volume level of a given speaker of the playback device.
6. The playback device of claim 1 , wherein changing the existing playback configuration of the playback device to the updated playback configuration of the playback device comprises adjusting one or more frequency components of the audio content.
7. The playback device of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined frequency response for the playback device comprises an ideal frequency response for the playback device.
8. The playback device of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined frequency response for the playback device comprises a measured frequency response for the playback device.
9. The playback device of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined distortion threshold comprises a particular predetermined percentage value.
10. The playback device of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined distortion threshold comprises a particular absolute difference value.
11. Tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable media having instructions encoded therein, wherein the instructions, when executed by one or more processors of a playback device, cause the playback device to perform functions comprising:
causing the playback device to play audio content according to an existing playback configuration;
determining an existing frequency response of the playback device in a given system;
determining whether a difference between the existing frequency response of the playback device in the given system and a predetermined frequency response for the playback device is greater than a predetermined distortion threshold;
if it is determined that the difference between the existing frequency response of the playback device in the given system and the predetermined frequency response for the playback device is greater than the predetermined distortion threshold, then
(i) changing the existing playback configuration of the playback device to an updated playback configuration of the playback device; and
(ii) causing the playback device to play audio content according to the updated playback configuration; and
if it is determined that the difference between the existing frequency response of the playback device in the given system and the predetermined frequency response for the playback device is not greater than the predetermined distortion threshold, then
(i) foregoing changing the existing playback configuration of the playback device; and
(ii) causing the playback device to continue to play audio content according to the existing playback configuration.
12. The tangible transitory, computer-readable media of claim 11 , wherein changing the existing playback configuration of the playback device to the updated playback configuration of the playback device comprises causing a speaker of the playback device to be deactivated.
13. The tangible transitory, computer-readable media of claim 11 , wherein changing the existing playback configuration of the playback device to the updated playback configuration of the playback device comprises causing a speaker of the playback device to play a component of the audio content.
14. The tangible transitory, computer-readable media of claim 13 , wherein the component of the audio content comprises a specific frequency range.
15. The tangible transitory, computer-readable media of claim 11 , wherein changing the existing playback configuration of the playback device to the updated playback configuration of the playback device comprises changing a volume level of a given speaker of the playback device.
16. The tangible transitory, computer-readable media of claim 11 , wherein changing the existing playback configuration of the playback device to the updated playback configuration of the playback device comprises adjusting one or more frequency components of the audio content.
17. The tangible transitory, computer-readable media of claim 11 , wherein the predetermined frequency response for the playback device comprises a measured frequency response for the playback device.
18. A method comprising:
causing a playback device to play audio content according to an existing playback configuration;
determining an existing frequency response of the playback device in a given system;
determining whether a difference between the existing frequency response of the playback device in the given system and a predetermined frequency response for the playback device is greater than a predetermined distortion threshold;
if it is determined that the difference between the existing frequency response of the playback device in the given system and the predetermined frequency response for the playback device is greater than the predetermined distortion threshold, then
(i) changing the existing playback configuration of the playback device to an updated playback configuration of the playback device; and
(ii) causing the playback device to play audio content according to the updated playback configuration; and
if it is determined that the difference between the existing frequency response of the playback device in the given system and the predetermined frequency response for the playback device is not greater than the predetermined distortion threshold, then
(i) foregoing changing the existing playback configuration of the playback device; and
(ii) causing the playback device to continue to play audio content according to the existing playback configuration.
19. The method of claim 18 , wherein changing the existing playback configuration of the playback device to the updated playback configuration of the playback device comprises changing a volume level of a given speaker of the playback device.
20. The method of claim 18 , wherein changing the existing playback configuration of the playback device to the updated playback configuration of the playback device comprises adjusting one or more frequency components of the audio content.