Systems and methods for synchronizing and rendering audio signals via an auxiliary synchronization back channel

A system for rendering synchronized audio output, the system comprising:

• a first audio rendering device configured to render a first audio output, the first audio rendering device comprising:
• a first real-time local clock;
• a first wireless communications module configured to send and receive first audio data and synchronization data to and from a WiFi router comprising a crystal clock source;
• a second wireless communications module configured to send and receive timecode data to and from a second audio rendering device, the second wireless communication module operating at a sub-GHz ISM band;
• a first microcontroller configured to receive and process the first audio data to generate first output audio signals based on the timecode data for synchronizing the first real-time local clock with the crystal clock source of the WiFi router and with a second real-time local clock of the second audio rendering device, wherein the first wireless communications module and the second wireless communications module are electrically coupled to the first microcontroller;
• at least one first speaker driver;
• at least one first digital audio amplifier, the at least one first digital audio amplifier configured to:
• amplify the first output audio signals, and
• drive the at least one first speaker driver to render the first audio output, wherein the at least one first digital audio amplifier is electrically coupled to the first microcontroller and the at least one first speaker driver;
• and
• the second audio rendering device configured to render a second audio output, the second audio rendering device comprising:
• the second real-time local clock;
• a third wireless communications module configured to send and receive second audio data and synchronization data to and from the WiFi router;
• a fourth wireless communications module configured to send and receive the timecode data from the second wireless communications module of the first audio rendering device, the fourth wireless communication module operating at a sub-GHz ISM band;
• a second microcontroller configured to receive and process the second audio data to generate second output audio signals based on the timecode data for synchronizing the second real-time local clock with the local clock of the WiFi router and with the first real-time local clock of the first audio rendering device, wherein the third wireless communications module and the fourth wireless communications module are electrically coupled to the second microcontroller;
• at least one second speaker driver;
• and
• at least one second digital audio amplifier, the at least one second digital audio amplifier configured to:
• amplify the second output audio signals, and
• drive the at least one second speaker driver to render the second audio output, wherein the first audio output and the second audio output are synchronized, wherein the at least one second digital audio amplifier is electrically coupled to the second microcontroller and the at least one second speaker driver.

A method of rendering synchronized audio output, comprising:

• sending and receiving, by a first wireless communications module, audio data and synchronization data to and from a WiFi router comprising a crystal clock source;
• sending and receiving, by a second wireless communications module operating at a sub-GHz ISM band, timecode data to and from at least one other networked audio rendering device;
• receiving, by a microcontroller, the audio data;
• processing, by the microcontroller, the audio data to generate output audio signals based on the timecode data to synchronize a real-time local clock with the crystal clock source of the WiFi router and with a real-time local clock of the at least one other networked audio rendering device;
• amplifying, by at least one digital audio amplifier, the output audio signals;
• and
• driving, by the at least one digital audio amplifier, at least one speaker driver to render an audio output.