Hybrid, priority-based rendering system and method for adaptive audio

A method of rendering adaptive audio, comprising:

• receiving an input audio bitstream comprising audio components and associated metadata, the audio components each having an audio type selected from:
• channel-based audio, audio objects, and dynamic objects;
• determining a decoder format for each audio component based on a respective audio type;
• determining a priority of each audio component from a priority field in metadata associated with the each audio component;
• rendering a first priority type of audio component in a first rendering processor;
• and
• rendering a second priority type of audio component in a second rendering processor.

A system for rendering adaptive audio, comprising:

• an interface receiving input audio in a bitstream having audio content and associated metadata, the audio content comprising channel-based audio, audio objects, and dynamic objects, wherein the dynamic objects are classified as sets of low-priority dynamic objects and high-priority dynamic objects;
• a first rendering processor coupled to the interface and rendering the channel-based audio, the audio objects, and the low-priority dynamic objects;
• and
• a second rendering processor coupled to the first rendering processor over a transmission link and rendering the high-priority dynamic.

A speaker system for playback of virtualized audio content in a listening environment, comprising:

• an enclosure;
• a plurality of individual drivers placed within the enclosure and configured to project sound through a front plane of the enclosure;
• and
• an interface receiving rendered audio generated by a first rendering processor rendering a first priority type of audio component contained in an audio bitstream containing audio components and associated metadata, and a second rendering processor rendering a second type of audio component contained in the audio bitstream.