Distributing Audio Content in a Media Playback System

A method carried out by a first playback device, the method comprising:

• operating as part of a synchrony group that comprises the first playback device and at least a second playback device;
• obtaining, from a cloud-based media content source, a first version of audio content for synchronous playback by the synchrony group;
• determining that the first version of the audio content is unsuitable for synchronous playback by the second playback device;
• after the determination, causing a second version of the audio content that is suitable for synchronous playback by the second playback device to be generated, based on the first version of the audio content;
• causing the second version of the audio content to be transmitted to the second playback device for synchronous playback;
• causing the second playback device to play back the second version of the audio content in synchrony with playback of the first version of the audio content by the first playback device;
• and
• playing back the first version of the audio content in synchrony with the playback of the second version of the audio content by the second playback device.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium, wherein the non-transitory computer-readable medium is provisioned with program instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause a first playback device to:

• operate as part of a synchrony group that comprises the first playback device and at least a second playback device;
• obtain, from a cloud-based media content source, a first version of audio content for synchronous playback by the synchrony group;
• determine that the first version of the audio content is unsuitable for synchronous playback by the second playback device;
• after the determination, cause a second version of the audio content that is suitable for synchronous playback by the second playback device to be generated, based on the first version of the audio content;
• cause the second version of the audio content to be transmitted to the second playback device for synchronous playback;
• cause the second playback device to play back the second version of the audio content in synchrony with playback of the first version of the audio content by the first playback device;
• and
• play back the first version of the audio content in synchrony with the playback of the second version of the audio content by the second playback device.