Automatic detection of loudspeaker characteristics

A method of detecting characteristics of an audio output device, comprising:

• establishing a communication path to the audio output device;
• retrieving in a first communication signal, via the communication path, an identifier of the audio output device;
• determining, based on the retrieved identifier, that the audio output device has not been previously connected to the multimedia device;
• requesting, in response to determining that the audio output device has not been previously connected, characteristic information from the audio output device;
• and
• receiving, from a second communication signal actively sent by the audio output device and via the communication path, the requested characteristic information of the audio output device;
• and
• determining an output setting for the audio output device based on the characteristic information, wherein the communication path comprises speaker wire.

A multimedia system, comprising:

• an audio output device including a speaker and a memory;
• and
• a media device including a media interface for connecting to the audio output device via a speaker wire, an amplifier for driving the speaker, and a processor, the processor configured to:
• retrieve in a first communication signal, via the speaker wire, an identifier from the memory of the audio output device;
• determine, based on the retrieved identifier, that the audio output device has not been previously connected to the multimedia device;
• request, in response to determining that the audio output device has not been previously connected, characteristic information from the audio output device;
• and
• receive, from a second communication signal actively sent by the audio output device and via the speaker wire, the requested characteristic information of the audio output device;
• and
• determine an output setting for the amplifier based on the characteristic information.