Adjusting a data rate of a digital audio stream based on dynamically determined audio playback system capabilities

A computing device configured for outputting a digital audio stream to an audio playback system for rendering as sound over speakers, the computing device comprising a processor, the processor operable to adjust a data rate of the digital audio stream by:

• sampling the sound generated, from the digital audio stream, by the audio playback system;
• ascertaining, from the sampling, a sound quality of the generated sound;
• and
• based at least in part on the ascertained sound quality of the generated sound, reducing the data rate of the digital audio stream by performing either one or both of:
• reducing a sampling rate of the digital audio stream to a reduced sampling rate;
• and
• reducing a number of bits per sample of the digital audio stream to a reduced number of bits per sample.

A non-transitory tangible machine-readable medium storing instructions that, upon execution by a processor of a computing device, the computing device configured to output a digital audio stream to an audio playback system for rendering as sound over speakers, cause the processor to:

• sample the sound generated, from the digital audio stream, by the audio playback system;
• ascertaining, from the sampling, a sound quality of the generated sound;
• and
• based at least in part on the ascertained sound quality of the generated sound, reduce the data rate of the digital audio stream by performing either one or both of:
• reducing a sampling rate of the digital audio stream to a reduced sampling rate;
• and
• reducing a number of bits per sample of the digital audio stream to a reduced number of bits per sample.