A method, comprising: receiving a first portion of audio comprising a trigger command through an input path of a voice-activated system having a first configuration; determining a characteristic of the first portion of audio, the characteristic comprising at least one of a signal-to-noise ratio, a signal level, and a frequency content; after the trigger command is detected and the characteristic indicates an insufficient quality for performing speech processing, adjusting the input path to a second configuration based, at least in part, on the determined characteristic; receiving a second portion of audio comprising an instruction command through the input path having the second configuration; and performing speech analysis on the second portion of audio, wherein the step of adjusting the input path to a second configuration comprises one of: a) increasing a dynamic range of the input path; b) adjusting at least one of a gain, a signal-to-noise ratio, and a dynamic range of the input path; c) de-activating a first analog-to-digital converter of the input path; and activating a second analog-to-digital converter of the input path, wherein the first ADC comprises a low-power, low dynamic range ADC, and wherein the second ADC comprises a high-power, high dynamic range ADC; d) adjusting a gain for an amplifier of the input path from a first value of the first configuration to a higher second value of the second configuration; and e) adjusting a noise floor of the analog-to-digital converter of the input path from a first value for the first configuration to a lower second value for the second configuration. receiving a first portion of audio comprising a trigger command through an input path of a voice-activated system having a first configuration; determining a characteristic of the first portion of audio, the characteristic comprising at least one of a signal-to-noise ratio, a signal level, and a frequency content; after the trigger command is detected and the characteristic indicates an insufficient quality for performing speech processing, adjusting the input path to a second configuration based, at least in part, on the determined characteristic; receiving a second portion of audio comprising an instruction command through the input path having the second configuration; and performing speech analysis on the second portion of audio, wherein the step of adjusting the input path to a second configuration comprises one of: a) increasing a dynamic range of the input path; b) adjusting at least one of a gain, a signal-to-noise ratio, and a dynamic range of the input path; c) de-activating a first analog-to-digital converter of the input path; and activating a second analog-to-digital converter of the input path, wherein the first ADC comprises a low-power, low dynamic range ADC, and wherein the second ADC comprises a high-power, high dynamic range ADC; d) adjusting a gain for an amplifier of the input path from a first value of the first configuration to a higher second value of the second configuration; and e) adjusting a noise floor of the analog-to-digital converter of the input path from a first value for the first configuration to a lower second value for the second configuration. a) increasing a dynamic range of the input path; b) adjusting at least one of a gain, a signal-to-noise ratio, and a dynamic range of the input path; c) de-activating a first analog-to-digital converter of the input path; and activating a second analog-to-digital converter of the input path, wherein the first ADC comprises a low-power, low dynamic range ADC, and wherein the second ADC comprises a high-power, high dynamic range ADC; d) adjusting a gain for an amplifier of the input path from a first value of the first configuration to a higher second value of the second configuration; and e) adjusting a noise floor of the analog-to-digital converter of the input path from a first value for the first configuration to a lower second value for the second configuration.