A system for rendering object-based audio signals in a listening environment, comprising: an array of individually addressable audio drivers (702, 704, 706, 712, 716, 718, 732, 734, 736) enclosed in one or more speaker enclosures for projection of sound in the listening environment; wherein the array of individually addressable audio drivers (702, 704, 706, 712, 716, 718, 732, 734, 736) comprises an upward-firing driver (706, 712, 736) for propagation of sound waves off of a ceiling of the listening environment to simulate the presence of a speaker at the ceiling of the listening environment; wherein a degree of tilt of the upward-firing driver (706, 712, 736) is adjustable; at least one microphone placed in the listening environment for monitoring an acoustic characteristic of the listening environment; a renderer configured to render an object-based audio signal from a source for playback in the listening environment; wherein the renderer is configured to render audio streams comprising audio content to a plurality of audio feeds corresponding to the array of uniquely addressable audio drivers in accordance with metadata, wherein the metadata specifies which individual audio stream is transmitted to each respective addressable audio driver; wherein the audio content comprises object-based and channel-based audio signals; and wherein the renderer comprises a virtualizer that is configured to derive an audio signal for the upward-firing driver (706, 712, 736) based on spatial reproduction information of the object-based audio signal; a calibration component coupled to the renderer and configured to receive the acoustic characteristic for configuration of the system and modification of the audio signals; and a bi-directional interconnect having a first channel coupling the renderer to the array of individually addressable audio drivers (702, 704, 706, 712, 716, 718, 732, 734, 736) for playback of audio signals in the listening environment, and a second channel coupling the at least one microphone to the calibration component; wherein the calibration component is configured to modify the audio signal for the upward-firing driver (706, 712, 736) based on the acoustic characteristic of the listening environment; and calibration by the calibration component involves, using the at least one microphone, automatically calculating the delay, equalization and gain for the upward-firing driver (706, 712, 736). an array of individually addressable audio drivers (702, 704, 706, 712, 716, 718, 732, 734, 736) enclosed in one or more speaker enclosures for projection of sound in the listening environment; wherein the array of individually addressable audio drivers (702, 704, 706, 712, 716, 718, 732, 734, 736) comprises an upward-firing driver (706, 712, 736) for propagation of sound waves off of a ceiling of the listening environment to simulate the presence of a speaker at the ceiling of the listening environment; wherein a degree of tilt of the upward-firing driver (706, 712, 736) is adjustable; at least one microphone placed in the listening environment for monitoring an acoustic characteristic of the listening environment; a renderer configured to render an object-based audio signal from a source for playback in the listening environment; wherein the renderer is configured to render audio streams comprising audio content to a plurality of audio feeds corresponding to the array of uniquely addressable audio drivers in accordance with metadata, wherein the metadata specifies which individual audio stream is transmitted to each respective addressable audio driver; wherein the audio content comprises object-based and channel-based audio signals; and wherein the renderer comprises a virtualizer that is configured to derive an audio signal for the upward-firing driver (706, 712, 736) based on spatial reproduction information of the object-based audio signal; a calibration component coupled to the renderer and configured to receive the acoustic characteristic for configuration of the system and modification of the audio signals; and a bi-directional interconnect having a first channel coupling the renderer to the array of individually addressable audio drivers (702, 704, 706, 712, 716, 718, 732, 734, 736) for playback of audio signals in the listening environment, and a second channel coupling the at least one microphone to the calibration component; wherein the calibration component is configured to modify the audio signal for the upward-firing driver (706, 712, 736) based on the acoustic characteristic of the listening environment; and calibration by the calibration component involves, using the at least one microphone, automatically calculating the delay, equalization and gain for the upward-firing driver (706, 712, 736).