A system comprising: an audio amplifier configured as a power source providing output power; a control unit coupled to an input of the audio amplifier and having an audio signal generator configured to generate a modulating input waveform to the audio amplifier to provide an alternating current stimulus to power multiple audio output stages, and a digital audio transmitter configured to output multi-channel digital data to an output of the audio amplifier; a unitary transmission bus coupling the output of the audio amplifier to a plurality of speakers, the unitary transmission bus being configured to transmit the output power and multi-channel digital data from the control unit to the plurality of speakers; and a speaker unit associated with each speaker of a plurality of speakers and having a digital audio transceiver, a power recovery circuit configured to recover power from the output power, and one of the multiple audio output stages to drive the associated speaker, wherein the digital audio transceiver is configured to decode the multi-channel digital data and transmit an appropriate channel of the multi-channel digital data to the output stage for driving the associated speaker; wherein the multi-channel digital data is transmitted using an Internet Protocol, IP, transmission, and wherein the control unit comprises an IP interface receiving IP-based streaming audio data, and wherein the IP-based streaming audio data comprises at least in part adaptive audio content having channel-based audio and object-based audio, and wherein at least some speakers of the plurality of speakers form a surround-sound audio system configured to play back audio signals assigned to discrete channels according to a surround-sound format; wherein each one of the multiple audio output stages comprises a low impedance speaker driver coupled to a capacitive storage element in the power recovery circuit that allows an associated speaker to be driven to a voltage level exceeding a voltage swing of the output power, and wherein each speaker unit comprises a dedicated digital data transceiver configured to operate in transmit or receive mode and configured to decode a channel assignment provided in the multi-channel digital data and modulate the appropriate multi-channel digital data to the associated speaker based on the decoded channel assignment, such that different source content can be played back through each speaker of the plurality of speakers. an audio amplifier configured as a power source providing output power; a control unit coupled to an input of the audio amplifier and having an audio signal generator configured to generate a modulating input waveform to the audio amplifier to provide an alternating current stimulus to power multiple audio output stages, and a digital audio transmitter configured to output multi-channel digital data to an output of the audio amplifier; a unitary transmission bus coupling the output of the audio amplifier to a plurality of speakers, the unitary transmission bus being configured to transmit the output power and multi-channel digital data from the control unit to the plurality of speakers; and a speaker unit associated with each speaker of a plurality of speakers and having a digital audio transceiver, a power recovery circuit configured to recover power from the output power, and one of the multiple audio output stages to drive the associated speaker, wherein the digital audio transceiver is configured to decode the multi-channel digital data and transmit an appropriate channel of the multi-channel digital data to the output stage for driving the associated speaker; wherein the multi-channel digital data is transmitted using an Internet Protocol, IP, transmission, and wherein the control unit comprises an IP interface receiving IP-based streaming audio data, and wherein the IP-based streaming audio data comprises at least in part adaptive audio content having channel-based audio and object-based audio, and wherein at least some speakers of the plurality of speakers form a surround-sound audio system configured to play back audio signals assigned to discrete channels according to a surround-sound format; wherein each one of the multiple audio output stages comprises a low impedance speaker driver coupled to a capacitive storage element in the power recovery circuit that allows an associated speaker to be driven to a voltage level exceeding a voltage swing of the output power, and wherein each speaker unit comprises a dedicated digital data transceiver configured to operate in transmit or receive mode and configured to decode a channel assignment provided in the multi-channel digital data and modulate the appropriate multi-channel digital data to the associated speaker based on the decoded channel assignment, such that different source content can be played back through each speaker of the plurality of speakers.