FIGS. 7A-7E depict networked playback devices 702 (identified individually as a first playback device 702a and a second playback device 702b) configured to distribute voice processing in accordance with the present technology. The playback devices 702, for example, may be part of a media playback system (such as MPS 100). In some embodiments, the playback devices 702 may be positioned in various areas of an environment (e.g., a household), such as in different rooms, or in the same room. For example, the first playback device 702a may be positioned in a first area, such as “Room 1” (as shown), and the second playback device may be positioned in a second area, such as within Room 1 or a different room (e.g., “Room 2”). As described in greater detail below, the playback devices 702 may be configured to share the workload of one or more voice processing functions, such as voice-input detection, including wake-word detection. Although the methods described below are with reference to two playback devices, the methods of the present technology include distribution of one or more voice processing functions (such as wake-word detection) across more than two playback devices (e.g., 3 playback devices, 4 playback devices, 8 playback devices, twenty playback devices, etc.).
