A process receives, from a media content server, media content. Further, the process performs a first playback, with a processor at a media playback device, of one or more sample files corresponding to the media content. The one or more sample files each corresponds to a distinct codec format. In addition, the process determines, with the processor at the media playback device, a confidence score for each of the one or more sample files. The confidence score is associated with one or more factors indicative of the distinct codec format being software-based or hardware-based. Finally, the process performs a second playback, with the processor at the media playback device, of at least a substantial portion of the media content according to the distinct codec format that is hardware-based.