An executable is downloaded to an audio output device over a communications link. The executable may configure the audio output device to decode audio encoded in a specified format. The executable may also or alternatively include other audio processing software. The audio may include voice and/or audio playback, e.g., music playback. The ability to download an audio executable allows dynamic provisioning of various decoding and/or audio process capabilities to an audio output device. This may eliminate the need to transcode digitized audio for playback at the audio output device, and may also allow the audio output device to decode multiple audio formats without having multiple audio decoders permanently residing within the audio output device.