1. A High Definition Audio (HDA) codec for use with an HDA amplification system that is includes a connector configured to accept an optional component, the HDA codec comprising: a processor capable of providing a set of audio processing features; wherein said processor is configured to determine whether the optional component is connected to the connector; wherein said processor is configured to enable a baseline subset of the set of audio processing features, and disable one or more audio processing features outside the baseline subset, when said processor determines that the optional component is not connected to the connector; wherein said processor is configured to enable an alternative subset of the set of audio processing features that is different from the baseline subset and that includes at least one of the audio processing features not included in the baseline subset, when said processor determines that the optional component is connected to the connector; wherein the at least one of the audio processing features included in the alternative subset, but not included in the baseline subset, cannot be enabled unless the optional component is connected to the connector.