10. A portable media playback device comprising: a media playback system; a user interface; and a processor configured to: receive user input indicative of an interaction of the user with the user interface; determine that an audio is to be outputted; determine whether a communication channel to a voice prompt server remote from the media playback device is available to the media playback device; if the communication channel to the voice prompt server is available, receive a prepared audio prompt from the voice prompt server; if the communication channel to the voice prompt server is not available, synthesize a new audio prompt; and initiate playback of at least a portion of one of the prepared audio prompt or the new audio prompt using the media playback system.
23. The portable media playback device of claim 10 , the processor further configured to: receive a second input indicative of a second interaction of the user with the user interface; if the communication channel to the voice prompt server is available, receive a second prepared audio prompt from the voice prompt server; if the communication channel to the voice prompt server is not available, select a non-voice audio prompt from a plurality of non-voice audio prompts stored at the media player; and initiate playback of at least a portion of one of the second prepared audio prompt or the non-voice audio prompt using the media playback system.