The Android audio architecture is a complex framework responsible for all audio functionalities on Android devices. It supports hardware components like speakers and mics as well as software like media players. Key components include the application layer, native APIs, AudioFlinger service, policy manager, Stagefright player and hardware abstraction layer. Together they facilitate recording, playback, effects, routing and real-time audio communication across various apps. The architecture ultimately interacts with the Linux kernel drivers to output audio.