In an auditory prosthesis having an external unit and an internal unit for implantation in a recipient, a method of operation includes: characterizing an acoustic signal received by the auditory prosthesis； adjusting at least one parameter of the auditory prosthesis based on the characterized acoustic signal； and processing the acoustic signal to provide an encoded signal for transmission to the internal unit； wherein an amount of energy transmitted in the encoded signal depends on the at least one parameter.
