Systems and methods for audio monitoring and adaptation are provided. An example method includes monitoring an acoustic signal, representing at least one captured sound, inside at least one ear canal. The captured sound includes an audio for play back inside the ear canal. The acoustic signal can be analyzed to determine perceptual parameters including level of the acoustic signal, duration of the acoustic signal, inter-aural time difference (ITD), inter-aural level difference (ILD), seal quality, and environmental noise estimate. Based on the perceptual parameters, the played back audio is adapted to improve quality thereof. The adaptation includes regulating the volume of the acoustic signal, performing noise-dependent gain control on the acoustic signal, performing inter-aural temporal alignment and spectral equalization, and equalizing an acoustic response inside the ear canal.