A device having an input that is configured to receive a sound signal captured from an acoustic environment where the device is located, is provided. The device also includes a signal processor that is configured to obtain a reverberation signature from the sound signal and classify the acoustic environment as being of a particular type in dependence on that reverberation signature. It also includes a controller configured to control an operation of the device in dependence on the classification of the acoustic environment. By using the reverberation signature to classify the environment, the device it is not dependent on a particular type of signal having to be present in the environment at the time when the sound signal is captured. The reverberation properties of the environment will be embodied by any sound signal captured from that environment.