A method (900, 1000, 1100) for a playback device (702, 1402), the method comprising: receiving (902, 1002, 1102) an audio signal from an audio source; separating (904, 1004, 1006) the audio signal into at least: a first audio channel information to be played by a first one or more players (702, 1402), wherein the first audio channel information corresponds to a channel of the audio signal other than a rear channel, and a second audio channel information to be played by a second one or more players (704, 1404, 1406), wherein the second audio channel information corresponds to a rear audio channel of the audio signal; assigning (906, 1008, 1104) to the first audio channel information at least a first time stamp that indicates a time at which audio is to be played by the first one or more players at a first delay defined for the first audio channel information, wherein the first one or more players are home theater players; assigning (906, 1010, 1104) to the second audio channel information at least a second time stamp that indicates a time at which audio is to be played by the second one or more players at a second delay defined for the second audio channel information, wherein the second delay is greater than the first delay; sending (908, 1012) to the first one or more players the first audio channel information with at least the first timestamp; sending (908, 1012) to the second one or more players the second audio channel information with at least the second timestamp; assigning to at least one audio channel information, which is contained in the audio signal and to be played by a third group of players, at least a third time stamp that indicates a time at which audio is to be played by the third group of players at a third delay defined for the third group of players, wherein the third group of players are connected by a mesh network (720, 1414), and wherein the first and second one or more players are connected via a star network (718, 1408); and sending to the third one or players the at least one audio channel information with at least the third timestamp wherein: the first and second delays are defined so as to cause the first one or more players and the second one or more players to play back the audio signal in coordinated playback but intentionally not in exact synchrony, and the third delay is greater than the first and second delays. receiving (902, 1002, 1102) an audio signal from an audio source; separating (904, 1004, 1006) the audio signal into at least: a first audio channel information to be played by a first one or more players (702, 1402), wherein the first audio channel information corresponds to a channel of the audio signal other than a rear channel, and a second audio channel information to be played by a second one or more players (704, 1404, 1406), wherein the second audio channel information corresponds to a rear audio channel of the audio signal; a first audio channel information to be played by a first one or more players (702, 1402), wherein the first audio channel information corresponds to a channel of the audio signal other than a rear channel, and a second audio channel information to be played by a second one or more players (704, 1404, 1406), wherein the second audio channel information corresponds to a rear audio channel of the audio signal; assigning (906, 1008, 1104) to the first audio channel information at least a first time stamp that indicates a time at which audio is to be played by the first one or more players at a first delay defined for the first audio channel information, wherein the first one or more players are home theater players; assigning (906, 1010, 1104) to the second audio channel information at least a second time stamp that indicates a time at which audio is to be played by the second one or more players at a second delay defined for the second audio channel information, wherein the second delay is greater than the first delay; sending (908, 1012) to the first one or more players the first audio channel information with at least the first timestamp; sending (908, 1012) to the second one or more players the second audio channel information with at least the second timestamp; assigning to at least one audio channel information, which is contained in the audio signal and to be played by a third group of players, at least a third time stamp that indicates a time at which audio is to be played by the third group of players at a third delay defined for the third group of players, wherein the third group of players are connected by a mesh network (720, 1414), and wherein the first and second one or more players are connected via a star network (718, 1408); and sending to the third one or players the at least one audio channel information with at least the third timestamp wherein: the first and second delays are defined so as to cause the first one or more players and the second one or more players to play back the audio signal in coordinated playback but intentionally not in exact synchrony, and the third delay is greater than the first and second delays. the first and second delays are defined so as to cause the first one or more players and the second one or more players to play back the audio signal in coordinated playback but intentionally not in exact synchrony, and the third delay is greater than the first and second delays.