An apparatus operative to process packets of media received from a network, including: a receiver unit operative to receive the packets from the network; a jitter buffer data structure for arranging the received packets in an ordered queue, the jitter buffer data structure having a tail into which the packets are input and a playback head defining a point in the jitter buffer data structure from which the ordered queue of packets are to be played back, and at least one prototype head, each prototype head having a predetermined latency assigned thereto and defining a point in the jitter buffer data structure from which the ordered queue of packets is being played back containing said latency; a processor operable to determine a measure of conversational quality associated with the ordered queue of packets being played back by each prototype head;and a head selector operable to compare said measures of conversational quality associated with the ordered queue of packets being played back by each prototype head to select the prototype head with the highest measure of conversational quality and to adjust the playback head to match the prototype head associated with the highest measure of conversational quality; and a playback unit coupled to the playback head, CHARACTERISED IN THAT decision logic of the apparatus is operative to perform conversational analysis to classify a current level of interaction of the apparatus in a conference in which it is participating, wherein said measure of conversational quality is determined at least in part by a measure of predicted listening quality, of said predetermined latency and of said current level of interaction. a receiver unit operative to receive the packets from the network; a jitter buffer data structure for arranging the received packets in an ordered queue, the jitter buffer data structure having a tail into which the packets are input and a playback head defining a point in the jitter buffer data structure from which the ordered queue of packets are to be played back, and at least one prototype head, each prototype head having a predetermined latency assigned thereto and defining a point in the jitter buffer data structure from which the ordered queue of packets is being played back containing said latency; a processor operable to determine a measure of conversational quality associated with the ordered queue of packets being played back by each prototype head;and a head selector operable to compare said measures of conversational quality associated with the ordered queue of packets being played back by each prototype head to select the prototype head with the highest measure of conversational quality and to adjust the playback head to match the prototype head associated with the highest measure of conversational quality; and a playback unit coupled to the playback head, CHARACTERISED IN THAT decision logic of the apparatus is operative to perform conversational analysis to classify a current level of interaction of the apparatus in a conference in which it is participating, wherein said measure of conversational quality is determined at least in part by a measure of predicted listening quality, of said predetermined latency and of said current level of interaction.