A method for playback of encoded media performed by a set of playback devices , comprising: transmitting a request for time information from a set of two or more playback devices connected to a local network to a network time provider for the local network; receiving the time information from the network time provider in the set of playback devices; the method being characterized in : setting a playback clock within each playback device of the set of playback devices using the received time information wherein each playback clock in each playback device of the set of playback devices are set from time information from a common source; receiving stream initiation information for a stream of encoded media from a stream media provider in each playback device of the set of playback devices wherein the stream initiation information includes a stream start time; receiving the stream of encoded media in each playback device wherein the stream includes a plurality of frames of encoded content; and adjusting presentation time information of each of the plurality of frames of the stream in each playback device of the set of playback devices based upon the stream initiation information and time information from each respective playback clock; and presenting each of the plurality of frames in a synchronized playback using each playback device of the set of playback devices based upon the adjusted presentation time information in each of the set of playback devices. transmitting a request for time information from a set of two or more playback devices connected to a local network to a network time provider for the local network; receiving the time information from the network time provider in the set of playback devices; the method being characterized in : setting a playback clock within each playback device of the set of playback devices using the received time information wherein each playback clock in each playback device of the set of playback devices are set from time information from a common source; receiving stream initiation information for a stream of encoded media from a stream media provider in each playback device of the set of playback devices wherein the stream initiation information includes a stream start time; receiving the stream of encoded media in each playback device wherein the stream includes a plurality of frames of encoded content; and adjusting presentation time information of each of the plurality of frames of the stream in each playback device of the set of playback devices based upon the stream initiation information and time information from each respective playback clock; and presenting each of the plurality of frames in a synchronized playback using each playback device of the set of playback devices based upon the adjusted presentation time information in each of the set of playback devices. setting a playback clock within each playback device of the set of playback devices using the received time information wherein each playback clock in each playback device of the set of playback devices are set from time information from a common source; receiving stream initiation information for a stream of encoded media from a stream media provider in each playback device of the set of playback devices wherein the stream initiation information includes a stream start time; receiving the stream of encoded media in each playback device wherein the stream includes a plurality of frames of encoded content; and adjusting presentation time information of each of the plurality of frames of the stream in each playback device of the set of playback devices based upon the stream initiation information and time information from each respective playback clock; and presenting each of the plurality of frames in a synchronized playback using each playback device of the set of playback devices based upon the adjusted presentation time information in each of the set of playback devices. <EOS>