Disclosed is a method and apparatus operative to process packets of media received from a network including a receiver unit operative, a jitter buffer data structure 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. Also described is a head selector operable to compare the 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 a playback unit coupled to the playback head.