A method performed by a first device, which includes performing an audio call with a second device by transmitting a microphone signal as an uplink signal and receiving a downlink signal for driving a first speaker and while performing the audio call, performing a joint media playback session in which both devices independently stream a piece of media content for synchronous playback such that both devices receive an audio signal of the piece of media content for driving respective speakers at the same time, determining that a voice activity detection (VAD) signal indicates that the downlink signal includes speech, in response to determining that the VAD signal indicates that the downlink signal includes speech, processing the audio signal of the piece of media content by applying a scalar gain, and driving the first speaker with a mix of the downlink signal and the audio signal.