diff --git a/pkg/routing/selector/utils.go b/pkg/routing/selector/utils.go
index 88b6f29bd..cf6738b59 100644
--- a/pkg/routing/selector/utils.go
+++ b/pkg/routing/selector/utils.go
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ package selector
 
 import (
 	"math/rand/v2"
-	"sort"
+	"slices"
 	"time"
 
 	"github.com/thoas/go-funk"
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/livekit/protocol/livekit"
 
 	"github.com/livekit/livekit-server/pkg/config"
+	"github.com/livekit/livekit-server/pkg/utils"
 )
 
 const AvailableSeconds = 5
@@ -124,42 +125,42 @@ func selectLowestSortedNode(nodes []*livekit.Node, sortBy string) (*livekit.Node
 		idx := funk.RandomInt(0, len(nodes))
 		return nodes[idx], nil
 	case "sysload":
-		sort.Slice(nodes, func(i, j int) bool {
-			return GetNodeSysload(nodes[i]) < GetNodeSysload(nodes[j])
+		slices.SortFunc(nodes, func(a, b *livekit.Node) int {
+			return utils.Signum(GetNodeSysload(a) - GetNodeSysload(b))
 		})
 		return nodes[0], nil
 	case "cpuload":
-		sort.Slice(nodes, func(i, j int) bool {
-			return nodes[i].Stats.CpuLoad < nodes[j].Stats.CpuLoad
+		slices.SortFunc(nodes, func(a, b *livekit.Node) int {
+			return utils.Signum(a.Stats.CpuLoad - b.Stats.CpuLoad)
 		})
 		return nodes[0], nil
 	case "rooms":
-		sort.Slice(nodes, func(i, j int) bool {
-			return nodes[i].Stats.NumRooms < nodes[j].Stats.NumRooms
+		slices.SortFunc(nodes, func(a, b *livekit.Node) int {
+			return utils.Signum(a.Stats.NumRooms - b.Stats.NumRooms)
 		})
 		return nodes[0], nil
 	case "clients":
-		sort.Slice(nodes, func(i, j int) bool {
-			return nodes[i].Stats.NumClients < nodes[j].Stats.NumClients
+		slices.SortFunc(nodes, func(a, b *livekit.Node) int {
+			return utils.Signum(a.Stats.NumClients - b.Stats.NumClients)
 		})
 		return nodes[0], nil
 	case "tracks":
-		sort.Slice(nodes, func(i, j int) bool {
-			return nodes[i].Stats.NumTracksIn+nodes[i].Stats.NumTracksOut < nodes[j].Stats.NumTracksIn+nodes[j].Stats.NumTracksOut
+		slices.SortFunc(nodes, func(a, b *livekit.Node) int {
+			return utils.Signum((a.Stats.NumTracksIn + a.Stats.NumTracksOut) - (b.Stats.NumTracksIn + b.Stats.NumTracksOut))
 		})
 		return nodes[0], nil
 	case "bytespersec":
-		sort.Slice(nodes, func(i, j int) bool {
-			ratei := &livekit.NodeStatsRate{}
-			if len(nodes[i].Stats.Rates) > 0 {
-				ratei = nodes[i].Stats.Rates[0]
+		slices.SortFunc(nodes, func(a, b *livekit.Node) int {
+			ratea := &livekit.NodeStatsRate{}
+			if len(a.Stats.Rates) > 0 {
+				ratea = a.Stats.Rates[0]
 			}
 
-			ratej := &livekit.NodeStatsRate{}
-			if len(nodes[j].Stats.Rates) > 0 {
-				ratej = nodes[j].Stats.Rates[0]
+			rateb := &livekit.NodeStatsRate{}
+			if len(b.Stats.Rates) > 0 {
+				rateb = b.Stats.Rates[0]
 			}
-			return ratei.BytesIn+ratei.BytesOut < ratej.BytesIn+ratej.BytesOut
+			return utils.Signum((ratea.BytesIn + ratea.BytesOut) - (rateb.BytesIn + rateb.BytesOut))
 		})
 		return nodes[0], nil
 	default:
diff --git a/pkg/rtc/dynacast/dynacastmanager_test.go b/pkg/rtc/dynacast/dynacastmanager_test.go
index 6fffcbe31..6d48e67ea 100644
--- a/pkg/rtc/dynacast/dynacastmanager_test.go
+++ b/pkg/rtc/dynacast/dynacastmanager_test.go
@@ -15,7 +15,8 @@
 package dynacast
 
 import (
-	"sort"
+	"slices"
+	"strings"
 	"sync"
 	"testing"
 	"time"
@@ -498,19 +499,25 @@ func TestCodecRegression(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func subscribedCodecsAsString(c1 []*livekit.SubscribedCodec) string {
-	sort.Slice(c1, func(i, j int) bool { return c1[i].Codec < c1[j].Codec })
-	var s1 string
+	slices.SortFunc(c1, func(a, b *livekit.SubscribedCodec) int {
+		return strings.Compare(a.Codec, b.Codec)
+	})
+
+	var s1 strings.Builder
 	for _, c := range c1 {
-		s1 += c.String()
+		s1.WriteString(c.String())
 	}
-	return s1
+	return s1.String()
 }
 
 func subscribedAudioCodecsAsString(c1 []*livekit.SubscribedAudioCodec) string {
-	sort.Slice(c1, func(i, j int) bool { return c1[i].Codec < c1[j].Codec })
-	var s1 string
+	slices.SortFunc(c1, func(a, b *livekit.SubscribedAudioCodec) int {
+		return strings.Compare(a.Codec, b.Codec)
+	})
+
+	var s1 strings.Builder
 	for _, c := range c1 {
-		s1 += c.String()
+		s1.WriteString(c.String())
 	}
-	return s1
+	return s1.String()
 }
diff --git a/pkg/rtc/mediatrackreceiver.go b/pkg/rtc/mediatrackreceiver.go
index 9c896b644..2fa2650bd 100644
--- a/pkg/rtc/mediatrackreceiver.go
+++ b/pkg/rtc/mediatrackreceiver.go
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ import (
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"slices"
-	"sort"
 	"strings"
 	"sync"
 
@@ -207,8 +206,8 @@ func (t *MediaTrackReceiver) SetupReceiver(receiver sfu.TrackReceiver, priority
 		receivers = append(receivers, &simulcastReceiver{TrackReceiver: receiver, priority: priority})
 	}
 
-	sort.Slice(receivers, func(i, j int) bool {
-		return receivers[i].Priority() < receivers[j].Priority()
+	slices.SortFunc(receivers, func(a, b *simulcastReceiver) int {
+		return sutils.Signum(a.Priority() - b.Priority())
 	})
 
 	if mid != "" {
@@ -349,8 +348,8 @@ func (t *MediaTrackReceiver) SetPotentialCodecs(codecs []webrtc.RTPCodecParamete
 			})
 		}
 	}
-	sort.Slice(receivers, func(i, j int) bool {
-		return receivers[i].Priority() < receivers[j].Priority()
+	slices.SortFunc(receivers, func(a, b *simulcastReceiver) int {
+		return sutils.Signum(a.Priority() - b.Priority())
 	})
 	t.receivers = receivers
 	t.lock.Unlock()
@@ -1090,9 +1089,7 @@ func (t *MediaTrackReceiver) GetQualityForDimension(mimeType mime.MimeType, widt
 		layerSizes = providedSizes
 		// comparing height always
 		requestedSize = height
-		sort.Slice(layerSizes, func(i, j int) bool {
-			return layerSizes[i] < layerSizes[j]
-		})
+		slices.Sort(layerSizes)
 	}
 
 	// finds the highest layer with smallest dimensions that still satisfy client demands
diff --git a/pkg/rtc/room.go b/pkg/rtc/room.go
index c2007ec3e..7389eb327 100644
--- a/pkg/rtc/room.go
+++ b/pkg/rtc/room.go
@@ -20,7 +20,6 @@ import (
 	"maps"
 	"math"
 	"slices"
-	"sort"
 	"strings"
 	"sync"
 	"time"
@@ -393,8 +392,8 @@ func (r *Room) GetActiveSpeakers() []*livekit.SpeakerInfo {
 		})
 	}
 
-	sort.Slice(speakers, func(i, j int) bool {
-		return speakers[i].Level > speakers[j].Level
+	slices.SortFunc(speakers, func(a, b *livekit.SpeakerInfo) int {
+		return sutils.Signum(b.Level - a.Level)
 	})
 
 	// quantize to smooth out small changes
diff --git a/pkg/sfu/buffer/buffer_base.go b/pkg/sfu/buffer/buffer_base.go
index 9fae0672d..20e3bc7c9 100644
--- a/pkg/sfu/buffer/buffer_base.go
+++ b/pkg/sfu/buffer/buffer_base.go
@@ -664,7 +664,7 @@ func (b *BufferBase) SendPLI(force bool) {
 	pliThrottle := b.pliThrottle
 	b.RUnlock()
 
-	if (rtpStats == nil && !force) || !rtpStats.CheckAndUpdatePli(pliThrottle, force) {
+	if rtpStats == nil || !rtpStats.CheckAndUpdatePli(pliThrottle, force) {
 		return
 	}
 
diff --git a/pkg/sfu/buffer/dependencydescriptorparser.go b/pkg/sfu/buffer/dependencydescriptorparser.go
index e4934e1f5..842aae777 100644
--- a/pkg/sfu/buffer/dependencydescriptorparser.go
+++ b/pkg/sfu/buffer/dependencydescriptorparser.go
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ package buffer
 
 import (
 	"fmt"
-	"sort"
+	"slices"
 	"sync"
 	"time"
 
@@ -288,8 +288,14 @@ func ProcessFrameDependencyStructure(structure *dd.FrameDependencyStructure) []D
 	}
 
 	// sort decode target layer by spatial and temporal from high to low
-	sort.Slice(decodeTargets, func(i, j int) bool {
-		return decodeTargets[i].Layer.GreaterThan(decodeTargets[j].Layer)
+	slices.SortFunc(decodeTargets, func(a, b DependencyDescriptorDecodeTarget) int {
+		if a.Layer.GreaterThan(b.Layer) {
+			return -1
+		}
+		if b.Layer.GreaterThan(a.Layer) {
+			return 1
+		}
+		return 0
 	})
 
 	return decodeTargets
diff --git a/pkg/sfu/receiver.go b/pkg/sfu/receiver.go
index d2cae63a1..a134e16e7 100644
--- a/pkg/sfu/receiver.go
+++ b/pkg/sfu/receiver.go
@@ -159,6 +159,9 @@ func (w *WebRTCReceiver) GetConnectionScoreAndQuality() (float32, livekit.Connec
 }
 
 func (w *WebRTCReceiver) ssrc(layer int) uint32 {
+	w.upTracksMu.Lock()
+	defer w.upTracksMu.Unlock()
+
 	if track := w.upTracks[layer]; track != nil {
 		return uint32(track.SSRC())
 	}
diff --git a/pkg/sfu/videolayerselector/dependencydescriptor_test.go b/pkg/sfu/videolayerselector/dependencydescriptor_test.go
index 91d78d882..925c017dd 100644
--- a/pkg/sfu/videolayerselector/dependencydescriptor_test.go
+++ b/pkg/sfu/videolayerselector/dependencydescriptor_test.go
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
 package videolayerselector
 
 import (
-	"sort"
+	"slices"
 	"testing"
 
 	"github.com/pion/rtp"
@@ -287,8 +287,14 @@ func createDDFrames(maxLayer buffer.VideoLayer, startFrameNumber uint16) []*buff
 			activeBitMask |= 1 << uint(i*int(maxLayer.Temporal+1)+j)
 		}
 	}
-	sort.Slice(decodeTargets, func(i, j int) bool {
-		return decodeTargets[i].Layer.GreaterThan(decodeTargets[j].Layer)
+	slices.SortFunc(decodeTargets, func(a, b buffer.DependencyDescriptorDecodeTarget) int {
+		if a.Layer.GreaterThan(b.Layer) {
+			return -1
+		}
+		if b.Layer.GreaterThan(a.Layer) {
+			return 1
+		}
+		return 0
 	})
 
 	chainDiffs := make([]int, int(maxLayer.Spatial)+1)
diff --git a/pkg/telemetry/statsworker.go b/pkg/telemetry/statsworker.go
index 475819776..59429a0d9 100644
--- a/pkg/telemetry/statsworker.go
+++ b/pkg/telemetry/statsworker.go
@@ -310,7 +310,7 @@ func coalesce(stats []*livekit.AnalyticsStat) *livekit.AnalyticsStat {
 
 	stat := &livekit.AnalyticsStat{
 		MinScore:    minScore,
-		MedianScore: utils.MedianFloat32(scores),
+		MedianScore: utils.Median(scores),
 		Streams:     []*livekit.AnalyticsStream{coalescedStream},
 		Mime:        stats[len(stats)-1].Mime, // use the latest Mime
 	}
diff --git a/pkg/utils/math.go b/pkg/utils/math.go
index 2bfb5a752..b2e116b8c 100644
--- a/pkg/utils/math.go
+++ b/pkg/utils/math.go
@@ -14,10 +14,10 @@
 
 package utils
 
-import "sort"
+import "slices"
 
-// MedianFloat32 gets median value for an array of float32
-func MedianFloat32(input []float32) float32 {
+// Median gets median value for an array
+func Median[T float32](input []T) T {
 	num := len(input)
 	switch num {
 	case 0:
@@ -25,9 +25,7 @@ func MedianFloat32(input []float32) float32 {
 	case 1:
 		return input[0]
 	}
-	sort.Slice(input, func(i, j int) bool {
-		return input[i] < input[j]
-	})
+	slices.Sort(input)
 	if num%2 != 0 {
 		return input[num/2]
 	}
@@ -35,3 +33,16 @@ func MedianFloat32(input []float32) float32 {
 	right := input[num/2]
 	return (left + right) / 2
 }
+
+func Signum[T int | int32 | float32](val T) int {
+	switch {
+	case val < 0:
+		return -1
+
+	case val > 0:
+		return 1
+
+	default:
+		return 0
+	}
+}