Playback apparatus

An audio playback apparatus that provides an audio playback signal to an audio transducer, said audio playback apparatus comprising:

• a data storage device that provides an encoded data stream signal;
• a device that is responsive to said encoded data stream signal and forms a first data stream in a first data format, wherein said first data stream includes a data field in a second data format;
• a code converter that is responsive to said first data stream, and converts selected parts of said first data stream in the second data format to a second data stream having data encoded in a third data format;
• a buffer responsive to said first data stream and located electrically parallel to said code converter, that provides to said output decoder a third data stream whose data format corresponds to said third data format;
• an output decoder for generating the audio playback signals;
• and
• means for selectively applying one of said second data stream and said third data stream to said to said output decoder to form the audio playback signals that are output to the audio transducer.