An encoder for a multi-channel audio signal which comprises a down-mixer (201, 203, 205) for generating a down-mix as a combination of at least a first and second channel signal weighted by respectively a first and second weight with different amplitudes for at least some time-frequency intervals. Furthermore, a circuit (201, 203, 209) generates up-mix parametric data characterizing a relationship between the channel signals as well as characterizing the weights. A circuit generates weight estimates for the encoder weights from the up-mix parametric data; and comprises an up-mixer (407) which recreates the multi channel audio signal by up-mixing the down-mix in response to the up-mix parametric data, the first weight estimate and the second weight estimate. The up-mixing is dependent on the amplitude of at least one of the weight estimate(s).