A method and a device for the playback of digitalized audio signals that are transmitted packet-oriented from a signal source to at least one signal sink, especially a loudspeaker unit, in a motor vehicle by means of an asynchronous bus system. Connected upstream of the signal sink is an audio-signal processing unit demonstrating a data rate converter, which is fed the digitalized audio signals destined for the signal sink from a control unit over a data line by means of a first data interface of the control unit. The control unit has a second data interface for the connection to the asynchronous bus system and for receiving the digitalized audio signals. A data buffer and a controller are arranged within the control unit. A first and second clocking signal provide the clock rates for the first interface and the data rate converter. These clock rates can be changed by a logic unit.