A method for decoding user data encoded by means of base data (BDAT) and refining data (RDAT) in a decoding device, wherein a) the base data (BDAT) are data codes encoded in accordance with a time range coding method, and the refining data (RDAT) are data codes encoded in a frequency domain method, of voice and audio data which are contained in a data packet of one frame length, b) the base data (BDAT) are decoded in a first decoder using a decoding-conditional first delay, c) the refining data (RDAT) are decoded in a second decoder using a decoding-conditional second delay which is longer than the first delay, d) an availability detector performs a check after a first request of an output frame if the refining data (RDAT) are available in an upstream jitter buffer in accordance with a time target to compensate runtime variations in a communications network for the encoded user data, wherein - if the result of the check is positive, the decoded base data are delayed by an additional frame length, the additionally delayed decoded base data are mixed with the decoded refining data in a mixing device and the resulting mixing data are outputted as user data via a first switch position of a switching device, and if the result of the check is negative, the decoded base data are outputted as user data with an additional delay of one frame length via a second switch position of the switching device and subsequently the jitter buffer is extended by one frame length, wherein subsequently, upon a second request of an output frame, if two or more input frames are available in the jitter buffer, the first decoder and the second decoder are called up with the oldest available input frames, wherein the resulting decoding result is ignored, then the switching device is brought into the first switch position and then the first decoder and the second decoder are called up with the next input frame and the resulting mixing data of the mixing device are outputted, and then the jitter buffer is reduced by one frame length. a) the base data (BDAT) are data codes encoded in accordance with a time range coding method, and the refining data (RDAT) are data codes encoded in a frequency domain method, of voice and audio data which are contained in a data packet of one frame length, b) the base data (BDAT) are decoded in a first decoder using a decoding-conditional first delay, c) the refining data (RDAT) are decoded in a second decoder using a decoding-conditional second delay which is longer than the first delay, d) an availability detector performs a check after a first request of an output frame if the refining data (RDAT) are available in an upstream jitter buffer in accordance with a time target to compensate runtime variations in a communications network for the encoded user data, wherein - if the result of the check is positive, the decoded base data are delayed by an additional frame length, the additionally delayed decoded base data are mixed with the decoded refining data in a mixing device and the resulting mixing data are outputted as user data via a first switch position of a switching device, and if the result of the check is negative, the decoded base data are outputted as user data with an additional delay of one frame length via a second switch position of the switching device and subsequently the jitter buffer is extended by one frame length, wherein subsequently, upon a second request of an output frame, if two or more input frames are available in the jitter buffer, the first decoder and the second decoder are called up with the oldest available input frames, wherein the resulting decoding result is ignored, then the switching device is brought into the first switch position and then the first decoder and the second decoder are called up with the next input frame and the resulting mixing data of the mixing device are outputted, and then the jitter buffer is reduced by one frame length. - if the result of the check is positive, the decoded base data are delayed by an additional frame length, the additionally delayed decoded base data are mixed with the decoded refining data in a mixing device and the resulting mixing data are outputted as user data via a first switch position of a switching device, and if the result of the check is negative, the decoded base data are outputted as user data with an additional delay of one frame length via a second switch position of the switching device and subsequently the jitter buffer is extended by one frame length, wherein subsequently, upon a second request of an output frame, if two or more input frames are available in the jitter buffer, the first decoder and the second decoder are called up with the oldest available input frames, wherein the resulting decoding result is ignored, then the switching device is brought into the first switch position and then the first decoder and the second decoder are called up with the next input frame and the resulting mixing data of the mixing device are outputted, and then the jitter buffer is reduced by one frame length.