A method for a decoder for decoding a plurality of input audio signals for playback on a speaker configuration with N channels, the plurality of input audio signals representing encoded multichannel audio content corresponding to K≥N channels, comprising: from the encoded multichannel audio content corresponding to K channels, extracting M input audio signals, wherein 1<M≤N≤2M; wherein if N=M, the method further comprises the step of: discarding any remaining signals in the encoded multichannel audio content; decoding, in a first decoding module, the M input audio signals into M mid signals which are suitable for playback on a speaker configuration with M channels; wherein if N>M, the method further comprises the steps of: from the encoded multichannel audio content corresponding to K channels, extracting N-M additional input audio signals, wherein each of the additional input audio signals corresponds to one of the M mid signals and is either a side signal or a complementary signal which together with the mid signal to which it corresponds and a weighting parameter a allows reconstruction of a side signal; and for each of the N channels in excess of M channels decoding, in a stereo decoding module, the additional input audio signal and the mid signal to which it corresponds so as to generate a stereo signal including a first and a second audio signal which are suitable for playback on two of the N channels of the speaker configuration; whereby N audio signals are generated. from the encoded multichannel audio content corresponding to K channels, extracting M input audio signals, wherein 1<M≤N≤2M; wherein if N=M, the method further comprises the step of: discarding any remaining signals in the encoded multichannel audio content; discarding any remaining signals in the encoded multichannel audio content; decoding, in a first decoding module, the M input audio signals into M mid signals which are suitable for playback on a speaker configuration with M channels; wherein if N>M, the method further comprises the steps of: from the encoded multichannel audio content corresponding to K channels, extracting N-M additional input audio signals, wherein each of the additional input audio signals corresponds to one of the M mid signals and is either a side signal or a complementary signal which together with the mid signal to which it corresponds and a weighting parameter a allows reconstruction of a side signal; and for each of the N channels in excess of M channels decoding, in a stereo decoding module, the additional input audio signal and the mid signal to which it corresponds so as to generate a stereo signal including a first and a second audio signal which are suitable for playback on two of the N channels of the speaker configuration; from the encoded multichannel audio content corresponding to K channels, extracting N-M additional input audio signals, wherein each of the additional input audio signals corresponds to one of the M mid signals and is either a side signal or a complementary signal which together with the mid signal to which it corresponds and a weighting parameter a allows reconstruction of a side signal; and for each of the N channels in excess of M channels decoding, in a stereo decoding module, the additional input audio signal and the mid signal to which it corresponds so as to generate a stereo signal including a first and a second audio signal which are suitable for playback on two of the N channels of the speaker configuration;