Abstract: A device is proposed for playing back multimedia data files from a storage device in an automotive sound system, the device being used to display directories and multimedia data files, located on the storage device, as data carriers and titles, respectively. This permits an intuitive operation of an automotive sound system. The individual data carriers and titles are selected using a rocker which is operable both in the vertical and in the horizontal direction. If data carriers and/or titles are displayed, and if after a predefined time no input takes place, titles are automatically displayed and played back. So-called play lists can be created. After inserting a storage device into a disk drive, the first multimedia data file having the first title in the first data carrier is automatically decoded and played back with the aid of a loudspeaker. The playback of titles in random sequence is made possible using the input apparatus 8. The multimedia data files are coded in MP3.