In a preferred embodiment, the playback device has a memory in which data is stored, on the basis of which the control unit can control the loudspeaker to play back the audio information. In particular, the data preferably contains the audio information in the specific data format, for example an MP3 format or a WAV format. There are conceivable embodiments in which the memory only contains data for a single piece of audio information. The playback device according to the disclosure can be used in such a way to play back a single piece of audio information whose playback duration lasts at least 10 seconds, in particular and preferably, if the property of the area surrounding the sensor is set accordingly or if the property of the area surrounding the sensor is changed accordingly. In a preferred embodiment, data from different audio information pieces is stored in the memory. In such a preferred embodiment, the control unit is designed in such a way that, if the sensor detects a specific first property or a specific first change in a property of this environment within the area of its surroundings, or if the control unit detects a specific first change in the property detected by the sensor, it uses the speaker to reproduce a first piece of audio information, the reproduction of which lasts at least 10 s, in particular and preferably while the control unit drives the speaker for the reproduction of a second piece of audio information, the reproduction of which lasts in particular and preferably at least 10 s, if the sensor detects within the range of its surroundings a certain second property or a certain second change of a property of this surroundings or the control unit detects a certain second change of the property detected by the sensor. In this way it is possible to determine which piece of audio information from a plurality of audio information is reproduced by the playback device by means of a certain influence on the property of the area of the sensor's surroundings or by a certain influence on the change in the property of this sensor's surroundings. For example, the playback device can play a certain first piece of audio information if the presence of a first RFID transponder is detected in the area surrounding the sensor, while the playback device can play a second piece of audio information if the presence of a second RFID transponder is detected in the area surrounding the sensor.