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YouTube Music may not provide the highest sound quality, even for those with Premium subscriptions. If you’re after lossless audio, services like Amazon Music, Apple Music, Spotify, and Tidal are likely better suited for that requirement. However, YouTube Music does offer some unique features, such as unofficial uploads, live performances, remixes, and rare tracks. Nevertheless, you can enhance your listening quality beyond the default settings. Here’s how to improve it.
By default, YouTube Music operates on a Normal bitrate setting that maxes out at 128 kbps, a reasonable choice for data saving but lacking for audiophiles. The service’s peak bitrate is 256 kbps, which provides a much clearer auditory experience, especially when using quality headphones or speakers. The downside? This higher quality setting consumes more data, making it better suited for users with robust connections and ample data plans.
The essential point to note is that to unlock this higher quality, a subscription to YouTube Music Premium (starting at $12 per month) or YouTube Premium (starting at $16 per month) is necessary. Otherwise, you’re limited to the Normal bitrate.
Adjusting YouTube Music’s Streaming Quality
The process for adjusting the streaming quality settings differs slightly between Android and iOS, but both have identical options.
To change the streaming quality in the YouTube Music app:
- Click on your profile picture and navigate to Settings.
- Access the playback menu (labelled Data saving on Android, Playback & restrictions on iOS).
- Edit the settings for Audio quality on mobile network and Audio quality on Wi-Fi to either High or Always High. The High option utilizes 256 kbps when your connection allows, while Always High aims to sustain this quality even with weaker connections.
Modifying YouTube Music’s Download Quality
- Select your profile picture and go to Settings > Download & storage > Audio quality.
- Opt for High to ensure a clear 256 kbps experience.
It’s worth mentioning that changing the download quality doesn’t automatically affect tracks you’ve previously downloaded. To upgrade those to 256 kbps, you’ll need to delete the older versions and re-download them. This can be done collectively in the same menu or individually from your library.
