# How to Get the Best Audio Quality on YouTube Music Tips and steps to enhance audio quality on YouTube Music. - **Source:** [Engadget - Technology News & Expert Reviews](https://brifing.si/source/16dd2da6-3eea-4d1e-b34f-45e846cdf037) - **Published:** 2026-07-26 - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/e8fc9f8e-14bf-4da1-9b7c-9a3cf9300ff3 ## YouTube Music and Audio Quality YouTube Music doesn't offer the best sound quality, even for Premium subscribers. However, by changing the app's settings, you can improve the default audio quality. This provides a cleaner sound experience, especially with quality headphones or speakers. ## Default Settings and Limitations YouTube Music uses a default bitrate of 128 kbps. While this saves data, it falls short for a high-quality listening experience. With a Premium subscription, you can increase it to 256 kbps, but this consumes more data. ## Premium Subscription Requirement To enhance audio quality on YouTube Music, a Premium subscription is required. Otherwise, users are limited to 128 kbps. Premium offers higher bitrate and cleaner sound. ## How to Change Streaming Quality In the YouTube Music app, tap your profile picture and go to Settings. Then, from the 'Data saving' or 'Playback restrictions' menu, set 'Audio quality on mobile network' and 'Audio quality on Wi-Fi' to 'High' or 'Always High.' ## Quality Settings for Downloaded Music You can also improve the quality of downloaded music. In the Settings menu, select 'Download storage' and 'Audio quality' to enable 'High' bitrate. Note that older downloads are not automatically updated. ## Why Audio Quality Matters Improving audio quality on YouTube Music significantly enhances the music experience. With quality equipment, you get cleaner and more detailed sound. This is an essential feature for music enthusiasts. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.engadget.com/2221561/how-to-get-youtube-music-best-audio-quality/ — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._