YouTube is rolling out a new experimental feature that allows Premium subscribers to enjoy enhanced audio quality when watching music videos on the platform. This upgrade aims to provide a more immersive listening experience for music enthusiasts and audiophiles alike.
What’s New for YouTube Premium Users
YouTube Premium subscribers can now access high-quality 256kbps audio on music videos, a significant improvement over the standard 128kbps audio typically offered. This upgrade brings the audio quality of music videos in line with YouTube Music’s existing high-quality streaming option.
Key features of the audio quality upgrade:
- Increased bitrate from 128kbps to 256kbps
- Improved clarity and depth in audio playback
- Available for music videos specifically
- Exclusive to YouTube Premium subscribers
How to Access the New Audio Quality Feature
To take advantage of this audio upgrade, YouTube Premium users need to opt-in to the experimental feature. Here’s how to do it:
Step 1: Visit Labs page for YouTube while logged into your Premium account.
Step 2: Look for the “High-quality audio for music videos” experiment.
Step 3: Click on the “Try it out” button to enable the feature.
Step 4: Start watching music videos to experience the improved audio quality.
It’s important to note that this feature is currently in the testing phase and may not be available to all Premium subscribers immediately.
The Impact on Music Listening Experience
The jump from 128kbps to 256kbps audio can make a noticeable difference in sound quality, especially for those using high-quality headphones or speakers. Users can expect:
- Clearer separation of instruments
- More detailed vocal performances
- Improved bass response
- A wider soundstage
While not quite matching the quality of lossless audio formats, this upgrade brings YouTube’s music video audio closer to the standards set by dedicated music streaming services.
Other New Features for Premium Subscribers
Along with the audio quality improvement, YouTube is testing several other experimental features for Premium users:
- Faster playback speeds on mobile (up to 4x)
- “Jump ahead” feature on desktop for skipping to interesting parts of videos
- Picture-in-picture mode for YouTube Shorts on iOS
- Smart downloads for Shorts on iOS
These features demonstrate YouTube’s commitment to enhancing the Premium experience and providing more value to subscribers.
The Future of Audio on YouTube
This audio quality upgrade for music videos could be a stepping stone towards broader improvements across the platform. While YouTube hasn’t announced plans for lossless or hi-res audio options, this move shows they’re paying attention to audio quality as a differentiator for their Premium service.
As streaming platforms continue to compete for subscribers, audio quality improvements like this could become increasingly important. For now, YouTube Premium users can enjoy this boost to their music video listening experience while it’s in the experimental phase.
YouTube’s latest audio quality test for Premium subscribers marks a significant step forward in improving the platform’s music listening experience. While it may not revolutionize audio streaming, it’s a welcome upgrade for those who frequently use YouTube to watch and listen to music videos.