Soundcloud denies decreasing audio quality, despite user complaints
Soundcloud has had quite the year. Following earlier reports about the uncertain future of SoundCloud, the music service is now combating claims that it decreases audio quality.
“We always appreciate feedback, but these reports are inaccurate,” a SoundCloud spokesperson told Billboard.
Read more: Looks like Soundcloud will be just fine — the company just received $169.5M in funding
Twitter users have been voicing their frustration over what appears to be a decrease in sonic quality, but Soundcloud tells Billboard that it's nothing new, but rather “part of frequent tests it runs with its audio.”
Soundcloud recently changed their streaming format from 128kbps MP3 to 64kbps Opus. This drastically reduces the audio quality and can introduce strange artifacts.
I made & released a Chrome Extension to restore the 128kbps MP3s. Give it a try.https://t.co/hGUuxiJXYG pic.twitter.com/bYkbyhcNWd
— Direct (@DirectOfficial) January 3, 2018
“SoundCloud has not altered its approach to audio quality. We have been using the Opus codec (among others) since 2016, and we regularly test different combinations of encoding and streaming to offer listeners a quality experience on any device,” the spokesperson told the music source.
“Furthermore, we store all content from creators at its originally uploaded quality level so we can continually adapt to advances in encoding and playback.”
Earlier this year, the music service announced a new CEO—and an additional $169.5 million in funding—that have helped keep the music platform alive.
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