SoundCloud Denies Decreasing Audio Quality Despite Users Claims

Lacy Bursick | January 04, 2018

Earlier today, the internet began to erupt over SoundCloud drama. Users began tweeting that the streaming service quality seemed off.

Then NestHQ published an article saying that SoundCloud's streaming service changed bitrates from 128kbps to 64kbps.

However, SoundCloud reputed to Billboard that they did not decrease sound quality, but they did switch formats. They have changed from MP3 to OPUS. They said they did in fact change from 128 kbps MP3 to 64 kbps OPUS, claiming that OPUS format should be higher audio quality.

But the music world hasn't quite bought it and the SoundCloud drama continues to unfold. Despite being the largest streaming service, they don't seem to have best rap sheet. Check out this popular tweet that sums up the SoundCloud history of drama.

Soundcloud changes over the years:

- ads
- soundcloud go
- region locked music
- 3 strike rule for copyright material
- mobile app offered with stripped down user experience
- and now 64 kbps audio quality

hmm wonder why soundcloud use is down & they continue to struggle smh
— Brownies & Lemonade (@TeamBandL) January 4, 2018

Our favorite artists even got involved. Alison Wonderland retweeted the one above, and even Ghastly responded with his two-cents.

Hey @SoundCloud - thank you for ruining an empire of what was once the forefront of underground music community. You literally MySpaced the fuk out of yourselves by continuing to add to the shitpile instead of going back to the basics. RIP https://t.co/RmVqDxlC0M
— GHASTLY(◕,,,◕) (@Ghastly) January 5, 2018

Dani Deahl seems to disagree with their claim that OPUS is higher quality, but on the flip side, there are also reports from OPUS developers claiming that lower bitrates shouldn't change the quality.

SoundCloud dancing around supposed reduced streaming bitrate by saying they use Opus codec (among others), but Opus doesn't achieve transparency until 128 kbit/s.

TL;DR 64 kbit/s sounds like 64 kbit/s.
— Dani Deahl (@danideahl) January 5, 2018

Whichever side you agree with is up to you, but if you are looking for an alternative to SoundCloud, have no fear because there are some other good options.