While YouTube Music may not offer the absolute best audio quality compared to rivals, you can significantly improve its sound by adjusting a few settings. By default, the service uses a 'Normal' bitrate of 128 kbps, which is adequate for data saving but not ideal for audiophiles.

To achieve a noticeably cleaner sound, especially with good headphones, you can switch to the highest available setting of 256 kbps. This higher bitrate requires more data, so it's best utilized with a strong internet connection and a suitable data plan. However, accessing this enhanced quality is exclusive to YouTube Music Premium or YouTube Premium subscribers.

Changing your streaming quality is straightforward within the app. Navigate to Settings > Playback and select 'High' or 'Always High' for both mobile network and Wi-Fi. For downloaded music, go to Settings > Download & storage > Audio quality and choose 'High'. Note that previously downloaded tracks will need to be re-downloaded to benefit from the 256 kbps setting.