Bitrate is useful — but it is not the whole sound.
A stream’s codec, bitrate, source material and network stability work together. LoveRadio shows available technical signals without turning one number into a quality promise.
Reviewed by LoveRadio editorial · 25 August 2026Bitrate
Bitrate describes how much audio data is sent per second. At the same codec and source quality, more data can preserve more detail. Comparing numbers across different codecs is less reliable because newer codecs can achieve similar perceived quality at lower rates.
Codec
MP3 is widely compatible. AAC and related formats can be more efficient, especially at moderate bitrates. Browser and device support matters: the technically strongest stream is not useful when the listening device cannot decode it consistently.
Stability and source quality
A clean studio source and stable delivery can matter more than a headline bitrate. A high-bitrate stream can still sound poor if the original feed is distorted. LoveRadio therefore treats codec and bitrate as comparison signals, while current playability remains a separate requirement.