Change whole catalogue to OPUS audio codec


OPUS is a much superior codec to MP3.

Please consider switching to OPUS.



Opus is a lossy audio coding format developed by the Xiph.Org Foundation and standardized by the Internet Engineering Task Force, designed to efficiently code speech and general audio in a single format, while remaining low-latency enough for real-time interactive communication and low-complexity enough for low-end embedded processors.[4][5] Opus replaces both Vorbis and Speex for new applications, and several blind listening tests have ranked it higher-quality than any other standard audio format at any given bitrate until transparency is reached, including MP3, AAC, and HE-AAC.
Hey @Francois van der Merwe



Thank you very much for your suggestion and details explained. I've passed it on and hopefully other users support it too 😉
Thank you Rudy. I know it would be a massive undertaking. But I think the benefits would be worth it. Especially in the sense that low bitrate Opus have much better sound quality than low bitrate MP3. Low bitrate streaming can open new markets for Deezer because many users live in developing countries and are on data plans.
@Francois van der Merwe thanks for the input once again! We're always looking into our technology and how to improve it, and that includes audio formats. I'll pass it on! 😉

There’s two things to seperate, one is the reference codec bitstream, and it’s “storage density”, and then the psychoacoustic model of the software creating said bitstream.

In theory ACC has better storage density than MP3, but a good MP3 encoder (like LAME) will sound better than a poorly implemented AAC encoder.

The best AAC encoders are proprietary closed source software like Apple’s Quicktime encoder, and most likely come with expensive licensing fees, while the free encoders like FAAC or Fraunhofer FDK AAC are inferior.

On the other hand the libopus reference encoder is the best sounding Opus encoder, is under BSD licence so can be used free of charge, it competes with Apple Quicktime LC-AAC at >128kbps streams, And sounds far far superior to HE-AAC at as low as 48kbps.

Opus is an IETF standard, mandatory for WebRTC support and implemented in Chrome, Firefox & Edge unlike AAC.

Using Opus with the “basic audio option (64kbit/s)” would be an excellent option for bad data connections.

lets not forget that the CVBR options of both AAC and Opus at 128kbps are also a lot better than the CBR of MP3 at even 256kbps.


@woobilicious, again, thanks for the audiophile feedback! :relaxed:


Hi @woobilicious 

Thank you for your detailed feedback - much appreciated :relaxed:

Would you say, after your comment about Opus being IETF standard, that the web player would benefit from using this format?


And the Audiophile badge goes to…. @woobilicious!! :notes::military_medal:


Updated idea status In discussionNot for now

THIS is what we need as opposed to AAC. .ogg seems to be WAY better! Would love to see this!