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Quality profiles

Quality profiles tell Listenarr which audio formats you want, how those formats should be ranked, and when an existing release should be upgraded.

Open Settings -> Quality Profiles to create or edit them.

What a quality profile controls​

A profile combines:

  • allowed codecs and bitrates
  • the preference order between those qualities
  • optional upgrade cutoff behavior
  • word filters
  • language preferences
  • release scoring rules

Assign a default profile if you want new books to pick one automatically.

Basic information​

The profile starts with:

  • Profile Name
  • Description
  • Set as default profile

Use clear names like Lossless Preferred, M4B First, or Space Saver.

Quality definitions​

This is the most important part of the profile.

Supported codecs and bitrates​

Listenarr currently exposes these codec groups:

  • FLAC
  • MP3: 320, 256, 192, 128, 64, plus VBR
  • AAC: 320, 256, 192, 128, 96, 64
  • OPUS: 192, 128, 96, 64
  • OGG Vorbis: 320, 256, 192, 128

Enable the codecs you want first, then drag qualities into the order you prefer.

Priority order​

Qualities higher in the list are more preferred. Only enabled qualities are eligible for download.

Use drag and drop to rank the exact order you want.

AAC and the M4B toggle​

When AAC is enabled, Listenarr shows an extra toggle:

  • Prefer M4B container

This toggle only appears when AAC is part of the profile.

Use it when you want chapter-friendly .m4b files to win over other AAC container matches. In the UI, M4B is treated as an AAC-based quality and can appear as M4B (AAC).

Upgrade until​

The profile can upgrade a lower-quality release later if a better match appears.

Enable Quality Upgrades​

  • enabled: Listenarr may replace a worse release with a better one
  • disabled: Listenarr keeps the first acceptable match

Upgrade Until​

Choose the cutoff quality where upgrades should stop.

Examples:

  • no cutoff: keep upgrading whenever something better appears
  • cutoff at AAC 128 kbps: stop once that quality is reached
  • cutoff at FLAC: only settle when lossless is available

Size limits​

Use these when you want hard minimum or maximum file sizes.

  • Minimum Size (MB)
  • Maximum Size (MB)

Leave them blank for no limit.

Word filters​

These filters shape result scoring and rejection.

Preferred Words​

Releases containing these words get bonus points.

Examples:

  • unabridged
  • complete
  • retail

Must Contain​

At least one of these words must appear for a result to qualify.

Use this carefully. If it is too strict, you may filter out good releases.

Must Not Contain​

Any result containing these words is rejected.

Examples:

  • abridged
  • radio
  • dramatized

Language preferences​

Add preferred languages in the order you want to favor them.

Examples:

  • English
  • Spanish
  • German

This is preference-based, not a replacement for validating whether your indexers actually label language well.

Release preferences​

Minimum Seeders​

Torrent-only safeguard for weakly seeded releases.

Minimum Score Threshold​

Rejects results below your chosen score.

Prefer newer releases​

Adds a freshness bias to newer uploads.

When enabled, you can also set:

  • Maximum Age (Days): reject releases older than this value

Suggested profile ideas​

High quality, chapter-friendly​

  • enable FLAC, AAC, MP3
  • turn on Prefer M4B container
  • set a cutoff at your preferred AAC or FLAC target

Space saver​

  • enable only lower MP3 or AAC bitrates
  • set a maximum file size
  • disable upgrades

Any acceptable audiobook​

  • enable a broad set of codecs
  • keep size limits open
  • use preferred words like unabridged

Practical advice​

  • Keep your first profile simple.
  • Do not overuse Must Contain.
  • Turn on the M4B preference if you care about chapter support in AAC-based files.
  • If you are new to Listenarr, set one default profile before adding many books.