diff --git a/config.go b/config.go
index 2ae9d8bb..b6273836 100644
--- a/config.go
+++ b/config.go
@@ -160,10 +160,11 @@ var defaultConfig = &Config{
 		RelativeMouse: true,
 		Keyboard:      true,
 		MassStorage:   true,
+		Audio:         true,
 	},
 	NetworkConfig:     &network.NetworkConfig{},
 	DefaultLogLevel:   "INFO",
-	AudioOutputSource: "hdmi",
+	AudioOutputSource: "usb",
 }
 
 var (
diff --git a/internal/audio/c/audio.c b/internal/audio/c/audio.c
index 0f38f596..803737dc 100644
--- a/internal/audio/c/audio.c
+++ b/internal/audio/c/audio.c
@@ -55,20 +55,20 @@ static uint8_t channels = 2;
 static uint16_t frame_size = 960;  // 20ms frames at 48kHz
 
 static uint32_t opus_bitrate = 128000;
-static uint8_t opus_complexity = 5;  // Higher complexity for better quality on RV1106
+static uint8_t opus_complexity = 5;  // Higher complexity for better quality
 static uint16_t max_packet_size = 1500;
 
 // Opus encoder constants (hardcoded for production)
 #define OPUS_VBR 1                      // VBR enabled
-#define OPUS_VBR_CONSTRAINT 0           // Unconstrained VBR (better for low-volume signals)
+#define OPUS_VBR_CONSTRAINT 1           // Constrained VBR (prevents bitrate starvation at low volumes)
 #define OPUS_SIGNAL_TYPE 3002           // OPUS_SIGNAL_MUSIC (better transient handling)
-#define OPUS_BANDWIDTH 1104             // OPUS_BANDWIDTH_SUPERWIDEBAND (16kHz, better quality at 128kbps)
-#define OPUS_DTX 0                      // DTX disabled (prevents audio drops)
+#define OPUS_BANDWIDTH 1104             // OPUS_BANDWIDTH_SUPERWIDEBAND (16kHz)
+#define OPUS_DTX 1                      // DTX enabled (bandwidth optimization)
 #define OPUS_LSB_DEPTH 16               // 16-bit depth
 
 // ALSA retry configuration
 static uint32_t sleep_microseconds = 1000;
-static uint32_t sleep_milliseconds = 1;  // Precomputed: sleep_microseconds / 1000
+static uint32_t sleep_milliseconds = 1;
 static uint8_t max_attempts_global = 5;
 static uint32_t max_backoff_us_global = 500000;
 
@@ -373,7 +373,7 @@ int jetkvm_audio_capture_init() {
 	opus_encoder_ctl(encoder, OPUS_SET_DTX(OPUS_DTX));
 	opus_encoder_ctl(encoder, OPUS_SET_LSB_DEPTH(OPUS_LSB_DEPTH));
 
-	opus_encoder_ctl(encoder, OPUS_SET_INBAND_FEC(0));
+	opus_encoder_ctl(encoder, OPUS_SET_INBAND_FEC(1));
 	opus_encoder_ctl(encoder, OPUS_SET_PACKET_LOSS_PERC(20));
 
 	capture_initialized = 1;
diff --git a/ui/src/components/popovers/AudioPopover.tsx b/ui/src/components/popovers/AudioPopover.tsx
index 55261ef5..a3c114eb 100644
--- a/ui/src/components/popovers/AudioPopover.tsx
+++ b/ui/src/components/popovers/AudioPopover.tsx
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ import notifications from "@/notifications";
 
 export default function AudioPopover() {
   const { send } = useJsonRpc();
-  const [audioOutputSource, setAudioOutputSource] = useState<string>("hdmi");
+  const [audioOutputSource, setAudioOutputSource] = useState<string>("usb");
   const [audioOutputEnabled, setAudioOutputEnabled] = useState<boolean>(true);
   const [audioInputEnabled, setAudioInputEnabled] = useState<boolean>(true);
   const [usbAudioEnabled, setUsbAudioEnabled] = useState<boolean>(false);
diff --git a/ui/src/routes/devices.$id.tsx b/ui/src/routes/devices.$id.tsx
index 51491a42..ef9e0eb3 100644
--- a/ui/src/routes/devices.$id.tsx
+++ b/ui/src/routes/devices.$id.tsx
@@ -191,7 +191,7 @@ export default function KvmIdRoute() {
           console.warn("[SDP] Opus 48kHz stereo not found in answer - stereo may not work");
         } else {
           const pt = opusMatch[1];
-          const stereoParams = 'stereo=1;sprop-stereo=1;maxaveragebitrate=128000';
+          const stereoParams = 'stereo=1;sprop-stereo=1;maxaveragebitrate=128000;usedtx=1;useinbandfec=1';
           const fmtpRegex = new RegExp(`a=fmtp:${pt}\\s+(.+)`, 'i');
           const fmtpMatch = remoteDescription.sdp.match(fmtpRegex);
 
@@ -463,7 +463,7 @@ export default function KvmIdRoute() {
             console.warn("[SDP] Opus 48kHz stereo not found in offer - stereo may not work");
           } else {
             const pt = opusMatch[1];
-            const stereoParams = 'stereo=1;sprop-stereo=1;maxaveragebitrate=128000';
+            const stereoParams = 'stereo=1;sprop-stereo=1;maxaveragebitrate=128000;usedtx=1;useinbandfec=1';
             const fmtpRegex = new RegExp(`a=fmtp:${pt}\\s+(.+)`, 'i');
             const fmtpMatch = offer.sdp.match(fmtpRegex);