diff --git a/app/src/main/assets/codecs.json b/app/src/main/assets/codecs.json
index 5336190..322fb0e 100644
--- a/app/src/main/assets/codecs.json
+++ b/app/src/main/assets/codecs.json
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 {
-  "_comment": "Optional overrides for codec priority (lower total score = higher priority). Tier bases: HW=0, SW=500, passthrough/raw=1000.",
+  "_comment": "Optional overrides for codec priority (lower total score = higher priority). Tier bases: HW=0, SW=500, passthrough/raw=1000. Default audio order: Opus < AAC < Speex < PCM.",
   "video": {
     "h264": {
       "priority_override_score": 0
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/com/foxx/androidcast/CastSettings.java b/app/src/main/java/com/foxx/androidcast/CastSettings.java
index a9cb1eb..3020af2 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/com/foxx/androidcast/CastSettings.java
+++ b/app/src/main/java/com/foxx/androidcast/CastSettings.java
@@ -154,6 +154,8 @@ public class CastSettings implements Serializable {
     private ReceiverDisplayResolution receiverDisplayResolution = ReceiverDisplayResolution.AUTO_FIT;
     /** Filled after codec handshake (e.g. video/avc). */
     private transient String negotiatedVideoMime;
+    /** Filled when AUTO (or fallback) resolves against peer audio caps. */
+    private transient AudioCodec resolvedAudioCodec;
 
     public CastSettings() {
         PlatformCastSupport.applyDefaultAudioSetting(this);
@@ -268,6 +270,14 @@ public class CastSettings implements Serializable {
         this.negotiatedVideoMime = negotiatedVideoMime;
     }
 
+    public AudioCodec getResolvedAudioCodec() {
+        return resolvedAudioCodec;
+    }
+
+    public void setResolvedAudioCodec(AudioCodec resolvedAudioCodec) {
+        this.resolvedAudioCodec = resolvedAudioCodec;
+    }
+
     public CaptureMode getCaptureMode() {
         return captureMode;
     }
@@ -318,5 +328,6 @@ public class CastSettings implements Serializable {
         streamProtection = other.streamProtection;
         receiverDisplayResolution = other.receiverDisplayResolution;
         negotiatedVideoMime = other.negotiatedVideoMime;
+        resolvedAudioCodec = other.resolvedAudioCodec;
     }
 }
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/com/foxx/androidcast/media/AudioNegotiator.java b/app/src/main/java/com/foxx/androidcast/media/AudioNegotiator.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9171956
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/src/main/java/com/foxx/androidcast/media/AudioNegotiator.java
@@ -0,0 +1,85 @@
+package com.foxx.androidcast.media;
+
+import android.util.Log;
+
+import com.foxx.androidcast.CastSettings;
+import com.foxx.androidcast.media.codec.PassthroughCodecPolicy;
+import com.foxx.androidcast.network.CastCodecFlags;
+
+import java.util.Locale;
+
+/**
+ * Picks an audio codec both sides support, honoring user preference when possible.
+ * AUTO uses {@link CodecPriorityCatalog#decideBestAudioCodec} (weights + codecs.json).
+ */
+public final class AudioNegotiator {
+    private static final String TAG = "AudioNegotiator";
+
+    private AudioNegotiator() {}
+
+    /** Resolve preference for this session (explicit or AUTO). */
+    public static CastSettings.AudioCodec negotiate(int senderMask, int receiverMask,
+            CastSettings.AudioCodec preference, CastSettings settings) {
+        return negotiate(senderMask, receiverMask, preference, settings, "negotiate");
+    }
+
+    public static CastSettings.AudioCodec negotiate(int senderMask, int receiverMask,
+            CastSettings.AudioCodec preference, CastSettings settings, String logRole) {
+        CastSettings scoreSettings = settings != null ? settings : new CastSettings();
+        CastSettings.AudioCodec pref = preference != null ? preference : CastSettings.AudioCodec.AUTO;
+
+        if (pref == CastSettings.AudioCodec.AUTO) {
+            CodecPriorityCatalog.AudioNegotiationDecision decision =
+                    CodecPriorityCatalog.decideBestAudioCodec(senderMask, receiverMask, scoreSettings);
+            if (decision != null) {
+                CodecPriorityCatalog.logAudioNegotiationDecision(logRole, decision);
+                return decision.codec;
+            }
+            Log.w(TAG, logRole + " audio AUTO fallback AAC (no scored candidate)");
+            return CastSettings.AudioCodec.AAC;
+        }
+
+        CastSettings.AudioCodec effective = PassthroughCodecPolicy.forAudioNegotiation(pref);
+        if (effective == CastSettings.AudioCodec.AUTO) {
+            return negotiate(senderMask, receiverMask, CastSettings.AudioCodec.AUTO, scoreSettings, logRole);
+        }
+        if (!CastCodecFlags.maskSupports(senderMask, effective)
+                || !CastCodecFlags.maskSupports(receiverMask, effective)) {
+            Log.w(TAG, logRole + " audio explicit " + pref.name()
+                    + " unavailable on link; falling back to AUTO");
+            return negotiate(senderMask, receiverMask, CastSettings.AudioCodec.AUTO, scoreSettings, logRole);
+        }
+        int score = CodecPriorityCatalog.priorityScore(effective, scoreSettings);
+        Log.i(TAG, String.format(Locale.US, "%s audio explicit %s score=%d",
+                logRole, PassthroughCodecPolicy.displayAudioPreference(effective), score));
+        return effective;
+    }
+
+    public static CastSettings.AudioCodec resolveForSender(CastSettings settings, int peerAudioMask) {
+        if (settings == null) {
+            return CastSettings.AudioCodec.AAC;
+        }
+        CastSettings.AudioCodec resolved = negotiate(
+                CastCodecFlags.localAudioMask(),
+                peerAudioMask,
+                settings.getAudioCodec(),
+                settings,
+                "sender");
+        settings.setResolvedAudioCodec(resolved);
+        return resolved;
+    }
+
+    public static CastSettings.AudioCodec effective(CastSettings settings) {
+        if (settings == null) {
+            return CastSettings.AudioCodec.AAC;
+        }
+        CastSettings.AudioCodec resolved = settings.getResolvedAudioCodec();
+        if (resolved != null) {
+            return resolved;
+        }
+        if (settings.getAudioCodec() == CastSettings.AudioCodec.AUTO) {
+            return CastSettings.AudioCodec.AAC;
+        }
+        return PassthroughCodecPolicy.forAudioNegotiation(settings.getAudioCodec());
+    }
+}
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/com/foxx/androidcast/media/CodecPriorityCatalog.java b/app/src/main/java/com/foxx/androidcast/media/CodecPriorityCatalog.java
index ce36985..b0bda29 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/com/foxx/androidcast/media/CodecPriorityCatalog.java
+++ b/app/src/main/java/com/foxx/androidcast/media/CodecPriorityCatalog.java
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ import android.util.Log;
 
 import com.foxx.androidcast.CastSettings;
 import com.foxx.androidcast.media.codec.jni.NativeCodecBridge;
+import com.foxx.androidcast.network.CastCodecFlags;
 import com.foxx.androidcast.sender.CodecCatalog;
 
 import org.json.JSONObject;
@@ -248,10 +249,10 @@ public final class CodecPriorityCatalog {
 
     public static CodecTier tierForAudioPreference(CastSettings.AudioCodec preference) {
         if (preference == CastSettings.AudioCodec.SPEEX) {
-            return NativeCodecBridge.isSpeexAvailable() ? CodecTier.SOFTWARE : CodecTier.PASSTHROUGH;
+            return NativeCodecBridge.isSpeexAvailable() ? CodecTier.HARDWARE : CodecTier.PASSTHROUGH;
         }
         if (preference == CastSettings.AudioCodec.OPUS) {
-            return NativeCodecBridge.isOpusAvailable() ? CodecTier.SOFTWARE : CodecTier.PASSTHROUGH;
+            return NativeCodecBridge.isOpusAvailable() ? CodecTier.HARDWARE : CodecTier.PASSTHROUGH;
         }
         if (preference == CastSettings.AudioCodec.PASSTHROUGH_DEBUG) {
             return CodecTier.PASSTHROUGH;
@@ -259,6 +260,103 @@ public final class CodecPriorityCatalog {
         return CodecTier.HARDWARE;
     }
 
+    /** AUTO: lowest score among audio codecs both peers support on this device. */
+    @Nullable
+    public static AudioNegotiationDecision decideBestAudioCodec(int senderMask, int receiverMask,
+            CastSettings settings) {
+        int common = senderMask & receiverMask;
+        List<AudioNegotiationCandidate> candidates = new ArrayList<>();
+        for (CastSettings.AudioCodec codec : manualAudioPreferences()) {
+            if (!CastCodecFlags.maskSupports(common, codec)) {
+                continue;
+            }
+            if (!CastCodecFlags.isLocallyAvailable(codec)) {
+                continue;
+            }
+            int score = audioCodecScoreOnDevice(codec, settings);
+            candidates.add(new AudioNegotiationCandidate(codec, score,
+                    formatAudioBreakdown(codec, settings)));
+        }
+        if (candidates.isEmpty()) {
+            return null;
+        }
+        Collections.sort(candidates, Comparator.comparingInt(c -> c.score));
+        return new AudioNegotiationDecision(candidates.get(0), candidates);
+    }
+
+    public static int audioCodecScoreOnDevice(CastSettings.AudioCodec codec, CastSettings settings) {
+        CodecPriorityId id = CodecPriorityId.fromAudioPreference(codec);
+        if (id == null) {
+            return Integer.MAX_VALUE;
+        }
+        CodecTier tier = tierForAudioPreference(codec);
+        return priorityScore(id, tier, settings);
+    }
+
+    public static void logAudioNegotiationDecision(String role, AudioNegotiationDecision decision) {
+        if (decision == null) {
+            return;
+        }
+        Log.i(TAG, role + " audio AUTO: selected " + decision.logLine());
+        for (AudioNegotiationCandidate c : decision.candidates) {
+            boolean picked = c.codec == decision.codec;
+            Log.i(TAG, role + " audio candidate: " + c.logLine(picked));
+        }
+    }
+
+    public static String formatAudioBreakdown(CastSettings.AudioCodec codec, CastSettings settings) {
+        CodecPriorityId id = CodecPriorityId.fromAudioPreference(codec);
+        if (id == null) {
+            return codec.name();
+        }
+        ScoreBreakdown b = breakdown(id, tierForAudioPreference(codec), settings);
+        return String.format(Locale.US, "%s score=%d tier=%d +%d+%d+%d+%d+%d",
+                codec.name(), b.total, b.tierBase, b.internal, b.fec, b.protection, b.override, b.bitrate);
+    }
+
+    /** Manual settings order (after AUTO): Opus, AAC, Speex, PCM passthrough. */
+    public static CastSettings.AudioCodec[] manualAudioPreferences() {
+        return new CastSettings.AudioCodec[] {
+                CastSettings.AudioCodec.OPUS,
+                CastSettings.AudioCodec.AAC,
+                CastSettings.AudioCodec.SPEEX,
+                CastSettings.AudioCodec.PASSTHROUGH_DEBUG,
+        };
+    }
+
+    public static final class AudioNegotiationCandidate {
+        public final CastSettings.AudioCodec codec;
+        public final int score;
+        public final String detail;
+
+        AudioNegotiationCandidate(CastSettings.AudioCodec codec, int score, String detail) {
+            this.codec = codec;
+            this.score = score;
+            this.detail = detail;
+        }
+
+        String logLine(boolean selected) {
+            return (selected ? "* " : "  ") + codec.name() + " score=" + score + " · " + detail;
+        }
+    }
+
+    public static final class AudioNegotiationDecision {
+        public final CastSettings.AudioCodec codec;
+        public final int score;
+        public final List<AudioNegotiationCandidate> candidates;
+
+        AudioNegotiationDecision(AudioNegotiationCandidate selected,
+                List<AudioNegotiationCandidate> candidates) {
+            this.codec = selected.codec;
+            this.score = selected.score;
+            this.candidates = candidates;
+        }
+
+        String logLine() {
+            return codec.name() + " score=" + score;
+        }
+    }
+
     public static <T> List<T> sortByPriority(List<ScoredItem<T>> items) {
         List<ScoredItem<T>> copy = new ArrayList<>(items);
         Collections.sort(copy, Comparator.comparingInt(a -> a.priorityScore));
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/com/foxx/androidcast/media/codec/AudioCodecFactory.java b/app/src/main/java/com/foxx/androidcast/media/codec/AudioCodecFactory.java
index 6cb9e8b..e72c0a1 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/com/foxx/androidcast/media/codec/AudioCodecFactory.java
+++ b/app/src/main/java/com/foxx/androidcast/media/codec/AudioCodecFactory.java
@@ -12,12 +12,19 @@ package com.foxx.androidcast.media.codec;
  * Digest: SHA256	e8b2c92d5f3a97150adcf9af3f44791d2ee6a0db31dd7b7d96cb970bedc5e9fd
 **********************************************************************/
 import com.foxx.androidcast.CastSettings;
+import com.foxx.androidcast.media.AudioNegotiator;
 import com.foxx.androidcast.sender.AudioEncoder;
 
 /** Creates audio encoder sinks. */
 public final class AudioCodecFactory {
     private AudioCodecFactory() {}
 
+    public static AudioEncoderSink createEncoder(CastSettings settings) {
+        CastSettings.AudioCodec preference = settings != null
+                ? AudioNegotiator.effective(settings) : CastSettings.AudioCodec.AAC;
+        return createEncoder(preference);
+    }
+
     public static AudioEncoderSink createEncoder(CastSettings.AudioCodec preference) {
         CodecSessionRegistry.setAudioPreference(preference);
         AudioCodecBackend backend = PassthroughCodecPolicy.audioBackendFor(preference, true);
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/com/foxx/androidcast/media/codec/PassthroughCodecPolicy.java b/app/src/main/java/com/foxx/androidcast/media/codec/PassthroughCodecPolicy.java
index aec8396..aa1c317 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/com/foxx/androidcast/media/codec/PassthroughCodecPolicy.java
+++ b/app/src/main/java/com/foxx/androidcast/media/codec/PassthroughCodecPolicy.java
@@ -164,7 +164,7 @@ public final class PassthroughCodecPolicy {
                 return "Passthrough (debug)";
             case AUTO:
             default:
-                return "AUTO (AAC)";
+                return "AUTO";
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/com/foxx/androidcast/network/CastCodecFlags.java b/app/src/main/java/com/foxx/androidcast/network/CastCodecFlags.java
index 5a81f0c..c4e47f1 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/com/foxx/androidcast/network/CastCodecFlags.java
+++ b/app/src/main/java/com/foxx/androidcast/network/CastCodecFlags.java
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ package com.foxx.androidcast.network;
 **********************************************************************/
 import android.media.MediaFormat;
 
+import com.foxx.androidcast.CastSettings;
 import com.foxx.androidcast.media.codec.jni.NativeCodecBridge;
 import com.foxx.androidcast.sender.CodecCatalog;
 
@@ -71,4 +72,51 @@ public final class CastCodecFlags {
     }
     return mask;
   }
+
+  public static int localDecoderAudioMask() {
+    return localAudioMask();
+  }
+
+  public static int flagForAudioPreference(CastSettings.AudioCodec codec) {
+    if (codec == null) {
+      return AUDIO_UNKNOWN;
+    }
+    switch (codec) {
+      case OPUS:
+        return AUDIO_OPUS;
+      case SPEEX:
+        return AUDIO_SPEEX;
+      case PASSTHROUGH_DEBUG:
+        return AUDIO_PCM;
+      case AAC:
+        return AUDIO_AAC;
+      case AUTO:
+      default:
+        return AUDIO_UNKNOWN;
+    }
+  }
+
+  public static boolean maskSupports(int mask, CastSettings.AudioCodec codec) {
+    int flag = flagForAudioPreference(codec);
+    return flag != AUDIO_UNKNOWN && (mask & flag) != 0;
+  }
+
+  /** Whether this device can encode/decode the preference (native probes for Opus/Speex). */
+  public static boolean isLocallyAvailable(CastSettings.AudioCodec codec) {
+    if (codec == null) {
+      return false;
+    }
+    switch (codec) {
+      case OPUS:
+        return NativeCodecBridge.isOpusAvailable();
+      case SPEEX:
+        return NativeCodecBridge.isSpeexAvailable();
+      case AAC:
+      case PASSTHROUGH_DEBUG:
+        return true;
+      case AUTO:
+      default:
+        return false;
+    }
+  }
 }
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/com/foxx/androidcast/receiver/ReceiverCastService.java b/app/src/main/java/com/foxx/androidcast/receiver/ReceiverCastService.java
index 134c80f..d042b5e 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/com/foxx/androidcast/receiver/ReceiverCastService.java
+++ b/app/src/main/java/com/foxx/androidcast/receiver/ReceiverCastService.java
@@ -744,16 +744,18 @@ public class ReceiverCastService extends Service {
                     : android.media.MediaFormat.MIMETYPE_VIDEO_AVC;
             CodecSessionRegistry.setVideoBackend(VideoCodecBackend.MEDIA_CODEC_HW, mime);
             if (remoteCastSettings != null) {
+                CastSettings.AudioCodec effectiveAudio =
+                        com.foxx.androidcast.media.AudioNegotiator.effective(remoteCastSettings);
                 CodecSessionRegistry.setVideoPreference(remoteCastSettings.getVideoCodec());
-                CodecSessionRegistry.setAudioPreference(remoteCastSettings.getAudioCodec());
+                CodecSessionRegistry.setAudioPreference(effectiveAudio);
                 CodecSessionRegistry.setAudioBackend(
                         PassthroughCodecPolicy.audioBackendFor(
-                                remoteCastSettings.getAudioCodec(),
+                                effectiveAudio,
                                 remoteCastSettings.isAudioRequested()));
                 CodecSessionRegistry.setProtectionSummary(PassthroughCodecPolicy.protectionDescription(
                         remoteCastSettings.getStreamProtection(),
                         remoteCastSettings.getTransport(),
-                        remoteCastSettings.getAudioCodec()));
+                        effectiveAudio));
             }
             videoDecoder.configure(mime, pendingWidth, pendingHeight, pendingCsd0, pendingCsd1, attachedSurface,
                     new VideoDecoderSink.Listener() {
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/com/foxx/androidcast/sender/CodecCatalog.java b/app/src/main/java/com/foxx/androidcast/sender/CodecCatalog.java
index e1634ae..663955c 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/com/foxx/androidcast/sender/CodecCatalog.java
+++ b/app/src/main/java/com/foxx/androidcast/sender/CodecCatalog.java
@@ -91,11 +91,10 @@ public final class CodecCatalog {
         boolean opus = NativeCodecBridge.isOpusAvailable();
         boolean speex = NativeCodecBridge.isSpeexAvailable();
         out.add(new AudioCodecChoice(CastSettings.AudioCodec.AUTO, true, 0));
-        out.add(scoredAudio(CastSettings.AudioCodec.AAC, true, settings));
         out.add(scoredAudio(CastSettings.AudioCodec.OPUS, opus, settings));
+        out.add(scoredAudio(CastSettings.AudioCodec.AAC, true, settings));
         out.add(scoredAudio(CastSettings.AudioCodec.SPEEX, speex, settings));
         out.add(scoredAudio(CastSettings.AudioCodec.PASSTHROUGH_DEBUG, true, settings));
-        sortAudioChoices(out);
         return out;
     }
 
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/com/foxx/androidcast/sender/MultiCastCoordinator.java b/app/src/main/java/com/foxx/androidcast/sender/MultiCastCoordinator.java
index 1a62f33..6c0ae0f 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/com/foxx/androidcast/sender/MultiCastCoordinator.java
+++ b/app/src/main/java/com/foxx/androidcast/sender/MultiCastCoordinator.java
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ import android.util.Log;
 
 import com.foxx.androidcast.CastSettings;
 import com.foxx.androidcast.DeviceInfo;
+import com.foxx.androidcast.media.AudioNegotiator;
 import com.foxx.androidcast.network.CastCodecFlags;
 import com.foxx.androidcast.network.CastFramingContext;
 import com.foxx.androidcast.network.CastProtocol;
@@ -113,8 +114,10 @@ public final class MultiCastCoordinator {
         connectWithRetry(session, t.host, t.port);
         CastSession.HandshakeResult hs = session.clientHandshake(deviceName, pin, peerSettings);
         applyNegotiatedProtection(session, peerSettings, hs.receiverAdvertisement);
+        AudioNegotiator.resolveForSender(peerSettings, t.audioCodecs);
         peers.add(new ActivePeer(t, session, hs.settings, hs.negotiatedVideoMime));
         Log.i(TAG, "Peer ready " + t.name + " " + hs.negotiatedVideoMime
+                + " audio=" + peerSettings.getResolvedAudioCodec()
                 + " score="
                 + com.foxx.androidcast.media.CodecNegotiator.priorityScoreForNegotiatedMime(
                         hs.negotiatedVideoMime, hs.settings));
@@ -142,6 +145,7 @@ public final class MultiCastCoordinator {
     connectWithRetry(session, target.host, target.port);
     CastSession.HandshakeResult hs = session.clientHandshake(deviceName, pin, peerSettings);
     applyNegotiatedProtection(session, peerSettings, hs.receiverAdvertisement);
+    AudioNegotiator.resolveForSender(peerSettings, target.audioCodecs);
     peers.add(new ActivePeer(target, session, hs.settings, hs.negotiatedVideoMime));
     if (keyframeRequester != null) {
       keyframeRequester.requestKeyframe();
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/com/foxx/androidcast/sender/ScreenCastService.java b/app/src/main/java/com/foxx/androidcast/sender/ScreenCastService.java
index fd8ac26..9160c3f 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/com/foxx/androidcast/sender/ScreenCastService.java
+++ b/app/src/main/java/com/foxx/androidcast/sender/ScreenCastService.java
@@ -55,6 +55,7 @@ import com.foxx.androidcast.network.control.PassThroughNetworkControlPlane;
 import com.foxx.androidcast.network.transport.TransportLossStats;
 import com.foxx.androidcast.network.transport.TransportLossStatsBridge;
 import com.foxx.androidcast.network.selftest.NetworkSelfTestBridge;
+import com.foxx.androidcast.media.AudioNegotiator;
 import com.foxx.androidcast.media.codec.AudioCodecFactory;
 import com.foxx.androidcast.media.codec.CodecSessionRegistry;
 import com.foxx.androidcast.media.codec.PassthroughCodecPolicy;
@@ -274,6 +275,7 @@ public class ScreenCastService extends Service implements
             session = primary.session;
             settings = primary.settings;
             settings.setNegotiatedVideoMime(primary.negotiatedMime);
+            AudioNegotiator.resolveForSender(settings, primary.target.audioCodecs);
             final CastSettings captureSettings = settings;
             updateStatus(getString(R.string.authenticating));
             networkFeedback = new NetworkFeedbackManager(session, true);
@@ -303,7 +305,9 @@ public class ScreenCastService extends Service implements
                 }
                 sessionStatsRecorder.mergeSettings(settings);
                 sessionStatsRecorder.setClientCount(peers.size());
-                sessionStatsRecorder.setCodecs(settings.getNegotiatedVideoMime(), "AAC");
+                sessionStatsRecorder.setCodecs(settings.getNegotiatedVideoMime(),
+                        PassthroughCodecPolicy.displayAudioPreference(
+                                AudioNegotiator.effective(settings)));
             }
             final int projResultCode = resultCode;
             final Intent projData = data != null ? new Intent(data) : null;
@@ -806,9 +810,10 @@ public class ScreenCastService extends Service implements
             if (audioCapture != null) {
                 audioCapture.stop();
             }
-            audioEncoder = AudioCodecFactory.createEncoder(settings.getAudioCodec());
+            CastSettings.AudioCodec effectiveAudio = AudioNegotiator.effective(settings);
+            audioEncoder = AudioCodecFactory.createEncoder(settings);
             CodecSessionRegistry.setAudioBackend(
-                    PassthroughCodecPolicy.audioBackendFor(settings.getAudioCodec(), true));
+                    PassthroughCodecPolicy.audioBackendFor(effectiveAudio, true));
             audioEncoder.prepare(new AudioEncoderSink.Callback() {
                 private boolean configSent;
 
diff --git a/app/src/main/res/values-ru/strings.xml b/app/src/main/res/values-ru/strings.xml
index bb6fa0b..b3d4266 100644
--- a/app/src/main/res/values-ru/strings.xml
+++ b/app/src/main/res/values-ru/strings.xml
@@ -233,7 +233,7 @@
     <string name="codec_speex">Speex</string>
     <string name="codec_opus">Opus</string>
     <string name="codec_audio_passthrough_debug">Passthrough (отладка)</string>
-    <string name="codec_audio_auto">AUTO (AAC)</string>
+    <string name="codec_audio_auto">AUTO</string>
     <string name="pip_enter">Картинка в картинке (PiP)</string>
     <string name="pip_unavailable">Режим «картинка в картинке» (PiP) недоступен на этом устройстве</string>
     <string name="pip_disabled_title">PiP отключено</string>
diff --git a/app/src/main/res/values/strings.xml b/app/src/main/res/values/strings.xml
index 2fcfc70..8d37f0c 100644
--- a/app/src/main/res/values/strings.xml
+++ b/app/src/main/res/values/strings.xml
@@ -325,7 +325,7 @@
     <string name="codec_speex">Speex</string>
     <string name="codec_opus">Opus</string>
     <string name="codec_audio_passthrough_debug">Passthrough (debug)</string>
-    <string name="codec_audio_auto">AUTO (AAC)</string>
+    <string name="codec_audio_auto">AUTO</string>
     <string name="pip_enter">Picture-in-picture</string>
     <string name="pip_unavailable">Picture-in-picture is not available on this device</string>
     <string name="pip_disabled_title">Picture-in-picture disabled</string>
diff --git a/app/src/test/java/com/foxx/androidcast/media/AudioNegotiatorTest.java b/app/src/test/java/com/foxx/androidcast/media/AudioNegotiatorTest.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e830e90
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/src/test/java/com/foxx/androidcast/media/AudioNegotiatorTest.java
@@ -0,0 +1,61 @@
+package com.foxx.androidcast.media;
+
+import com.foxx.androidcast.CastSettings;
+import com.foxx.androidcast.network.CastCodecFlags;
+
+import org.junit.Test;
+
+import static org.junit.Assert.assertEquals;
+import static org.junit.Assert.assertNotNull;
+import static org.junit.Assert.assertTrue;
+
+public class AudioNegotiatorTest {
+
+    @Test
+    public void autoPrefersAacOverPcmPassthrough() {
+        CastSettings settings = new CastSettings();
+        int mask = CastCodecFlags.AUDIO_AAC | CastCodecFlags.AUDIO_PCM;
+
+        CodecPriorityCatalog.AudioNegotiationDecision decision =
+                CodecPriorityCatalog.decideBestAudioCodec(mask, mask, settings);
+        assertNotNull(decision);
+        assertEquals(CastSettings.AudioCodec.AAC, decision.codec);
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    public void compileTimeScoreOrderAacBeforePcm() {
+        CastSettings settings = new CastSettings();
+        int aac = CodecPriorityCatalog.priorityScore(CastSettings.AudioCodec.AAC, settings);
+        int pcm = CodecPriorityCatalog.priorityScore(CastSettings.AudioCodec.PASSTHROUGH_DEBUG, settings);
+        assertTrue(aac < pcm);
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    public void autoFallsBackToAacWithoutOpusOnLink() {
+        CastSettings settings = new CastSettings();
+        int mask = CastCodecFlags.AUDIO_AAC | CastCodecFlags.AUDIO_PCM;
+
+        CastSettings.AudioCodec picked = AudioNegotiator.negotiate(
+                mask, mask, CastSettings.AudioCodec.AUTO, settings);
+        assertEquals(CastSettings.AudioCodec.AAC, picked);
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    public void explicitOpusUnavailableFallsBackToAuto() {
+        CastSettings settings = new CastSettings();
+        int mask = CastCodecFlags.AUDIO_AAC;
+
+        CastSettings.AudioCodec picked = AudioNegotiator.negotiate(
+                mask, mask, CastSettings.AudioCodec.OPUS, settings);
+        assertEquals(CastSettings.AudioCodec.AAC, picked);
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    public void manualPreferenceOrderIsFixedInCatalog() {
+        CastSettings.AudioCodec[] order = CodecPriorityCatalog.manualAudioPreferences();
+        assertEquals(CastSettings.AudioCodec.OPUS, order[0]);
+        assertEquals(CastSettings.AudioCodec.AAC, order[1]);
+        assertEquals(CastSettings.AudioCodec.SPEEX, order[2]);
+        assertEquals(CastSettings.AudioCodec.PASSTHROUGH_DEBUG, order[3]);
+    }
+}