diff --git a/config/__pycache__/settings.cpython-310.pyc b/config/__pycache__/settings.cpython-310.pyc
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3dd0e12
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diff --git a/config/__pycache__/settings.cpython-312.pyc b/config/__pycache__/settings.cpython-312.pyc
index 0e1aa59..6ff5c11 100644
Binary files a/config/__pycache__/settings.cpython-312.pyc and b/config/__pycache__/settings.cpython-312.pyc differ
diff --git a/config/settings.py b/config/settings.py
index bda94eb..cd9331c 100644
--- a/config/settings.py
+++ b/config/settings.py
@@ -95,5 +95,9 @@ class ConfigManager:
             'plex': bool(self.get('plex.base_url')) and bool(self.get('plex.token')),
             'soulseek': bool(self.get('soulseek.slskd_url'))
         }
+    
+    def get_quality_preference(self) -> str:
+        """Get the user's preferred audio quality setting"""
+        return self.get('settings.audio_quality', 'flac')
 
 config_manager = ConfigManager()
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/core/__pycache__/soulseek_client.cpython-312.pyc b/core/__pycache__/soulseek_client.cpython-312.pyc
index a836a13..71dc380 100644
Binary files a/core/__pycache__/soulseek_client.cpython-312.pyc and b/core/__pycache__/soulseek_client.cpython-312.pyc differ
diff --git a/core/soulseek_client.py b/core/soulseek_client.py
index 2deb03d..5df5400 100644
--- a/core/soulseek_client.py
+++ b/core/soulseek_client.py
@@ -1137,15 +1137,19 @@ class SoulseekClient:
             logger.warning(f"No results found for: {query}")
             return None
         
-        preferred_results = [r for r in results if r.quality.lower() == preferred_quality.lower()]
+        # Use the new quality filtering
+        filtered_results = self.filter_results_by_quality_preference(results, preferred_quality)
         
-        if preferred_results:
-            best_result = preferred_results[0]
-        else:
-            best_result = results[0]
-            logger.info(f"Preferred quality {preferred_quality} not found, using {best_result.quality}")
-        
-        logger.info(f"Downloading: {best_result.filename} ({best_result.quality}) from {best_result.username}")
+        if not filtered_results:
+            logger.warning(f"No suitable quality results found for: {query}")
+            return None
+            
+        best_result = filtered_results[0]
+        quality_info = f"{best_result.quality.upper()}"
+        if best_result.bitrate:
+            quality_info += f" {best_result.bitrate}kbps"
+            
+        logger.info(f"Downloading: {best_result.filename} ({quality_info}) from {best_result.username}")
         return await self.download(best_result.username, best_result.filename, best_result.size)
     
     async def check_connection(self) -> bool:
@@ -1160,6 +1164,74 @@ class SoulseekClient:
             logger.debug(f"Connection check failed: {e}")
             return False
     
+    def filter_results_by_quality_preference(self, results: List[TrackResult], preferred_quality: str) -> List[TrackResult]:
+        """
+        Filter and sort results by quality preference with smart fallback.
+        Prefers exact match, then higher quality, then lower quality.
+        """
+        if not results:
+            return []
+        
+        # Normalize preference to match our quality strings
+        quality_map = {
+            'flac': 'flac',
+            'mp3_320': ('mp3', 320),
+            'mp3_256': ('mp3', 256), 
+            'mp3_192': ('mp3', 192),
+            'any': 'any'
+        }
+        
+        if preferred_quality not in quality_map:
+            return results  # Return all if unknown preference
+            
+        if preferred_quality == 'any':
+            # Sort by quality score for "any" preference
+            return sorted(results, key=lambda x: x.quality_score, reverse=True)
+        
+        # Separate results by quality categories
+        exact_matches = []
+        higher_quality = []
+        lower_quality = []
+        
+        if preferred_quality == 'flac':
+            for result in results:
+                if result.quality.lower() == 'flac':
+                    exact_matches.append(result)
+                elif result.quality.lower() == 'mp3' and result.bitrate and result.bitrate >= 320:
+                    higher_quality.append(result)  # High-quality MP3 as fallback
+                else:
+                    lower_quality.append(result)
+        else:
+            # MP3 preference with specific bitrate
+            pref_format, pref_bitrate = quality_map[preferred_quality]
+            
+            for result in results:
+                if result.quality.lower() == 'flac':
+                    higher_quality.append(result)  # FLAC is always higher quality
+                elif result.quality.lower() == pref_format:
+                    if result.bitrate:
+                        if result.bitrate == pref_bitrate:
+                            exact_matches.append(result)
+                        elif result.bitrate > pref_bitrate:
+                            higher_quality.append(result)
+                        else:
+                            lower_quality.append(result)
+                    else:
+                        exact_matches.append(result)  # Unknown bitrate, assume match
+                else:
+                    lower_quality.append(result)
+        
+        # Sort each category by quality score and upload speed
+        def sort_key(result):
+            return (result.quality_score, result.upload_speed)
+        
+        exact_matches.sort(key=sort_key, reverse=True)
+        higher_quality.sort(key=sort_key, reverse=True) 
+        lower_quality.sort(key=sort_key, reverse=True)
+        
+        # Return in preference order: exact > higher > lower
+        return exact_matches + higher_quality + lower_quality
+    
     async def get_session_info(self) -> Optional[Dict[str, Any]]:
         """Get slskd session information including version"""
         if not self.base_url:
diff --git a/ui/pages/__pycache__/artists.cpython-312.pyc b/ui/pages/__pycache__/artists.cpython-312.pyc
index e208ce2..d278e66 100644
Binary files a/ui/pages/__pycache__/artists.cpython-312.pyc and b/ui/pages/__pycache__/artists.cpython-312.pyc differ
diff --git a/ui/pages/__pycache__/settings.cpython-312.pyc b/ui/pages/__pycache__/settings.cpython-312.pyc
index d29e439..0372775 100644
Binary files a/ui/pages/__pycache__/settings.cpython-312.pyc and b/ui/pages/__pycache__/settings.cpython-312.pyc differ
diff --git a/ui/pages/__pycache__/sync.cpython-312.pyc b/ui/pages/__pycache__/sync.cpython-312.pyc
index 6489d90..45bd8e5 100644
Binary files a/ui/pages/__pycache__/sync.cpython-312.pyc and b/ui/pages/__pycache__/sync.cpython-312.pyc differ
diff --git a/ui/pages/artists.py b/ui/pages/artists.py
index 2c3e8fd..3fcef07 100644
--- a/ui/pages/artists.py
+++ b/ui/pages/artists.py
@@ -2714,9 +2714,26 @@ class DownloadMissingAlbumTracksModal(QDialog):
                 print(f"❌ Artist '{spotify_artist_name}' NOT found in path: '{slskd_full_path}'. Discarding candidate.")
 
         if verified_candidates:
+            # Apply quality preference filtering before returning
+            from config.settings import config_manager
+            quality_preference = config_manager.get_quality_preference()
+            
+            # Filter candidates by quality preference with smart fallback
+            if hasattr(self.parent_artists_page, 'soulseek_client'):
+                quality_filtered = self.parent_artists_page.soulseek_client.filter_results_by_quality_preference(
+                    verified_candidates, quality_preference
+                )
+                
+                if quality_filtered:
+                    verified_candidates = quality_filtered
+                    print(f"🎯 Applied quality filtering ({quality_preference}): {len(verified_candidates)} candidates remain")
+                else:
+                    print(f"⚠️ Quality filtering ({quality_preference}) removed all candidates, keeping originals")
+            
             best_confidence = verified_candidates[0].confidence
             best_version = getattr(verified_candidates[0], 'version_type', 'unknown')
-            print(f"✅ Found {len(verified_candidates)} VERIFIED matches for '{spotify_track.name}'. Best: {best_confidence:.2f} ({best_version})")
+            best_quality = getattr(verified_candidates[0], 'quality', 'unknown')
+            print(f"✅ Found {len(verified_candidates)} VERIFIED matches for '{spotify_track.name}'. Best: {best_confidence:.2f} ({best_version}, {best_quality.upper()})")
             
             # Log version breakdown for debugging
             version_counts = {}
@@ -2724,7 +2741,9 @@ class DownloadMissingAlbumTracksModal(QDialog):
                 version = getattr(candidate, 'version_type', 'unknown')
                 version_counts[version] = version_counts.get(version, 0) + 1
                 penalty = getattr(candidate, 'version_penalty', 0.0)
-                print(f"   🎵 {candidate.confidence:.2f} - {version} (penalty: {penalty:.2f}) - {candidate.filename[:100]}...")
+                quality = getattr(candidate, 'quality', 'unknown')
+                bitrate_info = f" {candidate.bitrate}kbps" if hasattr(candidate, 'bitrate') and candidate.bitrate else ""
+                print(f"   🎵 {candidate.confidence:.2f} - {version} ({quality.upper()}{bitrate_info}) (penalty: {penalty:.2f}) - {candidate.filename[:100]}...")
                 
         else:
             print(f"⚠️ No verified matches found for '{spotify_track.name}' after checking file paths.")
diff --git a/ui/pages/settings.py b/ui/pages/settings.py
index 90e96f7..9df5dde 100644
--- a/ui/pages/settings.py
+++ b/ui/pages/settings.py
@@ -579,6 +579,22 @@ class SettingsPage(QWidget):
             if hasattr(self, 'log_path_display'):
                 self.log_path_display.setText(logging_config.get('path', 'logs/app.log'))
             
+            # Load quality preference
+            if hasattr(self, 'quality_combo'):
+                audio_quality = config_manager.get('settings.audio_quality', 'FLAC')
+                # Map config values to combo box text
+                quality_mapping = {
+                    'flac': 'FLAC',
+                    'mp3_320': '320 kbps MP3',
+                    'mp3_256': '256 kbps MP3', 
+                    'mp3_192': '192 kbps MP3',
+                    'any': 'Any'
+                }
+                display_quality = quality_mapping.get(audio_quality.lower(), audio_quality)
+                index = self.quality_combo.findText(display_quality)
+                if index >= 0:
+                    self.quality_combo.setCurrentIndex(index)
+            
         except Exception as e:
             QMessageBox.warning(self, "Error", f"Failed to load configuration: {e}")
     
@@ -604,6 +620,20 @@ class SettingsPage(QWidget):
                 max_workers = int(self.max_workers_combo.currentText())
                 config_manager.set('database.max_workers', max_workers)
             
+            # Save Quality preference
+            if hasattr(self, 'quality_combo'):
+                quality_text = self.quality_combo.currentText()
+                # Map combo box text to config values
+                config_mapping = {
+                    'FLAC': 'flac',
+                    '320 kbps MP3': 'mp3_320',
+                    '256 kbps MP3': 'mp3_256',
+                    '192 kbps MP3': 'mp3_192',
+                    'Any': 'any'
+                }
+                config_value = config_mapping.get(quality_text, 'flac')
+                config_manager.set('settings.audio_quality', config_value)
+            
             # Emit signals for path changes to update other pages immediately
             self.settings_changed.emit('soulseek.download_path', self.download_path_input.text())
             self.settings_changed.emit('soulseek.transfer_path', self.transfer_path_input.text())
@@ -1218,14 +1248,15 @@ class SettingsPage(QWidget):
         quality_label = QLabel("Preferred Quality:")
         quality_label.setStyleSheet("color: #ffffff; font-size: 12px;")
         
-        quality_combo = QComboBox()
-        quality_combo.addItems(["FLAC", "320 kbps MP3", "256 kbps MP3", "192 kbps MP3", "Any"])
-        quality_combo.setCurrentText("FLAC")
-        quality_combo.setStyleSheet(self.get_combo_style())
-        quality_combo.setSizePolicy(QSizePolicy.Policy.Expanding, QSizePolicy.Policy.Fixed)
+        self.quality_combo = QComboBox()
+        self.quality_combo.addItems(["FLAC", "320 kbps MP3", "256 kbps MP3", "192 kbps MP3", "Any"])
+        self.quality_combo.setCurrentText("FLAC")
+        self.quality_combo.setStyleSheet(self.get_combo_style())
+        self.quality_combo.setSizePolicy(QSizePolicy.Policy.Expanding, QSizePolicy.Policy.Fixed)
+        self.form_inputs['settings.audio_quality'] = self.quality_combo
         
         quality_layout.addWidget(quality_label)
-        quality_layout.addWidget(quality_combo)
+        quality_layout.addWidget(self.quality_combo)
         
         # Download path
         path_container = QVBoxLayout()
diff --git a/ui/pages/sync.py b/ui/pages/sync.py
index d6e64f4..cbe6e17 100644
--- a/ui/pages/sync.py
+++ b/ui/pages/sync.py
@@ -291,12 +291,13 @@ class TrackDownloadWorkerSignals(QObject):
 class TrackDownloadWorker(QRunnable):
     """Background worker to download individual tracks via Soulseek"""
     
-    def __init__(self, spotify_track, soulseek_client, download_index, track_index):
+    def __init__(self, spotify_track, soulseek_client, download_index, track_index, quality_preference=None):
         super().__init__()
         self.spotify_track = spotify_track
         self.soulseek_client = soulseek_client
         self.download_index = download_index
         self.track_index = track_index
+        self.quality_preference = quality_preference or 'flac'
         self.signals = TrackDownloadWorkerSignals()
         self._cancelled = False
     
@@ -337,7 +338,7 @@ class TrackDownloadWorker(QRunnable):
                 
                 try:
                     download_id = loop.run_until_complete(
-                        self.soulseek_client.search_and_download_best(query)
+                        self.soulseek_client.search_and_download_best(query, self.quality_preference)
                     )
                     if download_id:
                         break  # Success - stop trying other queries
@@ -4628,15 +4629,34 @@ class DownloadMissingTracksModal(QDialog):
                 print(f"❌ Artist '{spotify_artist_name}' NOT found in path: '{slskd_full_path}'. Discarding candidate.")
 
         if verified_candidates:
+            # Apply quality preference filtering before returning
+            from config.settings import config_manager
+            quality_preference = config_manager.get_quality_preference()
+            
+            # Filter candidates by quality preference with smart fallback
+            if hasattr(self.parent_page, 'soulseek_client'):
+                quality_filtered = self.parent_page.soulseek_client.filter_results_by_quality_preference(
+                    verified_candidates, quality_preference
+                )
+                
+                if quality_filtered:
+                    verified_candidates = quality_filtered
+                    print(f"🎯 Applied quality filtering ({quality_preference}): {len(verified_candidates)} candidates remain")
+                else:
+                    print(f"⚠️ Quality filtering ({quality_preference}) removed all candidates, keeping originals")
+            
             best_confidence = verified_candidates[0].confidence
             best_version = getattr(verified_candidates[0], 'version_type', 'unknown')
-            print(f"✅ Found {len(verified_candidates)} VERIFIED matches for '{spotify_track.name}'. Best: {best_confidence:.2f} ({best_version})")
+            best_quality = getattr(verified_candidates[0], 'quality', 'unknown')
+            print(f"✅ Found {len(verified_candidates)} VERIFIED matches for '{spotify_track.name}'. Best: {best_confidence:.2f} ({best_version}, {best_quality.upper()})")
             
             # Log version breakdown for debugging
             for candidate in verified_candidates[:3]:  # Show top 3
                 version = getattr(candidate, 'version_type', 'unknown')
                 penalty = getattr(candidate, 'version_penalty', 0.0)
-                print(f"   🎵 {candidate.confidence:.2f} - {version} (penalty: {penalty:.2f}) - {candidate.filename[:80]}...")
+                quality = getattr(candidate, 'quality', 'unknown')
+                bitrate_info = f" {candidate.bitrate}kbps" if hasattr(candidate, 'bitrate') and candidate.bitrate else ""
+                print(f"   🎵 {candidate.confidence:.2f} - {version} ({quality.upper()}{bitrate_info}) (penalty: {penalty:.2f}) - {candidate.filename[:80]}...")
                 
         else:
             print(f"⚠️ No verified matches found for '{spotify_track.name}' after checking file paths.")