diff --git a/core/quality/model.py b/core/quality/model.py
index c827028c..bf1e496a 100644
--- a/core/quality/model.py
+++ b/core/quality/model.py
@@ -233,6 +233,11 @@ def v2_qualities_to_ranked_targets(qualities: dict) -> List[dict]:
         'mp3_320': {'format': 'mp3',  'min_bitrate': 320},
         'mp3_256': {'format': 'mp3',  'min_bitrate': 256},
         'mp3_192': {'format': 'mp3',  'min_bitrate': 192},
+        # AAC (#886): opt-in tier. Match on format alone — Soulseek AAC/.m4a
+        # rarely carries a bitrate attribute, so a min_bitrate gate would
+        # reject every bitrate-less AAC. Priority order (above MP3, below FLAC)
+        # is preserved by the caller's priority sort, not by min_bitrate.
+        'aac':     {'format': 'aac'},
     }
     enabled = [
         (cfg.get('priority', 999), name, cfg)
diff --git a/core/soulseek_client.py b/core/soulseek_client.py
index 9dfcedd0..3cc46d19 100644
--- a/core/soulseek_client.py
+++ b/core/soulseek_client.py
@@ -2048,6 +2048,16 @@ class SoulseekClient(DownloadSourcePlugin):
         targets = [QualityTarget.from_dict(t) for t in (raw_targets or [])]
         fallback_enabled = profile.get('fallback_enabled', True)
 
+        # AAC (#886) is an opt-in tier: keep AAC/.m4a candidates ONLY when the
+        # active profile explicitly targets AAC. Otherwise drop them BEFORE
+        # ranking — without this, fallback_enabled would hand back AAC files the
+        # user never asked for (pre-#886 such files landed in the dropped
+        # 'other' bucket and were never returned).
+        if not any((t.format or '').lower() == 'aac' for t in targets):
+            results = [r for r in results if (r.audio_quality.format or '').lower() != 'aac']
+            if not results:
+                return []
+
         logger.debug(
             "Quality Filter: profile='%s', %d targets, %d candidates",
             profile.get('preset', 'custom'), len(targets), len(results),
diff --git a/database/music_database.py b/database/music_database.py
index 492440d5..17ae6ecf 100644
--- a/database/music_database.py
+++ b/database/music_database.py
@@ -8907,18 +8907,36 @@ class MusicDatabase:
             {"label": "MP3 256kbps", "format": "mp3", "min_bitrate": 256},
             {"label": "MP3 192kbps", "format": "mp3", "min_bitrate": 192},
         ]
+        # Legacy v2 ``qualities`` dict carried alongside ranked_targets for
+        # backwards compat — read by the settings UI and the #886 AAC opt-in
+        # toggle. AAC ships OFF in every preset; its priority sits it above MP3
+        # but below FLAC (space_saver puts it at 0.5, still above its MP3 tiers).
+        def _quals(*, flac_en, flac_prio, mp3_320_en, mp3_256_en, mp3_192_en,
+                   mp3_320_prio=2, mp3_256_prio=3, mp3_192_prio=4, aac_prio=1.5):
+            return {
+                "flac":    {"enabled": flac_en, "min_kbps": 500, "max_kbps": 10000, "priority": flac_prio, "bit_depth": "any"},
+                "mp3_320": {"enabled": mp3_320_en, "min_kbps": 280, "max_kbps": 500, "priority": mp3_320_prio},
+                "mp3_256": {"enabled": mp3_256_en, "min_kbps": 200, "max_kbps": 400, "priority": mp3_256_prio},
+                "mp3_192": {"enabled": mp3_192_en, "min_kbps": 150, "max_kbps": 300, "priority": mp3_192_prio},
+                "aac":     {"enabled": False, "min_kbps": 128, "max_kbps": 400, "priority": aac_prio},
+            }
+
         presets = {
             "audiophile": {
                 "version": 3, "preset": "audiophile", "fallback_enabled": False,
                 "ranked_targets": _FLAC_24BIT_TARGETS,
+                "qualities": _quals(flac_en=True, flac_prio=1, mp3_320_en=False, mp3_256_en=False, mp3_192_en=False),
             },
             "balanced": {
                 "version": 3, "preset": "balanced", "fallback_enabled": True,
                 "ranked_targets": _FLAC_HI_RES_TARGETS + _MP3_TARGETS,
+                "qualities": _quals(flac_en=True, flac_prio=1, mp3_320_en=True, mp3_256_en=True, mp3_192_en=False),
             },
             "space_saver": {
                 "version": 3, "preset": "space_saver", "fallback_enabled": True,
                 "ranked_targets": _MP3_TARGETS,
+                "qualities": _quals(flac_en=False, flac_prio=4, mp3_320_en=True, mp3_256_en=True, mp3_192_en=True,
+                                    mp3_320_prio=1, mp3_256_prio=2, mp3_192_prio=3, aac_prio=0.5),
             },
         }