diff --git a/database/music_database.py b/database/music_database.py
index 335dacf5..3f0b137b 100644
--- a/database/music_database.py
+++ b/database/music_database.py
@@ -8653,11 +8653,16 @@ class MusicDatabase:
 
     def get_quality_preset(self, preset_name: str) -> dict:
         """Get a predefined quality preset (v3 format with ranked_targets)."""
-        _FLAC_HI_RES_TARGETS = [
+        # Strict 24-bit FLAC ladder — no 16-bit, no lossy. This is what
+        # "audiophile" means: only true hi-res passes.
+        _FLAC_24BIT_TARGETS = [
             {"label": "FLAC 24-bit/192kHz", "format": "flac", "bit_depth": 24, "min_sample_rate": 192000},
             {"label": "FLAC 24-bit/96kHz",  "format": "flac", "bit_depth": 24, "min_sample_rate": 96000},
             {"label": "FLAC 24-bit/48kHz",  "format": "flac", "bit_depth": 24, "min_sample_rate": 48000},
             {"label": "FLAC 24-bit/44.1kHz","format": "flac", "bit_depth": 24, "min_sample_rate": 44100},
+        ]
+        # Lossless ladder used by "balanced" — hi-res first, then CD-quality 16-bit.
+        _FLAC_HI_RES_TARGETS = _FLAC_24BIT_TARGETS + [
             {"label": "FLAC 16-bit",        "format": "flac", "bit_depth": 16},
         ]
         _MP3_TARGETS = [
@@ -8668,7 +8673,7 @@ class MusicDatabase:
         presets = {
             "audiophile": {
                 "version": 3, "preset": "audiophile", "fallback_enabled": False,
-                "ranked_targets": _FLAC_HI_RES_TARGETS,
+                "ranked_targets": _FLAC_24BIT_TARGETS,
             },
             "balanced": {
                 "version": 3, "preset": "balanced", "fallback_enabled": True,
diff --git a/tests/quality/test_quality_presets.py b/tests/quality/test_quality_presets.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..2ffcfaa0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/quality/test_quality_presets.py
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+"""Quality presets — the built-in ranked-target ladders behind the preset
+buttons. `audiophile` must be STRICT hi-res (no 16-bit, no lossy, fallback off)
+so a user who wants "24-bit only" gets it in one click; `balanced` keeps the
+fuller ladder (16-bit + MP3) with fallback on.
+"""
+
+from database.music_database import MusicDatabase
+
+
+def _preset(name):
+    # get_quality_preset doesn't touch self/DB — call unbound to avoid setup.
+    return MusicDatabase.get_quality_preset(None, name)
+
+
+def _labels(profile):
+    return [t['label'] for t in profile['ranked_targets']]
+
+
+def test_audiophile_is_strict_24bit_only():
+    p = _preset('audiophile')
+    assert p['fallback_enabled'] is False
+    labels = _labels(p)
+    assert all('24-bit' in l for l in labels)       # only 24-bit FLAC
+    assert 'FLAC 16-bit' not in labels
+    assert not any('MP3' in l for l in labels)
+
+
+def test_balanced_still_includes_16bit_and_mp3():
+    p = _preset('balanced')
+    labels = _labels(p)
+    assert 'FLAC 16-bit' in labels
+    assert any('MP3' in l for l in labels)
+    assert p['fallback_enabled'] is True