diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index b819201..7ba03dd 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -30,6 +30,21 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
   wire protocol, action names, and response shapes are unchanged.
 - Deployment guide reverse-proxy instructions now list `/api/ws` alongside
   `/ws` and `/api/admin/ws` as paths that need WebSocket-upgrade forwarding.
+- Admin Options panel no longer shows an "Active" badge on every wired
+  setting; only "Planned" badges are rendered for not-yet-implemented
+  options.
+- Admin Options "Audio Conversion" description now reads "Convert incoming
+  audio with FFmpeg before storing. Select the codec and bitrate below."
+  to reflect that MP3 and AAC outputs are both supported via the encoding
+  preset.
+
+### Fixed
+
+- Default `audioEncodingPreset` seeded into the settings table is now
+  `mp3_32k` (matching the dropdown's "(default)" label and the Go
+  `ParseEncodingPreset` fallback) instead of `aac_lc_32k`. New installs
+  enabling audio conversion will now default to MP3 32 kbps as the UI
+  advertises.
 
 ## [1.1.2] — 2026-04-24
 
diff --git a/backend/internal/audio/worker.go b/backend/internal/audio/worker.go
index 41a8043..a768880 100644
--- a/backend/internal/audio/worker.go
+++ b/backend/internal/audio/worker.go
@@ -23,12 +23,12 @@ const (
 type EncodingPreset string
 
 const (
-	PresetAACLC32k EncodingPreset = "aac_lc_32k" // AAC-LC 32 kbps (default)
+	PresetAACLC32k EncodingPreset = "aac_lc_32k" // AAC-LC 32 kbps
 	PresetAACLC24k EncodingPreset = "aac_lc_24k" // AAC-LC 24 kbps
 	PresetAACLC16k EncodingPreset = "aac_lc_16k" // AAC-LC 16 kbps
 	PresetHEAAC12k EncodingPreset = "he_aac_12k" // HE-AAC 12 kbps
 	PresetHEAAC8k  EncodingPreset = "he_aac_8k"  // HE-AAC  8 kbps
-	PresetMP3_32k  EncodingPreset = "mp3_32k"    // MP3  32 kbps
+	PresetMP3_32k  EncodingPreset = "mp3_32k"    // MP3  32 kbps (default)
 	PresetMP3_24k  EncodingPreset = "mp3_24k"    // MP3  24 kbps
 	PresetMP3_16k  EncodingPreset = "mp3_16k"    // MP3  16 kbps
 )
diff --git a/backend/internal/seed/seed.go b/backend/internal/seed/seed.go
index 0376d71..3c9faa1 100644
--- a/backend/internal/seed/seed.go
+++ b/backend/internal/seed/seed.go
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ func seedSettings(ctx context.Context, tx *sql.Tx) (bool, error) {
 		{"disableDuplicateDetection", "false"},
 		{"sortTalkgroups", "false"},
 		{"audioConversion", "0"},
-		{"audioEncodingPreset", "aac_lc_32k"},
+		{"audioEncodingPreset", "mp3_32k"},
 		{"showListenersCount", "false"},
 		{"tagsToggle", "false"},
 		{"playbackGoesLive", "false"},
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/admin/OptionsPanel.tsx b/frontend/src/components/admin/OptionsPanel.tsx
index 5ed70af..c2a1099 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/admin/OptionsPanel.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/admin/OptionsPanel.tsx
@@ -164,7 +164,8 @@ const DESCRIPTIONS: Record<string, string> = {
     "Include patched talkgroups in search results (may slow search).",
   showListenersCount:
     "Display the active listener count on the main scanner screen.",
-  audioConversion: "Convert incoming audio to AAC/M4A using FFmpeg.",
+  audioConversion:
+    "Convert incoming audio with FFmpeg before storing. Select the codec and bitrate below.",
   audioEncodingPreset:
     "Codec and bitrate for converted audio. HE-AAC presets require libfdk_aac in your FFmpeg build. Lower bitrates save storage; choose based on your quality needs.",
   disableDuplicateDetection:
@@ -309,11 +310,7 @@ export default function OptionsPanel() {
       <span className="badge badge-sm border-warning/30 bg-warning/10 text-warning">
         Planned
       </span>
-    ) : (
-      <span className="badge badge-sm border-success/30 bg-success/10 text-success">
-        Active
-      </span>
-    );
+    ) : null;
 
     if (isBooleanKey(key)) {
       return (