diff --git a/downloader.py b/downloader.py
index 01ddb5f..72a94bb 100644
--- a/downloader.py
+++ b/downloader.py
@@ -1,18 +1,108 @@
 import requests
 import os
 import re
+import shutil
 
 def clean_filename(title):
     # Remove quotes and illegal characters
     title = title.strip("'").strip('"')
     return re.sub(r'[\\/*?:"<>|]', "", title)
 
+def _ensure_music_dir():
+    if not os.path.exists("music"):
+        os.makedirs("music")
+
+def _normalize_quality_kbps(quality):
+    try:
+        q = int(str(quality).strip())
+    except Exception:
+        q = 320
+    # Clamp to the expected UI values
+    if q <= 128:
+        return 128
+    if q <= 192:
+        return 192
+    return 320
+
+def _can_use_ytdlp():
+    # yt-dlp needs ffmpeg to reliably output MP3.
+    if shutil.which("ffmpeg") is None:
+        return False
+    try:
+        import yt_dlp  # noqa: F401
+        return True
+    except Exception:
+        return False
+
+def _download_with_ytdlp(url, quality_kbps):
+    import yt_dlp
+
+    _ensure_music_dir()
+
+    # Force a predictable output location. yt-dlp will sanitize filenames.
+    outtmpl = os.path.join("music", "%(title)s.%(ext)s")
+
+    ydl_opts = {
+        "format": "bestaudio/best",
+        "outtmpl": outtmpl,
+        "noplaylist": True,
+        "quiet": True,
+        "no_warnings": True,
+        "overwrites": False,
+        "postprocessors": [
+            {
+                "key": "FFmpegExtractAudio",
+                "preferredcodec": "mp3",
+            }
+        ],
+        # Best-effort attempt to honor the UI bitrate selector.
+        # Note: This depends on ffmpeg, and the source may not have enough fidelity.
+        "postprocessor_args": ["-b:a", f"{quality_kbps}k"],
+    }
+
+    with yt_dlp.YoutubeDL(ydl_opts) as ydl:
+        info = ydl.extract_info(url, download=True)
+
+    # Handle playlist-like responses defensively even though noplaylist=True.
+    if isinstance(info, dict) and "entries" in info and info["entries"]:
+        info = info["entries"][0]
+
+    # Compute final mp3 path.
+    # prepare_filename returns the pre-postprocessed path, so swap extension.
+    base_path = None
+    if isinstance(info, dict):
+        try:
+            base_path = yt_dlp.YoutubeDL({"outtmpl": outtmpl}).prepare_filename(info)
+        except Exception:
+            base_path = None
+
+    if base_path:
+        mp3_path = os.path.splitext(base_path)[0] + ".mp3"
+        title = os.path.splitext(os.path.basename(mp3_path))[0]
+        return {"success": True, "title": title}
+
+    # Fallback return if we couldn't derive paths
+    return {"success": True, "title": "downloaded"}
+
 def download_mp3(url, quality='320'):
     print(f"\n🔍 Processing: {url}")
+
+    quality_kbps = _normalize_quality_kbps(quality)
+
+    # Prefer yt-dlp for YouTube because it can actually control MP3 output bitrate.
+    if _can_use_ytdlp():
+        try:
+            print(f"⬇️ Downloading via yt-dlp @ {quality_kbps}kbps...")
+            return _download_with_ytdlp(url, quality_kbps)
+        except Exception as e:
+            # If yt-dlp fails for any reason, fall back to the existing Cobalt flow.
+            print(f"⚠️ yt-dlp failed, falling back to Cobalt: {e}")
     
     try:
         # Use Cobalt v9 API to download
         print("🌐 Requesting download from Cobalt API v9...")
+
+        _ensure_music_dir()
         
         response = requests.post(
             'https://api.cobalt.tools/api/v9/process',
@@ -95,8 +185,7 @@ def download_mp3(url, quality='320'):
         return {"success": False, "error": str(e)}
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
-    if not os.path.exists("music"):
-        os.makedirs("music")
+    _ensure_music_dir()
 
     print("--- TECHDJ DOWNLOADER (via Cobalt API) ---")
     while True:
diff --git a/index.html b/index.html
index 852d1be..3b3ca28 100644
--- a/index.html
+++ b/index.html
@@ -375,8 +375,8 @@
             <div class="stream-url-section">
                 <label>Share this URL:</label>
                 <div class="url-copy-group">
-                    <input type="text" id="stream-url" readonly value="http://localhost:5000?listen=true">
-                    <button onclick="copyStreamUrl()" class="copy-btn">📋</button>
+                    <input type="text" id="stream-url" readonly value="http://localhost:5001">
+                    <button onclick="copyStreamUrl(event)" class="copy-btn">📋</button>
                 </div>
             </div>
 
diff --git a/requirements.txt b/requirements.txt
index b16028e..ef0a4ae 100644
--- a/requirements.txt
+++ b/requirements.txt
@@ -4,4 +4,5 @@ flask-socketio
 yt-dlp
 eventlet
 python-dotenv
+requests
 
diff --git a/script.js b/script.js
index 81741be..0648f57 100644
--- a/script.js
+++ b/script.js
@@ -1551,12 +1551,25 @@ function initSocket() {
     if (socket) return socket;
 
     // Log connection details
-    const serverUrl = window.location.origin;
+    const urlParams = new URLSearchParams(window.location.search);
+    const isListenerMode =
+        window.location.port === '5001' ||
+        window.location.hostname.startsWith('music.') ||
+        window.location.hostname.startsWith('listen.') ||
+        urlParams.get('listen') === 'true';
+
+    // If someone opens listener mode on the DJ port (e.g. :5000?listen=true),
+    // force the Socket.IO connection to the listener backend (:5001).
+    const serverUrl = (isListenerMode && window.location.port !== '5001' &&
+        !window.location.hostname.startsWith('music.') &&
+        !window.location.hostname.startsWith('listen.'))
+        ? `${window.location.protocol}//${window.location.hostname}:5001`
+        : window.location.origin;
     console.log(`🔌 Initializing Socket.IO connection to: ${serverUrl}`);
     console.log(`   Protocol: ${window.location.protocol}`);
     console.log(`   Host: ${window.location.host}`);
 
-    socket = io({
+    socket = io(serverUrl, {
         transports: ['websocket'],
         reconnection: true,
         reconnectionAttempts: 10
@@ -2025,14 +2038,14 @@ function restartBroadcast() {
 }
 
 // Copy stream URL to clipboard
-function copyStreamUrl() {
+function copyStreamUrl(evt) {
     const urlInput = document.getElementById('stream-url');
     urlInput.select();
     urlInput.setSelectionRange(0, 99999); // For mobile
 
     try {
         document.execCommand('copy');
-        const btn = event.target;
+        const btn = evt?.target;
         const originalText = btn.textContent;
         btn.textContent = '✓';
         setTimeout(() => {
@@ -2142,10 +2155,6 @@ function initListenerMode() {
             sourceBuffer = mediaSource.addSourceBuffer('audio/webm;codecs=opus');
             sourceBuffer.mode = 'sequence';
 
-            // Request the startup header now that we are ready to receive it
-            console.log('📡 Requesting stream header...');
-            socket.emit('request_header');
-
             // Kick off first append if data is already in queue
             if (audioQueue.length > 0 && !sourceBuffer.updating && mediaSource.readyState === 'open') {
                 sourceBuffer.appendBuffer(audioQueue.shift());
@@ -2229,9 +2238,6 @@ function initListenerMode() {
                         audioQueue = [];
                         chunksReceived = 0;
                         window.sourceBufferErrorCount = 0;
-                        setTimeout(() => {
-                            if (socket) socket.emit('request_header');
-                        }, 1000);
                     }
                 }
             }
@@ -2317,7 +2323,12 @@ async function enableListenerAudio() {
 
             // Unmute just in case
             window.listenerAudio.muted = false;
-            window.listenerAudio.volume = settings.volume || 0.8;
+            // Volume is controlled via listenerGainNode; keep element volume sane.
+            window.listenerAudio.volume = 1.0;
+
+            const volEl = document.getElementById('listener-volume');
+            const volValue = volEl ? parseInt(volEl.value, 10) : 80;
+            setListenerVolume(Number.isFinite(volValue) ? volValue : 80);
 
             // Check if we have buffered data
             const hasBufferedData = () => {
diff --git a/server.py b/server.py
index 12be00e..0575640 100644
--- a/server.py
+++ b/server.py
@@ -14,7 +14,8 @@ import downloader
 broadcast_state = {
     'active': False
 }
-listener_count = 0
+listener_sids = set()
+dj_sids = set()
 MUSIC_FOLDER = "music"
 # Ensure music folder exists
 if not os.path.exists(MUSIC_FOLDER):
@@ -36,7 +37,7 @@ def setup_shared_routes(app):
 
     @app.route('/download', methods=['POST'])
     def download():
-        data = request.json
+        data = request.get_json(silent=True) or {}
         url = data.get('url')
         quality = data.get('quality', '320')
         if not url:
@@ -155,15 +156,12 @@ dj_socketio = SocketIO(
 @dj_socketio.on('connect')
 def dj_connect():
     print(f"🎧 DJ connected: {request.sid}")
-    session['is_dj'] = True
+    dj_sids.add(request.sid)
 
 @dj_socketio.on('disconnect')
 def dj_disconnect():
-    if session.get('is_dj'):
-        print("⚠️ DJ disconnected - broadcast will continue until manually stopped")
-        session['is_dj'] = False
-        # Don't stop streaming_active - let it continue
-        # Broadcast will resume when DJ reconnects
+    dj_sids.discard(request.sid)
+    print("⚠️ DJ disconnected - broadcast will continue until manually stopped")
 
 def stop_broadcast_after_timeout():
     """No longer used - broadcasts don't auto-stop"""
@@ -193,7 +191,7 @@ def dj_audio(data):
     if broadcast_state['active']:
         listener_socketio.emit('audio_data', data, namespace='/')
 
-# === LISTENER SERVER (Port 6000) ===
+# === LISTENER SERVER (Port 5001) ===
 listener_app = Flask(__name__, static_folder='.', static_url_path='')
 listener_app.config['SECRET_KEY'] = 'listener_secret'
 setup_shared_routes(listener_app)
@@ -214,39 +212,27 @@ def listener_connect():
 
 @listener_socketio.on('disconnect')
 def listener_disconnect():
-    global listener_count
-    if session.get('is_listener'):
-        # Clear session flag FIRST to prevent re-entry issues
-        session['is_listener'] = False
-        listener_count = max(0, listener_count - 1)
-        print(f"❌ Listener left. Total: {listener_count}")
-        # Broadcast to all listeners
-        listener_socketio.emit('listener_count', {'count': listener_count}, namespace='/')
-        # Broadcast to all DJs
-        dj_socketio.emit('listener_count', {'count': listener_count}, namespace='/')
+    if request.sid in listener_sids:
+        listener_sids.discard(request.sid)
+        count = len(listener_sids)
+        print(f"❌ Listener left. Total: {count}")
+        listener_socketio.emit('listener_count', {'count': count}, namespace='/')
+        dj_socketio.emit('listener_count', {'count': count}, namespace='/')
 
 @listener_socketio.on('join_listener')
 def listener_join():
-    global listener_count
-    if not session.get('is_listener'):
-        session['is_listener'] = True
-        listener_count += 1
-        print(f"👂 New listener joined. Total: {listener_count}")
-        # Broadcast to all listeners
-        listener_socketio.emit('listener_count', {'count': listener_count}, namespace='/')
-        # Broadcast to all DJs
-        dj_socketio.emit('listener_count', {'count': listener_count}, namespace='/')
+    if request.sid not in listener_sids:
+        listener_sids.add(request.sid)
+        count = len(listener_sids)
+        print(f"👂 New listener joined. Total: {count}")
+        listener_socketio.emit('listener_count', {'count': count}, namespace='/')
+        dj_socketio.emit('listener_count', {'count': count}, namespace='/')
     
     emit('stream_status', {'active': broadcast_state['active']})
 
-@listener_socketio.on('request_header')
-def handle_request_header():
-    # Header logic removed for local relay mode
-    pass
-
 @listener_socketio.on('get_listener_count')
 def listener_get_count():
-    emit('listener_count', {'count': listener_count})
+    emit('listener_count', {'count': len(listener_sids)})
 
 # DJ Panel Routes (No engine commands needed in local mode)
 @dj_socketio.on('get_mixer_status')