diff --git a/js/player.js b/js/player.js
index a3e56f1..f39bc67 100644
--- a/js/player.js
+++ b/js/player.js
@@ -555,6 +555,17 @@ export class Player {
                                     if (stats && stats.estimatedBandwidth) {
                                         preloadConfig.abr.defaultBandwidthEstimate = stats.estimatedBandwidth;
                                     }
+                                    
+                                    // Lock the preload to the exact current audio codec to prevent ABR mismatch,
+                                    // which forces the player to discard and re-fetch chunks on slow connections.
+                                    preloadConfig.abr.enabled = false;
+                                    try {
+                                        const variants = typeof this.shakaPlayer.getVariantTracks === 'function' ? this.shakaPlayer.getVariantTracks() : [];
+                                        const activeVariant = variants.find(v => v.active);
+                                        if (activeVariant && activeVariant.audioCodec) {
+                                            preloadConfig.preferredAudioCodecs = [activeVariant.audioCodec];
+                                        }
+                                    } catch (e) {}
                                 }
                                 const preloadManager = await this.shakaPlayer.preload(streamUrl, null, null, preloadConfig);
                                 streamInfo.preloadManager = preloadManager;