diff --git a/pi/bin/video-publisher.sh b/pi/bin/video-publisher.sh
index 0b17a528..340eae47 100644
--- a/pi/bin/video-publisher.sh
+++ b/pi/bin/video-publisher.sh
@@ -31,10 +31,10 @@ VIDEO_BITRATE="${VIDEO_BITRATE:-3000000}"
 AUDIO_ENABLE="${AUDIO_ENABLE:-0}"
 AUDIO_DEVICE="${AUDIO_DEVICE:-plughw:0,0}"
 AUDIO_CODEC="pcm_s16le"
-# Keep the audio path simple for the Pi Zero; we hardcode a single PCM profile.
-AUDIO_RATE=16000
-AUDIO_CHANNELS=1
-AUDIO_DEVICE="plughw:0,0"
+# Keep the audio path simple for the Pi Zero; default to PCM, and honor any rate/channels provided.
+AUDIO_RATE="${AUDIO_RATE:-48000}"
+AUDIO_CHANNELS="${AUDIO_CHANNELS:-1}"
+AUDIO_DEVICE="${AUDIO_DEVICE:-plughw:0,0}"
 # Flip the camera 180deg (supported by rpicam-vid/libcamera-vid)
 FLIP_ARGS=(--rotation 180)
 
diff --git a/pi/install_roverd.sh b/pi/install_roverd.sh
index 57a766a7..2142307b 100755
--- a/pi/install_roverd.sh
+++ b/pi/install_roverd.sh
@@ -207,8 +207,8 @@ VIDEO_HEIGHT=720
 VIDEO_FPS=30
 VIDEO_BITRATE=2000000
 AUDIO_ENABLE=0
-AUDIO_DEVICE=plughw:0,0
-AUDIO_RATE=16000
+AUDIO_DEVICE=hw:0,0
+AUDIO_RATE=48000
 AUDIO_CHANNELS=1
 ENV
 chown roverd:roverd /var/lib/roverd/video.env
diff --git a/pi/roverd/config.go b/pi/roverd/config.go
index 206f98d6..9714e84f 100644
--- a/pi/roverd/config.go
+++ b/pi/roverd/config.go
@@ -142,8 +142,8 @@ func LoadConfig(path string) (*Config, error) {
 		},
 		Audio: AudioConfig{
 			CaptureEnabled: false,
-			CaptureDevice:  "plughw:0,0",
-			SampleRate:     16000,
+			CaptureDevice:  "hw:0,0",
+			SampleRate:     48000,
 			Channels:       1,
 			Bitrate:        24000,
 			TTSEnabled:     false,
@@ -246,10 +246,10 @@ func clampFloat(value, min, max float64) float64 {
 
 func validateAudioConfig(cfg *AudioConfig) {
 	if cfg.CaptureEnabled && cfg.CaptureDevice == "" {
-		cfg.CaptureDevice = "default"
+		cfg.CaptureDevice = "hw:0,0"
 	}
 	if cfg.SampleRate <= 0 {
-		cfg.SampleRate = 16000
+		cfg.SampleRate = 48000
 	}
 	if cfg.Channels <= 0 {
 		cfg.Channels = 1
diff --git a/pi/roverd/media_env.go b/pi/roverd/media_env.go
index 6a278953..4931607c 100644
--- a/pi/roverd/media_env.go
+++ b/pi/roverd/media_env.go
@@ -27,10 +27,10 @@ func UpdatePublisherEnv(media MediaConfig, audio AudioConfig) error {
 	fmt.Fprintf(&buf, "VIDEO_BITRATE=%d\n", media.VideoBitrate)
 	audioDevice := audio.CaptureDevice
 	if audioDevice == "" {
-		audioDevice = "plughw:0,0"
+		audioDevice = "hw:0,0"
 	}
 	if audio.SampleRate <= 0 {
-		audio.SampleRate = 16000
+		audio.SampleRate = 48000
 	}
 	if audio.Channels <= 0 {
 		audio.Channels = 1
diff --git a/pi/roverd/roverd.sample.yaml b/pi/roverd/roverd.sample.yaml
index 2fc58426..7cae8915 100644
--- a/pi/roverd/roverd.sample.yaml
+++ b/pi/roverd/roverd.sample.yaml
@@ -39,8 +39,8 @@ cameraServo:
   allowRawPulse: false
 audio:
   captureEnabled: false
-  captureDevice: plughw:0,0
-  sampleRate: 16000
+  captureDevice: hw:0,0
+  sampleRate: 48000
   channels: 1
   bitrate: 24000
   ttsEnabled: false