diff --git a/packages/studio/src/player/components/PlayerControls.test.ts b/packages/studio/src/player/components/PlayerControls.test.ts
index fad6e3cd6..84f23ac59 100644
--- a/packages/studio/src/player/components/PlayerControls.test.ts
+++ b/packages/studio/src/player/components/PlayerControls.test.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 import { describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
 import { resolveSeekPercent } from "./PlayerControls";
-import { shouldMutePreviewAudio } from "../lib/timelineIframeHelpers";
 
 describe("resolveSeekPercent", () => {
   it("returns 0 when the track width is invalid", () => {
@@ -19,19 +18,3 @@ describe("resolveSeekPercent", () => {
     expect(resolveSeekPercent(150, 100, 200)).toBe(0.25);
   });
 });
-
-describe("shouldMutePreviewAudio", () => {
-  it("mutes when the user toggled audio off", () => {
-    expect(shouldMutePreviewAudio(true, 1)).toBe(true);
-  });
-
-  it("auto-mutes above 1x playback", () => {
-    expect(shouldMutePreviewAudio(false, 1.5)).toBe(true);
-    expect(shouldMutePreviewAudio(false, 2)).toBe(true);
-  });
-
-  it("keeps audio on at 1x or slower when the user has not muted it", () => {
-    expect(shouldMutePreviewAudio(false, 1)).toBe(false);
-    expect(shouldMutePreviewAudio(false, 0.5)).toBe(false);
-  });
-});
diff --git a/packages/studio/src/player/components/PlayerControls.tsx b/packages/studio/src/player/components/PlayerControls.tsx
index dd32c1342..0ebe6ec2d 100644
--- a/packages/studio/src/player/components/PlayerControls.tsx
+++ b/packages/studio/src/player/components/PlayerControls.tsx
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@ import { useRef, useCallback, useEffect, memo } from "react";
 import gsap from "gsap";
 import { MorphSVGPlugin } from "gsap/MorphSVGPlugin";
 import { formatFrameTime, formatTime, stepFrameTime } from "../lib/time";
-import { shouldMutePreviewAudio } from "../lib/timelineIframeHelpers";
 import { usePlayerStore } from "../store/playerStore";
 import { trackStudioEvent } from "../../utils/studioTelemetry";
 import { Tooltip } from "../../components/ui";
@@ -60,40 +59,30 @@ function PlayPauseMorphIcon({ playing }: { playing: boolean }) {
 
 const MuteButton = memo(function MuteButton({
   audioMuted,
-  audioAutoMuted,
-  effectiveAudioMuted,
   controlsDisabled,
   setAudioMuted,
 }: {
   audioMuted: boolean;
-  audioAutoMuted: boolean;
-  effectiveAudioMuted: boolean;
   controlsDisabled: boolean;
   setAudioMuted: (v: boolean) => void;
 }) {
-  const label = audioAutoMuted
-    ? "Audio muted above 1x speed"
-    : audioMuted
-      ? "Unmute audio"
-      : "Mute audio";
+  const label = audioMuted ? "Unmute audio" : "Mute audio";
   return (
     <Tooltip label={label}>
       <button
         type="button"
         onClick={() => {
-          if (!audioAutoMuted) {
-            trackStudioEvent("playback", { action: "mute_toggle", muted: !audioMuted });
-            setAudioMuted(!audioMuted);
-          }
+          trackStudioEvent("playback", { action: "mute_toggle", muted: !audioMuted });
+          setAudioMuted(!audioMuted);
         }}
-        disabled={controlsDisabled || audioAutoMuted}
+        disabled={controlsDisabled}
         aria-label={label}
-        aria-pressed={effectiveAudioMuted}
+        aria-pressed={audioMuted}
         className={`h-7 w-7 flex-shrink-0 flex items-center justify-center rounded-md border transition-colors disabled:pointer-events-none ${
-          effectiveAudioMuted
+          audioMuted
             ? "text-studio-accent bg-studio-accent/10 border-studio-accent/30"
             : "border-neutral-700 text-neutral-400 hover:border-neutral-500 hover:bg-neutral-800"
-        } ${audioAutoMuted ? "opacity-70" : ""}`}
+        }`}
       >
         <svg
           width="13"
@@ -107,7 +96,7 @@ const MuteButton = memo(function MuteButton({
           aria-hidden="true"
         >
           <path d="M11 5 6 9H3v6h3l5 4V5Z" />
-          {effectiveAudioMuted ? (
+          {audioMuted ? (
             <>
               <path d="m19 9-6 6" />
               <path d="m13 9 6 6" />
@@ -383,8 +372,6 @@ export const PlayerControls = memo(function PlayerControls({
   const durationRef = useRef(duration);
   durationRef.current = duration;
   const controlsDisabled = disabled || !timelineReady;
-  const audioAutoMuted = playbackRate > 1;
-  const effectiveAudioMuted = shouldMutePreviewAudio(audioMuted, playbackRate);
 
   useEffect(() => {
     if (!timeDisplayRef.current) return;
@@ -486,8 +473,6 @@ export const PlayerControls = memo(function PlayerControls({
 
       <MuteButton
         audioMuted={audioMuted}
-        audioAutoMuted={audioAutoMuted}
-        effectiveAudioMuted={effectiveAudioMuted}
         controlsDisabled={controlsDisabled}
         setAudioMuted={setAudioMuted}
       />
diff --git a/packages/studio/src/player/hooks/usePlaybackKeyboard.test.ts b/packages/studio/src/player/hooks/usePlaybackKeyboard.test.ts
index ddd1bb413..dc61a3b47 100644
--- a/packages/studio/src/player/hooks/usePlaybackKeyboard.test.ts
+++ b/packages/studio/src/player/hooks/usePlaybackKeyboard.test.ts
@@ -189,7 +189,7 @@ describe("usePlaybackKeyboard — mute & loop shortcuts (#905)", () => {
     expect(usePlayerStore.getState().audioMuted).toBe(false);
   });
 
-  it("M does NOT toggle audioMuted above 1x playback (matches button gating)", () => {
+  it("M toggles audioMuted above 1x playback too", () => {
     const { dispatch } = setupHook();
     usePlayerStore.setState({ playbackRate: 2, audioMuted: false });
 
@@ -197,7 +197,7 @@ describe("usePlaybackKeyboard — mute & loop shortcuts (#905)", () => {
       dispatch(keydown({ code: "KeyM", key: "m" }));
     });
 
-    expect(usePlayerStore.getState().audioMuted).toBe(false);
+    expect(usePlayerStore.getState().audioMuted).toBe(true);
   });
 
   it("Shift+L toggles loopEnabled without starting forward shuttle", () => {
diff --git a/packages/studio/src/player/hooks/usePlaybackKeyboard.ts b/packages/studio/src/player/hooks/usePlaybackKeyboard.ts
index 6e7ee1098..6ebb56167 100644
--- a/packages/studio/src/player/hooks/usePlaybackKeyboard.ts
+++ b/packages/studio/src/player/hooks/usePlaybackKeyboard.ts
@@ -116,10 +116,7 @@ export function usePlaybackKeyboard({
       if (key === "m") {
         e.preventDefault();
         const state = usePlayerStore.getState();
-        // Audio is force-muted above 1x playback — match the mute button's gating.
-        if (state.playbackRate <= 1) {
-          state.setAudioMuted(!state.audioMuted);
-        }
+        state.setAudioMuted(!state.audioMuted);
         return;
       }
       if (key === "l" && e.shiftKey) {
diff --git a/packages/studio/src/player/hooks/useTimelinePlayer.seek.test.ts b/packages/studio/src/player/hooks/useTimelinePlayer.seek.test.ts
index 45db5c9fc..cdafb4596 100644
--- a/packages/studio/src/player/hooks/useTimelinePlayer.seek.test.ts
+++ b/packages/studio/src/player/hooks/useTimelinePlayer.seek.test.ts
@@ -211,7 +211,7 @@ describe("useTimelinePlayer seek hydration", () => {
 });
 
 describe("useTimelinePlayer audio controls (#835)", () => {
-  it("applies playback-rate changes immediately and auto-mutes audio above 1x", () => {
+  it("applies playback-rate changes immediately and keeps audio unmuted above 1x", () => {
     const { api, root } = renderTimelinePlayerHarness();
     const postMessage = vi.fn();
     const timeScale = vi.fn();
@@ -244,7 +244,7 @@ describe("useTimelinePlayer audio controls (#835)", () => {
         source: "hf-parent",
         type: "control",
         action: "set-muted",
-        muted: true,
+        muted: false,
       }),
       "*",
     );
diff --git a/packages/studio/src/player/hooks/useTimelinePlayer.ts b/packages/studio/src/player/hooks/useTimelinePlayer.ts
index 44bb17717..39be707e6 100644
--- a/packages/studio/src/player/hooks/useTimelinePlayer.ts
+++ b/packages/studio/src/player/hooks/useTimelinePlayer.ts
@@ -37,11 +37,7 @@ import {
   parseTimelineFromDOM,
 } from "../lib/timelineDOM";
 import { normalizeToZones } from "../components/timelineZones";
-import {
-  setPreviewMediaMuted,
-  setPreviewPlaybackRate,
-  shouldMutePreviewAudio,
-} from "../lib/timelineIframeHelpers";
+import { setPreviewMediaMuted, setPreviewPlaybackRate } from "../lib/timelineIframeHelpers";
 import { scrubMusicAtSeek, stopScrubPreviewAudio } from "../lib/playbackScrub";
 import { applyCachedSourceDurations, probeMissingSourceDurations } from "../lib/mediaProbe";
 import { shouldResumeForwardPlaybackAfterSeek, shouldStopAfterSeek } from "../lib/playbackSeek";
@@ -241,13 +237,9 @@ export function useTimelinePlayer() {
       }
     } catch {}
   }, []);
-  const applyPreviewAudioState = useCallback((playbackRateOverride?: number) => {
-    const { audioMuted, playbackRate } = usePlayerStore.getState();
-    const effectivePlaybackRate = playbackRateOverride ?? playbackRate;
-    setPreviewMediaMuted(
-      iframeRef.current,
-      shouldMutePreviewAudio(audioMuted, effectivePlaybackRate),
-    );
+  const applyPreviewAudioState = useCallback(() => {
+    const { audioMuted } = usePlayerStore.getState();
+    setPreviewMediaMuted(iframeRef.current, audioMuted);
   }, []);
   const play = useCallback(() => {
     stopRAFLoop();
@@ -285,7 +277,7 @@ export function useTimelinePlayer() {
       if (initialTime !== adapter.getTime()) adapter.seek(initialTime);
       const speed = Math.max(0.1, Math.min(4, rate));
       applyPlaybackRate(speed);
-      applyPreviewAudioState(speed);
+      applyPreviewAudioState();
       let startTime = initialTime;
       let startedAt = performance.now();
 
diff --git a/packages/studio/src/player/lib/timelineDOM.ts b/packages/studio/src/player/lib/timelineDOM.ts
index 0819582b5..a8730caa4 100644
--- a/packages/studio/src/player/lib/timelineDOM.ts
+++ b/packages/studio/src/player/lib/timelineDOM.ts
@@ -55,7 +55,6 @@ export {
   autoHealMissingCompositionIds,
   setPreviewMediaMuted,
   setPreviewPlaybackRate,
-  shouldMutePreviewAudio,
   resolveIframe,
   buildMissingCompositionElements,
 } from "./timelineIframeHelpers";
diff --git a/packages/studio/src/player/lib/timelineIframeHelpers.ts b/packages/studio/src/player/lib/timelineIframeHelpers.ts
index 7885ccbfc..9be165f1d 100644
--- a/packages/studio/src/player/lib/timelineIframeHelpers.ts
+++ b/packages/studio/src/player/lib/timelineIframeHelpers.ts
@@ -111,10 +111,6 @@ function postPreviewControl(
   postRuntimeControlMessage(iframe.contentWindow, action, payload);
 }
 
-export function shouldMutePreviewAudio(audioMuted: boolean, playbackRate: number): boolean {
-  return audioMuted || playbackRate > 1;
-}
-
 export function setPreviewMediaMuted(iframe: HTMLIFrameElement | null, muted: boolean): void {
   if (!iframe) return;
   try {