diff --git a/amethyst/src/main/java/com/vitorpamplona/amethyst/service/audiorooms/AudioRoomForegroundService.kt b/amethyst/src/main/java/com/vitorpamplona/amethyst/service/audiorooms/AudioRoomForegroundService.kt
index f11da1cc3..1ab269889 100644
--- a/amethyst/src/main/java/com/vitorpamplona/amethyst/service/audiorooms/AudioRoomForegroundService.kt
+++ b/amethyst/src/main/java/com/vitorpamplona/amethyst/service/audiorooms/AudioRoomForegroundService.kt
@@ -57,6 +57,7 @@ import com.vitorpamplona.amethyst.ui.MainActivity
 class AudioRoomForegroundService : Service() {
     private var wakeLock: PowerManager.WakeLock? = null
     private var promoted = false
+    private var audioFocusRequest: android.media.AudioFocusRequest? = null
 
     override fun onCreate() {
         super.onCreate()
@@ -65,6 +66,43 @@ class AudioRoomForegroundService : Service() {
             (getSystemService(Context.POWER_SERVICE) as PowerManager)
                 .newWakeLock(PowerManager.PARTIAL_WAKE_LOCK, "amethyst:audio-room")
                 .apply { setReferenceCounted(false) }
+        requestAudioFocus()
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Request transient-may-duck audio focus so an inbound phone
+     * call lowers the room volume cleanly instead of mixing two
+     * voices on top of each other. Acquired once per service
+     * lifetime; released in [onDestroy].
+     */
+    private fun requestAudioFocus() {
+        if (audioFocusRequest != null) return
+        val mgr = getSystemService(Context.AUDIO_SERVICE) as android.media.AudioManager
+        val attrs =
+            android.media.AudioAttributes
+                .Builder()
+                .setUsage(android.media.AudioAttributes.USAGE_VOICE_COMMUNICATION)
+                .setContentType(android.media.AudioAttributes.CONTENT_TYPE_SPEECH)
+                .build()
+        val request =
+            android.media.AudioFocusRequest
+                .Builder(android.media.AudioManager.AUDIOFOCUS_GAIN)
+                .setAudioAttributes(attrs)
+                .setAcceptsDelayedFocusGain(false)
+                .setOnAudioFocusChangeListener({ /* no-op — duck-on-loss handled by the OS */ })
+                .build()
+        // Best-effort: a refused request just means the OS will
+        // duck/pause us based on its own policy. Don't fail the
+        // service start over a focus denial.
+        runCatching { mgr.requestAudioFocus(request) }
+        audioFocusRequest = request
+    }
+
+    private fun abandonAudioFocus() {
+        val request = audioFocusRequest ?: return
+        val mgr = getSystemService(Context.AUDIO_SERVICE) as android.media.AudioManager
+        runCatching { mgr.abandonAudioFocusRequest(request) }
+        audioFocusRequest = null
     }
 
     override fun onStartCommand(
@@ -173,6 +211,7 @@ class AudioRoomForegroundService : Service() {
     override fun onDestroy() {
         wakeLock?.takeIf { it.isHeld }?.release()
         wakeLock = null
+        abandonAudioFocus()
         super.onDestroy()
     }
 
diff --git a/nestsClient/plans/2026-04-26-background-audio-audit.md b/nestsClient/plans/2026-04-26-background-audio-audit.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..a3594d8c7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/nestsClient/plans/2026-04-26-background-audio-audit.md
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+# Background-audio audit (T3 #2)
+
+Audit run for the Tier-3 plan checklist. Items pass-by-default;
+deltas captured below.
+
+## 1. `PARTIAL_WAKE_LOCK` during a broadcast — ✅ PASS
+
+`amethyst/src/main/java/com/vitorpamplona/amethyst/service/audiorooms/AudioRoomForegroundService.kt`
+
+  - Acquired in `onCreate()` (line 64) via `newWakeLock(PARTIAL_WAKE_LOCK, "amethyst:audio-room")` with `setReferenceCounted(false)`.
+  - Acquire on every `onStartCommand` if not held (line 99-101) with a 4-hour safety cap (`WAKE_LOCK_TIMEOUT_MS`).
+  - Released in `onDestroy()` (line 174-175) via `wakeLock?.takeIf { it.isHeld }?.release()`.
+
+## 2. Foreground-service type `microphone` for Android 14+ — ✅ PASS
+
+Same file, `startForegroundWithType(includeMic)`:
+
+  - When `includeMic = true` (broadcast mode), uses `FOREGROUND_SERVICE_TYPE_MEDIA_PLAYBACK or FOREGROUND_SERVICE_TYPE_MICROPHONE` (lines 111-112). Required by Android 14+ while the mic is open.
+  - The manifest already declares `android:foregroundServiceType="microphone|mediaPlayback"` (verified separately in `AndroidManifest.xml`).
+
+## 3. Listener-only foreground type — ✅ PASS
+
+Same call, `includeMic = false` path uses just `FOREGROUND_SERVICE_TYPE_MEDIA_PLAYBACK` (line 114). Play Store policy requires the elevated `microphone` permission only when the mic is actually open; listen-only sessions correctly stick to media-playback.
+
+## 4. Audio focus — ❌ WAS MISSING; FIXED IN THIS COMMIT
+
+Pre-fix: `AudioTrackPlayer.start()` constructed an `AudioTrack` but never called `AudioManager.requestAudioFocus(...)`. A phone call would mix on top of the room audio instead of ducking it.
+
+Fix: focus is now requested at the SERVICE level (one focus owner per room session, not per player) in `AudioRoomForegroundService.requestAudioFocus()`:
+
+  - `AUDIOFOCUS_GAIN` with `USAGE_VOICE_COMMUNICATION` + `CONTENT_TYPE_SPEECH` so the OS treats the room like a phone call.
+  - `setAcceptsDelayedFocusGain(false)` — we want the focus immediately or not at all.
+  - On-change listener is a no-op; the OS handles duck-on-loss for us.
+  - `abandonAudioFocusRequest` in `onDestroy()`.
+
+Refused focus requests are caught with `runCatching` — a denial means the OS will duck/pause us based on its own policy, which is a degraded but acceptable experience and shouldn't fail service start.
+
+## 5. PIP keep-alive — ✅ PASS (existing)
+
+`AudioRoomActivity` already survives the PIP transition without dropping the foreground service. The activity's `onPictureInPictureModeChanged` doesn't stop the service; the service tracks its own `promoted` state independent of activity lifecycle.
+
+## Summary
+
+  - 4/5 items passed before this commit
+  - 1 fix in `AudioRoomForegroundService` adds the audio-focus request
+
+No follow-ups remaining for the Tier-3 audit checklist.