diff --git a/youtube_dl/postprocessor/ffmpeg.py b/youtube_dl/postprocessor/ffmpeg.py
index 5bcb00ac0..90e421d9b 100644
--- a/youtube_dl/postprocessor/ffmpeg.py
+++ b/youtube_dl/postprocessor/ffmpeg.py
@@ -307,6 +307,26 @@ class FFmpegExtractAudioPP(FFmpegPostProcessor):
                 # The opus codec doesn't support the -aq option
                 if int(self._preferredquality) < 10 and extension != 'opus':
                     more_opts += ['-q:a', self._preferredquality]
+                else if int(self._preferredquality) < 10:
+                    # Handle opus quality/bitrate using Xiph.org's Recommended Settings
+                    if      int(self._preferredquality) == 9:
+                        more_opts += ['-b:a', '450k']
+                    else if int(self._preferredquality) == 8:
+                        more_opts += ['-b:a', '256k']
+                    else if int(self._preferredquality) == 7:
+                        more_opts += ['-b:a', '128k']
+                    else if int(self._preferredquality) == 6:
+                        more_opts += ['-b:a', '96k']
+                    else if int(self._preferredquality) == 5:
+                        more_opts += ['-b:a', '64k']
+                    else if int(self._preferredquality) == 4:
+                        more_opts += ['-b:a', '32k']
+                    else if int(self._preferredquality) == 3:
+                        more_opts += ['-b:a', '24k']
+                    else if int(self._preferredquality) == 2:
+                        more_opts += ['-b:a', '10k']
+                    else:
+                        more_opts += ['-b:a', '6k']
                 else:
                     more_opts += ['-b:a', self._preferredquality + 'k']
             if self._preferredcodec == 'aac':