When you are connected to a ShoutCast server, it will return the stream's bitrate in the HTTP header in Kilobits per second. This is useful for troubleshooting, for instance, gaps in the audio. If the bitrate is acceptable for you and there are gaps in the audio, you may want to re-connect to the server. Otherwise if the bitrate turns out to be more than you can handle, you should forget about it, or use the RECONLY option.
These are usually acceptable bitrates for your connection:
| Modem: | Suggested Max Bitrate: |
| 14.4 | 8Kbps |
| 28.8 | 16Kbps |
| 56K | 32Kbps |
| 1-channel ISDN | 64Kbps |
| Dual ISDN | 128Kbps |