Questions about music on YouTube

Hi George, The quality of the clips on You tube is usually from reasonable to awful because the clips are usually tagged with MP3 sound files . 

First, how is the SQ? 

Sounds great on my laptop.

Second, do the artists get a cut when their video/recording is played?

Depends. Most artists get promoted and paid just fine. One conservative word or theme will get you demonetized and dropped to the bottom of the search results. But its YouTube. You knew that.

how can you tell what the resolution is?

Click on the little gear-shaped symbol (lower right).  

Good recordings sound great on my desktop PC system.

Two Audioengine A2+ speakers. For headphones, an Audioengine DAC and Grado RS-1s. Lots of Perfect Path Technologies "Alpha E-Cards" spread around on the modem and PC, and Perfect Path Technologies "Total Contact" on all connections.

Spotify sounds great too. 

Frank

The audio I get listening to YouTubes through the hi-fi is usually more than good enough.  And it's certainly better than what I get from my drecky laptop.