diff --git a/apps/sandbox/templates/spf-background-looping-video/index.html b/apps/sandbox/templates/spf-background-looping-video/index.html
index a9e58164..afccca25 100644
--- a/apps/sandbox/templates/spf-background-looping-video/index.html
+++ b/apps/sandbox/templates/spf-background-looping-video/index.html
@@ -50,14 +50,6 @@
       padding: 0 8vw;
     }
 
-    .hero .eyebrow {
-      margin: 0 0 12px;
-      font-size: 12px;
-      text-transform: uppercase;
-      letter-spacing: 0.18em;
-      opacity: 0.7;
-    }
-
     .hero h1 {
       margin: 0 0 16px;
       font-size: clamp(36px, 6vw, 72px);
@@ -185,59 +177,42 @@
       gap: 4px;
     }
 
-    .rendition-buttons button {
+    .rendition-buttons .rendition {
       width: 100%;
       padding: 6px 8px;
       font: inherit;
       font-size: 12px;
       color: inherit;
       text-align: left;
-      cursor: pointer;
       background: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.06);
       border: 1px solid rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.12);
       border-radius: 4px;
     }
 
-    .rendition-buttons button:hover {
-      background: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.12);
-    }
-
-    .rendition-buttons button.selected {
+    .rendition-buttons .rendition.selected {
       color: #7ee787;
       background: rgba(126, 231, 135, 0.12);
       border-color: rgba(126, 231, 135, 0.4);
     }
 
-    .controls .roadmap {
-      padding-top: 12px;
-      margin-top: 14px;
-      border-top: 1px solid rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.1);
-    }
-
-    .controls .roadmap-title {
-      margin-bottom: 8px;
-      font-size: 10px;
-      text-transform: uppercase;
-      letter-spacing: 0.12em;
-      opacity: 0.5;
-    }
-
-    .controls .roadmap-item {
-      display: flex;
-      gap: 8px;
-      align-items: baseline;
+    .controls .load-btn {
+      width: 100%;
+      padding: 8px 10px;
+      margin-top: 10px;
+      font: inherit;
       font-size: 12px;
-      line-height: 1.6;
-      opacity: 0.55;
+      font-weight: 600;
+      color: inherit;
+      text-transform: uppercase;
+      letter-spacing: 0.04em;
+      cursor: pointer;
+      background: rgba(126, 231, 135, 0.16);
+      border: 1px solid rgba(126, 231, 135, 0.4);
+      border-radius: 4px;
     }
 
-    .controls .roadmap-item .phase {
-      flex-shrink: 0;
-      padding: 1px 5px;
-      font-family: ui-monospace, SFMono-Regular, Menlo, monospace;
-      font-size: 10px;
-      background: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.08);
-      border-radius: 3px;
+    .controls .load-btn:hover {
+      background: rgba(126, 231, 135, 0.24);
     }
   </style>
 </head>
@@ -248,7 +223,6 @@
     <div class="scrim"></div>
 
     <div class="hero">
-      <p class="eyebrow">SPF · Phase 1</p>
       <h1>Background Looping Video</h1>
       <p>
         Subtractive engine variant — audio, text tracks, ABR, and preload monitoring are composed out; a max-resolution
@@ -269,14 +243,23 @@
       <select id="source-select"></select>
 
       <div class="picker-section">
-        <label>Rendition</label>
-        <div id="rendition-buttons" class="rendition-buttons"></div>
+        <label for="max-resolution-select">maxResolution</label>
+        <select id="max-resolution-select">
+          <option value="">— none —</option>
+          <option value="240p">240p</option>
+          <option value="360p">360p</option>
+          <option value="480p">480p</option>
+          <option value="720p">720p</option>
+          <option value="1080p">1080p</option>
+          <option value="1440p">1440p</option>
+          <option value="2160p">2160p</option>
+        </select>
+        <button type="button" id="load-btn" class="load-btn">Load</button>
       </div>
 
-      <div class="roadmap">
-        <div class="roadmap-title">Later-phase controls</div>
-        <div class="roadmap-item"><span class="phase">P2</span>withAudio() — unmute / audio tracks</div>
-        <div class="roadmap-item"><span class="phase">P3</span>withPreload() — preload mode</div>
+      <div class="picker-section">
+        <label>Rendition</label>
+        <div id="rendition-buttons" class="rendition-buttons"></div>
       </div>
     </div>
   </div>
diff --git a/apps/sandbox/templates/spf-background-looping-video/main.ts b/apps/sandbox/templates/spf-background-looping-video/main.ts
index 45735ed7..40bcdf81 100644
--- a/apps/sandbox/templates/spf-background-looping-video/main.ts
+++ b/apps/sandbox/templates/spf-background-looping-video/main.ts
@@ -1,22 +1,21 @@
 import '@app/styles.css';
 
-// SPF Background Looping Video — Phase 1 demo
+// SPF Background Looping Video — sandbox demo
 // http://localhost:5173/spf-background-looping-video/
 //
-// Drives the Phase 1 `BackgroundLoopingVideoMediaElement` adapter (the SPF
-// surface added in this PR). The diagnostic strip surfaces three signals
-// reviewers should verify:
+// Drives `BackgroundLoopingVideoMediaElement`. The diagnostic strip
+// surfaces three signals reviewers should verify:
 //   - loadActivated is true from frame 0 (no preload-gate or play-event needed)
-//   - the picker selects the highest-resolution rendition by default
+//   - the picker honors `maxResolution` (defaults to the highest variant)
 //   - audio-side actors are absent from the engine context (subtraction proof)
 //
-// Rendition switching: the engine's own track ids come from generateId() and
-// are regenerated on every manifest parse, so they don't survive the engine
-// rebuild a switch triggers. This demo identifies renditions by a stable id
-// derived from dimensions + bandwidth, and maps it back to the fresh engine
-// id via a config `picker` on each rebuild. "Auto" passes no picker (engine
-// default = max-resolution). The video is paused before teardown and `src` is
-// set before `attach` so the in-flight play() doesn't reject with AbortError.
+// Rendition selection is driven by `maxResolution` on the adapter. The
+// rendition list is read-only; it shows the available tracks and
+// highlights the one the picker chose. Changing `maxResolution` just
+// stashes the new value — clicking Load reassigns `src`, which cycles
+// the presentation through `unresolved → resolved` and re-fires the
+// closure picker (so the new cap takes effect on the live engine,
+// without a rebuild).
 
 import { SOURCES } from '@app/shared/sources';
 import { effect, snapshot } from '@videojs/spf';
@@ -27,6 +26,8 @@ import { BackgroundLoopingVideoMediaElement } from '@videojs/spf/background-loop
 const video = document.getElementById('bg-video') as HTMLVideoElement;
 const sourceSelect = document.getElementById('source-select') as HTMLSelectElement;
 const renditionButtons = document.getElementById('rendition-buttons') as HTMLDivElement;
+const maxResolutionSelect = document.getElementById('max-resolution-select') as HTMLSelectElement;
+const loadBtn = document.getElementById('load-btn') as HTMLButtonElement;
 const diagLoad = document.getElementById('diag-load') as HTMLSpanElement;
 const diagRendition = document.getElementById('diag-rendition') as HTMLSpanElement;
 const diagContext = document.getElementById('diag-context') as HTMLSpanElement;
@@ -72,10 +73,8 @@ function trackDimensions(track: VideoTrack): { w: number; h: number } {
 }
 
 // ── Adapter lifecycle ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
-type PickerMode = { kind: 'auto' } | { kind: 'manual'; stableId: string };
-
 let currentSourceId: keyof typeof SOURCES = DEFAULT_ID;
-let pickerMode: PickerMode = { kind: 'auto' };
+let currentMaxResolution: string | undefined;
 let adapter!: BackgroundLoopingVideoMediaElement;
 let stopDiag: () => void = () => {};
 
@@ -85,14 +84,7 @@ function rebuildAdapter(): void {
   video.pause();
   adapter?.destroy();
 
-  // Manual: a picker that maps our stable id to the fresh engine id in the
-  // newly-parsed presentation. Auto: no picker → engine default (max-res).
-  const stableId = pickerMode.kind === 'manual' ? pickerMode.stableId : undefined;
-  const picker = stableId
-    ? (presentation: MaybePresentation) => videoTracksOf(presentation).find((t) => stableTrackId(t) === stableId)?.id
-    : undefined;
-
-  adapter = new BackgroundLoopingVideoMediaElement(picker ? { config: { picker } } : undefined);
+  adapter = new BackgroundLoopingVideoMediaElement({ config: { maxResolution: currentMaxResolution } });
   // src before attach: the engine starts resolving the presentation before
   // play() (called inside attach) runs, so no teardown races the play promise.
   adapter.src = SOURCES[currentSourceId].url;
@@ -109,24 +101,31 @@ function rebuildAdapter(): void {
 (window as any).context = () => snapshot(adapter.engine.context);
 
 // The diagnostic effect re-fires on every state change (currentTime ticks,
-// segment loads), but the button list only depends on the track set and the
-// selected mode. Skip the DOM rebuild when neither changed — otherwise every
-// tick wipes hover/focus and churns nodes.
+// segment loads), but the list only depends on the track set + the
+// current selection. Skip DOM rebuild when neither changed.
 let lastRenditionSignature = '';
 
 rebuildAdapter();
 
 sourceSelect.addEventListener('change', () => {
   currentSourceId = sourceSelect.value as keyof typeof SOURCES;
-  // Renditions differ across sources — reset to auto.
-  pickerMode = { kind: 'auto' };
   rebuildAdapter();
 });
 
-function setPickerMode(mode: PickerMode): void {
-  pickerMode = mode;
-  rebuildAdapter();
-}
+maxResolutionSelect.addEventListener('change', () => {
+  currentMaxResolution = maxResolutionSelect.value || undefined;
+  // Closure picker reads `#maxResolution` at pick time, so the setter
+  // just stashes the value. Use the Load button to reassign src and
+  // force a re-pick.
+  adapter.maxResolution = currentMaxResolution;
+});
+
+loadBtn.addEventListener('click', () => {
+  // Reassign src to cycle the presentation through
+  // `unresolved → resolved`. That re-fires the picker, which reads the
+  // current `maxResolution` via the adapter's closure.
+  adapter.src = SOURCES[currentSourceId].url;
+});
 
 // ── Diagnostic strip + rendition picker ──────────────────────────────────────
 function formatBandwidth(bps: number): string {
@@ -159,32 +158,23 @@ function attachDiagnostic(): () => void {
     const keys = Object.keys(context).filter((k) => (context as Record<string, unknown>)[k] !== undefined);
     diagContext.textContent = keys.length ? keys.join(', ') : '—';
 
-    renderRenditionButtons(tracks);
+    renderRenditionList(tracks, state.selectedVideoTrackId);
   });
 }
 
-function renditionSignature(tracks: VideoTrack[]): string {
-  const mode = pickerMode.kind === 'manual' ? `manual:${pickerMode.stableId}` : 'auto';
-  return `${mode}#${tracks.map(stableTrackId).join(',')}`;
+function renditionSignature(tracks: VideoTrack[], selectedId: string | undefined): string {
+  return `${selectedId ?? '—'}#${tracks.map(stableTrackId).join(',')}`;
 }
 
-function renderRenditionButtons(tracks: VideoTrack[]): void {
-  const signature = renditionSignature(tracks);
+function renderRenditionList(tracks: VideoTrack[], selectedId: string | undefined): void {
+  const signature = renditionSignature(tracks, selectedId);
   if (signature === lastRenditionSignature) return;
   lastRenditionSignature = signature;
 
   renditionButtons.innerHTML = '';
-
-  const autoBtn = document.createElement('button');
-  autoBtn.type = 'button';
-  autoBtn.textContent = 'Auto · max resolution';
-  if (pickerMode.kind === 'auto') autoBtn.classList.add('selected');
-  autoBtn.addEventListener('click', () => setPickerMode({ kind: 'auto' }));
-  renditionButtons.appendChild(autoBtn);
-
   if (tracks.length === 0) return;
 
-  // Sort by area desc so the picker reads top-down high-to-low.
+  // Sort by area desc so the list reads top-down high-to-low.
   const sorted = [...tracks].sort((a, b) => {
     const da = trackDimensions(a);
     const db = trackDimensions(b);
@@ -195,17 +185,14 @@ function renderRenditionButtons(tracks: VideoTrack[]): void {
   });
 
   for (const track of sorted) {
-    const id = stableTrackId(track);
     const { w, h } = trackDimensions(track);
-    const btn = document.createElement('button');
-    btn.type = 'button';
-    const res = w && h ? `${w}x${h} · ` : '';
-    btn.textContent = `${res}${formatBandwidth(track.bandwidth)}`;
-    btn.title = id;
-    if (pickerMode.kind === 'manual' && pickerMode.stableId === id) {
-      btn.classList.add('selected');
-    }
-    btn.addEventListener('click', () => setPickerMode({ kind: 'manual', stableId: id }));
-    renditionButtons.appendChild(btn);
+    const row = document.createElement('div');
+    row.className = 'rendition';
+    const tier = h ? `${h}p` : '—';
+    const dims = w && h ? ` · ${w}x${h}` : '';
+    row.textContent = `${tier} - ${formatBandwidth(track.bandwidth)}${dims}`;
+    row.title = stableTrackId(track);
+    if (track.id === selectedId) row.classList.add('selected');
+    renditionButtons.appendChild(row);
   }
 }
diff --git a/packages/spf/src/media/primitives/select-tracks.ts b/packages/spf/src/media/primitives/select-tracks.ts
index 2165020f..7e28b05e 100644
--- a/packages/spf/src/media/primitives/select-tracks.ts
+++ b/packages/spf/src/media/primitives/select-tracks.ts
@@ -179,31 +179,64 @@ export function pickVideoTrack(
 }
 
 /**
- * Pick the video track with the highest resolution (width x height).
+ * Translates a "max resolution" into a total total pixel area
+ * for comparisons with video track resolutions with an assumed
+ * 16:9 ratio.
  *
- * Falls back to `bandwidth` when resolution metadata is missing.
+ * Example: "720p" translates to a 921600 pixel area.
+ *
+ * Because 720 * 1280 = 720 * (720 * (16/9) ) = 921_600
+ *
+ * Accepts:
+ * - string with the format '{height}p'. ('720p')
+ * - bare number, interpreted as pixel area. (921_600)
+ * - anything else will translate to `+Infinity`, meaning no cap specified
+ */
+export function maxResolutionToPixelArea(value: string | number | undefined): number {
+  if (value === undefined || value === null) return Number.POSITIVE_INFINITY;
+  if (typeof value === 'number') return Number.isFinite(value) && value > 0 ? value : Number.POSITIVE_INFINITY;
+  const match = value.trim().match(/^(\d+)p?$/i);
+  if (!match) return Number.POSITIVE_INFINITY;
+  const height = Number(match[1]);
+  if (!(Number.isFinite(height) && height > 0)) return Number.POSITIVE_INFINITY;
+  return (height * height * 16) / 9;
+}
+
+type RankableTrack = { id: string; width?: number; height?: number; bandwidth?: number };
+
+/**
+ * Pick the track with the highest pixel area at or below `maxPixelArea`.
+ * Falls back to the lowest track when nothing satisfies the cap (the
+ * lowest of the above-cap set is the closest to the cap from above).
+ * Tiebreak on bandwidth. Missing dimensions are treated as area `0`.
+ */
+export function pickTrackUnderPixelArea<T extends RankableTrack>(
+  tracks: readonly T[],
+  maxPixelArea: number = Number.POSITIVE_INFINITY
+): T | undefined {
+  if (tracks.length === 0) return undefined;
+
+  // Sort descending by pixel area, bandwidth as tiebreaker. List sizes
+  // are small (HLS variant counts) — no need to optimize past a sort.
+  const sorted = [...tracks].sort(
+    (a, b) =>
+      (b.width ?? 0) * (b.height ?? 0) - (a.width ?? 0) * (a.height ?? 0) || (b.bandwidth ?? 0) - (a.bandwidth ?? 0)
+  );
+
+  return sorted.find((t) => (t.width ?? 0) * (t.height ?? 0) <= maxPixelArea) ?? sorted[sorted.length - 1];
+}
+
+/**
+ * Pick the video track with the highest pixel area.
  *
  * Pair with `selectVideoTrack`; compose `switchVideoQuality` instead
  * for runtime-adapted quality.
  */
-export function pickMaxResolutionVideoTrack(presentation: MaybeResolvedPresentation): string | undefined {
+export function pickHighestResolutionVideoTrack(presentation: MaybeResolvedPresentation): string | undefined {
   const videoSet = presentation.selectionSets?.find((set) => set.type === 'video') as VideoSelectionSet | undefined;
   const tracks = videoSet?.switchingSets[0]?.tracks;
   if (!tracks?.length) return undefined;
-
-  let bestId: string | undefined;
-  let bestArea = -1;
-  let bestBandwidth = -1;
-  for (const track of tracks) {
-    const area = track.width && track.height ? track.width * track.height : 0;
-    const bandwidth = track.bandwidth ?? 0;
-    if (area > bestArea || (area === bestArea && bandwidth > bestBandwidth)) {
-      bestArea = area;
-      bestBandwidth = bandwidth;
-      bestId = track.id;
-    }
-  }
-  return bestId;
+  return pickTrackUnderPixelArea(tracks)?.id;
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/packages/spf/src/media/primitives/tests/select-tracks.test.ts b/packages/spf/src/media/primitives/tests/select-tracks.test.ts
index 2acadfa6..398fcce8 100644
--- a/packages/spf/src/media/primitives/tests/select-tracks.test.ts
+++ b/packages/spf/src/media/primitives/tests/select-tracks.test.ts
@@ -7,7 +7,14 @@ import type {
   TextSelectionSet,
   VideoSelectionSet,
 } from '../../types';
-import { pickAudioTrack, pickMaxResolutionVideoTrack, pickTextTrack, pickVideoTrack } from '../select-tracks';
+import {
+  maxResolutionToPixelArea,
+  pickAudioTrack,
+  pickHighestResolutionVideoTrack,
+  pickTextTrack,
+  pickTrackUnderPixelArea,
+  pickVideoTrack,
+} from '../select-tracks';
 
 // Helper to create a minimal presentation
 function createPresentation(config: {
@@ -175,7 +182,7 @@ describe('pickVideoTrack', () => {
   });
 });
 
-describe('pickMaxResolutionVideoTrack', () => {
+describe('pickHighestResolutionVideoTrack', () => {
   it('selects the track with the highest width × height area', () => {
     const tracks: PartiallyResolvedVideoTrack[] = [
       {
@@ -211,7 +218,7 @@ describe('pickMaxResolutionVideoTrack', () => {
     ];
 
     const presentation = createPresentation({ video: tracks });
-    expect(pickMaxResolutionVideoTrack(presentation)).toBe('1080p');
+    expect(pickHighestResolutionVideoTrack(presentation)).toBe('1080p');
   });
 
   it('falls back to bandwidth when resolution metadata is missing', () => {
@@ -235,7 +242,7 @@ describe('pickMaxResolutionVideoTrack', () => {
     ];
 
     const presentation = createPresentation({ video: tracks });
-    expect(pickMaxResolutionVideoTrack(presentation)).toBe('high');
+    expect(pickHighestResolutionVideoTrack(presentation)).toBe('high');
   });
 
   it('breaks ties on equal resolution by bandwidth', () => {
@@ -263,12 +270,79 @@ describe('pickMaxResolutionVideoTrack', () => {
     ];
 
     const presentation = createPresentation({ video: tracks });
-    expect(pickMaxResolutionVideoTrack(presentation)).toBe('1080p-high');
+    expect(pickHighestResolutionVideoTrack(presentation)).toBe('1080p-high');
   });
 
   it('returns undefined when no video tracks exist', () => {
     const presentation = createPresentation({ audio: [] });
-    expect(pickMaxResolutionVideoTrack(presentation)).toBeUndefined();
+    expect(pickHighestResolutionVideoTrack(presentation)).toBeUndefined();
+  });
+});
+
+describe('maxResolutionToPixelArea', () => {
+  it('translates `"<n>p"` strings to 16:9 pixel area', () => {
+    expect(maxResolutionToPixelArea('720p')).toBe(720 * 1280);
+    expect(maxResolutionToPixelArea('1080P')).toBe(1080 * 1920);
+    expect(maxResolutionToPixelArea('1440p')).toBe(1440 * 2560);
+    expect(maxResolutionToPixelArea('2160p')).toBe(2160 * 3840);
+  });
+
+  it('treats bare numeric strings as height (16:9 area)', () => {
+    expect(maxResolutionToPixelArea('720')).toBe(720 * 1280);
+  });
+
+  it('treats bare numbers as a pixel-area cap', () => {
+    expect(maxResolutionToPixelArea(921_600)).toBe(921_600);
+  });
+
+  it('returns +Infinity for unrecognized inputs (no cap)', () => {
+    expect(maxResolutionToPixelArea(undefined)).toBe(Number.POSITIVE_INFINITY);
+    expect(maxResolutionToPixelArea('garbage')).toBe(Number.POSITIVE_INFINITY);
+    expect(maxResolutionToPixelArea('-720')).toBe(Number.POSITIVE_INFINITY);
+    expect(maxResolutionToPixelArea(0)).toBe(Number.POSITIVE_INFINITY);
+    expect(maxResolutionToPixelArea(-1)).toBe(Number.POSITIVE_INFINITY);
+  });
+});
+
+describe('pickTrackUnderPixelArea', () => {
+  const tracks = [
+    { id: '360p', width: 640, height: 360, bandwidth: 500_000 },
+    { id: '720p', width: 1280, height: 720, bandwidth: 2_000_000 },
+    { id: '1080p', width: 1920, height: 1080, bandwidth: 4_000_000 },
+    { id: '1440p', width: 2560, height: 1440, bandwidth: 8_000_000 },
+  ];
+
+  it('returns undefined for an empty list', () => {
+    expect(pickTrackUnderPixelArea([])).toBeUndefined();
+  });
+
+  it('picks the highest-area track when no cap is provided', () => {
+    expect(pickTrackUnderPixelArea(tracks)?.id).toBe('1440p');
+  });
+
+  it('picks the highest track at or below the cap', () => {
+    expect(pickTrackUnderPixelArea(tracks, 1280 * 720)?.id).toBe('720p');
+    expect(pickTrackUnderPixelArea(tracks, 1920 * 1080)?.id).toBe('1080p');
+  });
+
+  it('falls back to the lowest track when the cap excludes everything', () => {
+    expect(pickTrackUnderPixelArea(tracks, 100)?.id).toBe('360p');
+  });
+
+  it('tiebreaks on bandwidth at equal pixel area', () => {
+    const ties = [
+      { id: '1080p-low', width: 1920, height: 1080, bandwidth: 3_000_000 },
+      { id: '1080p-high', width: 1920, height: 1080, bandwidth: 6_000_000 },
+    ];
+    expect(pickTrackUnderPixelArea(ties)?.id).toBe('1080p-high');
+  });
+
+  it('treats missing dimensions as area 0', () => {
+    const mixed = [
+      { id: 'unknown', bandwidth: 1_000_000 },
+      { id: '720p', width: 1280, height: 720, bandwidth: 2_000_000 },
+    ];
+    expect(pickTrackUnderPixelArea(mixed)?.id).toBe('720p');
   });
 });
 
diff --git a/packages/spf/src/playback/engines/background-looping-video/adapter.ts b/packages/spf/src/playback/engines/background-looping-video/adapter.ts
index e7138beb..d04b664d 100644
--- a/packages/spf/src/playback/engines/background-looping-video/adapter.ts
+++ b/packages/spf/src/playback/engines/background-looping-video/adapter.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,11 @@
 import type { Constructor, MixinReturn } from '@videojs/utils/types';
 import type { Composition } from '../../../core/composition/create-composition';
+import {
+  maxResolutionToPixelArea,
+  pickTrackUnderPixelArea,
+  type TrackPicker,
+} from '../../../media/primitives/select-tracks';
+import type { VideoSelectionSet } from '../../../media/types';
 import {
   type BackgroundLoopingVideoEngineConfig,
   type BackgroundLoopingVideoEngineContext,
@@ -14,6 +20,7 @@ export interface BackgroundLoopingVideoMediaProps {
   loop: boolean;
   muted: boolean;
   autoplay: boolean;
+  maxResolution: string | number | undefined;
 }
 
 export const backgroundLoopingVideoMediaDefaultProps: BackgroundLoopingVideoMediaProps = {
@@ -22,6 +29,7 @@ export const backgroundLoopingVideoMediaDefaultProps: BackgroundLoopingVideoMedi
   loop: true,
   muted: true,
   autoplay: true,
+  maxResolution: undefined,
 };
 
 export interface BackgroundLoopingVideoMediaAPI extends BackgroundLoopingVideoMediaProps {
@@ -71,6 +79,7 @@ export function BackgroundLoopingVideoMediaMixin<Base extends Constructor<any>>(
     #loop: boolean = backgroundLoopingVideoMediaDefaultProps.loop;
     #muted: boolean = backgroundLoopingVideoMediaDefaultProps.muted;
     #autoplay: boolean = backgroundLoopingVideoMediaDefaultProps.autoplay;
+    #maxResolution: string | number | undefined;
 
     /** Pending loadstart listener from a deferred play() retry, if any. */
     #loadstartListener: (() => void) | null = null;
@@ -80,6 +89,8 @@ export function BackgroundLoopingVideoMediaMixin<Base extends Constructor<any>>(
 
       const { config } = args?.[0] ?? {};
       this.#config = config;
+
+      this.#maxResolution = config?.maxResolution;
       this.#engine = this.#createEngine();
     }
 
@@ -156,6 +167,27 @@ export function BackgroundLoopingVideoMediaMixin<Base extends Constructor<any>>(
       // Noop for this phase
     }
 
+    // -------------------------------------------------------------------------
+    // maxResolution — adapter-owned cap on the picked rendition. The engine's
+    // closure picker (see `#createEngine`) reads this field at pick time, so
+    // setter writes take effect on the next `presentation-resolved` transition
+    // without an engine rebuild.
+    // -------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+    get maxResolution(): string | number | undefined {
+      return this.#maxResolution;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Set the cap. Accepts `"720p"` / `"1080p"` etc., a bare number
+     * (interpreted as pixel area), or `undefined` to clear. Unrecognized
+     * values are treated as no cap.
+     */
+    set maxResolution(value: string | number | undefined) {
+      if (value === this.#maxResolution) return;
+      this.#maxResolution = value;
+    }
+
     // -------------------------------------------------------------------------
     // src — synchronous IDL attribute (WHATWG §4.8.11.2)
     // Each assignment destroys the current engine and starts a fresh one,
@@ -212,7 +244,14 @@ export function BackgroundLoopingVideoMediaMixin<Base extends Constructor<any>>(
     // -------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
     #createEngine(): Composition<BackgroundLoopingVideoEngineState, BackgroundLoopingVideoEngineContext> {
+      const adapterPicker: TrackPicker = (presentation) => {
+        const videoSet = presentation.selectionSets?.find((s) => s.type === 'video') as VideoSelectionSet | undefined;
+        const tracks = videoSet?.switchingSets[0]?.tracks ?? [];
+        return pickTrackUnderPixelArea(tracks, maxResolutionToPixelArea(this.#maxResolution))?.id;
+      };
+
       return createBackgroundLoopingVideoEngine({
+        picker: adapterPicker,
         ...this.#config,
         onSignalsReady: (signals) => {
           this.#signals = signals;
diff --git a/packages/spf/src/playback/engines/background-looping-video/engine.ts b/packages/spf/src/playback/engines/background-looping-video/engine.ts
index 0d636836..7db65e08 100644
--- a/packages/spf/src/playback/engines/background-looping-video/engine.ts
+++ b/packages/spf/src/playback/engines/background-looping-video/engine.ts
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ import {
 } from '../../../core/composition/create-composition';
 import { makeShareSignals, type ShareSignalsConfig } from '../../../core/composition/share-signals';
 import { parseMultivariantPlaylist } from '../../../media/hls/parse-multivariant';
-import { pickMaxResolutionVideoTrack, type TrackPicker } from '../../../media/primitives/select-tracks';
+import { pickHighestResolutionVideoTrack, type TrackPicker } from '../../../media/primitives/select-tracks';
 import type { MaybeResolvedPresentation } from '../../../media/types';
 import { getResolvedSelectedTrackDuration } from '../../../media/utils/track-selection';
 import type { SegmentLoaderActor } from '../../actors/dom/segment-loader';
@@ -79,9 +79,12 @@ export interface BackgroundLoopingVideoEngineConfig
   extends ShareSignalsConfig<BackgroundLoopingVideoEngineState, BackgroundLoopingVideoEngineContext> {
   /**
    * Track picker handed to `selectVideoTrack`. Default:
-   * `pickMaxResolutionVideoTrack` — picks the highest-resolution variant on
+   * `pickHighestResolutionVideoTrack` — picks the highest-resolution variant on
    * presentation resolve and pins it for the session. Override for
    * mobile-aware or content-aware caps.
+   *
+   * Adapters (e.g. `BackgroundLoopingVideoMediaElement`) install their own
+   * picker; this default applies when the engine is constructed directly.
    */
   picker?: TrackPicker<SelectVideoTrackConfig>;
   /**
@@ -132,7 +135,7 @@ export function createBackgroundLoopingVideoEngine(
 ): Composition<BackgroundLoopingVideoEngineState, BackgroundLoopingVideoEngineContext> {
   const finalConfig = {
     ...config,
-    picker: config.picker ?? pickMaxResolutionVideoTrack,
+    picker: config.picker ?? pickHighestResolutionVideoTrack,
     parsePresentation: config.parsePresentation ?? parseMultivariantPlaylist,
     resolveDuration: getResolvedSelectedTrackDuration,
   };
diff --git a/packages/spf/src/playback/engines/background-looping-video/tests/adapter.test.ts b/packages/spf/src/playback/engines/background-looping-video/tests/adapter.test.ts
index 8a16f51c..6a93d28f 100644
--- a/packages/spf/src/playback/engines/background-looping-video/tests/adapter.test.ts
+++ b/packages/spf/src/playback/engines/background-looping-video/tests/adapter.test.ts
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
  * passthroughs and defaults both to true (autoplay-muted, looping).
  */
 import { afterEach, beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest';
+import type { MaybeResolvedPresentation } from '../../../../media/types';
 import { BackgroundLoopingVideoMediaElement } from '../adapter';
 
 describe('BackgroundLoopingVideoMediaElement', () => {
@@ -181,4 +182,116 @@ describe('BackgroundLoopingVideoMediaElement', () => {
       expect(spy).toHaveBeenCalledOnce();
     });
   });
+
+  describe('maxResolution', () => {
+    it('defaults to undefined', () => {
+      const media = new BackgroundLoopingVideoMediaElement();
+      expect(media.maxResolution).toBeUndefined();
+    });
+
+    it('reflects the value passed via constructor config', () => {
+      const media = new BackgroundLoopingVideoMediaElement({
+        config: { maxResolution: '720p' },
+      });
+      expect(media.maxResolution).toBe('720p');
+    });
+
+    it('reflects setter writes', () => {
+      const media = new BackgroundLoopingVideoMediaElement();
+      media.maxResolution = '1080p';
+      expect(media.maxResolution).toBe('1080p');
+    });
+
+    it('does not rebuild the engine on setter writes — closure picker reads the field live', () => {
+      const media = new BackgroundLoopingVideoMediaElement();
+      const firstEngine = media.engine;
+      media.maxResolution = '720p';
+      expect(media.engine).toBe(firstEngine);
+    });
+
+    // Pre-resolved 4-track presentation used by the closure-picker assertions
+    // below. Setting it on `engine.state.presentation` drives the composition
+    // through `presentation-unresolved → presentation-resolved`, which is
+    // what fires the picker.
+    const presentationWithFourTracks = (): MaybeResolvedPresentation => ({
+      id: 'p',
+      url: 'https://example.com/manifest.m3u8',
+      startTime: 0,
+      selectionSets: [
+        {
+          id: 'video-set',
+          type: 'video',
+          switchingSets: [
+            {
+              id: 'video-switching',
+              type: 'video',
+              tracks: [
+                videoTrack('360p', 640, 360, 500_000),
+                videoTrack('720p', 1280, 720, 2_000_000),
+                videoTrack('1080p', 1920, 1080, 4_000_000),
+                videoTrack('1440p', 2560, 1440, 8_000_000),
+              ],
+            },
+          ],
+        },
+      ],
+    });
+
+    it('the closure picker reads maxResolution at pick time', async () => {
+      // Construct without a cap. If the closure captured at creation, the
+      // pick would use `undefined` (→ 1440p). It uses the current field instead.
+      const media = new BackgroundLoopingVideoMediaElement();
+      media.maxResolution = '720p';
+      media.engine.state.presentation.set(presentationWithFourTracks());
+      await new Promise<void>((resolve) => queueMicrotask(resolve));
+      expect(media.engine.state.selectedVideoTrackId.get()).toBe('720p');
+      media.destroy();
+    });
+
+    it('setter writes are reflected on the next presentation cycle', async () => {
+      const media = new BackgroundLoopingVideoMediaElement();
+      media.engine.state.presentation.set(presentationWithFourTracks());
+      await new Promise<void>((resolve) => queueMicrotask(resolve));
+      expect(media.engine.state.selectedVideoTrackId.get()).toBe('1440p');
+
+      media.maxResolution = '720p';
+      // Cycle the presentation through unresolved → resolved so the picker
+      // re-fires on entry. The microtask between the two sets lets the
+      // reactor's monitor observe the transition and run exit cleanup
+      // (which clears selectedVideoTrackId) before re-entry runs the picker.
+      media.engine.state.presentation.set(undefined);
+      await new Promise<void>((resolve) => queueMicrotask(resolve));
+      media.engine.state.presentation.set(presentationWithFourTracks());
+      await new Promise<void>((resolve) => queueMicrotask(resolve));
+      expect(media.engine.state.selectedVideoTrackId.get()).toBe('720p');
+      media.destroy();
+    });
+
+    it('honors a user-supplied picker, overriding the closure default', async () => {
+      const media = new BackgroundLoopingVideoMediaElement({
+        config: { maxResolution: '720p', picker: () => '1440p' },
+      });
+      media.engine.state.presentation.set(presentationWithFourTracks());
+      await new Promise<void>((resolve) => queueMicrotask(resolve));
+      expect(media.engine.state.selectedVideoTrackId.get()).toBe('1440p');
+      media.destroy();
+    });
+  });
 });
+
+function videoTrack(id: string, width: number, height: number, bandwidth: number) {
+  return {
+    type: 'video' as const,
+    id,
+    url: `https://example.com/${id}.m3u8`,
+    bandwidth,
+    mimeType: 'video/mp4',
+    codecs: ['avc1.42E01E'],
+    initialization: { url: 'init', byteRange: { offset: 0, length: 0 } },
+    segments: [],
+    startTime: 0,
+    duration: 0,
+    width,
+    height,
+  } as never;
+}
diff --git a/packages/spf/src/playback/engines/background-looping-video/tests/engine.test.ts b/packages/spf/src/playback/engines/background-looping-video/tests/engine.test.ts
index a68dbe0a..763786ed 100644
--- a/packages/spf/src/playback/engines/background-looping-video/tests/engine.test.ts
+++ b/packages/spf/src/playback/engines/background-looping-video/tests/engine.test.ts
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ describe('createBackgroundLoopingVideoEngine', () => {
     engine.destroy();
   });
 
-  it('defaults the picker to pickMaxResolutionVideoTrack', async () => {
+  it('defaults the picker to pickHighestResolutionVideoTrack', async () => {
     const engine = createBackgroundLoopingVideoEngine();
 
     const presentation: MaybeResolvedPresentation = {