diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index a35c5a96c..3a27ebaf1 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -63,6 +63,7 @@ Arcade [PyPi Release History](https://pypi.org/project/arcade/#history) page.
   - Fixed the `sprite_rotate_around_tank` example's corrected barrel, which sat 90 degrees off from the mouse, and updated `turn_and_move` for the new angles. `turn_and_move`'s sprite also now stops when moving straight along an axis, which it never did.
 
 ### New Features
+- Added a keyword-only `decoder` argument to `arcade.Sound` and `arcade.load_sound`, allowing a specific pyglet `MediaDecoder` to load audio without subclassing `Sound` or registering the decoder globally ([#2049](https://github.com/pythonarcade/arcade/issues/2049)).
 - Added `arcade.sweep_sprite(sprite, dx, dy, sprite_list)`, which checks the whole path of a moving sprite and returns a `SweepInfo` for the first sprite it would hit (the `sprite`, how far along the move as a `fraction` and `distance`, and the surface `normal`), or `None`. Fast sprites can't pass through thin walls this way. A sprite that already overlaps one is an immediate hit. Added the `sprite_bullets_sweep` example comparing it with a plain collision check.
 - Added the `sprite_pixel_demolition` example, a stress test where every pixel of the Arcade logo is a sprite (28,000, or 71,000 with smaller pixels) and exploding bullets knock them loose as debris. Debris can move as Python sprites or on the GPU with a shader (press G), which keeps 60 FPS with 15,000 pieces in flight.
 - Added `arcade.sweep_line(start, end, sprite_list)`, which returns a `SweepInfo` for the first sprite a line hits (its `fraction`, `distance`, and surface `normal`), or `None`. It's `sweep_sprite` for a point: for lasers, hitscan weapons, or seeing what's in the way. Added the `sprite_laser_mirrors` example, where a laser bounces off rotating mirrors using the normal.
diff --git a/arcade/sound.py b/arcade/sound.py
index 09c70ce32..3e30f3140 100644
--- a/arcade/sound.py
+++ b/arcade/sound.py
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 
 import pyglet
 from pyglet.media import Source
+from pyglet.media.codecs import MediaDecoder
 
 from arcade.resources import resolve
 from arcade.utils import is_pyodide
@@ -63,9 +64,15 @@ class Sound:
          streaming:
             If ``True``, attempt to load data from ``file_path`` via
             via :ref:`streaming <sound-loading-modes>`.
+         decoder:
+            A specific :py:class:`pyglet.media.codecs.MediaDecoder` to use.
+            If ``None``, pyglet selects a decoder automatically. When a decoder
+            is provided, no other decoders are tried.
     """
 
-    def __init__(self, file_name: str | Path, streaming: bool = False):
+    def __init__(
+        self, file_name: str | Path, streaming: bool = False, *, decoder: MediaDecoder | None = None
+    ):
         self.file_name: str = ""
         file_name = resolve(file_name)
 
@@ -73,7 +80,7 @@ def __init__(self, file_name: str | Path, streaming: bool = False):
             raise FileNotFoundError(f"The sound file '{file_name}' is not a file or can't be read.")
         self.file_name = str(file_name)
 
-        self.source: Source = media.load_audio(self.file_name, streaming=streaming)
+        self.source: Source = media.load_audio(self.file_name, streaming=streaming, decoder=decoder)
         """
         The :py:class:`pyglet.media.Source` object that holds the audio data.
         """
@@ -219,7 +226,9 @@ def get_stream_position(self, player: media.AudioPlayer) -> float:
         return player.time
 
 
-def load_sound(path: str | Path, streaming: bool = False) -> Sound:
+def load_sound(
+    path: str | Path, streaming: bool = False, *, decoder: MediaDecoder | None = None
+) -> Sound:
     """Load a file as a :py:class:`Sound` data object.
 
     .. important:: A :py:class:`Sound` with ``streaming=True`` loses features!
@@ -233,6 +242,9 @@ def load_sound(path: str | Path, streaming: bool = False) -> Sound:
         streaming: Boolean for determining if we stream the sound or
             load it all into memory. Set to ``True`` for long sounds to
             save memory, ``False`` for short sounds to speed playback.
+        decoder: A specific :py:class:`pyglet.media.codecs.MediaDecoder` to use.
+            If ``None``, pyglet selects a decoder automatically. When a decoder
+            is provided, no other decoders are tried.
 
     Returns:
         A :ref:`playable <sound-basics-playing>` instance of a
@@ -246,7 +258,7 @@ def load_sound(path: str | Path, streaming: bool = False) -> Sound:
 
     file_name = str(path)
     try:
-        return Sound(file_name, streaming)
+        return Sound(file_name, streaming, decoder=decoder)
     except Exception as ex:
         raise FileNotFoundError(
             f'Unable to load sound file: "{file_name}". Exception: {ex}'
diff --git a/doc/programming_guide/sound.rst b/doc/programming_guide/sound.rst
index 6ae28095d..5d1edb851 100644
--- a/doc/programming_guide/sound.rst
+++ b/doc/programming_guide/sound.rst
@@ -99,6 +99,9 @@ Both provide a :py:class:`Sound` instance and accept the same arguments:
      - :py:class:`bool`
      - * ``True`` streams from disk
        * ``False`` loads the whole file
+   * - ``decoder`` (keyword-only)
+     - :py:class:`pyglet.media.codecs.MediaDecoder` **|** ``None``
+     - A specific decoder, or ``None`` for automatic selection
 
 The simplest option is to use :py:func:`arcade.load_sound`:
 
@@ -124,6 +127,24 @@ directly:
     # For music files and ambiance tracks, streaming=True is usually best
     streaming_music_file = Sound(":resources:music/1918.mp3", streaming=True)
 
+To select a decoder explicitly, pass a
+:py:class:`pyglet.media.codecs.MediaDecoder` instance as ``decoder`` to either
+loader. For example, pyglet includes a WAV decoder:
+
+.. code-block:: python
+
+    import arcade
+    from pyglet.media.codecs.wave import WaveDecoder
+
+    sound = arcade.load_sound(":resources:sounds/hurt1.wav", decoder=WaveDecoder())
+
+You can also pass your own ``MediaDecoder`` subclass without subclassing
+:py:class:`Sound` or registering the decoder globally. The selected decoder
+receives the resolved file path and the ``streaming`` setting. If it fails,
+pyglet does not fall back to other decoders. Any dependencies required by the
+decoder must already be installed; passing a decoder does not add support for
+its formats automatically.
+
 To learn more, please see the following:
 
 #. :ref:`resources`
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_sound.py b/tests/unit/test_sound.py
index a5a3a6ca9..cbaefa19d 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_sound.py
+++ b/tests/unit/test_sound.py
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
+import wave
 from pathlib import Path
 
 import pytest
+from pyglet.media.codecs.base import StaticSource, StreamingSource
+from pyglet.media.codecs.wave import WAVEDecodeException, WaveDecoder
 
 import arcade
 
@@ -8,6 +11,60 @@
 player = None
 
 
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("load", [arcade.Sound, arcade.load_sound])
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("streaming", [False, True])
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("path_kind", ["path", "resource"])
+def test_sound_explicit_decoder(load, streaming, path_kind, tmp_path, mocker):
+    if path_kind == "path":
+        # An explicit decoder must work without a registered file extension.
+        path = tmp_path / "sound.custom"
+        with wave.open(str(path), "wb") as audio:
+            audio.setparams((1, 1, 8000, 80, "NONE", "not compressed"))
+            audio.writeframes(b"\x80" * 80)
+    else:
+        path = ":resources:sounds/laser1.wav"
+
+    decoder = WaveDecoder()
+    decode = mocker.spy(decoder, "decode")
+    sound = load(path, streaming, decoder=decoder)
+
+    decode.assert_called_once()
+    assert decode.call_args.args == (sound.file_name, None)
+    assert decode.call_args.kwargs["streaming"] is streaming
+    assert Path(sound.file_name).is_file()
+    assert sound.source.duration > 0
+    assert sound.source.audio_format.channels > 0
+    assert isinstance(sound.source, StreamingSource if streaming else StaticSource)
+
+    source = sound.source.get_queue_source()
+    audio_data = source.get_audio_data(1024)
+    assert audio_data is not None
+    assert audio_data.length > 0
+    if path_kind == "path":
+        assert sound.source.duration == pytest.approx(0.01)
+        assert sound.source.audio_format.sample_rate == 8000
+        assert audio_data.data == b"\x80" * 80
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("load", [arcade.Sound, arcade.load_sound])
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("streaming", [False, True])
+def test_sound_explicit_decoder_failure(load, streaming, mocker):
+    decoder = WaveDecoder()
+    error = WAVEDecodeException("Explicit decoder failed")
+    decode = mocker.patch.object(decoder, "decode", side_effect=error)
+
+    # This valid WAV would load successfully if automatic decoders were tried.
+    expected_error = WAVEDecodeException if load is arcade.Sound else FileNotFoundError
+    with pytest.raises(expected_error, match="Explicit decoder failed") as exc:
+        load(":resources:sounds/laser1.wav", streaming, decoder=decoder)
+
+    decode.assert_called_once()
+    if load is arcade.Sound:
+        assert exc.value is error
+    else:
+        assert exc.value.__cause__ is error
+
+
 def test_sound_normal_load_and_playback(window):
     global frame_count, player