diff --git a/lib_com/options.h b/lib_com/options.h
index db358692a95b2ccf4c5896ce245e1dd9c5e57525..43a77742341ce0fb1c9cc36be918856812d694c4 100644
--- a/lib_com/options.h
+++ b/lib_com/options.h
@@ -152,6 +152,15 @@
 
 #define QUANTISE_REAL_FCN_CLEAN_UP                      /*Clean up the ivas_quantise_real_values() function*/
 
+
+#define FIX_I74_BW_LIMITATION_ALT                       /* issue 74: Propagate bitrate induced BW limitation to hEncoderConfig. Ensures BE between explicit BW limitation using "-max_band <BW>" and BW limited by bitrate; alternative fix */
+#define FIX_I74_CLEANING                                /* issue 74: remove redundant function call in ivas_cpe_enc() */
+
+
+/* NTT switches */
+
+#define SPAR_SCALING_HARMONIZATION                      /* issue 80: Changes to harmonize scaling in spar */
+
 /* ################## End DEVELOPMENT switches ######################### */
 /* clang-format on */
 #endif
diff --git a/lib_enc/ivas_cpe_enc.c b/lib_enc/ivas_cpe_enc.c
index b543761491bd57c201045f9c42280183bda1feaa..2ee9f7b71f336070148e7ad996136627d7e0818f 100644
--- a/lib_enc/ivas_cpe_enc.c
+++ b/lib_enc/ivas_cpe_enc.c
@@ -344,11 +344,13 @@ ivas_error ivas_cpe_enc(
 
         sts[0]->total_brate = ( sts[0]->bits_frame_nominal + 10 ) * FRAMES_PER_SEC; /* add small overhead; st[0]->total_brate used in coder_type_modif() */
 
+#ifndef FIX_I74_CLEANING
         if ( ( sts[0]->last_bwidth < max_bwidth ) || ( sts[0]->last_core_brate <= SID_2k40 ) ) /* IVAS_fmToDo: TBV - BWD output is not known here yet !!! */
         {
             /* reconfigure in case of BW switching or if last frame was a SID/NO_DATA with coarse partitioning */
             hCPE->hStereoDft->nbands = stereo_dft_band_config( hCPE->hStereoDft->band_limits, hCPE->hStereoDft->hConfig->band_res, hCPE->hStereoDft->NFFT, ENC );
         }
+#endif
 
         /* Update DFT Stereo memories */
         stereo_dft_enc_update( hCPE->hStereoDft, sts[0]->max_bwidth
diff --git a/lib_enc/lib_enc.c b/lib_enc/lib_enc.c
index cf2c5aa4670ce20e3b77a59ca92edbd9cdff983c..ede42ddeaf0f766bd36a137537c52ead80879b10 100644
--- a/lib_enc/lib_enc.c
+++ b/lib_enc/lib_enc.c
@@ -63,6 +63,9 @@ struct IVAS_ENC
     int16_t rf_fec_offset_loc;
     bool ismMetadataProvided[MAX_NUM_OBJECTS];
     bool maxBandwidthUser; /* Was a specific max bandwith selected by the user? */
+#ifdef FIX_I74_BW_LIMITATION_ALT
+    IVAS_ENC_BANDWIDTH newBandwidthApi;                             /* maximum encoded bandwidth, as set on API level */
+#endif
 };
 
 /*---------------------------------------------------------------------*
@@ -76,7 +79,10 @@ static ivas_error setChannelAwareConfig( IVAS_ENC_HANDLE hIvasEnc, const IVAS_EN
 static int16_t getInputBufferSize( const Encoder_Struct *st_ivas );
 static ivas_error doCommonConfigureChecks( IVAS_ENC_HANDLE hIvasEnc );
 static ivas_error doCommonSetterChecks( IVAS_ENC_HANDLE hIvasEnc );
+#ifndef FIX_I74_BW_LIMITATION_ALT
 static void updateBandwidthFromFs( const ENCODER_CONFIG_HANDLE hEncoderConfig );
+#endif
+static ivas_error sanitizeBandwidth( const IVAS_ENC_HANDLE hIvasEnc );
 static void init_encoder_config( ENCODER_CONFIG_HANDLE hEncoderConfig );
 static void resetIsmMetadataProvidedFlags( IVAS_ENC_HANDLE hIvasEnc );
 static ivas_error bandwidthApiToInternal( const IVAS_ENC_BANDWIDTH maxBandwidth, int16_t *internalMaxBandwidth );
@@ -830,7 +836,9 @@ static ivas_error configureEncoder(
 
     hEncoderConfig->input_Fs = inputFs;
 
+#ifndef FIX_I74_BW_LIMITATION_ALT
     updateBandwidthFromFs( hEncoderConfig );
+#endif
 
     /*-----------------------------------------------------------------*
      * Channel-aware mode
@@ -896,6 +904,13 @@ static ivas_error configureEncoder(
         return IVAS_ERROR( IVAS_ERR_NOT_SUPPORTED_OPTION, "PCA supported at SBA FOA 256 kbps only." );
     }
 
+#ifdef FIX_I74_BW_LIMITATION_ALT
+    if ( ( error = sanitizeBandwidth( hIvasEnc ) ) != IVAS_ERR_OK )
+    {
+        return error;
+    }
+#endif
+
     /*-----------------------------------------------------------------*
      * Finalize initialization
      *-----------------------------------------------------------------*/
@@ -1033,6 +1048,13 @@ ivas_error IVAS_ENC_EncodeFrameToSerial(
         return IVAS_ERR_INVALID_INPUT_BUFFER_SIZE;
     }
 
+#ifdef FIX_I74_BW_LIMITATION_ALT
+    if ( ( error = sanitizeBandwidth( hIvasEnc ) ) != IVAS_ERR_OK )
+    {
+        return error;
+    }
+#endif
+
     if ( hEncoderConfig->ivas_format == ISM_FORMAT )
     {
         for ( i = 0; i < hEncoderConfig->nchan_inp; ++i )
@@ -1405,7 +1427,12 @@ static ivas_error printConfigInfo_enc(
 {
     Encoder_Struct *st_ivas;
     ENCODER_CONFIG_HANDLE hEncoderConfig;
+#ifndef FIX_I74_BW_LIMITATION_ALT
     char max_bwidth_string[4];
+#else
+    int16_t newBandwidthApi;
+    ivas_error error;
+#endif
 
     st_ivas = hIvasEnc->st_ivas;
     hEncoderConfig = st_ivas->hEncoderConfig;
@@ -1546,6 +1573,12 @@ static ivas_error printConfigInfo_enc(
      * Print potential limitation of audio bandwidth
      *-----------------------------------------------------------------*/
 
+#ifdef FIX_I74_BW_LIMITATION_ALT
+    if ( ( error = bandwidthApiToInternal( hIvasEnc->newBandwidthApi, &newBandwidthApi ) ) != IVAS_ERR_OK )
+    {
+        return error;
+    }
+#else
     switch ( hEncoderConfig->max_bwidth )
     {
         case NB:
@@ -1561,19 +1594,43 @@ static ivas_error printConfigInfo_enc(
             strncpy( max_bwidth_string, "FB\0", sizeof( max_bwidth_string ) );
             break;
     }
+#endif
 
     if ( st_ivas->hEncoderConfig->Opt_SC_VBR && !hEncoderConfig->Opt_DTX_ON )
     {
         return IVAS_ERROR( IVAS_ERR_WRONG_PARAMS, "\nError: SC-VBR 5900 bps not supported without DTX\n\n" );
     }
 
+#ifndef FIX_I74_BW_LIMITATION_ALT
     if ( hIvasEnc->maxBandwidthUser )
     {
         fprintf( stdout, "\nBandwidth limited to %s.\n", max_bwidth_string );
     }
+#endif
 
     if ( hEncoderConfig->ivas_format == MONO_FORMAT )
     {
+#ifdef FIX_I74_BW_LIMITATION_ALT
+        if ( newBandwidthApi != hEncoderConfig->max_bwidth )
+        {
+            if ( newBandwidthApi == FB )
+            {
+                fprintf( stdout, "\nFB coding not supported below %.2f kbps. ", ACELP_16k40 / 1000.f );
+                if ( hEncoderConfig->max_bwidth == WB )
+                {
+                    fprintf( stdout, "Switching to WB.\n" );
+                }
+                else
+                {
+                    fprintf( stdout, "Switching to SWB.\n" );
+                }
+            }
+            else if ( newBandwidthApi == SWB )
+            {
+                fprintf( stdout, "\nSWB coding not supported below %.2f kbps. Switching to WB.\n", ACELP_9k60 / 1000.f );
+            }
+        }
+#else
         if ( hEncoderConfig->max_bwidth == FB && hEncoderConfig->ivas_total_brate < ACELP_16k40 )
         {
             fprintf( stdout, "\nFB coding not supported below %.2f kbps. ", ACELP_16k40 / 1000.f );
@@ -1591,9 +1648,14 @@ static ivas_error printConfigInfo_enc(
         {
             fprintf( stdout, "\nSWB coding not supported below %.2f kbps. Switching to WB.", ACELP_9k60 / 1000.f );
         }
+#endif
 
         /* in case of 8kHz input sampling or "-max_band NB", require the total bitrate to be below 24.40 kbps */
+#ifdef FIX_I74_BW_LIMITATION_ALT
+        if ( ( newBandwidthApi == NB || hEncoderConfig->input_Fs == 8000 ) && hEncoderConfig->ivas_total_brate > ACELP_24k40 )
+#else
         if ( ( hEncoderConfig->max_bwidth == NB || hEncoderConfig->input_Fs == 8000 ) && hEncoderConfig->ivas_total_brate > ACELP_24k40 )
+#endif
         {
             fprintf( stdout, "\nError: Unsupported mode NB %d bps, NB mode supports rates 5900-24400 bps\n\n", hEncoderConfig->ivas_total_brate );
             return IVAS_ERR_INVALID_BITRATE;
@@ -1601,7 +1663,11 @@ static ivas_error printConfigInfo_enc(
     }
     else
     {
+#ifdef FIX_I74_BW_LIMITATION_ALT
+        if ( newBandwidthApi != hEncoderConfig->max_bwidth )
+#else
         if ( hEncoderConfig->max_bwidth == FB && hEncoderConfig->ivas_total_brate < MIN_BRATE_FB_STEREO )
+#endif
         {
             fprintf( stdout, "\nFB coding not supported below %.2f kbps. Switching to SWB.\n", MIN_BRATE_FB_STEREO / 1000.f );
         }
@@ -1811,7 +1877,7 @@ static ivas_error doCommonSetterChecks(
     return IVAS_ERR_OK;
 }
 
-
+#ifndef FIX_I74_BW_LIMITATION_ALT
 /*---------------------------------------------------------------------*
  * updateBandwidthFromFs()
  *
@@ -1837,6 +1903,102 @@ static void updateBandwidthFromFs(
 
     return;
 }
+#endif
+
+#ifdef FIX_I74_BW_LIMITATION_ALT
+/*---------------------------------------------------------------------*
+ * sanitizeBandwidth()
+ *
+ *
+ *---------------------------------------------------------------------*/
+static ivas_error sanitizeBandwidth(
+    const IVAS_ENC_HANDLE hIvasEnc )
+{ 
+    ENCODER_CONFIG_HANDLE hEncoderConfig;
+    int16_t max_bwidth_tmp;
+
+    hEncoderConfig = hIvasEnc->st_ivas->hEncoderConfig;
+
+    max_bwidth_tmp = hIvasEnc->newBandwidthApi;
+
+    /* Prevent st_ivas->max_bwidth from being higher than Fs/2 */
+    if ( hEncoderConfig->input_Fs == 8000 && max_bwidth_tmp > NB )
+    {
+        max_bwidth_tmp = NB;
+    }
+    else if ( hEncoderConfig->input_Fs == 16000 && max_bwidth_tmp > WB )
+    {
+        max_bwidth_tmp = WB;
+    }
+    else if ( hEncoderConfig->input_Fs == 32000 && max_bwidth_tmp > SWB )
+    {
+        max_bwidth_tmp = SWB;
+    }
+
+    /* NB coding not supported in IVAS. Switching to WB. */
+    if ( max_bwidth_tmp == NB && hEncoderConfig->ivas_format != UNDEFINED_FORMAT && hEncoderConfig->ivas_format != MONO_FORMAT )
+    {
+        if (  hEncoderConfig->input_Fs >= 16000 )
+        {
+            max_bwidth_tmp = WB;
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            return IVAS_ERR_INVALID_BITRATE;
+        }
+    }
+
+    if ( hEncoderConfig->ivas_format == MONO_FORMAT )
+    {
+#if 0 // IVAS_fmToDo: temporary disabled to keep EVS bit-exactness -> to be verified
+        if ( max_bwidth_tmp == FB && hEncoderConfig->ivas_total_brate < ACELP_16k40 )
+        {
+            if ( hEncoderConfig->ivas_total_brate < ACELP_9k60 )
+            {
+                max_bwidth_tmp = WB;
+            }
+            else
+            {
+                max_bwidth_tmp = SWB;
+            }
+        }
+
+        if ( max_bwidth_tmp == SWB && hEncoderConfig->ivas_total_brate < ACELP_9k60 )
+        {
+            max_bwidth_tmp = WB;
+        }
+#endif
+
+        /* in case of 8kHz input sampling or "-max_band NB", require the total bitrate to be below 24.40 kbps */
+        if ( ( max_bwidth_tmp == NB || hEncoderConfig->input_Fs == 8000 ) && hEncoderConfig->ivas_total_brate > ACELP_24k40 )
+        {
+            if ( hEncoderConfig->input_Fs >= 16000 )
+            {
+                max_bwidth_tmp = WB;
+            }
+            else
+            {
+                return IVAS_ERR_INVALID_BITRATE;
+            }
+        }
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        if ( max_bwidth_tmp == FB && hEncoderConfig->ivas_total_brate < MIN_BRATE_FB_STEREO )
+        {
+            max_bwidth_tmp = SWB;
+        }
+    }
+
+    if ( hEncoderConfig->max_bwidth != max_bwidth_tmp )
+    {
+        hEncoderConfig->max_bwidth = max_bwidth_tmp;
+        hIvasEnc->switchingActive = true;
+    }
+
+    return IVAS_ERR_OK;
+}
+#endif
 
 
 /*---------------------------------------------------------------------*
@@ -1861,6 +2023,10 @@ static ivas_error setBandwidth(
         return error;
     }
 
+#ifdef FIX_I74_BW_LIMITATION_ALT
+    hIvasEnc->newBandwidthApi = newBandwidth;
+#endif
+
     /* NB coding not supported in IVAS. Switching to WB. */
     if ( newBandwidth == NB && hEncoderConfig->ivas_format != UNDEFINED_FORMAT && hEncoderConfig->ivas_format != MONO_FORMAT )
     {
@@ -1873,12 +2039,14 @@ static ivas_error setBandwidth(
         hIvasEnc->switchingActive = true;
     }
 
+#ifndef FIX_I74_BW_LIMITATION_ALT
     /* Limit bandwidth to half of sampling rate - only possible if
      * sampling rate has already been set via configure function */
     if ( hIvasEnc->isConfigured )
     {
         updateBandwidthFromFs( hIvasEnc->st_ivas->hEncoderConfig );
     }
+#endif
 
     return IVAS_ERR_OK;
 }