MP3 vs WAV vs FLAC vs AAC: Audio Formats Compared
Overview
Audio formats fall into three categories: uncompressed (WAV, AIFF), lossless compressed (FLAC, ALAC), and lossy compressed (MP3, AAC, OGG). Each serves different needs depending on whether quality, file size, or compatibility is your priority.
WAV — The Uncompressed Standard
WAV stores audio without any compression, preserving every sample exactly. A 3-minute song at CD quality (44.1 kHz, 16-bit, stereo) takes about 30 MB. WAV is perfect for editing and mastering because there's zero quality loss. However, the large file sizes make it impractical for streaming or portable devices.
FLAC — Lossless with Compression
FLAC compresses audio losslessly — the decompressed output is bit-identical to the original WAV. Files are typically 50-60% the size of WAV. FLAC is ideal for archiving music collections and audiophile playback. Most modern media players support it, though Apple devices prefer ALAC (Apple Lossless) for the same purpose.
MP3 — The Universal Standard
MP3 is the most recognized audio format worldwide. At 320 kbps, MP3 delivers quality that's essentially transparent to most listeners in a file roughly one-tenth the size of WAV. At 128 kbps, trained ears may notice a slight loss in high frequencies. MP3 remains the safest choice when you need every device and platform to play your audio.
AAC — The Modern Successor
AAC (Advanced Audio Coding) is MP3's technical successor, delivering better quality at the same bitrate — or equal quality at a lower bitrate. It's the default for YouTube, Apple Music, and many streaming services. At 256 kbps, AAC is virtually indistinguishable from the original.
Which Should You Choose?
For archiving: FLAC or WAV. For production and editing: WAV. For sharing and streaming: AAC at 256 kbps or MP3 at 320 kbps. For maximum compatibility: MP3. CocoConvert lets you convert freely between all these formats with customizable bitrate and sample rate settings.